The Bob Hope Show (TV Series) Bob Cummings, Lily Pons and Eleanor Roosevelt (1950) User Reviews

This was Bob Hope's first Christmas show for television

[tavm · 6/10 · 29 December 2020]

I'm guessing this kinescope aired a couple of weeks on the West Coast after the live version on the East Coast because the version I saw on Amazon Prime had Bob Hope mentioning that fact at the beginning. The program proper took place at a New York theater and had someone show the credit cards by hand before a children's choir performs Christmas songs. Then Hope does his monologue of which many of the dated references sailed through my head. The Bob introduced Opera singer Lily Ponds who looked quite stunning with a top and a bare midriff and long skirt. When Hope returned he joked about originally supposed to do the number but didn't look good in what Ms. Pons wore! He then has some humorous banter with next guest star Robert Cummings, first about his sideburns, then about the states each are from before they sing some songs. Then a long live commercial from sponsor Fridgidare with a younger and older couple with the latter speaking about sacrifices and how worthy they were. After which, Betty Bruce comes on stage to do a tap dancing routine. Next, comes a subway sketch with Hope, Cummings, and a couple of other men dressed in Santa suits comparing their work days at various department stores. Not very funny though there was nice singing about those stores. Then comes harpist Robert Maxwell who's pretty entertaining. Then another sketch about a large present with some new lyrics of that hit novelty song "The Thing" performed by Pons, Cummings, and Hope that was quite amusing. Then that children's choir performs again before Bob then introes former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt who recounts George Washington's speech about crossing the Delaware during the Revolutionary War for inspiration concerning the current situation at the time. At that point, the program ended with the NBC logo at the time appearing with the letters lighting up when those famous chimes were playing. Not a great show, but pretty entertaining if one doesn't expect much in hilarity.