Bob Crosby

[Yhtapmys]

I started from the beginning and listen to shows chronologically, and recently went through the transition from Phil to Bob. Phil was actually my least favorite regular, because his shtick was so broad and a bit one-note, but since Bob took over I've found myself missing Phil a lot.

<snip analysis>

This is a really interesting thread for which I wasn't around when it started.

I think the writers were hamstrung a bit. Bob Crosby was already known, so they couldn't create an outrageous character with him, like Phil. They had to base it on reality - he was a low-key guy who was Bing's brother. That's what he was on the Benny Show.

A low-key guy isn't going to get the material or laughs like a Mr. Kitzel or Floorwalker.

He ended up getting "band" jokes because Jack figured they'd work no matter who was leading the band. The booze jokes wouldn't have worked for Bob because people knew what Bob was and wasn't.

Mahlon Merrick suffered from the same problem.

Honestly, I don't know what else they could have done with Bob. He came across to me as a pleasant guy who really didn't quite fit in with the mix. He's equally as pleasant on his daytime radio show. He was amusing at times, but not funny.

I think Phil Harris is great and the show sure missed him when he left.

Yhtapmys
"Drive your blues away."

[LLeff]

I think the writers were hamstrung a bit.

This is true, but also for different reasons. By this time, Hal Goldman and Al Gordon were doing a lot on the radio shows by re-using bits from previous shows. In listening to the shows for 39 Forever, I could pretty much go from scene to scene and say, "That's from (this date), that's from (that date), etc." I commented to Jeanette Eyeman that it sounded like they were cutting up the old scripts bit-by-bit, tossing them in the air and reassembling them, and she confirmed that this was pretty much what they were doing. With that level of recycling going on, it would be very difficult (if not impossible) to create a well-defined character, because other characters would need to react/relate to whatever characteristics were chosen. Without wanting to create too much original material, you end up creating a character that's basically caulking within the script reuse.

[Yhtapmys]

By this time, Hal Goldman and Al Gordon were doing a lot on the radio shows by re-using bits from previous shows.

Is this because they were concentrating on TV or had just run out of ideas?

Yhtapmys
"Drive your blues away!"

[LLeff]

Is this because they were concentrating on TV or had just run out of ideas?

A little of both, but more so because they were concentrating on TV. Limited idea pool, even with the two additional writers. I'm sure there was also a learning curve to writing for television after writing so long for radio which may have made the script production not the fine-tuned Monday-Saturday schedule they developed for radio (plus performers learning blocking, etc. that was not needed in radio other than to avoid traffic at the microphone).

Also compare the guest list of the television shows vs. the radio shows of the same time, and you can see where the show budget was also concentrating. Paley knew which way the wind was blowing.

[bboswell]

Paley knew which way the wind was blowing.

Awww, this television thing is just a passing fad. I think vaudeville will come back any day now.

All joking aside, I do wonder if there is a cycle that is ending now. Vaudeville performers turned to radio, and then Vaudeville petered out. Radio players turned to television and then radio fizzled. Now the internet is opening a new medium to everyone with YouTube and such.

(Oh, by the way, I want to congratulate everyone on being Time magazine's person of the year. I'm proud of you all!)

ZEJackBennyKid, maybe you should be writing the Jack Benny Story script as a 12-part YouTube mini-series or something!