Following a bevy of beauties off of a coast to coast jetliner, Ethel Merman enters with a song, and by the time she completes this medley of hits, the audience is completely satisfied. But the show has just begun, and it's in an hour of music and comedy with Merman, Jimmy Durante and Gene Nelson. The comedy sketches are a mixed bag, with Ethel attempting to be a harpist in upper-crust orchestra (lead by stuffy Benny Rubin who has no patience for Ethel's characters antics), and the results of that sketch hit a flat note. She has better luck with Jimmy Durante where they use a lazy Susan for a sophisticated lunch that keeps them spinning, then breaking into a medley of song hits.
The highlight of this episode of the Colgate Comedy Hour is a mini musical featuring Merman in her signature role as a Brash American abroad in Paris singing Cole Porter songs and making all sorts of gauche American errors. It ain't quite a Gershwin ballet, but this is Merman doing what she does best, being naturally funny and not forced. Durante joins her as several different characters and Gene Nelson dances along Barrie Chase, and the result is just fine. A dream sequence follows and Merman all of a sudden is sophisticated, singing songs from "Can-Can". Certainly, the sets look rather cheap, but what does it matter when you've got all these great Cole Porter songs and Merman and Durante performing them?
The highlight of this episode of the Colgate Comedy Hour is a mini musical featuring Merman in her signature role as a Brash American abroad in Paris singing Cole Porter songs and making all sorts of gauche American errors. It ain't quite a Gershwin ballet, but this is Merman doing what she does best, being naturally funny and not forced. Durante joins her as several different characters and Gene Nelson dances along Barrie Chase, and the result is just fine. A dream sequence follows and Merman all of a sudden is sophisticated, singing songs from "Can-Can". Certainly, the sets look rather cheap, but what does it matter when you've got all these great Cole Porter songs and Merman and Durante performing them?