The Flip Wilson Show

NBC (ended 1975)

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Show Summary

Premiered: Sep 17, 1970
Status: Ended

Comic Flip Wilson was the first black performer to achieve major popularity as host of his own variety hour. The Flip Wilson Show was an enormous hit, during it's first two seasons. Although music and guests were an important part of the format, Flip's comedy was the real focus point of the series. Flip's best-known expression was a wide-eyed "The Devil made me do it". The Series Won Two Emmy Awards in 1970 for Best Variety Series and Writing in a Variety Series. Flip also won a Golden Globe in 1971 for Best TV Actor. '''''The Flip Wilson Show' was the only prime-time series where you could find musical guests like Issac Hayes, James Brown and The Temptations.''''Flip got his unique nickname because he 'flipped' people out with his stories. He was a very well known stand-up comedian and frequently made appearances on 'Tonight Show.' Flip was discovered by the King of late night himself Johnny Carson, and fellow comedian Redd Foxx. NBC was quick to make him the host of what would become one of, if not the most popular variety shows ever. ''''This show garnered the number two spot (ratings wise) coming in behind All in the Family. "The Flip Wilson Show" would keep these ratings for a solid 2 years, and was in the top 20 when it went off air in 1974. ''''"The Flip Wilson Show" had a strong stable of writers. Couple that with Wilson's tremendous talent and likability; you get a show that destroyed everything the other networks threw against it. Wilson himself wrote about a third of the show, and edited much of the rest. ''''The series stuck to five day rehearsal and shooting schedules; which was the most of any other variety show, but Flip was focused on making his series a cut above. "Occasionally it takes some time to hit off because we have to find the right approach," Wilson said in 1972, "But once that happens, we're smokin'."''''If he was driven, it was because of tough times in the past, and a hard struggle through the black nightclubs of the fifties. "With all the trouble black people have", he once stated, "they try to forget on weekends. You've got to be good to make them laugh." ''''Flip's laws of comedy: "Be sudden, be neat. Be unimpassioned, and if you're serious about something, leave it out." ''''It was Flip's Geraldine character that made the phrase "What you see is what you get" famous. That was Wilson's philosophy as well: "My show is my statement", he told Time magazine in 1972, "What I have to say is on the screen. My life is my own. I don't want to talk about my private self. Why should I?" ''''THE NEILSEN RATINGS FOR THE FLIP WILSON SHOW (Top 25):''''October 1970 - April 1971: #2''October 1971 - April 1972: #2''October 1972 - April 1973: #12'''''' NBC Broadcast History ''September 1970-June 1971----7:30-8:30''September 1971-June 1974----8:00-9:00''''''''''Flip's Various Characters included:''''Geraldine - the wise-cracking, smart mouth woman with an unseen boyfriend named, "Killer"''''Reverend Leroy - the flamboyant pastor of the Church Of What's Happenin' Now''''Sonny - the White House janitor''''Freddie Johnson - Quite the ladies manmoreless

7.2

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Episode Guide

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S 4 : Ep 18	Tony Randall, Bob & Ray, Lena Horne
S 4 : Ep 17	Don Adams, Redd Foxx, Mac Davis
S 4 : Ep 16	Dennis Weaver, O.J. Simpson, Len Glasgow, Ernie Robinson
S 4 : Ep 15	Steve Lawrence, Richard Pryor, Kenny Livingston, Keyy Lester
S 4 : Ep 14	Roy Clark, Bobby Sandler, Melba Moore

The Flip Wilson Show News

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23

February 27, 2007 DVD Releases

By Melissa Toutjian, Feb 21, 2007

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Fan Reviews (4)

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a good clasic verity show

7.0

"Good"

By cube2k8, May 06, 2010 Report Abuse

the flp wilson was a verity show back in the 70s and it was very funny i did not grow up in the 70s bought caought alot of the shows repeats on the tv land. but it featured alot of diffrent skits with politics and other things that made people laugh. there was alot of good moments that made laough alot alot of things that were funny mostly things about the times back then but since i am a history major i knew alot about the things that happend in the 70s.any way i thought this show was really good tobad flip wilson died. it was a really good show.moreless

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Classic Variety show where comedian Flip Wilson would do skits with famous people of the time. He would also dress in "drag" to play Geraldine, the UGLY woman who was always all over men. You couldn't tell Geraldine she wasn't gorgeous!moreless

8.5

"Great"

By sftbllplyr02, Oct 26, 2008 Report Abuse

No one could beat Geraldine, Flip played that part to the T (even down to that annoying voice)! This show was a classic, and beyond hilarious all in all! You can watch the scenes over and over again and still laugh each time. Flip Wilson truly was a great comedian who has been lost in time. I'm only 23, born a good decade after this show was taken off the air, but I thank my parents (and a TV Land marathon) for introducing me to this mans talents. Hopefully the world will start giving him his just dues one of these days.moreless

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Flip was a master showman. Great humor and great guests. From Bobby Darin to Bob Hope. It was sad to see him fade away and not be around alot until his untimely death. I miss you Clero (His real Name)moreless

9.5

"Superb"

By HossInReno, Sep 15, 2005 Report Abuse

Famous sayings from Flip...
What you see is what you get!
Columbus is going to find Ray Charles!
The Devil made me do it!
(As Geraldine) Don't touch me! Or Killer is going to beat you.
I'll meet you in the resturant in the back in the corner in the dark....
Joke told by Flip on Johnnie Carson
Flip had a parrot and kept trying to get the parrot
to talk. he would say to the parrot Poly want a cracker? Polly want a cracker? Polly want a cracker.
Finally after yelling POLLY WANT A CRACKER! a hundred times the parrot said. "Ni_ _er want a water melon?!!!!
Johnnie and the audience about died!moreless

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What You See Is What You Get!

7.5

"Good"

By crazyrhythm, Sep 06, 2005 Report Abuse

The Flip Wilson Show was a comedy/variety program that ran on NBC in the early `70s. Although musical guests ranging from Perry Como to Ray Charles appeared regularly,the main emphasis was on comedy. Funny people like George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Redd Fox would do stand-up and also work with Flip in various skits. Wilson had his own collection of stock characters he could always bring out,such as Geraldine, Reverend LeRoy, and Danny Danger. This was a very funny show.moreless

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The Flip wilson show on TV Land in November 2010.
Everyone attention! The Flip Wilson Show is coming back to TV Land in November 2010 so TV Land Fans acquire that show cause we're ...

By clay243, Sep 18, 2009

01/27/10

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