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27 Episodes 1953 - 1954
Episode 1
Tue, Sep 29, 1953
Frank Sinatra and Tallulah Bankhead are Milton's guest stars in the rechristened "Buick-Berle Show." Miltie reads that Bankhead is producing a Broadway play and begins scheming to take over as star from Sinatra. Also appearing are Milton Frome and Jack Collins. The singing "men of Texaco" make a cameo at the top of the show.
Episode 2
Tue, Oct 6, 1953
Berle's guests include actor Edward G. Robinson, singer Eddie Fisher, comic actors Sid Raymond, Ralph Hertz, and Tony Canzoneri, showgirls/models Mildred Hughes and Kitty Carr, Lucky Greene, Miss New York City 1953 Joan Kaible, and Sandra Berle. After running into Fisher in a record store and watching how his fans fawn over him, Milton wants to write and record his own hit record. When he's refused by all the record labels, Miltie asks for help from tough guy Robinson.
Episode 3
Tue, Oct 13, 195360 mins
Berle's guests include actor Jackie Cooper, singer Vic Damone, and comedienne Dagmar. Milton demonstrates the trials and tribulations of hosting a variety television show, complete with unoriginal staff, dim-witted crew, squabbling guest-stars - as well as the star who's convinced that his writers aren't giving him enough jokes. The story is told Dragnet-style, complete with Dragnet musical themes and stingers.
Episode 4
Tue, Oct 27, 1953
Berle's scheduled guests are actor Paul Douglas, opera singer Marguerite Piazza with regular Jack Collins.
Episode 5
Tue, Nov 3, 1953
Berle's guests include Wally Cox from Mister Peepers (1952) and Tallulah Bankhead. Mr. Peepers invites Berle and Bankhead to perform at his school's fall festival. Berle sings "From Rags to Riches" while Bankhead does a dramatic reading of Dorothy Parker's "The Waltz." Miltie tries to get rid of his fawning assistant Max by getting her to date Peepers.
Episode 6
Tue, Nov 10, 1953
Berle's guests are comedienne Martha Raye and actor John Payne, with regulars Ruth Gilbert, Arnold Stang and Milton Frome. Berle and Raye each get invited to a big NBC party and each has trouble finding a date. The two plan to go together until John Payne asks Martha out. Not wanting to leave Miltie going stag, she arranges a date for him; it's the last person he'd ever want to spend the evening with.
Episode 7
Tue, Nov 24, 1953
Berle's guests are actor George Raft, opera singer Patrice Munsel and comedian Steve Allen. Milton is tired of the format of his show, so he decides the episode should have a gangsters and cops-and-robbers theme.
Episode 8
Tue, Dec 1, 1953
Berle's guests include Jack Webb, Lisa Kirk, and Sid Caesar. With Charlie Applewhite, Ruth Gilbert, Arnold Stang, and Jack Collins. In this Dragnet (1951) spoof, Caesar accuses Miltie of swiping his material and calls the cops. The officer investigating the case is Sgt. Joe Friday (Webb). Berle dreams he's on trial for stealing in the court of Judge Arnold Stang. He's found guilty, but Sgt. Friday isn't through with his investigation. Berle and Kirk sing "Still Be Mine" and "From This Moment On." Applewhite does "I Love Paris."
Episode 9
Tue, Dec 8, 195360 mins
Miltie is trying to talk his guests and cast into coming to the surprise party he's throwing for himself. Also, Berle isn't sure what Lawford's actual talent is, leading to a song about that mystery. Lawford hosts the game show parody "What's My Racket?" with the rest of the stars as panelists. They're unable to guess the job of the first contestant, a fireman, even though he's dressed as a fireman and carrying a hose. The mystery guest is Santa. They think he's a fireman. Channing sings "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" from her recent Broadway hit "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." Maria and Carol sing "It's So Nice To Have a Man Around the House." Miltie and Peter duet on "Anything You Can Do." In the finale, Berle sings "I'll Go My Way By Myself" after realizing no one's coming to his party. The cameras follow him backstage, down to the dressing rooms where he takes off his makeup, and back onstage. That's when the cast surprises him with a party.
Episode 10
Tue, Jan 5, 1954
Milton's guests are comedienne Martha Raye and actor Mike Mazurki.
Episode 11
Tue, Jan 12, 1954
Berle's guests this week are Basil Rathbone, comedienne Dagmar, author Mickey Spillane, Walter Greaza as "The Chief" from Treasury Men in Action (1950), Latin vocalist Jose Duval, and vocal group The Hilltoppers. The search is on for a new 1954 Buick that has disappeared from the stage.
Episode 12
Tue, Jan 19, 1954
Berle's guests are film stars Gloria Swanson and Don Ameche.
Episode 13
Tue, Feb 2, 1954
Berle's guests include singer Jane Froman. Berle is talked into buying a nightclub, unaware that there's an illegal casino being run in the back. Gangsters and gamblers come and go through the nightclub in various disguises. The club acts as a setting for numerous musical numbers during the episode.
Episode 14
Tue, Feb 9, 1954
The Buick-Berle Show Berle's guests are actor Paul Douglas and actress Jan Sterling. The real-life married couple Sterling and Dougas are having a spat. It's up to Berle to get them to kiss and make up.
Episode 15
Tue, Feb 23, 1954
Milton's guest is musical comedy star Kaye Thompson. With Jack Collins, Charlie Applewhite, Arnold Stang, and Ruth Gilbert. Berle, fed up with his disrespectful staff, fires the whole bunch and replaces them with the show's new choreographer, Kay Thompson. Thompson's dating the sponsor's rep who decides Kay can also star. Now show-less, Berle visits Max's home to woo her back to his side and finds her family members are bigger goof-balls than she is. Thompson performs "I Won't Dance," "I Love a Violin," and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Applewhite sings "My Secret Love" to Max.
Episode 16
Tue, Mar 2, 1954
Berle's guests are Mickey Rooney and singer Eileen Barton. Rooney is hired by Berle to be his understudy.
Episode 17
Tue, Mar 9, 1954
Berle's guests are Eddie "Rochester" Anderson from The Jack Benny Program (1950) and comedian Jack Carson. Uncle Miltie's having problems with his taxes.
Episode 18
Tue, Mar 23, 1954
Berle's guests this week are Gertrude Berg and Arlene McQuade from TV's The Goldbergs (1949), and comic actor Bob Cummings. Molly's daughter Rosalie wants to move away and joining the theater. It's up to Berle and Cummings to persuade the star-struck teen that show biz isn't all it's cracked up to be
Episode 19
Tue, Mar 30, 1954
Milton's guests include The Will Mastin Trio (starring Sammy Davis, Jr.), Charlie Applewhite, and jockey Sam Renick, plus regulars Arnold Stang and Ruth Gilbert. With the start of racing season, Berle buys a horse and names it after himself, "Mr. Television," and enters it in a race. In the process, he has a run-in with gangsters. The Will Maston Trio perform a song and dance segment with Sammy doing impressions of vocalists Nat "King" Cole, Billy Eckstine, and Vaughn Monroe.
Episode 20
Tue, Apr 6, 1954
Guests are Judith Anderson, Cyril Ritchard and singer Georgia Gibbs. After booking Anderson, Milton realizes he can't communicate with the British theatre legend, even though Francis has no trouble. He hires Cyril Ritchard to be his "translator" and director Anderson; the pair do a dramatic reading from the play Medea. Not to be outdone, Milton and Max offer their comic version.
Episode 21
Tue, Apr 20, 1954
Berle's guests include Steve Allen, singer Janet Blair, heavyweight boxer Ezzard Charles, and regulars Arnold Stang, Milton Frome and Ruth Gilbert. Horsing around, Berle knocks out Charles and now must fight him for real in the ring.
Episode 22
Tue, Apr 27, 1954
Berle's guests include actor Jack Palance and singers Vaughn Monroe and Monica Lewis. In a western town, Miltie opens a nightclub. He receives threats from rival club owner Jack Palance.
Episode 23
Tue, May 4, 1954
Berle's guests include Vivian Vance and William Frawley from I Love Lucy (1951) and singer/actress Janet Blair. Miltie rents a new rehearsal hall from landlords Fred and Ethel Mertz.
Episode 24
Tue, May 18, 1954
Berle's guests include singer Eileen Barton, quick-change performer Owen McGiveney and comic actor/singer Phil Harris. While doing this show in Hollywood, Berle asks Harris to take him to all the swinging night spots.
Episode 25
Tue, May 25, 1954
Berle's guests include movie tough-guy George Raft and actress Ann Sheridan. Berle asks Ann Sheridan to be the co-star in his new movie. Raft agrees to help by sending over a director with very odd ideas about making films.
Episode 26
Tue, Jun 8, 1954
Bob Hope, Tony Martin and Ray Bolger replace Milton Berle as Hosts on this, the last show of the season due to Milton Berle's mother passing in New York City on May 31st.
Episode 30
Tue, Apr 20, 1954
Berle's guests include Steve Allen, singer/actress Janet Blair, heavyweight boxer Ezzard Charles, with Arnold Stang, Milton Frome and Ruth Gilbert.