FLIP WILSON SHOW, THE - THE HOUR SHOW COLLECTION (NBC 1970-74) RARE!!!

Finally...one of our most requested titles is now available! The Flip Wilson Show - the original hour episodes starring American comedian Flip Wilson. This hard-to-find rare collection consists of 20 full-length, uncut, 60-minute episodes from over the course of the series’ four season run, plus a bonus of two of his television specials.

The program was one of the first US television programs starring a black person in the title role to become highly successful with a white audience. Specifically, it was the first successful network variety series starring an African American. During its first two seasons, its Nielsen ratings made it the nation's second most watched show. The show consisted of many comedy skits along with songs in a 60-minute variety format. It also broke new ground in American television by using a "theatre-in-the-round" stage format, with the audience seated on all sides of a circular performance area (with some seats located behind the sketch sets on occasion).

His female character, Geraldine Jones, was the show’s most popular feature. Geraldine was a sassy, liberated, modern woman who flirted teasingly before warning of her boyfriend ‘Killer’. Wilson invented Geraldine in the 1960s and developed her into one of the funniest gender-bending acts ever seen on TV. Her signature lines “What you see is what you get!” and “The Devil made me do it!” became two of the most oft-uttered catchphrases of the early 70s. Flip also created the role of Reverend Leroy, who was the minister of the Church of What's Happening Now! New parishioners were wary of coming to the church as it was hinted that Reverend Leroy was a con artist.

The guest stars featured in this collection include: Lucille Ball, The Osmonds, Ed Sullivan, The Jackson 5, Charlie Callas, Muhammad Ali, James Brown, David Frost, Diahann Carroll, The Muppets, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Redd Foxx, Pat Morita, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Charley Pride, Bobby Darin, Aretha Franklin, Dom De Luise, George Carlin, Joe Namath, Burt Reynolds, Tim Conway, Roberta Flack, Sammy Davis Jr., Lily Tomlin, Ed McMahon, Joan Rivers, The Temptations, Frank Gorshin, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Raymond Burr, Johnny Cash, June Carter, Albert Brooks, Bill Russell, Phyllis Diller, Ray Charles, Rich Little, Cicely Tyson, Bill Withers, Buddy Hackett, Ruth Buzzi, Richard Pryor, Lee Grant, Hank Aaron, The Committee, Sunday’s Child, Laura Greene, Erroll Garner, Hudson and Landry, Joyce Warner, Dr. David Reuben, comedian Andrew Johnson.

As an added bonus, this set also includes two of Flip’s TV specials!  His first special airing in 1969 with guests Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Jonathan Winters, Arte Johnson, singer Jackie DeShannon and Loadstone, plus his 1975 TV special featuring Cher, Richard Pryor, McLean Stevenson and Kenny Rankin.

Want more Flip?  Check out our 8-DVD collection of 94 half-hour episodes cut from the series that aired on TV Land from 1997 to 2005. More stars, more skits, more fun!