The Ed Sullivan Show

The Best Episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show

Genres:ComedyTalk
Network:CBS

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,...
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  1. 8.5/10(16 votes)

    #1 - 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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  2. 8.4/10(42 votes)

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

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    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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  3. 8.3/10(13 votes)

    #3 - 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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  4. 8.3/10(25 votes)

    #4 - 23rd Season Premiere: Barbra Streisand / The Temptations

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    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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  5. 8.2/10(13 votes)

    #5 - Buddy Holly and the Crickets / Sam Cooke / Bobby Helms

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    S11:E10

    --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"")

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  6. 8.2/10(29 votes)

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

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    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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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show

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  8. 7.8/10(27 votes)

    #7 - 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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  9. 7.8/10(23 votes)

    #8 - Jackson Five / Lainie Kazan / John Davidson

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    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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  10. 7.6/10(11 votes)

    #9 - 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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  11. 7.6/10(10 votes)

    #10 - 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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  12. 7.6/10(11 votes)

    #11 - 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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  13. 7.5/10(25 votes)

    #12 - 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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  14. 7.4/10(15 votes)

    #13 - 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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  15. 7.4/10(11 votes)

    #14 - 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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  16. 7.3/10(18 votes)

    #15 - 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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  17. 7.3/10(10 votes)

    #16 - 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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  18. 7.2/10(12 votes)

    #17 - 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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  19. 7.1/10(14 votes)

    #18 - 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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  20. 7.0/10(14 votes)

    #19 - U.S. Army Talent Contest Finalists

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    S8:E40

    No description available

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  21. 7.0/10(12 votes)

    #20 - Roy Orbison / Connie Francis / Harlem Globetrotters

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    S18:E3

    Guests: --Roy Orbison - ""Oh, Pretty Woman"" --Connie Francis - (1) baseball medley: ""Take Me Out to the Ballgame"" (& other baseball songs), ""Meet Me In St. Louis"" (& a song about New York). (2) medley: ""Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone"" and ""After You've Gone Away"" --Connie Francis - ""My Man"" --Juliet Prowse --Harlem Globetrotters --George Kirby (comedian who does impressions, imitates Sammy Davis Jr.) --Allen & Rossi (comedy team) --Jean Paul Vignon (French pop singer) --Jean Carroll (stand-up comedian, tells jokes about her husband & daughter) --The Youngs (circus act, performers do jumps using a teeterboard) CBS repeated this show on July 4, 1965.

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  22. 7.0/10(10 votes)

    #21 - Lesley Gore / Burt Lancaster / Mickey Rooney / Miriam Makeba

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    S18:E18

    Guests: --Lesley Gore - ""The Look of Love"" & ""Hello Young Lovers"" --Burt Lancaster (chats with Ed & film clips) --Mickey Rooney --Roger Williams --Miriam Makeba (South African folk singer, with back up singers) - ""Intoyam"" (African song) --The Agastonios (acrobat team) --Ravic & Babs (roller skaters)

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  23. 7.0/10(11 votes)

    #22 - Gerry & the Pacemakers / Maurice Chevalier / Soupy Sales

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    S18:E28

    Guests: --Gerry and the Pacemakers – ""Ferry Across the Mersey,"" ""It's Gonna Be Alright"" & ""Why, Oh Why"" --Maurice Chevalier - ""C'est Magnifique,"" ""It's All Right with Me"" and ""Just One of Those Things"" --Soupy Sales (comedian) - ""The Mouse"" --London Lee (comedian) --Jose Torres (middleweight boxing champion) - ""Un Poco Mas"" --Felicia Sanders (singer) - ""Sunrise, Sunset"" --The San Francisco Ballet - ""Beautiful Galatea"" --Stephenson's Dogs --Jorgen and Conny (a balancing act)

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  24. 7.0/10(12 votes)

    #23 - Jay & the Techniques / Buddy Rich / Miriam Makeba

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    S21:E17

    --Jay and the Techniques - ""Keep the Ball Rolling"" --Miriam Makeba (singer from South Africa) - ""Pata Pata"" --Buddy Rich and his orchestra - ""Norwegian Wood"" (instrumental version of Beatles' song) --George Kirby (comedian) - celebrity impressions --Montego (sword balancer) - balances swords, juggles torches, tricycle tricks, etc. --Gianna D'Angelo - ""Una voce poca fa"" --Topo Gigio (Italian mouse puppet) Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --Rodney Dangerfield --Vikki Carr (singer) - ""It Must Be Him""

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  25. 7.0/10(11 votes)

    #24 - Gladys Knight & the Pips / Sid Caesar & Carol Channing

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    S24:E20

    Guests: --Gladys Knight & the Pips - ""If I Were Your Woman"" & ""Bridge Over Troubled Water"" --Sid Caesar & Carol Channing (do a scene from the play ""Four on a Garden"") --Robert Klein (stand-up comedian) - tells jokes about going to the dentist. --Jerry Vale - ""I Want To Make It With You,"" ""My Love, Forgive Me,"" & ""Peace in the Valley"" --Caterina Valente - ""Everybody Gets to go to the Moon,"" ""Mack the Knife"" (in German) & ""The Girl from Impanema"" (in Portuguese) --Peter Nero (pianist) - theme from ""Love Story"" --Pat Henry (comedian) CBS repeated this show on June 6, 1971. NOTE: The 1990's repeat of this episode includes performers from other shows: Jim Bailey (from 3Jan71); Santini Demon (from 15Feb70); O.C. Smith (from 3Jan71) and Jackie DeShannon (circa March 1970).

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  26. 6.9/10(16 votes)

    #25 - Four Tops / José Feliciano / SSgt. Barry Sadler / Dinah Shore

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    S19:E20

    Guests: --The Four Tops - ""Nice and Easy"" --The Four Tops - medley: ""The Whole World Sings With You,"" ""It's the Same Old Song,"" ""Something About You"" & ""I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)"" --SSgt. Barry Sadler - ""Ballad of the Green Berets"" --Jose Feliciano - ""Flight of the Bumble Bee"" --Dinah Shore - ""Chim-Chim-Cheree,"" ""Something Wonderful"" & blues medley (including ""Bye Bye Blues"") --Dick Capri (stand-up comedy, makes faces as he wonders how a mask maker does his job) --Jackie Vernon (comedian) --Topo Gigio (plays violin) --Les Faux Follets (wooden clog dance) --Markworth & Mayana (precision archery) --Audience bow: Jean Drapeau (Montreal Mayor)

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Best Episodes Summary

"Judy Garland / Tom Jones / Peter Sellers" is the best rated episode of "The Ed Sullivan Show". It scored 8.5/10 based on 16 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 10/3/1965. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Swinging, Soulful Sixties - Diana Ross & the Supremes, etc.".