Watch The Colgate Comedy Hour with Abbott & Costello

The Colgate Comedy Hour was a weekly television show that ran from 1950 to 1955 on NBC. It starred the comedic duo Abbott & Costello, along with various guest stars each week. The show was sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive, which gave it its name. Eddie Cantor, a well-known entertainer of the time, was the master of ceremonies for the first season of the show. The show's format consisted of musical acts, comedy skits, and dance numbers. The skits featured Abbott & Costello and often involved their classic routines, such as "Who's on First?" and "The Lemon Bit." The duo also performed new material written specifically for the show.

The Colgate Comedy Hour was known for its impressive roster of guest stars. Some of the most notable included Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope. The show also featured up-and-coming performers, such as Rosemary Clooney and Elvis Presley. There were also appearances by various sports stars, including Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson.

In addition to the comedy and music, the show was also notable for its production values. The set design was elaborate, featuring multiple sets and backdrops for each episode. The costumes were also elaborate, with elaborate gowns and suits for the performers.

The show was hugely popular during its run, regularly drawing millions of viewers. It was one of the first television shows to be broadcast in color, with some episodes being filmed in the new technology. The Colgate Comedy Hour is often cited as one of the earliest and most successful examples of a variety show on television.

Despite its popularity, the show faced a number of challenges during its five-year run. The biggest was the departure of Cantor after the first season. He was replaced by a rotating cast of guest hosts, including Abbott & Costello themselves. This led to some inconsistency in the show's quality, and ratings began to decline in the later seasons. The show was ultimately cancelled in 1955 as part of a larger shake-up in NBC's programming.

Today, The Colgate Comedy Hour is remembered as a classic example of early television variety shows. It helped launch the careers of many performers and introduced classic comedy routines to a new generation of viewers. Abbott & Costello's "Who's on First?" routine remains a beloved and oft-referenced piece of comedy history. While the show's impact has waned in the half-century since its cancellation, its influence is still felt in the countless variety shows that have followed in its footsteps.

In conclusion, The Colgate Comedy Hour with Abbott & Costello was a popular and influential weekly television show that aired from 1950 to 1955. Known for its variety-style format, elaborate production values, and impressive roster of guest stars, the show helped pioneer the genre of variety shows on television. While it faced challenges during its run, it remains a beloved and influential piece of television history.