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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,...

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  1. 9.1/10(77 votes)

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

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    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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  2. 8.9/10(27 votes)

    #2 - Elvis Presley (3rd appearance) / Carol Burnett / Sugar Ray Robinson

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    S10:E16

    Elvis Presley (Hound Dog, Heartbreak Hotel, Love Me Tender, Don't Be Cruel, Too Much, When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again and Peace in the Valley.) Carol Burnett (stand-up comedy) Sugar Ray Robinson (interviewed by Sullivan after losing title fight, in jest Ed shows him how to box) Arthur Worlsey (British ventriloquist) Lonnie Satin (I Believe) Leny Eversong (El Cumbanchero, Cante Afre Cubano) Nancy Crompton (ballet dancer) The Six Gutis (Clowns & Men In Gorillas Suits) Bory & Bor (sight gag - a man is wearing a costume which makes him looks like two people dancing) Audience bows: Don Budge; Jackie Robinson (newly retired); Gene Ward; Jimmy Lanno

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  3. 8.7/10(27 votes)

    #3 - Richard Burton / Morecombe & Wise / Arthur Worsley

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    S17:E6

    Guests: --Richard Burton - recites Dylan Thomas & does bar bit with drunken observations. --Arthur Worsley (British ventriloquist, his dummy does all the talking) --Dave Madden (comedian) --Morecombe And Wise (comedy team) --The Calicoats - ""Blues Away,"" ""Somebody Loves You,"" and ""Have A Happy Day"" --Topo Gigio --Cinco Brutos (comedy-singing group) - ""Little Darling"" & ""Addio"" --The Augsberg (Augspurg?) Jungle Wonders (monkey/baboon act with trainer doing a tea party bit)

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  4. 8.5/10(16 votes)

    #4 - Judy Garland / Tom Jones / Peter Sellers

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    S19:E4

    Guests (from Hollywood): --Judy Garland - ""Come Rain or Shine,"" ""Rock-A-Bye Your Baby"" & ""By Myself"" --Peter Sellers (on film, plays a Felliniesque director interviewed by Sullivan) --Tom Jones - ""With These Hands"" --Sophie Tucker (medley: ""When My Baby Smiles At Me,"" ""My Man,"" ""Give My Regards To Broadway,"" ""Louise,"" ""If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)"" & ""Some Of These Days"") --Jackie Vernon (stand-up comedian) --The Swingin' Lads (barbershop quartet) --Topo Gigio

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  5. 8.3/10(36 votes)

    #5 - Beatles (2nd appearance) / Mitzi Gaynor

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    S17:E20

    --The Beatles (2nd appearance): She Loves You, This Boy, All My Lovin', I Saw Her Standing There, From Me to You and I Want to Hold Your Hand --Audience bows: Sunny Liston & and Joe Louis (boxers) --Allen & Rossi (comedy team) - boxing sketch --Steve Rossi sings Strike Up the Band --Mitzi Gaynor (with 4 male dancers who also sing backup): Too Darn Hot, The More I See You and a blues medley: Birth of the Blues, St. James Infirmary,When the Saints Go Marching In, Shadrach, Mescach, Obendigo, Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho & When the Saints Go Marching In (reprise). [Note: Shadrach, Mescach, Obendigo is missing from the DVD release.] --On tape: from Hialeah Race Track. Ed, with Seminole Indian family, introduces the Nerveless Nocks. --Nerveless Nocks (four male sway pole acrobats) - group performs outside (on tape at Hialeah Race Track) --Myron Cohen (stand-up comedian) --The Valanti's (comedic unicyclists) - not on DVD

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  6. 8.3/10(33 votes)

    #6 - Beatles (3rd appearance) / Cab Calloway

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    S17:E21

    --The Beatles (3rd appearance): Twist and Shout, Please Please Me and I Want to Hold Your Hand (Pre-recorded Beatles segments, taped 9 Feb 1964, inserted into a live show.) --Gloria Bleezarde - sings Safety in Numbers --Pinky & Perky (marionettes) --Morecambe & Wise (comedy team) - routine about genuine Louis XIV brandy glasses --Acker Bilk (clarinet player): Acker's Lacquer --Gordon & Sheila MacRae (musical-comedy entertainers) - in a parody of The Gary Moore Show, the duo do celebrity impressions. --Dave Barry (comedian) - comedy monologue about children; sings a parody of Sonny Boy. --Cab Calloway - St. James Infirmary & Old Man River --Morty Gunty (comedian) - comedy monologue

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  7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show

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  8. 8.3/10(13 votes)

    #7 - The Animals / Van Johnson / Jackie Mason

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    S18:E4

    Guests: --The Animals – ""I'm Crying"" & ""House of the Rising Sun"" --Jackie Mason (stand-up comedian) - routine includes imitation of news reporter Marvin Kalb commenting on LBJ's speech. --Van Johnson - ""I Want to be Happy"" & talks with Ed about his past films --John Byner (comedian) does impersonations of Ed Sullivan, Johnny Mathis & Tony Bennett --Joan Sutherland - ""Ardon gli incensi"" (as Lucia, from ""Lucia di Lammermoor"") --Rita Pavone - ""Sul Cucozzole"" --Totie Fields (stand-up, tells jokes about her weight, banks & safe deposit box) --The Cambridge Circus (British comedy troupe) Cameos: Bob Gibson & Tim McCarver (World Series heroes talk with Ed)

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  9. 8.2/10(65 votes)

    #8 - Everly Brothers / Frances Farmer / Nancy Whiskey / Prince & the Showgirl premiere

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    S10:E40

    Guests: --Everly Brothers - ""Bye, Bye Love"" --Frances Farmer - ""Aura Lee"" --Nancy Whiskey & The Charles McDevitt Skiffle Group - ""Freight Train"" --Bonnie Guitar - ""Dark Moon"" (sings and plays guitar) --Kaye Ballard (stand-up comedian, topic: Mothers are always right) --Kirby Stone Four (vocal impressionists) - sing a comic version of ""Lazy River"" while imitating other singers. -- Jo, Jac, And Joni - (3 person British comedy troupe) - troupe uses musical instruments as props --Davis and Reese (stand-up comedians doing impressions) --Jackie Pung (Female golfer who lost the US Open on a technicality) --University Of Georgia Glee Club - sings ""June Is Bustin' Out All Over,"" ""Hand Holdin' Music,"" ""If I Loved You"" and the Georgia School Song (conducted by Byron Warner) --Barber And Manselle (former Harvest Moon Dancers perform) --Ed Talks To Michael Mark (boy contestant on the ""$64,000 Question"") --Audience bow: Rex Smith --On film: ""Prince and the Showgirl""

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  10. 7.9/10(18 votes)

    #9 - Elvis Presley (2nd appearance) / Senior Wences / Joyce Grenfell

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    S10:E6

    --Elvis Presley (2nd appearance) - ""Don't Be Cruel,"" ""Love Me Tender,"" ""Love Me"" (with the Jordanaires) and ""Hound Dog"" (with the Jordanaires). Other guests: --Senor Wences - ventriloquist with Pedro (head in box) and Johnny (hand puppet) --Joyce Grenfell (comedian) - sings ""Countess of Cotlet"" --Scene from Broadway show ""The Most Happy Fella"" (including songs ""Happy to Make Your Acquaintence"" and ""Big D"") --Little Gaelic Singers (children's chorus from Ireland) - ""Dancin' Song,"" ""Dandlin Song"" and ""Believe Me"" --Unus - Circus act in top hat & cape (introduced by Scampi - little boy in top hat) Audience bows: Robert Webb; Earl Wilson; DJs from Ottawa

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  11. 7.8/10(27 votes)

    #10 - The Beatles (4th live appearance) / Cilla Black

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    S19:E1

    --The Beatles (on tape, recorded 14-Aug-65) I Feel Fine, I'm Down, Help!, Yesterday, Act Naturally and Ticket to Ride --Cilla Black - Goin' Out of My Head & September In The Rain ------------------------------------ Guests: --Soupy Sales - talks about Ed's summer vacation. --Cilla Black - September In The Rain --Fantasio (illusionist/ magician) - slight-of-hand artist --The Beatles I Feel Fine, I'm Down and Act Naturally --Steve Rossi - sings Try to Remember --Marty Allen and Steve Rossi (comedy team) - Allen demonstrates different sports that he's tried. Ends with Rossi singing We Love You. --Cilla Black - Goin' Out of My Head --Soupy Sales - The Mouse --The Beatles Ticket to Ride, Yesterday and Help! --Ed Sullivan closing comments, next week's guests, closing titles.

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  12. 7.7/10(12 votes)

    #11 - Liza Minnelli / Duke Ellington / The Beatles (on film)

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    S17:E33

    --The Beatles (on film) - movie clip of ""You Can't Do That"" from ""A Hard Day's Night"" - song was cut from final edit of film. Also on film: Ed Sullivan interviews The Beatles in London on the set of "" A Hard Day's Night"". --On film: footage of the Lipizzaner White Stallions in Vienna. --On film: Michelangelo's Pieta, an exhibit at the New York World's Fair. Guests: --Duke Ellington & his orchestra --Liza Minnelli (actress-singer) - possibly performed ""The Travelin' Life"" --John Paul Vignon (French singer) --Shirley Verrett (mezzo-soprano) - ""Ava Maria"" --Morecambe and Wise (British comedy team) Other guests (scheduled to appear): --Professor Backwards (comedian) --The Watusi Dancers

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  13. 7.6/10(11 votes)

    #12 - Dave Clark Five / Rowan & Martin / Steve Lawrence

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    S18:E20

    Guests: --The Dave Clark Five - ""Everybody Knows,"" ""Because"" & ""Anyway You Want It"" --Steve Lawrence - ""Hello, Dolly!"" ""People"" & ""Where Can I Go"" --Victor Borge - ""Viennese Waltz"" and a routine about an ""inflationary language"" (in which Tuesday would become Threesday). --Rowan & Martin (comedy team does a spy sketch and a quiz show routine) --The Israeli Ballet - performs some native folk dances --Topo Gigio (Italian mouse puppet) --The Mattison Trio (tap dancers) - ""Malaguena"" --John's balancing act

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  14. 7.6/10(10 votes)

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

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    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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  15. 7.6/10(11 votes)

    #14 - scheduled: Arthur Godfrey; Loretta Lynn

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    S24:E4

    Scheduled guests: --Arthur Godfrey --Sonny James --Loretta Lynn - ""Coal Miner's Daughter"" --Archie Campbell --Stony Mt. Cloggers --Judi Ford (Miss America '69)

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  16. 7.5/10(25 votes)

    #15 - The Georgie Awards: Barbra Streisand / Blood Sweat & Tears / Tom Jones

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    S24:E1

    The Georgie Award (Entertainer of the Year Award Show - from Caesars Palace) Performers: --Barbra Streisand - ""On A Clear Day"" --Blood Sweat & Tears - ""Lucretia McEvil"" --Tom Jones - ""Cabaret"" --Melba Moore - ""I Got Love"" --Peter Gennaro Dancers (production number) --The Flying Alexanders (trapeze act) Awards: --Lucille Ball presents award to Carol Burnett. --Marc Copage & Michael Ling present Outstanding Animal Act trophy to Tanya The Elephant. --Tom Smothers presents award to Flip Wilson. --Milton Berle presents award to Radio City Music Hall. --Milton Berle Presents award To James Gould, President Of Radio City Music Hall. --Danny Thomas & Jack Haley, Sr. presents Golden Award to Jimmy Durante (who's not there to accept award.) --Sullivan presents award to Bob Hope.

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  17. 7.4/10(15 votes)

    #16 - Rolling Stones / Jack Jones / Stiller & Meara

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    S18:E5

    The Rolling Stones - ""Around and Around"" and ""Time is on My Side"" Other guests: --Stiller & Meara (comedy team) --Jack Jones - ""Travel On"" & ""Bewitched"" --London Lee (comedian) --Lawrence Harvey --Kim Sisters - ""Joshua"" --Charlie Drake --The Berosini Family (acrobats)

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  18. 7.4/10(11 votes)

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

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    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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  19. 7.3/10(18 votes)

    #18 - Beach Boys / Alan King / Robert Goulet

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    S18:E1

    Guests: --The Beach Boys - ""I Get Around"" and ""Wendy"" --Robert Goulet - ""Let There be Love,"" ""Quiet Nights,"" ""This is All I Ask"" and ""My Love Forgive Me (Amore Scusami)"" --Leslie Uggams - ""I Feel Pretty"" & ""The Man I Love"" --Topo Gigio (mouse puppet) - routine might include ""Let's Call The Whole Thing Off"" --Vonda Kay Van Dyke & Curley - ""Wherever We Go, It's Together"" (""There She Is Miss America"" is played as they walk on stage.) --Alan King (stand-up comedian) - routine about ""Dr. Sam,"" Dr. Sam Roth, a doctor in his neighborhood (when he was a kid in the lower East Side of Manhattan) and other medical observances.

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  20. 7.3/10(10 votes)

    #19 - Peter and Gordon / Sammy Davis Jr. / Kaye Stevens

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    S18:E8

    Peter and Gordon – ""I Don't Want to See You Again"" & ""500 Miles"" Other guests: --Sammy Davis Jr. - ""Don't Shut Me Out"" --Kaye Stevens - ""I'll Tell Them All"" --The Kessler Twins (singers) --Jackie Vernon (comedian) --Charlie Drake --Trio Hoganas (high wire balancing act) --Brizio (Italian comic act)

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  21. 7.2/10(12 votes)

    #20 - scheduled: Tommy Sands & Nancy Sinatra; Robert Horton

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    S17:E8

    Scheduled guests: --Tommy Sands and Nancy Sinatra - ""Old Straw Hat"" & ""Hey Good Lookin'"" --Robert Horton --Kim Sisters & Kim Brothers --The New Sounds (vocal group) --Bob Lewis (comedian) --Nieman Brothers (acrobats) --Davis & Reese (comedy team)

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  22. 7.2/10(11 votes)

    #21 - Hank Williams Jr. / Janet Blair / cast of Twice Over Nightly

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    S17:E13

    Guests: --Hank Williams, Jr. - ""On The Bayou,"" ""Your Cheatin Heart"" & ""Lonesome Blues"" (and possibly ""Cold, Cold, Heart"") --Janet Blair (singer) - ""Some People"" --Audience bow: Otto Preminger --Billy Reed (novelty act) - plays ""I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover"" on dinnerwear. He keeps playing as the china breaks apart. --The Maxwells (2-man pantomime & balancing act) - one man balances wicker boxes on his feet while the other climbs atop the boxes. --Jerry Vale - medley of Italian songs including ""O Solo Mio"" Other guests (scheduled to appear): --cast of ""Twice Over Nightly"" --The Kim Sisters

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  23. 7.2/10(13 votes)

    #22 - Dave Clark Five / A Salute to American Composers

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    S17:E23

    Dave Clark Five - ""Glad All Over"" ""A Salute to American Composers"" --Jerry Vale - ""Ah, Sweet Mystery"" & ""You Can't Take That Away from Me"" --Florence Henderson - ""I Get A Kick Out of You"" & ""Wonderful Guy"" --Ed Sullivan talks with Ira Gershwin. --Steve Lawrence - ""A Room Without Windows, A Room Without Doors"" & ""Gigi"" --Harry Ruby (piano medley) --Phil Silvers & Saul Chaplin - ""Old Man River"" sketch --Juliet Prowse (dancer) - dances to ""Black Bottom"" & ""The Peabody"" --Blossom Seeley - ""I Love A Medley"" Piano medley with five ASCAP composers: Jimmy McHugh (""Sunny Side of the Street""); Arthur Freed (""Singing in the Rain""); Grace Kahn & Donald Kahn (""It Had to be You"" & ""Ain't We Got Fun""); Sammy Fain (""Love Is A Many Splendored Thing"").

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  24. 7.2/10(12 votes)

    #23 - Final Sullivan Show: Melanie; David Frye; Sandler & Young

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    S24:E25

    Scheduled guests: --Melanie - ""Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma,"" ""Ruby Tuesday"" and ""Alexander Beetle"" --Joanna Simon (mezzo-soprano) - ""My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice"" --David Frye (impressionist) --Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass --Tony Sandler & Ralph Young (singers) --Norman Wisdom (comedian) --Vic Perry (sleight-of-hand artist) --Tony Fane (comedian) --Lennie Schultz (comedian)

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  25. 7.1/10(14 votes)

    #24 - Dave Clark Five / Rex Harrison / Alan King

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    S18:E6

    The Dave Clark Five - ""Anyway You Want It"" Other guests: --Rex Harrison (on film?) --Leon Bibb (folk singer) --Alan King (comedian) --Marilyn Michaels (singer-impressionist) --Dolores Gray (singer) --Richard Hearne (British comedian, a.k.a. ""Mr. Pastry"") --Rolando (a balancing artist)

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  26. 7.0/10(14 votes)

    #25 - U.S. Army Talent Contest Finalists

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    S8:E40

    No description available

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Best Episodes Summary

"Beatles (1st appearance) / Oliver Broadway cast" is the best rated episode of "The Ed Sullivan Show". It scored 9.1/10 based on 77 votes. Directed by Tim Kiley and written by N/A, it aired on 2/9/1964. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Elvis Presley (3rd appearance) / Carol Burnett / Sugar Ray Robinson".