Can You Top This? (TV series)

Can You Top This? is an American television comedy show that was broadcast on ABC from October 3, 1950, to March 26, 1951.[1]

Format

Can You Top This? was a video version of the radio program with the same name. Jokes sent in by listeners were read to the audience, after which members of a panel attempted to provide a funnier joke about the same topic.[1] A laugh meter was used to determine which joke was the funniest in each round.[2] Ward Wilson was the master of ceremonies. The panelists were Peter Donald, "Senator" Ford, Harry Hershfield, and Joe Laurie Jr.[3] Charles Stark was the announcer.[4]

Production

Maiden Wine sponsored Can You Top This? Episodes originated via WJZ-TV[3] from the Elyssea Theater on West 58th Street in New York[5] Ford and Ed Webber were producers. Roger Bower and Marshall Diskin were directors.[4] The show initially was broadcast from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays. In December 1950 it was moved to Mondays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. E.T.[2]

Critical response

A review in The New York Times indicated that viewers deserved more than what they saw in the initial episode of the TV version of Can You Top This? The review said the show basically "was the old radio show done in front of cameras" with little attention given to the visual component of the program.[6] It concluded, "A television viewer has a right to be more than a member of radio's studio audience.[6]

1970 version

A version of Can You Top This? was syndicated in 1969-1970. Wink Martindale was the initial host; Dennis James replaced him. Morey Amsterdam was the only regular member of the panel.[2] Richard Dawson and Dick Gautier were joke tellers. Amsterdam and Perry Cross were directors. Martin Kane was the director.[4]

References
  1. McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 140. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 215. ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  3. "Debuts, Highlights, Changes (Continued)". Ross Reports. October 1, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  4. Terrace, Vincent (October 21, 2022). From Radio to Television: Programs That Made the Transition, 1929-2021. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-4693-0. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  5. "Meet Up With 'Senator Ford', et al, ABC's TV Stars Of Hit, 'Can You Top This?'". The Morning Call. December 9, 1950. p. 20. Retrieved July 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Gould, Jack (October 4, 1950). "Billy Rose gives first show on TV". The New York Times. p. 46. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
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