Bob Hope last week (april 1950 - my annotation) took the fateful step that radio's other top comedians have been reluctant to take - he took on a television program. In the most trumpeted TV debut yet staged, Hope headed up an NBC variety show that ran for 90 minutes at a record cost of $1.500 a minute. The event was a triumph for the TV tycoons who had tried many blandishments to lure him into their camera-lined den. Hope, one of the motion pictures' No. 1 box-office attractions and TV's biggest catch to date, finally was hooked with a relatively simple device - $40.000 a show to do five shows this year (1950 - my annotation).
Hampered by a technician union's slowdown which ruined researsals and by gag material which was better suited for radio than TV, the usyally irrepressible Hope seemed subdued and uncertain in his new medium. But Beatrice Lillie, one of the guest stars, helped him give the show real pace and sparkle. Her face and delivery were so funny that even an experienced scene-stealer like Bob Hope had his own show stolen right out from under him.
As the heroine of a british "western", Bea Lillie sights her lorgnette-equipped six-shooter.
Top brass, NBC's President McConnell (left) and Board Chairman Trammell, laugh with Dinah Shore at Hope's spoof of network's talent warfare (opposite).
Top talent in skit is treated royally by actor (left) impersonating NBC President McConnell. Once Hope signs, the buttering-up process abruptly turns rancind.
In the far north, doing giggly interpretation of Baby, It's Cold Outside with singer Dinah Shore, eskimo Bubu Hope opens the door of igloo set on blizzard raging outside. As a gag, he had to menion the storm three times and finally rap on the wall to get stagehands to throw prop snow in his face.
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