The Jack Benny 1938 season: my review

I've spent the last 39 days (appropriate, no?) listening to Jack Benny's 1938 season.

The whole gang from the 1937 season is still here - there were no changes. Jell-o is still the sponsor as well.

What did change - and for the better - was Phil Harris. In just one year, he blossomed into the character we are familiar with; the Southern hambone. Perhaps he's not quite there, but you know he's right at the tip of his characteristic self.

Andy Devine was the Mayor of Van Nuys, California

One other change is that Andy Devine was elected as mayor of the city of Van Nuys, California and there are plenty of jokes about it. Not funny jokes - but jokes, nonetheless.

Shlepperman and the bald-headed man who has no name are back as well. The bald-headed man makes a pest of himself but only bothers Jack by calling on the phone or knocking at the door and saying something silly. I'm really not sure why this unnamed man was on these last two seasons, but he certainly got paid a lot of money for nothing, in my opinion.

The feud with Fred Allen is still going but it's not what it was in the prior season.

Mary, Don and Kenny are the same old, same old. They really seem to never change. Kudos to Kenny for always reading his lines correctly and playing his part to the hilt.

The whole season is uneventful. While the prior season was all about Buck Benny, Buck Benny, BUCK BENNY and a lot of feuding with Fred Allen - there's hardly even a mention of Buck in this season - and the feud with Allen is only mentioned here and there. There's not really a theme to the season.

Still, lots of fun to be had if you avoid the music.

OTT Buffet?

Old-time television.  I'll admit, I'm a fan.  This blog will never head that way but I found this advert for Rice Krispies I have to share because it's just too good to pass up!

Is this the first recipe ever for these delicious snacks?

The Jack Benny 1937 season: my review

I've spent the last month and a half listening to Jack Benny's program from the year 1937. This was my first venture into Benny's program prior to the year 1940, due to sound preference.

The sound for the 1937 season is decent and if I remember correctly, there was only one episode that was hard to listen to. It's amazing that we still have copies of anything this old audio-wise that sounds this good.

Perhaps a 1937 rendition of Phil Harris

The season started out welcoming Phil Harris, who became Benny's new orchestra leader. Harris is very calm, smooth and somewhat reserved the entire year; he is NOT the same egotistical character he became in later years.

There is a running gag that starts about half-way through the season that has Jack and Phil fighting over girls and whatnot.  Phil can't be described as "funny" during this season; Phil is more just a piece of the furniture on the Benny stage, with few, mostly domestic, lines.

Mary Livingstone is of course there and she is the same old foil in 1937 that you probably know (and love.)

Kenny Baker is the singer. While he's no Dennis Day in the acting department, he flawlessly plays his part as the young and very dumb (much "dumber" than Dennis) tenor singer. He delivers his lines -though few- well. I'd have to give him an A+ for his part.

As far as his vocal attributes, I'll let you decide for yourself as vocals from that era give me a headache, no matter who is delivering the music.

Don Wilson "rounds" out the cast and he's all about some Jell-o, the show's sponsor. Don is the same Don no matter what year it is, it seems.

Two special guests show up frequently in 1937. One is Andy Devine who has that incredible teenage voice...

The other guest is some unnamed man who knocks at the door in almost episode and wishes "you and yours" a wonderful New Year. After about the 3rd time, it's no longer funny or close_to_funny, yet there he is at the door every week. Finally, come November, his lines change to something else but he's not funny then either.

The entire 1937 season seems to revolve around a play enitlted, "Buck Benny", where Jack plays Buck, a cowboy.



They must have gotten a ton of mail about it because there are more than 15 shows devoted to it in 1937. I don't find it even remotely funny, myself. Devine "steals" the scenes when he's there but even that's a stretch as there is virtually nothing to steal. Maybe it's the times, but Buck Benny is simply the worst running gag the show ever had, as far as I am concerned.

In all, Benny is more of a boring emcee than a comedian and the 1937 season is not really worth your time if you are looking for laughs.

Overall grade (out of 100): 62

You don't say?

Hmmm.  I wasn't aware of any confusion between "Rochester" and Andy Devine!