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The Best Episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show Season 18

Every episode of The Ed Sullivan Show Season 18 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show Season 18!

The Best Episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show Season 18

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 Animals / Van Johnson / Jackie Mason
    8.3/10(13 votes)

    #1 - The Animals / Van Johnson / Jackie Mason

    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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  2. Background image for Dave Clark Five / Rowan & Martin / Steve Lawrence
    7.6/10(11 votes)

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

    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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  3. Background image for Rolling Stones / Jack Jones / Stiller & Meara
    7.4/10(15 votes)

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

    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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  4. Background image for Beach Boys / Alan King / Robert Goulet
    7.3/10(18 votes)

    #4 - Beach Boys / Alan King / Robert Goulet

    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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  5. Background image for Peter and Gordon / Sammy Davis Jr. / Kaye Stevens
    7.3/10(10 votes)

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

    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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  6. Background image for Dave Clark Five / Rex Harrison / Alan King
    7.1/10(14 votes)

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

    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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  8. Background image for Roy Orbison / Connie Francis / Harlem Globetrotters
    7.0/10(12 votes)

    #7 - Roy Orbison / Connie Francis / Harlem Globetrotters

    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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  9. Background image for Lesley Gore / Burt Lancaster / Mickey Rooney / Miriam Makeba
    7.0/10(10 votes)

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

    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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  10. Background image for Gerry & the Pacemakers / Maurice Chevalier / Soupy Sales
    7.0/10(11 votes)

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

    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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  11. Background image for Louis Armstrong / Sid Caesar / Abbe Lane / Pat Boone
    6.8/10(12 votes)

    #10 - Louis Armstrong / Sid Caesar / Abbe Lane / Pat Boone

    S18:E2

    Guests: --Louis Armstrong – ""Hello Dolly"" & ""So Long Dearie"" --Sid Caesar (comedian) - 2 skits: (1) Japanese baseball player sketch (2) 1964 election news report sketch --Yogi Berra --Pat Boone - ""My Baby Just Cares for Me,"" ""Beach Girl"" and ""Exodus"" --Abbe Lane - ""I Didn't Know What Time It Was"" & ""I'm In Love with A Wonderful Guy"" --Jim Bouton (of the Yankees) - does a Frank Fontain impression --Tony Lema - golf match with Ken Venturi --The Radugas (Raduga dancers) - Russian Cossack folk dance --Topo Gigio (Italian mouse puppet) - puppet wearing a Beatle wig.

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  12. Background image for scheduled: Tony Bennett; Leslie Uggams; Victor Borge
    6.6/10(11 votes)

    #11 - scheduled: Tony Bennett; Leslie Uggams; Victor Borge

    S18:E9

    Scheduled guests: --Tony Bennett --Leslie Uggams --Victor Borge --The Womenfolk (folk singers) - ""Sail Away"" & ""Rock-Em Daddy-O"" --Pat O'Brien (actor) --The Pan Am North Stars (steelband musicians)

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  13. Background image for Petula Clark / Rudolf Nureyev / Alan King
    6.2/10(12 votes)

    #12 - Petula Clark / Rudolf Nureyev / Alan King

    S18:E33

    Guests: --Petula Clark - ""I Know a Place"" & ""Heart"" --Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn (ballet dancers) - perform three excerpts from ""Swan Lake"" --Alan King (stand-up comedian) - routine about how parents bug kids. Alan talks about his kid's little league. --Sue Carson (comedian) --The West Point Glee Club --The Elwardos (balancing act) --Ugo Garrido (juggler) Other guests (scheduled to appear): --The Beach Boys - ""Help Me Rhonda"" --Frankie Randall (pop singer) CBS repeated this episode on September 5, 1965. The Beach Boys were not mentioned on the repeat.

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  14. Background image for Rolling Stones / Dusty Springfield / Tom Jones
    5.4/10(23 votes)

    #13 - Rolling Stones / Dusty Springfield / Tom Jones

    S18:E31

    --The Rolling Stones - ""The Last Time,"" Little Red Rooster"" and ""Someone to Love"" --Dusty Springfield - ""All Cried Out"" --Tom Jones - ""It's Not Unusual"" --Audience bow (cameo): Roy Orbison --Leslie Uggams - ""Melancholy Baby"" --Totie Fields (comedian) --Topo Gigio (puppet) --Morecambe & Wise (comedians) --The Half Brothers (juggling act) --Gitta Morrelly (balancing act)

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  15. Background image for Jimmy Durante / Jean Paul Vignon / Nipsey Russell
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #14 - Jimmy Durante / Jean Paul Vignon / Nipsey Russell

    S18:E7

    Guests: --Jimmy Durante - ""Old Man Time,"" ""Fascination"" & ""Count Your Blessings"" --Sonny King and Jimmy Durante - ""Hey, Look Me Over"" & ""I Ain't Down Yet"" --Eddie Jackson and Jimmy Durante - ""Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home?"" --Nipsey Russell (comedian) --Jean Paul Vignon (French pop singer) --Parker and Towers (ice skaters) --The Fabulous Kids from Hong Kong (a vocal-instrumental group) --Jay Nemeth (ventriloquist) --Ginny Tiu and family (a children's variety act) --The Del Rey Brothers (jugglers) Scheduled guests: --Richard Hearne --The Bachelors (music group from London)

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  16. Background image for scheduled: Ella Fitzgerald; Gordon and Sheila MacRae
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #15 - scheduled: Ella Fitzgerald; Gordon and Sheila MacRae

    S18:E10

    Scheduled guests: --Ella Fitzgerald --Gordon and Sheila MacRae --Myron Cohen --Corps De Ballet --Obernkirchen Children's Choir

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  17. Background image for scheduled: Piccola Pupa; Mitchell Trio; Sid Caesar
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #16 - scheduled: Piccola Pupa; Mitchell Trio; Sid Caesar

    S18:E11

    Guests: --Sid Caesar --Gary Lewis and the Playboys   --Piccola Pupa --The Mitchell Trio (folk singers) --Sophie Tucker --Allen and Rossi (comedy team) --Betsy Palmer Scheduled guest: --Bob Lewis (comedian)

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  18. Background image for Julie Harris / Stiller & Meara / Alan King / Robert Preston
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Julie Harris / Stiller & Meara / Alan King / Robert Preston

    S18:E12

    Guests: --Robert Preston - sings ""Half the Battle is Learning How to Smile"" (in a scene from ""Ben Franklin In Paris"") --Julie Harris --Anita Bryant - ""Fly Me to the Moon"" --Stiller & Meara --Arthur Worsley (British ventriloquist) --Fabulous Hong Kong Hi-De-His --Danielle Barioni --Marquis Chimps --Con Conwally (balancing knife act)

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  19. Background image for Jack Jones / Allen & Rossi / Charlie Manna
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Jack Jones / Allen & Rossi / Charlie Manna

    S18:E13

    Guests: --Jack Jones - Christmas medley & ""My Favorite Things."" --Jack Jones (later in show) - ""Somebody Loves Me"" & ""You're Nobody"" medley --Allen & Rossi (comedy team) - James Bond spoof --Steve Rossi sings ""Have You Had Any Fun?"" --Sandu and the Green Mountain Boys (might be Sandu Scott and the Scotties) - sings, does imitations including Ed Sullivan; Carol Channing singing ""Hello Dolly"" --Charlie Manna (comedian) - opera sketch, sings ""Barber of Seville"" --Jesuit Priests led by Father Lawrence Madden - Religious medley --Victor Julian (circus dog act with dogs in costume, one as Santa Claus) --Topo Gigio (mouse puppet) - Topo's homesick during Christmas, gets phone call from Mama --Jim Brown - talks to Ed on stage --Audience bow: Jack Rice (high-school all-American) --George Carl (comic pantomime) --Audience bows: Buddy Hackett & London Lee --The Morlidors (cortortionist act) - man in black mask with 2 female assistants

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  20. Background image for The Supremes / Serendipity Singers / Leslie Uggams
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #19 - The Supremes / Serendipity Singers / Leslie Uggams

    S18:E14

    Guests: --The Supremes - ""Come See About Me"" --The Serendipity Singers - ""Every Time I Feel the Spirit"" --Leslie Uggams - ""Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo"" & ""Cockeyed Optimist"" --Rip Taylor (comedian) --Jean Carrol (comedian) --Frank Gorshin (impressionist) --Davis and Reese (stand-up comedians)

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  21. Background image for scheduled: Liza Minnelli, Jean Paul Vignon, Totie Fields
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #20 - scheduled: Liza Minnelli, Jean Paul Vignon, Totie Fields

    S18:E15

    Scheduled guests: --Liza Minnelli --Jean Paul Vignon --Totie Fields --Marc London (comedian) --Carmen Sevilla --Lew Bassi (juggler) --The Mattison Trio (tap-dancers) --Topo Gigio

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  22. Background image for scheduled: Sid Caesar; Wayne Newton; Betsy Palmer; Shari Lewis
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #21 - scheduled: Sid Caesar; Wayne Newton; Betsy Palmer; Shari Lewis

    S18:E16

    Scheduled guests: --Sid Caesar --Wayne Newton --Betsy Palmer --Shari Lewis (puppeteer) --London Lee (comedian) --The Kim Sisters (singers) --Topo Gigio --The Sophie Maslow Dance Company --Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang

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  23. Background image for Rex Harrison, Audrey Hepburn
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Rex Harrison, Audrey Hepburn

    S18:E17

    No description available

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  24. Background image for Jimmy Durante / scheduled: Leslie Uggams; Stiller & Meara; Jean Carroll
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Jimmy Durante / scheduled: Leslie Uggams; Stiller & Meara; Jean Carroll

    S18:E19

    Guests (confirmed): --Jimmy Durante (entertainer, celebrating his 72nd birthday) --Sonny King Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --Leslie Uggams --Stiller & Meara --Rebecca Raz --Jean Carroll --Vaughn Monroe

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  25. Background image for scheduled: Sid Caesar; Roberta Peters; Betsy Palmer; Frank Gorshin
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #24 - scheduled: Sid Caesar; Roberta Peters; Betsy Palmer; Frank Gorshin

    S18:E21

    Scheduled guests: --Sid Caesar --Roberta Peters (Metropolitan Opera soprano) --Jerry Vale (singer) --Betsy Palmer --Frank Gorshin --London Lee (comedian) --Malcolm Powell (ventriloquist) --The Three Kims (acrobats) --Conrad Buckner

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  26. Background image for scheduled: Wayne Newton; Juliet Prowse; Alan King; Bill Dana
    NaN/10(0 votes)

    #25 - scheduled: Wayne Newton; Juliet Prowse; Alan King; Bill Dana

    S18:E22

    Scheduled guests (from Florida's Miami Beach Auditorium): --Wayne Newton --Juliet Prowse --Alan King --Bill Dana --The Hurricanes (the University of Miami's Glee Club) --The Cypress Gardens water skiers --The Singing Hialeah Jockey Octet --The Sensational Leighs (aerial act)

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Season 18 Ratings Summary

"The Animals / Van Johnson / Jackie Mason" is the best rated episode of "The Ed Sullivan Show" season 18. It scored 8.3/10 based on 13 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 10/18/1964. This episode is rated 0.7 points higher than the second-best, "Dave Clark Five / Rowan & Martin / Steve Lawrence".