9.1/1074 votesLoading...#1 - Beatles (1st appearance) / Oliver Broadway cast
Season 17 Episode 19 - Aired 2/9/1964
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)
Director: Tim Kiley
Writer: N/A
8.9/1027 votesLoading...#2 - Elvis Presley (3rd appearance) / Carol Burnett / Sugar Ray Robinson
Season 10 Episode 16 - Aired 1/6/1957
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
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.7/1027 votesLoading...
#3 - Richard Burton / Morecombe & Wise / Arthur Worsley
Season 17 Episode 6 - Aired 11/3/1963
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)
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.5/1016 votesLoading...
#4 - Judy Garland / Tom Jones / Peter Sellers
Season 19 Episode 4 - Aired 10/3/1965
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
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.4/1064 votesLoading...
#5 - Everly Brothers / Frances Farmer / Nancy Whiskey / Prince & the Showgirl premiere
Season 10 Episode 40 - Aired 6/30/1957
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""
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.4/1042 votesLoading...
#6 - The Swinging, Soulful Sixties - Diana Ross & the Supremes, etc.
Season 23 Episode 13 - Aired 12/21/1969
""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
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.3/1035 votesLoading...#7 - Beatles (2nd appearance) / Mitzi Gaynor
Season 17 Episode 20 - Aired 2/16/1964
--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
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.3/1033 votesLoading...#8 - Beatles (3rd appearance) / Cab Calloway
Season 17 Episode 21 - Aired 2/23/1964
--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
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.3/1013 votesLoading...
#9 - The Animals / Van Johnson / Jackie Mason
Season 18 Episode 4 - Aired 10/18/1964
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)
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.3/1025 votesLoading...
#10 - 23rd Season Premiere: Barbra Streisand / The Temptations
Season 23 Episode 1 - Aired 9/28/1969
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
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1013 votesLoading...
#11 - Buddy Holly and the Crickets / Sam Cooke / Bobby Helms
Season 11 Episode 10 - Aired 12/1/1957
--Buddy Holly and the Crickets - ""That'll Be the Day"" and ""Peggy Sue"" --Sam Cooke - ""You Send Me"" and ""For Sentimental Reasons"" --The Rays - ""Silhouettes"" --Bobby Helms - ""My Special Angel"" --Polly Bergen - ""Mean To Me"" and ""Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"" -- Ray McKinley & the Glenn Miller Orchestra (with guest singers) - perform a medley --Douglas Fairbanks (actor) - appears in a comedy sketch and, later in show, recites the Rudyard Kipling poem ""If"" --The Colliers All American Football Team (General Mills) introduced by Ed Sullivan and Lefty James. --Martha Ann Bentley (ballerina, dressed as a jockey) --Jean Carroll (comedian) --Tony And Sally Demarco (couple dancing to ""White Christmas"")
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1029 votesLoading...
#12 - Jackson Five / Clint Eastwood (on film) / Don Rickles
Season 23 Episode 31 - Aired 5/10/1970
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"".
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.0/1013 votesLoading...
#13 - Grace Kelly & Ralph Meeker; John Forsythe; David Wayne
Season 7 Episode 6 - Aired 10/18/1953
No description available
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.9/1018 votesLoading...
#14 - Elvis Presley (2nd appearance) / Senior Wences / Joyce Grenfell
Season 10 Episode 6 - Aired 10/28/1956
--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
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/1027 votesLoading...#15 - The Beatles (4th live appearance) / Cilla Black
Season 19 Episode 1 - Aired 9/12/1965
--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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.8/1023 votesLoading...
#16 - Jackson Five / Lainie Kazan / John Davidson
Season 23 Episode 12 - Aired 12/14/1969
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
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.7/1012 votesLoading...
#17 - Liza Minnelli / Duke Ellington / The Beatles (on film)
Season 17 Episode 33 - Aired 5/24/1964
--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
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/1011 votesLoading...
#18 - Dave Clark Five / Rowan & Martin / Steve Lawrence
Season 18 Episode 20 - Aired 2/14/1965
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
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/109 votesLoading...
#19 - Gary Puckett and the Union Gap / Richard Pryor / Rodney Dangerfield
Season 21 Episode 35 - Aired 5/12/1968
--Gary Puckett and the Union Gap - ""Lady Willpower"" & ""Young Girl"" Other guests: --Richard Pryor (stand-up comedy) - imitates his mother and grandmother, talks about getting revenge on the neighborhood bully. --Rodney Dangerfield (stand-up, doing his ""No Respect"" routine) --Diahann Carroll - ""At The Crossroads"" & ""Elusive Butterfly"" --David Frye (comedy, impressions of William F. Buckley, Presidents Nixon, Johnson, RFK.) --Shani Wallis - ""Alfie"" & ""High"" --Jay Marshall (ventriloquist) --Young Americans - ""Happiness"" & medley (""A Spoonful of Sugar,"" ""Back In the Old Routine Minute Waltz,"" ""Green Sleeves,"" and ""Raindrops"") --Audience bows: Leonard Sillman, Imogene Coca, Capt. Robert F. Foley
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/1010 votesLoading...
#20 - Janis Joplin / Chet Atkins / Floyd Cramer & Boots Randolph
Season 22 Episode 23 - Aired 3/16/1969
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)
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/1011 votesLoading...
#21 - scheduled: Arthur Godfrey; Loretta Lynn
Season 24 Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/1970
Scheduled guests: --Arthur Godfrey --Sonny James --Loretta Lynn - ""Coal Miner's Daughter"" --Archie Campbell --Stony Mt. Cloggers --Judi Ford (Miss America '69)
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.5/1025 votesLoading...
#22 - The Georgie Awards: Barbra Streisand / Blood Sweat & Tears / Tom Jones
Season 24 Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/1970
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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.4/1011 votesLoading...
#23 - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles / Lesley Gore / Mason Williams
Season 22 Episode 33 - Aired 6/1/1969
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
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.3/1018 votesLoading...
#24 - Beach Boys / Alan King / Robert Goulet
Season 18 Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/1964
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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.3/1014 votesLoading...
#25 - Rolling Stones / Jack Jones / Stiller & Meara
Season 18 Episode 5 - Aired 10/25/1964
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)
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
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 Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971,...
Genres:ComedyTalk
Network:CBS
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 74 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".