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The Joey Bishop Show Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
33 Episodes 1961 - 1962
Episode 1
On the Spot
Wed, Sep 20, 196130 mins
Joey is fired, While complaining to his brother-in-law at the local diner, he is recorded and the show will be broadcast the next evening. This is Joey's chance to tell his boss off. Later in the day Joey learns his boss is giving him his job back as the boss gave him wrong instructions to begin with.
Episode 2
Joey Meets Jack Paar
Wed, Sep 27, 196130 mins
Joey expects to be doing publicity work for Marilyn Monroe, but instead, it's a chimp that worked in a new film, "African Safari". He manages to get in to see Jack Paar, where he's temporarily doing the "Tonight" show from the NBC studios in Burbank. Paar has a nonstop commotion of auditioning singers, visits from his daughter and phone calls from Zsa Zsa and Genevieve, yet Joey manages to get his monkey client on the show. When he tells the chimp's trainer about the big break, she goes out to have her hair done and leaves Joey with the ape. Still not back by showtime, Joey, by now petrified with stage fright, must go on with the chimp himself.
Episode 3
A Windfall for Mom
Wed, Oct 4, 196130 mins
After supporting his family for some time, Joey becomes frustrated with his mother when she begins to spend money frivolously but doesn't pay the bills. He seeks advice from "Dear Dora" and sends his mother a phony letter that says she will receive a monthly trust fund payment from a deceased relative so that she won't feel she is a burden to Joey but will learn to budget.
Episode 4
This Is Your Life
Wed, Oct 11, 196130 mins
Willoughby assigns Joey the task of getting Danny Williams to L.A. for an appearance on THIS IS YOUR LIFE - without Danny knowing about it. What sounds impossible suddenly becomes probable when Danny thinks Joey is having an affair with Kathy. He'll follow Joey to the ends of the earth for the chance to kill him.
Episode 5
The Contest Winner
Wed, Oct 18, 196130 mins
Frank wins a slogan contest for a biscuit company, but the firm where Joey just got him a job is an affiliate, making Frank ineligible for the prize money. No problem. Determined to get the prize anyway, Frank concocts another of his crazy schemes and draws Joey and his guilty conscience right into the middle of it.
Episode 6
The Bachelor
Wed, Oct 25, 196130 mins
Joey and his client, Connie Bowers, are caught in the rain so he takes her home. She discovers that Joey lives with his mother, and brother, and sister. Then Joey's brother-in-law offers to drive Miss Bowers home. Joey has the opportunity to use an apartment while he pet-sits for the owner. The stereo can run non-stop for 72 hours.
Episode 7
Help Wanted
Sun, Oct 29, 196130 mins
Joey's brother-in-law Frank is unemployed again, and with a little pressure from the family, Joey asks Mr. Willoughby to give him a job at the public relations firm. Starting at the bottom means nothing to Frank, who manages to convince the firm's top comedian client that he should give up comedy and turn to Shakespeare. Now the question is, can Joey find a way to fire Frank before he creates more chaos.
Episode 8
Five Brides for Joey
Wed, Nov 1, 196122 mins
In an effort to save his sister's marriage, Joey convinces them how lucky they are to have each other by disingenuously emphasizing how lonely a bachelor's life he leads. This spurs each member of his family to set him up with a prospective bride. This was one of the rare, random episodes from the first season to be shot in color.
Episode 9
Back in Your Own Backyard
Wed, Nov 8, 196130 mins
Assigned to drum up publicity for pop singer Snooky Bradford, Joey raffles off a date with the celebrity to one of his many adoring fans. The lucky winner is a sheltered farm girl whose overprotective father forbids her to go on the date. To pull off the stunt, Joey tries to pass off the hip Snooky as a hayseed farm boy.
Episode 10
Charity Begins at Home
Wed, Nov 15, 196130 mins
Mrs. Barnes rents to a boarder, unaware that he's running a bookie joint out of his room. Innocently, she involves herself, the family and the Willoughbys in the gambling operation - just in time for a police raid.
Episode 11
Ring-A-Ding-Ding
Wed, Nov 22, 196130 mins
Joey makes a bet that Ricky Hamilton can't get Barbara to go out with him. Barbara initially turns him down because she has interest in Joey, but her mother convinces her to use the opportunity to make Joey jealous.
Episode 12
Help Wanted
Wed, Nov 29, 196130 mins
Joey's brother-in-law Frank flops at every job he ever gets due to his general incompetence. Yet, his family insists he get him a position at Willoughby Public Relations. Joey reluctantly does, starting him off in the least skilled position available there, a driver. Frank is told to pick up an important client, a much in demand famous Television comedian, at the airport. To the shock of all, during the trip, Frank convinces the man to switch to heavy drama instead.
Episode 13
The Ham in the Family
Wed, Dec 6, 196130 mins
After a hit performance in his college follies, Larry is convinced he should quit medical school and pursue a career in show business. Joey tries to talk him out of it, but once an agent agrees to represent him, Larry is even more determined. Joey convinces an old burlesque buddy to use Larry in his act, hoping that he'll bomb and go back to school.
Episode 14
Follow That Mink
Wed, Dec 13, 196130 mins
With Willoughby out of town, Joey is drafted to messenger a mink stole to Mrs. Willoughby as a 25th anniversary present. Unfortunately, Mom intercepts the package and thinks it's her birthday present. Joey scrambles for a way to save his job, and not disappoint his mother.
Episode 15
Barney, the Bloodhound
Wed, Dec 27, 196130 mins
For his P.R. firm, Joey signs a contract giving a dog food client the right to use his likeness in the promotion of their product. He's shocked to find that he is now the face of logo 'Barney the Bloodhound,' and the commercial success of the character commits him to make personal appearances in a dog costume. Embarrassed by his situation, Joey refuses, and winds up as the defendant in a breach of contract lawsuit.
Episode 16
Taming of the Brat
Wed, Jan 3, 196230 mins
Joey is assigned to look after a demanding child star and his family is less than thrilled. After blasting the late show and playing drums all night Joey's mom has some ideas on how to handle him, but Joey is worried about bad publicity.
Episode 17
Home Sweet Home
Wed, Jan 10, 196230 mins
When Joey receives a promotion and prepares to move to New York City, the family reluctantly agrees to sell the house. But the house sells before Joey loses the job, and the real estate broker refuses to back out of the deal.
Episode 18
A Letter from Stella
Wed, Jan 17, 196230 mins
Stella is ghost-writing love letters for her friend Nina. Mom finds them, and the family assumes that Stella is having an affair. Their initial jumping to conclusions turns to shock when they meet Sasha, Nina's fiancee, who is a much older man with several divorces and assume that Stella is about to run off with him.
Episode 19
Jury Duty
Wed, Jan 24, 196230 mins
Joey gets a letter summoning him to jury duty, however he does not want to use his vacation time to do it. So he looks for a way out. Joey nags his fellow jurors so much that they recess deliberation over the weekend. Joey learns the lesson of "devotion to duty".
Episode 20
The Income Tax Caper
Wed, Jan 31, 196230 mins
Joey receives an audit notice for his 1959 tax return, and discovers that Mom accidentally threw away all of his records. Imagination runs wild in a nightmare, as Joey dreams about the IRS prosecuting him for fraud.
Episode 21
Double Exposure
Wed, Feb 7, 196230 mins
Big Sam sends a couple of his men to change the mind of the comedian Joey Bishop (who looks remarkably like Joey Barnes) whose schedule is too full to open an act for him. The men are determined to bring Bishop back with them despite his refusal. Joey tries to use carrier pigeons to alert others to his situation. A surprise on the Jack Paar Show helps him out.
Episode 22
A Man's Best Friend
Wed, Feb 14, 196230 mins
The Barnes family takes in a huge lost dog that doesn't seem to like Joey and Joey thinks is too big to keep. Joey gives the dog away and then finds out there is a $1000 reward. Joey finds a replacement dog. Happy solution found.
Episode 23
Very Warm for Christmas
Wed, Feb 21, 196230 mins
During a March heat wave, Mom wishes the spirit of Christmas could be felt year-round, and she has Joey place a Santa and His Reindeer display on the front yard. The neighborhood isn't pleased with all the attention Santa receives, so a grievance committee led by neighbors Flint and Jillson takes the Barneses to court.
Episode 24
The Big Date
Wed, Feb 28, 196230 mins
Joey stages a contest for a date with a folk singer client. The grandfather of the young woman who wins will not permit it without getting to know the young man first. Joey and the singer stay at the farm pretending the young man comes from a farm in order to be approved for the date.
Episode 25
Joey Hires a Maid
Wed, Mar 7, 196230 mins
Joey, Stella and Larry hire a maid to make life easier for Mom. Two problems: the Barnes' maid winds up leaving the kids doing all the work, while Mrs. Barnes now feels useless and goes through an agency to hire herself out as a part-time maid.
Episode 26
That's Showbiz
Wed, Mar 14, 196230 mins
A female singer owes Joey Barnes a favor and Joey owes a night club owner a favor. Can things work out here for everyone?
Episode 27
A Young Man's Fancy
Wed, Mar 21, 196230 mins
Joey and Larry are content to lounge around the house, casual and unkempt - until Stella's pretty friend Connie comes to stay for a few days. The two brothers are quickly wearing suits and competing for Connie's attentions, unaware that she's married.
Episode 28
Surprise, Surprise
Wed, Mar 28, 196230 mins
Joey asks his mother to cancel plans for his surprise birthday party. After Peggy changes his mind, Joey hints around to Mom that he wishes he had a party. But a misunderstanding has Joey wondering if there's a party or not, and he winds up sulking with Mr. Jillson trying to cheer him up.
Episode 29
Must the Show Go On?
Wed, Apr 11, 196230 mins
Against the wishes of Women's Club President Mrs. Simmons, Mrs. Barnes produces an amateur talent contest as a fundraiser. Getting Joey to direct and M.C. may not be enough to help when an influx of neighborhood amateurs line up for a show that promises to run 7 hours, or more.
Episode 30
Once a Bachelor
Wed, Apr 18, 196230 mins
Joey's jokes about married life at Freddy's bachelor party go too far, and a scared Freddy calls off his wedding to Sally. After Joey's attempt to save the wedding by showing Freddy a happily married couple backfires, he tries to make Freddy jealous by pretending to be interested in Sally.
Episode 31
Route 78
Wed, Apr 25, 196230 mins
The city is putting a highway extension through the Barnes' neighborhood and everyone must move. Joey convinces the neighbors to have their homes moved to new lots, a plan the city approves - as long as they do so within 30 days. But Mom can't make up her mind where she wants to live, and 29 days later the Barnes family finds itself on the deadline with a wrecking crew standing by.
Episode 32
A Show of His Own
Wed, May 2, 196230 mins
After receiving an offer to host his own network show, Joey begins to suffer a lack of confidence. Not helping matters is the news that his first guest will be Milton Berle, and Joey dreams that Berle will steal the spotlight and spoil his big opportunity.
Episode 33
The Image
Wed, May 9, 196230 mins
The company hires a public relations firm to spruce up Joey Barnes' image. He discovers he needs a new girlfriend "who is someone" and a new wardrobe. They put him in tails and a top hat. He switches "uniforms" with the chauffeur. Gossip columnist sees Joey having a conversation with the busboy. Joey is forced to put his foot down.