The Jack Benny Hour

This is a good example of entertainment from this period. Benny is himself telling the same jokes and being the butt of the same jokes. The music of the Beach Boys is interesting as are the skits. But the screaming in the background while the Beach Boys were singing was a little over the top.

I always liked Benny but now looking back at his performances I see that all the jokes are the same and all the facial expressions are the same. His timing is perfect but it is all the same. Someone makes a comment about him being cheap and he places his hand on his cheek or turns his face towards the camera.

The treatment of women on his show is also worth noting. Women are viewed as sex objects in a manner one could never get away with today. If you are at all interested in looking back in time to a different period this is an excellent program to start with.

If you appreciate Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Elke Sommer, the Beach Boys, et al, you will appreciate shows like this. One has to keep in mind that this show was aired on Nov 3rd, 1965 and a whole lot has changed since then. It's an entirely different world. The attitude and behavior towards women, the attitude and behavior towards all groups within this country, whatever hyphenated group, has changed to the point that this type of humor would never be attempted today unless done by a member of whatever group is being spoofed. Being of Italian ancestry, I actually appreciated the last comedy sketch, once your mind adjusts to the era and also knowing first hand the vast generalizations of Italians that are actually true, I found so much of this show that showed why the host and participants, all big names, and were the stars that they were. The Beach Boys segment, although the show butchered California Girls (the music itself is a masterpiece by Brian Wilson), it was interesting to see them in their heyday (Brian before breakdowns, Dennis and Carl before the various issues that led to both of their unfortunate passing way before their time, the band before the inner turmoil caused mainly by Love and self destruction) and interacting with Benny and Hope. Their live rendition of Barbara Ann is a treat. This is one of my least appreciated tunes by them (a "cover" off their Party album) but to see Carl take the opportunity to add some great Carl guitar licks was a surprise and benefit.

This show is a great example of an era - the heyday of the variety show. I was a small child when these shows were running with vague memories of them and I watch them now and appreciate the talent and time from the era that they were made.