Jack Benny Does the Christmas Dinner Shopping
Today we are watching “Jack Does Christmas Shopping Show” from CBS’s The Jack Benny Program. In 1954, when this episode aired, Benny was still also doing weekly his radio show, also for CBS, one of the highest-rated programs of the day. Before his transition to CBS, the radio program also ran for more than a dozen years on NBC. The program was based loosely on Benny’s life, a musician/comic/entertainer’s escapades at home and at work, although Benny’s on-air persona was an exaggerated caricature and the jokes were usually at his expense. Breaking the 4th wall and interacting with the audience was a large part of the show, inviting the viewers to be in on the joke. The show usually started with a bit of stand-up comedy, Benny alone on stage, and then the second part would consist of a skit, involving other actors in a sketch comedy segment.
The Jack Benny Program ran a “Christmas Shopping” show as a reoccurring gag, both on radio and television episodes. In these, Jack’s notoriously miserly character would attempt buy gifts for his staff and friends in the cheapest way possible, usually vexing store clerks with his indecision and penny pinching. In the above, the first televised Christmas shopping episode, Benny loses a fixed card game to his valet Rochester (played by Eddie Anderson) and has to do chores while Rochester takes the day off to go golfing. After tricking [show announcer and frequent foil of Jack’s antics] Don Wilson into taking over the chores using the same card game ruse, Jack heads to the grocery store to pick up food for Christmas dinner. Reoccurring cast actors Benny Rubin, Sheldon Leonard and Frank Nelson appear as clerks and customers he encounters.
Perhaps the most well-remembered of the Christmas shopping episodes is that from 1957, “The Christmas Shopping Show.” Mel Blanc stars as the harried wallet salesperson, jumping through hoops to keep Jack happy as he keeps changing his order. Watch it below:
While Benny was at times less enthusiastic about television than radio, his filmed performances shine. He had a natural talent for deadpan delivery, and the physical comedy worked well for the sketch format. The Jack Benny Program appeared on TV for 14 seasons on CBS and one final 15th season on NBC. Considered one of the top comedy performers of all-time, Benny has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work with television, radio and film.
There's the classic Jack Benny joke:
Mugger: Your money or your life!
Jack Benny: [long pause]
Mugger: Well?
Jack Benny: I'm thinking, I'm thinking.
But I like his early call-out of product placement.
Jack Benny: Oh, Rochester, pull the Cadillac up to the front door.
Rochester: But boss, we don't have a Cadillac!
Jack Benny: We do now.
Thank you. I remember watching Jack Benny. It was a "must see " program. I would laugh every time he stood still alone and with fingers to cheek would say, Well!"