It's easy to think that Jerry Seinfeld was the first man ever to play a comedic,alter-ego version of himself on TV... turns out that's not the case.
That slice of genius was originally served up to us by Mr. Jack Benny and cast. Not just on TV from 1950 to 1965 but on his radio show that ran for over 20 years,starting in 1932.
I noticed there had not been a review here since 2013, so I thought a new perspective was needed. I know most here are happy to see that Mr. Benny's show is on ME-TV and has been restored to almost a near perfection.
ME-TV is the kind of home this show deserves,a network that truly cares about classic television. This,coming after years of cable TV hogging our favorite programs to themselves. (An inconvenience to those of us who don't wish to have cable/satellite etc.)
But.... Along with the re-runs, I also watched a few on a low-budget DVD set that had 4 discs w/ about 11 shows each. Some are not this program but are a newsreel,a short subject & an episode of Bing Crosby's Show. If you come across this set,be forewarned,the films are straight off VHS tape and are of poor quality.
One thing's true here,the quality certainly didn't take away from the comedy. Jack,as we know, presents himself comically as a penny pincher, an egotist and a very demanding boss (to the point of almost being unreasonable.)
Of course,everyone's in on the joke and Rochester,Mary,Dennis Day and Don Wilson & guests play it to the hilt. Especially pot-shots taken at Jack's expense. You think you're tuning in to a typical variety show but it's only the first step into the comedy Twilight Zone of Jack Benny's fictional world.
Which for the 1950s, is something one could almost call "radical" & "unconventional". There's literally times when it seems all are trying to see how far they can push the envelope in the face of 1950s censors.
The funniest 3 of all I've seen are :
#1. Jack's Maxwell Is Stolen - A crazy look into the Beverly Hills Police Dept. #2. Jack & Bob Hope in a manic "In the jungle & captured by cannibals" sketch.
With the 2 breaking up on live TV,through almost every moment of it. #3. Jack can't sleep and decides to play the violin in the middle of the night, waking up most of Beverly Hills & southern California to boot.
One thing that's also great is that yes,Rochester is Jack's butler but he's also his friend. While not stated out loud,it came through loud and clear to me in the 1961 New Year's Eve episode where (*Spoiler*) in the end, Rochester ends up staying home with him,so he wont be alone at midnight.
Given the racial feelings at the time, it's great to see Rochester living so freely,as if there's no such thing as racism. Benny & he mix words sometimes,but it's never about his color.
The only thing that's off putting, is the cigarette advertisements. Not just the separate ones but the one's that are slipped into the entertainment.
This and jokes about Don Wilson's weight and a somewhat disturbing hillbilly sketch,where Jack's hill character points to a 9 year old girl and says,"This is my wife". (Commentary on the age girls from the hills,sometimes,wed then.)
But...don't let the politically incorrect things ruin your enjoyment of the show. That's what the times were all those years ago.
That's my only reason for taking one point away,otherwise it would surely be ten stars all the way.
What do think Jack? - "WELL!" (END)
That slice of genius was originally served up to us by Mr. Jack Benny and cast. Not just on TV from 1950 to 1965 but on his radio show that ran for over 20 years,starting in 1932.
I noticed there had not been a review here since 2013, so I thought a new perspective was needed. I know most here are happy to see that Mr. Benny's show is on ME-TV and has been restored to almost a near perfection.
ME-TV is the kind of home this show deserves,a network that truly cares about classic television. This,coming after years of cable TV hogging our favorite programs to themselves. (An inconvenience to those of us who don't wish to have cable/satellite etc.)
But.... Along with the re-runs, I also watched a few on a low-budget DVD set that had 4 discs w/ about 11 shows each. Some are not this program but are a newsreel,a short subject & an episode of Bing Crosby's Show. If you come across this set,be forewarned,the films are straight off VHS tape and are of poor quality.
One thing's true here,the quality certainly didn't take away from the comedy. Jack,as we know, presents himself comically as a penny pincher, an egotist and a very demanding boss (to the point of almost being unreasonable.)
Of course,everyone's in on the joke and Rochester,Mary,Dennis Day and Don Wilson & guests play it to the hilt. Especially pot-shots taken at Jack's expense. You think you're tuning in to a typical variety show but it's only the first step into the comedy Twilight Zone of Jack Benny's fictional world.
Which for the 1950s, is something one could almost call "radical" & "unconventional". There's literally times when it seems all are trying to see how far they can push the envelope in the face of 1950s censors.
The funniest 3 of all I've seen are :
#1. Jack's Maxwell Is Stolen - A crazy look into the Beverly Hills Police Dept. #2. Jack & Bob Hope in a manic "In the jungle & captured by cannibals" sketch.
With the 2 breaking up on live TV,through almost every moment of it. #3. Jack can't sleep and decides to play the violin in the middle of the night, waking up most of Beverly Hills & southern California to boot.
One thing that's also great is that yes,Rochester is Jack's butler but he's also his friend. While not stated out loud,it came through loud and clear to me in the 1961 New Year's Eve episode where (*Spoiler*) in the end, Rochester ends up staying home with him,so he wont be alone at midnight.
Given the racial feelings at the time, it's great to see Rochester living so freely,as if there's no such thing as racism. Benny & he mix words sometimes,but it's never about his color.
The only thing that's off putting, is the cigarette advertisements. Not just the separate ones but the one's that are slipped into the entertainment.
This and jokes about Don Wilson's weight and a somewhat disturbing hillbilly sketch,where Jack's hill character points to a 9 year old girl and says,"This is my wife". (Commentary on the age girls from the hills,sometimes,wed then.)
But...don't let the politically incorrect things ruin your enjoyment of the show. That's what the times were all those years ago.
That's my only reason for taking one point away,otherwise it would surely be ten stars all the way.
What do think Jack? - "WELL!" (END)