Ernie's Guest: Famed Beverly Hills Restraunteur Mike Romanoff. Script notes: After only one show, NBC quickly rethought their brilliant idea of pairing Ernie with Reginald Gardner, and replaced him with sportscaster and Hollywood radio personality Gil Stratton, Jr., who would last only for two shows. In one of his most memorable performances, Ernie does a classic version of the ballad, 'First Born'; performing it as the show's inspirational closer. Musical Numbers: Breezin' Along With The Breeze: Ernie and The Voices of Walter Schumann / Cotton Candy And A Toy Balloon: Ernie / First Born: Ernie. Cast: Ernie Ford, Mike Romanoff, Gil Stratton, Jr., Voices of Walter Schumann
Ernie's Guest: The ever-effervescent Zsa Zsa Gabor. Script notes: A Ford Show Classic ~ Ernie's first -and one of his greatest- Ford Show performances of 'Sixteen Tons'. We say so long to Gil Stratton, Jr., in this, his last appearance on The Ford Show...and the last appearance for any straight-man on The Ford Show. Musical Numbers: Sixteen Tons: Ernie / Friendly Persuasion: The Voices of Walter Schumann / Love: Ernie and Zsa Zsa / Noah Found Grace In The Eyes Of The Lord: Ernie and The Voices Of Walter Schumann. Cast: Ernie Ford, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Gil Stratton
Ernie's Guest: Mickey Spillane. Script notes: Ernie gets the inside dope on hard-boiled pulp-noir, from the original hard-boiled guy himself, writer Mickey Spillane, the creator of Mike Hammer. The first of only 18 Ford Shows in five years to close without an inspirational number. Musical Numbers: Happiness Street: Ernie and The Voices / Whistle A Happy Tune: The Voices / Shine On Harvest Moon: Ernie and The Voices. Cast: Ernie Ford, Mickey Spillane, The Voices Of Walter Schumann
Ernie's Guest: Broadway sensation Carol Channing. Script Notes: The Ford Show shines the footlights on Vaudeville in a musical sketch featuring Ernie, Carol and The Voices. The second Ford Show to close without an inspirational number. Musical Numbers: Don't Be Ashamed Of Your Age: Ernie, Ken Remo, Johnny Guarnieri, Dick Wessler, Don Kent (from The Voices) / Hambone: Ernie and Carol / Little Rock: Carol / Love Me Tender: Ernie / Floatin' Down To Cotton Town: Ernie, Carol and The Voices. Cast: Ernie Ford, Carol Channing, The Voices Of Walter Schumann
Ernie's Guest: Bandleader Spike Jones and his City Slickers. Script Notes: Spike Jones very possibly led the way for punk in popular music. As bizarre, outlandish, and unpredictable as he was talented, a Spike Jones show or appearance never failed to stir things up. Characterizing himself -perhaps best- Jones called he and his band, "...the dandruff in longhair music". Ah...culture. Highlights: look for a Classic "golf-cart drive-on by Billy Barty -- he steals the show! Musical Numbers: Way Down Yonder In New Orleans: Ernie and The Voices / Lay Down Your Arms: Ernie and Spike / Canadian Sunset: The Voices / Just A Closer Walk With Thee: Ernie. Cast: Ernie Ford, Spike Jones, The Voices Of Walter Schumann
Ernie's Guest: Actor Adolph Menjou. Script Notes: The Ford Show's first Thanksgiving Holiday show, this Classic airing features the first of two visits by the great Adolph Menjou, one of the silver screen's greatest stars, and closes with one of Ernie's most memorable performances of what would become a Ford Show tradition each year; the simple prayer, 'Bless This House'. A classic in every sense of the word. Musical Numbers: Company's Comin': Ernie and The Voices / Swing: The Voices / I'll Be Back A' Sunday: Ernie / Bless This House: Ernie and The Voices. Cast: Ernie Ford, Adolph Menjou, The Voices Of Walter Schumann
Ernie's Guest: Actress Corinne Calvet. Script Notes: One of the movies' busiest leading ladies, Corinne Calvet was a veteran of 15 major motion pictures by the time of her appearance on The Ford Show, including 1949's Rope Of Sand, with Burt Lancaster, and The Far Country, with Walter Brennan. This November, '56 airing was her first and only visit to The Ford Show. Musical Numbers: The Green Door: Ernie and The Voices / If I Had My Druthers: Ernie and Corinne / The Rovin' Gambler: Ernie / Friendly Persuasion: Ernie and The Voices. Cast: Ernie Ford, Corinne Calvet, The Voices Of Walter Schumann
Ernie's Guest: Actor, Producer Ken Murray (Host of 'The Hollywood Blackouts'). Script Notes: Although it was his only appearance on The Ford Show, Ken Murray's spot was a show-stopper. His hit show, "Hollywood Blackouts" was one of the longest-running, most popular comedy revues in town. This Ford Show airing was the first time the show's cast had ever performed on television. (Ford Show Trivia: Ken Murray's co-host and 'straight man', Marie Wilson -not with him on this show- was Ernie's guest on Ford Show # 42 ~ October 10, 1957). Musical Numbers: Singin' The Blues: Ernie and The Voices / That's All: Ernie / I Saw Esau: Ernie and The Voices / First Born: Ernie. Cast: Ernie Ford, Ken Berry, the cast of Hollywood Blackouts 1956, The Voices Of Walter Schumann
Ernie's Guests: Television, film and record stars Margaret and Barbara Whiting. Script Notes: Fresh from their hit show, 'Those Whiting Girls', the Whiting sisters join Ernie for one of the best all-around musical Ford Shows of the first season. Highlights include Ernie, Barbara and Margaret together, performing some Classic standards with equally classy three-part harmonies. A knock-out! Musical Numbers: It's A Good Day: Ernie and The Voices / Elijah Rock: The Voices / The Money Tree: Margaret and Barbara / Just Sittin' On Top Of The World, Sometimes I'm Happy, Japanese Sandman, Breezin' Along With The Breeze, Ain't We Got Fun, Too Marvelous For Words, She's Funny That Way, Moonlight In Vermont, The Old Soft Shoe, Y'all Come: Ernie, Margaret and Barbara / Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home: Ernie / When They Ring Those Golden Bells: Ernie and The Voices. Cast: Ernie Ford, Margaret and Barbara Whiting, The Voices Of Walter Schumann
Ernie's Guests: Actor Lee Aaker and Rin Tin Tin. Script Notes: The stars of one of TV's most popular western action shows, "Rin Tin Tin"-- Lee Aaker and his loyal dog, "Rinnie" join Ernie and the whole Ford Show family for this first of the series' five Christmas shows. Musical Numbers: I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, Jingle Bells, Deck The Halls, Joy To The World, The Christmas Song, Fum, Fum, Fum, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Children Go Where I Send Thee, The First Noel, White Christmas, Adeste Fidelis, Silent Night: Ernie and The Voices. Cast: Ernie Ford, Lee Aaker, Rin Tin Tin, Buck Ford, Brion Ford (Ernie's two sons) Curtis Stone, Steve Stone, Jonathan Stone, Linda Stone (Producer Cliffie Stone's kids) The Voices Of Walter Schumann
Ernie's Guest: Actress Spring Byington. Script Notes: Ernie convinces Spring to let him propose to her...on behalf of his bashful uncle Bulger, of course! Musical Numbers: There's Gonna Be A Great Day: Ernie and The Voices / Buckle Down, Winnsocki: The Voices / Spoonin' Moon: Ernie and Spring / You'll Never Walk Alone : Ernie and The Voices. Cast: Ernie Ford, Spring Byington, The Voices Of Walter Schumann
Ernie's Guest: Silver Screen and Broadway singing star, Nelson Eddy. Script Notes: During their heyday as studio players under contract to MGM, Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald did musical blockbuster after musical blockbuster and became known as "America's Singing Sweethearts". Ernie was a great fan of both and does his level best to do Jeanette's part in this hilarious send-up of the legendary lovers' classic love scenes. A great show, nonetheless, for all the fans who remember... Musical Numbers: Mine All Mine: Ernie and The Voices / Mutual Admiration Society: Ernie and Nelson / Two Different Worlds: Nelson / Sweet Hour Of Prayer: Ernie and The Voices. Cast: Ernie Ford, Nelson Eddy, The Voices Of Walter Schumann
Tennessee's guest is Walter Brennan. Highlights: Ernie, Dick Wessler, Ken Remo, John Guarnieri, Howard Chitjean (From The Top Twenty) perform "Alabamy Bound". The Top Twenty do a Disney Medley with "When You Wish Upon A Star/Hi- Ho/Whistle While You Work/We Are Siamese/Lavender Blue/Davy Crockett/The Big Bad Wolf/Whale Of A Tale/When You Wish Upon A Star (reprise)". Ernie sings "I'll Always Be In Love With You". Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "Sweet Peace".
Tennessee's guests are Danny Thomas, Jay North, Angela Cartwright and Rusty Hamer. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty sing "It's A Boy!" and "Others". The Top Twenty do a medley with "Everybody's Doin It", "Charleston", "Champagne Waltz", "The Pennsylvania Polka", "The Conga", "Mambo", "Tea For Two Cha Cha" and "At The Hop"
Tennessee's guest is Kate Smith. Highlights: All join in for "Philadelphia, USA". The Top Twenty do a Train medley with "I Love To Go A' Wanderin'", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Shuffle Off To Buffalo", "Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe", "You're A Million Miles From Nowhere", "California Here We Come", "Alabamy Bound", "Iowa, Iowa" and "Beyond The Blue Horizon". Kate sings "It Was So Beautiful" and "Somebody Loves Me". Ernie sings "Get Me To The Church On Time". Ernie and Kate duet with "You're Just In Love". Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "Lord I'm Coming Home
Tennessee's guest is Kate Smith. Highlights: Ernie sings "Sixteen Tons" and "Anytime". The Top Twenty do medley with "Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle", "I'm An Old Cowhand", "Ragtime Cowboy Joe", "Tumbling Tumbleweeds", "Wagon Wheels" and "Don't Fence Me In". Kate sings "When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain" and "There's A Goldmine In The Sky". Ernie, Kate and the gang perform "Y'all Come". Ernie and Kate duet on "Hey, Good Lookin". Ernie sings "The Touch Of God's Hand".
Tennessee's guests are Andre Previn and Danny Arnold. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty sing "Bless Your Pea-pickin' Hearts" and "God Be With You". Andre performs "Like Young". Ernie and Andre duet on "Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home".
Tennessee's guest is Cliff Arquette. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "Would You Like To Swing On A Star". The Top Twenty sing "Click Go The Shears" and "Waltzing Matilda". Ernie and Cliff duet on "Too Old To Cut The Mustard". Ernie sings "Hold To God's Unchanging Hand".
Tennessee's guest is Odetta. Highlights: Tennessee and the Top Twenty sing "Little Coco Palm" and "Church In The Wildwood". The Top Twenty perform "Square Checkers (Skip To My Lou)". Odetta sings "Another Man Done Gone", "Muleskinner Blues" and "Pastures Of Plenty". Tennessee with Odetta on guitar perform "Nine Pound Hammer". Ernie and Odetta duet on "The Great Historical Bum". Ernie, Odetta, The Top Twenty join in for "What A Friend We Have In Jesus".
Tennessee's guest is George Gobel. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "Together Wherever We Go", "Let's Think About Livin'" and "My Task". The Top Twenty perform "Anything You Can Do". Ernie and George duet with "The Country's In The Very Best Of Hands".
Tennessee's guest is Tony Bennett. Highlights: Ernie and Tony duet on "When You're Smilin'" and "Put On A Happy Face". The Top Twenty perform "The Lady's In Love With You". Tony sings "Follow Me". Ernie and Tony do a medley with "Mind Your Own Business", "Cold, Cold Heart", "Why Don't You Love Me", "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight", "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Weary Blues". All join in for "Jambalaya".
Highlights: The Top Twenty perform "American Heroes". Ernie sings "Davy Crockett" and "Tom Dooley". The Top Twenty girls sing "Ben Franklin". Ernie and the Top Twenty guys sing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". Ernie sings "John Henry", "Jesse James" and "Casey Jones". Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "Ballad Of The Alamo".
Tennessee's guest is Shari Lewis. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty guys sing "I've Got Plenty Of Nothin'". The Top Twenty perform "There's A Boat That's Leavin' For New York". Ernie sings "Oh, Lord, I'm On My Way". Shari and Lambchop sing "Heigh-Ho". Ernie and the Top Twenty sing "Noah Found Grace In The Eyes Of The Lord"
Tennessee's guest is Brenda Lee. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "Oh, Susanna", "Camptown Races" and "Swanee River". Harry Geller and The Top Twenty do a Vocal Symphony. Brenda sings "I'm Learnin' 'Bout Love" and "Set' Em Up, Joe". Ernie and The Top Twenty close with "Old Rugged Cross".
Tennessee's guest is Minnie Pearl. Highlights: Ernie sings "Dark As A Dungeon". The Top Twenty guys sing "Water Boy". Ernie sings "I Really Don't Want To Know". Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "Stand By Me".
Songs Of The Open Sea. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty men sing "Haul Away" and "Blow The Man Down". Ernie sings "Shenandoah". The Top Twenty girls sing "What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor". Ernie and the guys perform "We Sail The Ocean Blue" and "Captain Of The Pinafore". Ken Remo and Karen Wessler duet on "He's Gone Away". Ernie and the guys perform "The Drummer And The Cookie", "A-Rovin'" and "Home, Boys, Home". Ernie and The Top Twenty sing "Let The Lower Lights Be Burning".
Tennessee's guest is Robert Horton. Highlights: Ernie and the girls perform "Memphis". Ernie sings "Dark As A Dungeon". Robert sings "How Deep Is The Ocean". Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "In That Great Gettin' Up Mornin'".
On Location At Sea * Aboard The USS Aircraft Carrier Yorktown. Tennessee's guests are Joe Flynn (McHales Navy) and the Command and Crew of The USS Yorktown. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "Anchors Away". The Top Twenty and Crew perform "Hey, Look Me Over". All join in for "Eternal Father, Strong To Save".
Tennessee's guests are The Everly Brothers. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes". The Top Twenty do a Paris medley with "Under Paris Skies", "I Love Paris" and "Freres Jacques". The Everlys perform "Lucille" and "Walk Right Back". Ernie and The Everlys perform "Rattlesnake Daddy" and "Bird Dog". Ernie sings "Eternal Life".
Tennessee's guest is Roberta Sherwood. Highlights: Ernie and the Top Twenty perform "That's What I Like About The South". Ernie sings "Make Someone Happy" and "The Best Things In Life Are Free". Roberta sings "Up A Lazy River", "Georgia" and "I Got Lost In His Arms". Ernie and Roberta duet on "Wabash Blues" and "Bill Bailey". Ernie and The Top Twenty close with "Take Time To Be Holy".
Tennessee's guest is Andy Devine. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "Big D", "Hi, Neighbor", "September Song" and "How Great Thou Art".
Tennessee's guest is Tab Hunter. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty perform a medley with "In The Good Old Summertime", "June Is Bustin' Our All over" and "June Night". Tab sings "I Ain't Got Nobody". Ernie and The Top Twenty close with "My Jesus As Thou Wilt".
Tennessee's guest is Hoagy Carmichael. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "Old Buttermilk Sky". Hoagy performs "Stardust" and "Hong Kong Blues". Ernie and Hoagy duet with "Georgia" and "Lazy Bones". Hoagy performs "Rockin' Chair" and "Little Old Lady". Ernie, Hoagy and The Top Twenty perform "In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening". All join in for "Gonna Shout All Over God's Heaven".
Final show of the series. Highlights: Ernie and The Top Twenty perform "I Almost Lost My Mind" and "The Old Rugged Cross". The Top Twenty sing "Elijah Rock". Ernie and The Top Twenty close with "Eternal Life" and "Great Gettin' Up Mornin'".