The Jack Benny Program Episode Rating Graph

Jack goes Christmas shopping with Rochester and drives the staff of the department store crazy.

The Smothers Brothers confound every attempt by Jack to force them into his straitjacket comedy formula while performing his theme song, but, even scarier to Jack, he is pinned under an unexploded bomb in a World War II London air raid. The UXB squad turns out to be the Smothers. Tom can't remember which wire to pull, while Dick uses the opportunity of Jack's being immobilized to lock in an appearance on Jack's final program.

Jack Jones appears as a moonlighting teacher in a sketch and sings "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered." Don Wilson is the program's announcer.

In a parody of a radio show Jack portrays "The Fiddler," a mysterious figure who stalks at night. Dennis Day: Himself. Victims: Mel Blanc and Eliza Ross Thorne. Radio Actors: Charles Cantor and Jessalyn Fax. Don Wilson is the announcer.

Don's son becomes a playboy with Jack's help.

How Jack first met Dennis Day. Agent: Jesse White. Restaurant Owner: Sammee Tong. Announcer: Don Wilson.

Jack has problems: Don Wilson's son has to pinch-hit for Dad; and Jack's "talent find" has turned exotic dancer. Harlow: Dale White. Mrs. Wilson: Lois Corbett. Lisa: Beverly Hills.

When Clint Walker hints that his movie requires a big man to portray his brother, a rebuilt Jack appears. Usher: Pat Colby. Man on Tour: Ned Miller.

Jack tries to win a girl away from Robert Goulet. Goulet sings "This Is All I Ask." Girl: Joan Marshall. Don Wilson.

Jack devotes the program to answering request letters from his viewers. One viewer asks about sound effects on his radio program, so he asks Ray Erlenborn to demonstrate; he makes the sounds of horses' hooves, a parade of marching soldiers, the milking of a cow, and a fight between Jack and John Wayne. For the State Farm Car Insurance commercial, Jack invites a serviceman up from the audience, who claims State Farm insured his tank in the Battle of the Bulge. Dennis sings a country western song. Jack's sister Florence has written in asking why he never gives Dennis or Don a chance to work alone; they do a Laurel and Hardy imitation. The last request is that Jack play a piece of serious music. Unfortunately, the accompanist sent over at the last minute by the Musicians' Union completely upstages Jack with his comic antics.

Connie Francis plays the wife of a composer. Announcer: Don Wilson.

Jack encounters nothing but headaches trying to make a flight to New York.

When Jack is omitted from the Ladies' Club's show, he confronts the entertainment committee: Mmes. Groucho Marx, Phil Silvers, Kirk Douglas and Milton Berle (who play themselves). Announcer: Don Wilson.

Jack tries to take over Lawrence Welk's baton when the maestro and his orchestra appear. Don Wilson is the announcer.

Dennis sings 'On the First Warm Day.' After being interviewed for an article on his life story, Jack daydreams about what he would have done had he not left home to go into show business: he would have given violin lessons.

After Jack's monologue he tells about his cruise to Hawaii with Rochester, where they encounter a series of characters on the ship Jack takes a nap and dreams that Marilyn Monroe is on board with him. Marilyn sings to Jack and tells him she is crazy about him.

Jack tries to call Liberace. Two operators, Gertrude and Mabel, talk about Jack. Jack finally decides to go to Liberace's home. The house is filled with candelabra. Liberace asks Jack to appear with him in concert. After Liberace performs solo, the two play 'September song' together, Jack on his violin.

Jack, awakened by a phone call at 4 a.m., cannot get back to sleep. After he decides to go for an early morning walk, he comes home exhausted, but Mary comes over and reminds him that they were to go shopping for a new suit for Jack.

Jack is sick with a bad cold and Rochester is his nurse and Mary is fixing him something to eat. Jack is waiting for his lawyer to show up as Jack wants him to break Don Wilson's contract as Jack is blaming him for his cold. In a flashback, we learn that after a show rehearsal, Don Wilson invites them to his house to see some anniversary gifts and Jack repeatedly warns Don to check with his wife, Lois, Don always declines. After arriving at Don's house and after Jack is told by Mary to pay the $1.85 taxi bill and Jack gives the driver a 15 cent tip., Don is now worried that he should have checked with his wife first. Don has them wait at the corner of the house while he checks with Lois. Lois informs Don that she just opened a can of tuna as she didn't have time to go shopping. Don decides to have the gang show up

During Jack's monologue about his Christmas gifts, Don comes out to announce a purse has been found. It turns out to belong to Jayne Mansfield, who was sitting in the audience when the usher grabbed her purse she considers this to be a pretty sneaky way to get a guest star. Jack mentions The Girl Can't Help It, her latest picture. The Sportsmen Quartet and Rochester perform New Year's in Trinidad for the Lucky Strike ad. In the sketch, Jack hosts a talent contest. Mel Blanc plays an animal impersonator. The Landrew Sisters trio sings Did you ever see a dream walking. Leon Salvadore, a judo champ, is beaten by the six big men he asserts he will beat.

Jack wants to star in the movie version of his life story, but producer Buddy Adler wants Van Johnson. Van Johnson and Buddy Adler play themselves. Announcer: Don Wilson. Rochester: Eddie Anderson.

Jack goes to a gym so that he can improve his physique and impress a young lady; Don goes with him.

Rochester imagines that a crazy doctor is operating on him. Rochester: Eddie Anderson. Don Wilson is the announcer.

Rochester gives away Jack's old clothes, not knowing that money is hidden in a lining. Rochester: Eddie Anderson. Watson: Grandon Rhodes. Don Wilson is the announcer for the program.

Frankie Avalon appears with Jack, who signs him on for the show. Engineer: Frank Gerstle. Recording Manager: Cliff Norton. Don Wilson is the announcer.

Jack is held for ransom in this sketch with George Burns. Kidnapper: Merry Anders. Accomplice: Warren Kemmerling.

It is Rochester's day off, and Jack has to make his own lunch. Don arrives, and Rochester sings the commercial to him; they do a soft-shoe routine together. A messenger arrives with Johnnie Ray's contract for a guest appearance, and Jack is horrified to see that Ray wants $10,000. Jack goes to Ray's home to tell him off, and have him sing to see if he is worth the money. Ray sings 'Please don't talk about me when I'm gone,' and 'Cry.' Jack is devastated and agrees to Ray's price. At the end of the show, Danny Thomas makes a guest appearance to plug Make Room for Daddy.

Jack tells an interviewer how he met Mary Livingstone years before when she worked at The May Co. Rochester sings and dances with The Sportsmen Quartet.

Jack gets a haircut between the dress rehearsal and the show; none of the barbers want to do it because his tips are so small. Don and Oscar the seal do the State Farm commercial. Gisele sings 'Smile'. Jack asks her for a date, but she is busy giving a party to which she has not invited Jack. They do their violin duet, during which Jack's ten dollar suit from Hong Kong comes to pieces.

A heavy holds up a cafeteria where Jack is eating. Heavy: Dan Duryea. Announcer: Don Wilson.