A Couple of Joes

Last updated
A Couple of Joes
Genre Variety
Directed byBobby Doyle
Presented by Joe Bushkin and Joe Rosenfield
Production
ProducersEd Kenner and Allen Kent
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseAugust 1949 (1949-08) –
July 12, 1950 (1950-07-12)

A Couple of Joes is an American television variety program that was broadcast locally in New York City beginning in August 1949. It ran on ABC from October 27, 1949, until July 12, 1950. [1] The program featured comedy, music, and participation by viewers. [2]

Contents

Content

Episodes of A Couple of Joes included singing, instrumental music, and segments with prizes for viewer participation. The latter included bringing in items like a mustache cup and high-button shoes; viewers calling in musical requests, hoping to stump the two Joes by naming tunes that they could not play; and hosts calling viewers with quiz questions. [3]

Personnel

Initially, Joe Bushkin and Joe Rosenfield were co-hosts of the program. [4] Others featured included Joan Barton, Allyn Edwards, Beryl Richards, and Pat Harrington. [1] Music was provided by Milton DeLugg's orchestra in 1949 and Mike Reilly's orchestra and Bobby Sherwood's orchestra in 1950. [1] By the first episode of 1950, Warren Hull had replaced Rosenfield on the show. [5]

The show also included Morgan, a basset hound who belonged to the producer. [4] Life magazine featured the dog in a story and photographs in its March 27, 1950, issue, reporting that Morgan was a "3-year-old pedigreed basset hound called J. J. Morgan, though his real name is Sir Guy Elwell". [6] On A Couple of Joes, a voice supposed to be that of Morgan made jokes while people talked and bands played. The article in Life described those comments as "a blend of critical disdain worthy of George Jean Nathan and Queen Victoria". [6] The dog also appeared on other TV programs. [6]

Production

The program originated at WJZ-TV in New York City [7] and was produced by World Video, Incorporated. [8] Producers were Ed Kenner [9] and Allen Kent, and Bobby Doyle was the director. Sponsors included Blatz Brewing Company. [3] Tom Shirley was the announcer. [10]

Critical reception

A review of the program's August 19, 1949, episode in the trade publication Billboard compared the broadcast to "a chaotic dress rehearsal". [3] Reviewer June Bundy commented, "Musical portions of the show were vastly superior to the giveaway portions", describing the latter as "all very confusing". She complimented Bushkin for his performances on the piano and his work as master of ceremonies. In contrast, she wrote that Rosenfield's "harassed expression, nervous mannerisms and heavy-handed attempts at comedy were embarrassing to both cast and viewer". [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 290. ISBN   978-0-307-48320-1 . Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Television". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 14, 1949. p. 40. Retrieved October 6, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bundy, June (September 3, 1949). "A Couple of Joes". The Billboard. p. 12. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  4. 1 2 McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 183. ISBN   0-14-02-4916-8.
  5. ↑ "World Video Signs DeLugg, Hull for 'Joes'". The Billboard. December 24, 1949. p. 6. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 "Television Dog Star". Life. March 27, 1950. pp. 86, 89–90. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Radio and Television: 'A Couple of Joes,' Vaudeville-Give-Away Show, to Bow Friday, Aug. 5, Over WJZ-TV" . The New York Times. July 20, 1949. p. 48. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Henry White To Be Busy in Hollywood". The Billboard. January 14, 1950. p. 6. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Add giveaway shows". Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. January 22, 1950. p. 9. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  10. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 213. ISBN   978-0-7864-6477-7.
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