The Jack Benny Program
Season 8
TV-G
Jack Benny was a regular on his own radio program since 1932. He brought the program, with his underplayed humor, to television along with his radio regulars. Jack, who remained thirty-nine-years-old, kept his money in his basement and drove his old Maxwell car just as he had done on the radio.
Where to Watch Season 8
16 Episodes
- First Show of the SeasonE1
First Show of the SeasonShow opens with the audience in line to see the show, telling each other how their tickets were forced on them. In his opening monologue, Jack analyzes his own humor. Dennis sings 'Around the world in 80 days.' Don does the Lucky Strike commercial as a calypso number; Jack won't let him finish it. He introduces Mel Blanc as Otto Ketzler, a novelty music act from Vienna; Ketzler plays bottles filled with alcohol--as he tunes them, he becomes more and more inebriated. Don's wife makes Jack call the sponsor to explain that the curtailed commercial was Jack's fault, not Don's. - Hal March ShowE3
Hal March ShowDuring the monologue, the President and Secretary of the Jack Benny Fan Club, Pasadena Chapter, come onstage. Don and Harlow Wilson do a soft shoe to 'Me and my shadow' for the Lucky commercial. Hal March, host of The $64,000 Question quiz show, is the guest; Jack asks him questions, and he tries to answer them for prizes. - Ginger Rogers ShowE4
Ginger Rogers ShowOnly Jack could reunite Fred & Ginger with his program's generous salaries & lavish production values. Ginger's more concerned that Jack will destroy her dinner party by scaring off her guests with his violin. Fred can't make rehearsals, but so what ? The suave, lithe Jack is the perfect understudy. - John Forsythe ShowE5
John Forsythe ShowJack's monologue is interrupted by Lassie walking across the stage. Soon Jon Provost follows, and Lassie has to rescue him from Jack's invitation to join the Beverly Hills Beavers, once he learns Provost makes $500 a week. Benny introduces John Forsythe in the audience. Don does the Lucky Strike commercial as a man-on-the-street interview. Mel Blanc plays a passerby who is insulted when it turns out he is not being featured on This is your life. Mary Costa sings 'One fine day' from Madame Butterfly. Jack has forgotten that he asked her to dinner, and has made another date. John Forsythe asks her out instead. They go to a gypsy restaurant where they discover Jack masquerading as a gypsy violinist. - Jack's Life Story
E6Jack's Life StoryBig budget movie of Jack's life - starring Jack - it's a natural. When producer Buddy Adler summons him, Jack isn't reminded of Sunset Boulevard, he's envisioning himself as director too. Jack barely makes it to Adler's office alive, because Jack's last director, now a studio guard, opens fire on Jack's car. Hearthrob Van Johnson is in Adler's waiting room too, but the nicer Van is the fouler Jack's mood. - Jack Takes a Beaver to the DentistE9
Jack Takes a Beaver to the DentistLittle Joey Miller, a member of the Beaver Club, has a bad tooth and won't go to the dentist. Mrs. Miller calls Jack and asks him to talk to Joey. Mrs. Miller brings Joey to the house. Jack suggests they all go to his dentist. Jack decides to show Joey having your tooth pulled doesn't hurt. And it all goes wrong. Rochester sings "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." - Jack at the Races
E11Jack at the RacesDennis sings 'If I loved you.' Jack takes Mary to the races. Dennis tags along, much to Jack's dismay. Dennis tells Jack his system for betting. Don tells racetrack tout Leonard to buy Luckies. Leonard tells Jack what table to eat at. Jack meets his sponsor and convinces him to bet on the horse that Jack likes. Jack, though, is convinced by the sponsor to bet on his horse. - Academy AwardsE13
Academy AwardsJack introduces George Seaton, President of the Motion Picture Academy. Jack is upset because he has not been asked to be an emcee at the Academy Awards. He visits producer Jerry Wald to ask why he was not chosen as an emcee; Wald promises that if one of the five emcees can't make it, Jack will be the first to be called to substitute. Jack visits Jimmy Stewart, one of the five emcees, on the set of his latest picture, and ruins take after take, then plays Stewart's scene as he thinks it should be done. - Railroad Station ShowE14
Railroad Station ShowPreparing for a train trip to New York, he's held up at home by a slow moving plumber there to fix a dripping faucet, and phone calls from a girl looking for her boyfriend to elope with. When he gets to the station, he finds his reserved room has been canceled just as the train is about to leave. - Hillbilly ActE16
Hillbilly ActMeeting at Jack's house, his manager has a hard time finding any privacy to talk to him. His writers seem to be simpleminded and easily distracted, adding to the frustration. Jack reminisces about his supposed start in show business in a hillbilly stage stage show complete with a feud shooting.
