''The Jonathan Winters Show'' is the first of two

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

television network Variety show television programs to be hosted by

comedian A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing Amusement is the state of experiencing humorous and entertaining events or situations while the person or a ...

Jonathan Winters. The television series was broadcast from October 1956 to June 1957 on NBC.

Synopsis

This ''Jonathan Winters Show'' was aired at the beginning of

prime time Prime time or the peak time is the block of broadcast programming taking place during the middle of the evening for a television show. It is mostly targeted towards adults (and sometimes families). It is used by the major television networks to ...

, from 7:30 to 7:45 PM Eastern time on Tuesday nights, to round out the half-hour containing NBC's evening newscast, which was at the time, like all similar programs, likewise only 15 minutes long. This program replaced the Tuesday night broadcast of '' The Dinah Shore Show'', which, since 1951, was broadcast on both Tuesday and Thursday nights and reduced in October 1956 to Thursday nights only. Although network evening newscasts were not expanded to a half hour until 1963, the 1956-57 season was the last one in which the American networks aired 15 minute long entertainment programs to complete filling the time slot. This series holds the distinction of being the first television program to use videotape. A song performed by '' Your Hit Parade'' regular Dorothy Collins introduced the new format on October 23, 1956. Winters' show was also one of the first weekly series to broadcast In color.

Format

This early ''Jonathan Winters Show'' consisted of an opening

monologue In theatre, a monologue (from el, μονόλογος, from μόνος ''mónos'', "alone, solitary" and λόγος ''lógos'', "speech") is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes a ...

by Winters, a musical number by a guest star, and a closing comedy sketch by Winters, which might also include the guest star.

Cast

In addition to host Winters, announcer Don Pardo was also on the program through March 1957, frequently appearing with Winters in the sketches also. In that month, he was replaced by Wayne Howell in this role. Regular musical support was provided by the Eddie Safranski Orchestra.

References

* Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, '' The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows''

External links

*
Two public domain episodes at the Internet Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jonathan Winters Show (1956), The 1956 American television series debuts 1957 American television series endings NBC original programming 1950s American sketch comedy television series 1950s American variety television series Black-and-white American television shows English-language television shows