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The Best Episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show

Every episode of The Ed Sullivan Show ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show!

The Best Episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971,...
  1. Background image for The Swinging, Soulful Sixties - Diana Ross & the Supremes, etc.
    8.4/10(42 votes)

    #1 - The Swinging, Soulful Sixties - Diana Ross & the Supremes, etc.

    S23:E13

    ""The Swinging, Soulful Sixties"" – Ed Sullivan reviews the decade in entertainment. Taped segments (many from Ed's shows): (1) Broadway/Theater songs: --Richard Burton - Soliloquy from Shakespeare's ""Hamlet"" --Robert Goulet - song from ""Camelot"" and ""Happy Face"" --Gwen Verdon - ""If My Friends Could See Me Now"" (from ""Sweet Charity"") (2) Beatlemania: --Beatles At Shea Stadium August 15, 1965 (3) British acts: --Petula Clark - ""Downtown"" (excerpt) & interview --Clips of Dave Clark Five, Animals, Herman's Hermits, Rolling Stones, Petula Clark (4) David Frost - looks at '60's headlines and movies (5) Diana Ross & the Supremes --Ed Sullivan talks to Diana Ross about trends of popular music in the 1960s. --The Supremes - medley (""Baby Love;"" ""Stop! In The Name Of Love;"" ""Come See About Me;"" ""My World Is Empty Without You,"" ""You Can't Hurry Love,"" ""The Happening,"" ""Keep Me Hangin' On,"" ""Reflections,"" ""Love Child"" and ""I Hear A Symphony"") --The Supremes - ""So

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for 23rd Season Premiere: Barbra Streisand / The Temptations
    8.3/10(25 votes)

    #2 - 23rd Season Premiere: Barbra Streisand / The Temptations

    S23:E1

    1969-70 season premiere (Ed Sullivan's 23nd season): --The Temptations - ""I Can't Get Next to You,"" ""September in the Rain"" & ""Autumn Leaves"" --Barbra Streisand (on tape from Las Vegas) - ""Hello, Dolly"" medley: ""Before the Parade Passes By,"" ""So Long, Dearie"" & ""Hello Dolly"" --Tony Bennett - ""What the World Needs Now Is Love,"" ""People"" & ""I Gotta Be Me."" --Red Skelton (comedian) - classic drunk routine; ""the bin salesman"" --The Osipov Balalaika Festival Orchestra - Russian folk dance and music. --Audience bows: Jerry Vale; Rodney Dangerfield

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  3. Background image for Jackson Five / Clint Eastwood (on film) / Don Rickles
    8.2/10(29 votes)

    #3 - Jackson Five / Clint Eastwood (on film) / Don Rickles

    S23:E31

    Guests: --The Jackson Five - ""The Love You Save"" and medley (""I Want You Back"" & ""ABC"") --Sonny James - ""My Love"" & ""Waterloo"" --Don Rickles (comedian) --George Carlin (comedian) - In a comedy routine, Carlin appears as a ""vacation expert."" Ed joins in and asks George some questions. --Roger Williams (piano player) - ""Mas Que Nada"" & a medley of Irving Berlin songs --Peter Gennaro (dancer) --Marilyn Michaels (celebrity impressions) --Gino Tonetti - ""This Is My Life"" Film clip: Don Rickles joins Clint Eastwood on the movie set of ""Kelly's Heroes"".

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Jackson Five / Lainie Kazan / John Davidson
    7.8/10(23 votes)

    #4 - Jackson Five / Lainie Kazan / John Davidson

    S23:E12

    Guests: --The Jackson 5 - ""Stand,"" ""I Wonder Who's Loving You Now"" & ""I Want You Back."" --Lainie Kazan - ""Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair?"" --John Davidson - ""Something"" & medley (""Get Together"" & ""Games People Play"") --Wayne & Shuster (comedy team spoofing commercials) --The Muppets (Big Bird dances with 6 bird watchers) --Topo Gigio (puppet talks about his Christmas list) --Guy Marks (stand-up comedian) --El Conquistador Violinists (instrumental band, from Puerto Rico) --The Mecners (acrobatic act, top Polish circus act) Audience Bows (cameos): Diana Ross; Leroy Yarbrough (1969 Nascar Champ Driver); Etta Cortez (Editor Of Vegas Magazine); Gig Young

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for Janis Joplin / Chet Atkins / Floyd Cramer & Boots Randolph
    7.6/10(10 votes)

    #5 - Janis Joplin / Chet Atkins / Floyd Cramer & Boots Randolph

    S22:E23

    Guests: --Janis Joplin - ""Raise Your Hand"" & ""Maybe, Maybe, Maybe"" --Boots Randolph (saxophonist) - ""Yakety Sax"" --Floyd Cramer (pianist) - ""On the Rebound"" --Chet Atkins (guitarist) - ""Autumn Leaves"" --Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer and Boots Randolph - ""Rock a Bye Your Baby (with a Dixie Melody)"" --Ed Ames - ""If I Had A Hammer"" & ""Changing, Changing"" (possible 3rd song: ""Love"") --Honey Ltd. (four female singers) - ""At Long Last Love"" & ""R-E-S-P-E-C-T"" --Scoey Mitchell (stand-up comedian) --The United States Air Force Marching Band --The Carals (juggling-balancing act from Germany) - man with female assistant --Norm Neilson (magic act) --Barbara Joe Rubin (female jockey interviewed by Ed) --Audience bows: Buddy Hackett & his wife Sherry; Jerry Vale; Benny Friedman (University of Michigan 1925 All American star)

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    Director:Unknown
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  6. Background image for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles / Lesley Gore / Mason Williams
    7.4/10(11 votes)

    #6 - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles / Lesley Gore / Mason Williams

    S22:E33

    Guests: --Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - ""Doggone Right"" & ""Abraham, Martin & John"" --Lesley Gore - medley: ""I Could Have Danced All Night"" & ""A Natural Woman"" --Mason Williams - ""Major Thang"" & ""Greensleeves"" --Gwen Verdon and two other female dancers - ""Mexican Breakfast"" --Alan King (stand-up comedian making his 45th appearance) - tells stories about dogs. Alan said he has just returned back from Israel where he dedicated a new hospital ""Alan King Hospital"". Largest diagnostic room is called ""The Ed Sullivan Room."" --Wayne & Shuster (stand-up comedy; sketch about a student rebellion at a nursery school) --Ace Trucking Company (Improv company parodies commercials & does an obscene phone call sketch) Audience bows: Johnny Longdon (jockey); Jack Waldren; Jack Dempsey; Patricia Jane Berg (golfer); Jean Drapeau (mayor of Quebec); Tom Knowles & Bob Cameron; Diana Ross

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    Director:Unknown
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  7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show

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  8. Background image for Nancy Sinatra / Cast of Hair / Rodney Dangerfield / Bobby Vinton
    6.7/10(14 votes)

    #7 - Nancy Sinatra / Cast of Hair / Rodney Dangerfield / Bobby Vinton

    S23:E23

    Guests: --Nancy Sinatra (with the Rutgers University Marching Band) - ""California Dreamin'"" & ""I Love Them All"" (might be ""The Boys in the Band"") --Bobby Vinton - ""Take Me In Your Arms"" & ""My Elusive Dream"" --Joan Sutherland & Marilyn Horne - ""Mira O Norma"" --Rodney Dangerfield (stand-up comedy) --Wayne and Shuster (comedy team doing a psychic skit) --Irwin C. Watson (stand-up comedian) --Trio Rennos (comic acrobats) Audience bow (cameo): Liberace --On film, a National Urban Coalition commerical promoting racial harmony. In the film, 100 figures in entertainment, business, government and sports are gathered together to sing ""Let the Sunshine In."" Appearing in this film: the cast of ""Hair,"" Henry Fonda, Leonard Nimoy, Ali MacGraw, Ed Sullivan, Ray Charles, Eli Wallach & Anne Jackson, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Flip Wilson, Merv Griffin, Leontyne Price, Ralph Bunche, Roy Wilkins, etc.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Bobby Goldsboro / Richard Pryor / George Carlin
    6.6/10(14 votes)

    #8 - Bobby Goldsboro / Richard Pryor / George Carlin

    S23:E20

    Guests: --Bobby Goldsboro - ""Everybody's Talkin'"" & ""Can You Feel It?"" --Richard Pryor (stand-up comedy) --Connie Stevens - ""Yankee Doodle,"" ""Give My Regards To Broadway"" & ""If I Were A Rich Man"" --Boots Randolph - ""Nashville, Tennessee"" & ""Hey, Jude"" --Floyd Cramer - ""I'll Never Fall in Love Again"" --Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, and Boots Randolph - medley: ""I Can't Help It,"" ""Jambalaya,"" ""I Saw the Light"" --George Carlin (stand-up comedy) --David Frye (impressionist) --Mr. Jiggs (chimp act) --Sam & Sammy (acrobats) --Audience bows (cameos): Joe Frazier, Yankee Durham CBS repeated this show on June 21, 1970.

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    Director:Unknown
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  10. Background image for Richie Havens / Lesley Gore / John Gary
    6.2/10(10 votes)

    #9 - Richie Havens / Lesley Gore / John Gary

    S23:E30

    Guests: --Richie Havens - ""The Minstrel from Gault"" --Lesley Gore - ""Cry Me A River"" & ""Hey Jude"" --John Gary - medley: ""The Straight Life,"" ""Then She's a Lover"" & ""Little Green Apples""--Moms Mabley (stand-up comedian, sings ""Deed I Do"") --Stiller & Meara (comedy team) --Robert Klein (stand-up comedy) --Jane Morgan - ""A Girl Named Johnny Cash"" & ""My Way"" --Victor Julian (dog act) --The Rolan Boys (balancing act) Audience bows (cameos): Pete Hamilton; Master Sergeant Leon Donnely; Dr. Howard Rusk; Irving Gyse; Miss USA CBS repeated this show on July 19, 1970.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for Beatles (1st appearance) / Oliver Broadway cast
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Beatles (1st appearance) / Oliver Broadway cast

    S17:E19

    Guests include: --The Beatles (first appearance): All My Lovin,'Til There Was You, She Loves You, I Saw Her Standing There and I Wanna Hold Your Hand. --Davy Jones (pre-Monkees, appearing with Georgia Brown & the Broadway cast of 'Oliver'): I'd Do Anything --Georgia Brown: As Long As He Needs Me (with 2 children from the Broadway cast of 'Oliver') --Frank Gorshin (comedian) --Tessie O'Shea (singer, from Broadway's 'The Girl Who Came To Supper') - medley of show tunes --Mitzi McCall & Charlie Brill (comedy team)

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    Director:Tim Kiley
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for Henry Fonda & Olivia de Havilland / Maureen O'Hara
    5.8/10(13 votes)

    #11 - Henry Fonda & Olivia de Havilland / Maureen O'Hara

    S15:E26

    Guests (St. Patrick's Day show): --Henry Fonda & Olivia de Havilland (actors) - scene from ""Gift of Time"" set on cruise ship. A doting wife tries to care for her fatally ill husband. --Maureen O'Hara (actress) - sings ""Come Back to Erin"" & ""If I Loved You"" --Rosemary Clooney (singer) - ""Cabin in the Sky"" & ""Give Me the Simple Life"" --Pat Rooney, Maureen O'Hara, Rosemary Clooney and Ed Sullivan - ""Great Day for the Irish"" & ""Danny Boy"" --Pat Rooney (82-year-old song-and-dance man) - sings ""The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady"" and tap dances --Bobby Rydell - ""Mammy"" --Pat Buttram (stand-up comedy) --The Three Houcs (juggling act from Germany) - a father & his daughters juggle pins --Folias de Espana (Argentine dance & singing troupe) - (1) Flamenco dancers - ""Los Tres Caballos"" (2) Later in show, sings, dances and plays the guitar. --Audience bows: NY Senator Jack Javits & wife --Hugh Lambert Dancers (modern dancers) - ""Where Did You Get That Hat?""

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    Director:Unknown
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  13. Background image for The Rolling Stones / Ella Fitzgerald / Eddie Albert
    3.9/10(16 votes)

    #12 - The Rolling Stones / Ella Fitzgerald / Eddie Albert

    S23:E9

    Guests: --The Rolling Stones - ""Gimme Shelter,"" ""Love in Vain"" & ""Honky Tonk Woman."" --Ella Fitzgerald - ""You Better Love Me"" & ""Open Your Window"" --Robert Klein (stand-up comedian, talks about his school days) --Ed Ames - ""A Thing Called Love"" & ""I Believe"" --Topo Gigio (Topo prepares for football game) --Peter Gennero (dance segment; Gennero and 2 women dance to ""Smiling Phases"") --Hawthorn Tigers (animal act; tiger riding on horseback alone & with trainer) --Eddie Albert (actor, delivers speech to God about religion's hypocrisy & reality)

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for Premiere Show with Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Premiere Show with Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis

    S1:E1

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for Irving Berlin, The Ink Spots, Peter Lind Hayes, Nan Wynn, Paul Winchell & Jerry Mahoney
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #14 - Irving Berlin, The Ink Spots, Peter Lind Hayes, Nan Wynn, Paul Winchell & Jerry Mahoney

    S1:E2

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for Joe DiMaggio, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #15 - Joe DiMaggio, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson

    S1:E3

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for Lena Horne, Joey Adams, Joe Howard, Jr., Tony Canzoneri
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Lena Horne, Joey Adams, Joe Howard, Jr., Tony Canzoneri

    S1:E4

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for Guests unknown
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Guests unknown

    S1:E5

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  19. Background image for Guests unknown
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Guests unknown

    S1:E6

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for Cab Calloway
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Cab Calloway

    S1:E7

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for Peggy Lee, Harry Hershfield, The Howard Brothers, The DeMarco Sisters
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Peggy Lee, Harry Hershfield, The Howard Brothers, The DeMarco Sisters

    S1:E8

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for Irving Berlin, Nancy Donovan, Russ Morgan Orchestra, Vincent Lopez Orchestra
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Irving Berlin, Nancy Donovan, Russ Morgan Orchestra, Vincent Lopez Orchestra

    S1:E9

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  23. Background image for Jan August
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Jan August

    S1:E10

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for Lon Chaney, Jr., Count Basie and His Orchestra
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Lon Chaney, Jr., Count Basie and His Orchestra

    S1:E11

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for Patricia Bright, Noro Morales
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Patricia Bright, Noro Morales

    S1:E12

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  26. Background image for Sarah Vaughan, Gali-Gali Luxor
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Sarah Vaughan, Gali-Gali Luxor

    S2:E1

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

Best Episodes Summary

"The Swinging, Soulful Sixties - Diana Ross & the Supremes, etc." is the best rated episode of "The Ed Sullivan Show". It scored 8.4/10 based on 42 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 12/21/1969. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "23rd Season Premiere: Barbra Streisand / The Temptations".