The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) Fred Allen Show (1953) User Reviews

Rivals on screen

[jhboswell · 7/10 · 7 November 2006]

Here is a delightful television episode with the greatest of radio stars, Jack Benny and Fred Allen. Way back in the radio days, one of made a slight personal comment about the other, and then he was riposted; and the next thing you knew, there was a hilarious, steady stream of very funny insults. This culminated in their movie together, Love Thy Neighbor; and one of the early requests from Command Performance listeners in the Second World War (American GI's), was that Benny and Allen would make up (it was simply hilarious). Fred was unsuccessful on television--could have been those awful baggy eyes--but Jack was a sensation. The episode reminisces their wonderful rivalry on radio, with Fred trying to steal Jack's sponsor; but doesn't give this gifted, intelligent comedian his best milieu--listen to him on old radio shows for a high sardonic wit. And then, as the episode contents reveal, there is a joyful appearance by an even earlier radio star, Eddie Cantor. Double nostalgia--then, and now.

Fred's only Appearance on Jack's Program

[dougdoepke · 25 September 2010]

This was Fred's only appearance on Jack's program. Too bad, because when they traded barbs on radio, they were hilarious. But frankly, the skit here fails to take advantage of their mock feud. They're kept separate for too long, and when finally paired up, the material unfortunately sags. Reviewer jhboswell is right—Allen's real forte was radio. His program was both very funny and well put together with its colorful supporting characters.

It's also revealing seeing Allen and Benny together, and how much of Jack's comedy was visual as well as spoken. So it's not surprising, to me at least, that Jack would be a bigger TV success than Fred. Nonetheless, it's a good chance to catch one of the giants of radio comedy. Also—be sure to catch the surprise guest.