The Flip Wilson Show is an hour-long variety show that originally aired in the United States on NBC from September 17, 1970, to June 27, 1974. The show starred American comedian Flip Wilson; the program was one of the first American television programs starring a black person in the title role to become highly successful with a white audience. Specifically, it was the first successful network variety series starring an African American.The Flip Wilson Show During its first two seasons, it was the nation's second most watched show according to Nielsen ratings.

Overview

The show consisted of many skits in a 60-minute variety format. It also broke new ground in American television by using a "theatre-in-the-round" stage format, with the audience seated on all sides of a circular performance area (with some seats located behind the sketch sets on occasion).

Wilson was most famous for creating the role of Geraldine Jones, a sassy, modern woman who had a boyfriend named Killer (who, when not in prison, was at the pool hall). Flip also created the role of Reverend Leroy, who was the minister of the Church of What's Happening Now! New parishioners were wary of coming to the church as it was hinted that Reverend Leroy was a con artist. Wilson popularized the catchphrase "The Devil made me do it!".

Geraldine Jones was a recurring character played by Wilson wearing women's clothing. Some of Geraldine's most famous quotes are, "The Devil made me buy this dress!", "Don't you touch me, honey, you don't know me that well! You devil, you!" and "What you see is what you get!"

In addition to the skits, Wilson also signed many popular singers to provide entertainment. African-American singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, The Chi-Lites, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Pointer Sisters, Charley Pride, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, and The Supremes appeared on the program, as well as many contemporary white entertainers like Bobby Darin (a frequent guest on his show), Bing Crosby (two appearances), Roy Clark, Joan Rivers, The Osmonds, Johnny Cash, Roger Miller, and Pat Boone. Usually, the singers also appeared in skits with Wilson.

Wilson's clout allowed him to get both the new breakout performers (such as The Jackson 5, Roberta Flack, Sandy Duncan, Lily Tomlin, George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Albert Brooks, Lola Falana, and Melba Moore, all of whom became popular during this period) as well as established singers. In late 1971, gospel legend Mahalia Jackson made one of her last public performances on The Flip Wilson Show.

While The Flip Wilson Show first shared a studio with other television series, Wilson's massive popularity allowed for him to get his own set of soundstages, starting in the fall 1972 season. As the seasons went on, however, the show's ratings slipped; ratings across the variety show genre began a terminal decline in the mid-1970s. This, coupled with Wilson's repeated demands for higher raises in his salary, caused the series to go over its budget and led to its cancellation.

Half-hour versions of the series aired on TV Land from 1997 to 2006. From 2011 to 2012, the show aired on TV One. From 2012 to 2016, half-hour versions of the show aired on the Aspire network. Decades presented a Weekend Binge of the half-hour version on October 8–9, 2022. Decades' successor network Catchy Comedy ran a "Catchy Binge" of the half-hour version on July 29–30, 2023, and again on April 6–7, 2024.

Broadcast history and ratings Season Time Rank Rating 1 (1970–71) Thursday at 7:30–8:30 pm No. 2ClassicTVHits.com: TV Ratings > 1970's 27.9 2 (1971–72) Thursday at 8:00–9:00 pm No. 2ClassicTVHits.com: TV Ratings > 1970's 28.2 3 (1972–73) No. 12ClassicTVHits.com: TV Ratings > 1970's 23.1 4 (1973–74) No. 50 17.1

Reception The Flip Wilson Show won two Emmy Awards out of 18 nominations. The wins were both in 1971, for Outstanding Variety Series—Musical and Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety or Music. Wilson won both awards, with producer Bob Henry and executive producer Monte Kay also earning statuettes for the variety series honor and Herbert Baker, Hal Goodman, Larry Klein, Bob Schiller, Bob Weiskopf and Norman Steinberg for their writing.

Other nominations included Outstanding Variety Series in 1972 and 1973; Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety or Music in 1972 and 1973 (Dick Hills and Sid Green replaced Norman Steinberg in 1972 on the nomination, and Stan Burns, Peter Gallay, Don Hinkley, Mike Marmer and Paul McCauley replaced Hal Goodman, Larry Klein, Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf in 1973); Outstanding New Series in 1971; Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety or Music in 1971, 1972 and 1973, all for Tim Kiley; Outstanding Achievement in Live or Tape Sound Mixing in 1971 and 1972 for Dave Williams; Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Direction in 1971, 1972 and 1973 for Romain Johnston; Outstanding Single Program – Variety or Musical in 1972; Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction in 1972 for John Nance; and Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction in 1972 for technical director Louis Fusari and cameramen Ray Figelski, Rich Lombardo, Jon Olson and Wayne Osterhoudt.

Flip Wilson won one Golden Globe award in 1971 and received two other nominations in 1972 and 1973 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical. The Flip Wilson Show received an additional Golden Globe nomination in 1972 for Best Television Series—Comedy or Musical.

Episodes +Episode #Original Air DateGuestsSeason 11.1-1 17 Sep 70David Frost, James Brown, The Muppets2.1-2 24 Sep 70Roy Clark, Bobby Darin, Stanley Myron, Denise Nicholas3.1-3 01 Oct 70Lily Tomlin, Redd Foxx, The Tempatations, Roger Miller4.1-4 08 Oct 70Perry Como, Charlie Callas, Denise Nicholas, Lola Falana5.1-5 15 Oct 70Raymond Burr, Stanley Myron Handelman, The Muppets, Loretta Long, Sunday's Child6.1-6 22 Oct 70Louis Armstrong, Charlie Callas, Laura Greene, Pat Morita7.1-7 29 Oct 70Bill Cosby, Gina Lolabrigida, John Sebastian8.1-8 06 Nov 70Robert Goulet, Lola Falana, Robert Klein, Dean Martin9.1-9 13 Nov 70Moms Mabley, Marcel Marceau, Arte Johnson, Doug Kershaw10.1-1020 Nov 70Bobby Darin, Charlie Pride, Ella Fitzgerald11.1-1103 Dec 70Stevie Wonder, Connie Stevens, John Byner, Johnny Brown12.1-1210 Dec 70Lena Horne, Tony Randall, John Lawrence13.1-1317 Dec 70Sid Caesar, Bobby Darin, B.B. King14.1-1424 Dec 70Slim Gaillard, Burl Ives, Sha-Na-Na15.1-1507 Jan 71Bing Crosby, The Supremes, David Steinberg16.1-1617 Jan 71Steve Lawrence, Zero Mostel, Roberta Flack17.1-1721 Jan 71Muhammad Ali, Lily Tomlin, Bobby Darin18.1-1828 Jan 71Bill Cosby, Claudine Longet, Nancy Wilson19.1-1904 Feb 71Joe Namath, George Carlin, Johnny Mathis, Abbey Lincoln20.1-2011 Feb 71Art Carney, Barbara Feldon, Hal Frazier, Modern Jazz Quartet21.1-2118 Feb 71Aretha Franklin, David Frost, Charlie Callas22.1-2225 Feb 71Don Rickles, Leslie Uggams, Ray Charles23.1-2304 Mar 71Tim Conway, Diahann Carroll, Robert Klein24.1-2411 Mar 71George Carlin, Lena Horne, Ray Stevens25.1-2518 Mar 71Hamilton Camp, Lily Tomlin, Gaylord & Holiday26.1-2601 Apr 71Johnny Brown, Raymond Burr, Tim Conway, Sandy DuncanSeason 227.2-1 16 Sep 71Lucille Ball, Ed Sullivan, Osmond Brothers28.2-2 23 Sep 71George Gobel, Joan Rivers, Mahalia Jackson29.2-3 30 Sep 71Raymond Burr, Ruth Gordon, Stevie Wonder30.2-4 07 Oct 71Tim Conway, Ruth Buzzi, Erroll Garner31.2-5 14 Oct 71Pat Boone & Family, George Carlin, Sugar Ray Robinson32.2-6 21 Oct 71David Frost, The Supremes, Willie Tyler & Lester33.2-7 28 Oct 71The Smothers Brothers, Melba Moore34.2-8 04 Nov 71The Jackson 5, Lily Tomlin, Dr. David Rueben35.2-911 Nov 71Dom DeLuise, Diahann Carroll, the Muppets36.2-1018 Nov 71Tim Conway, Andy Griffith, Clara Ward37.2-1125 Nov 71Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Lena Horne38.2-1202 Dec 71Phyllis Diller, Billy Eckstine, Tony Randall39.2-1316 Dec 71Petula Clark, Roy Clark, Redd Foxx40.2-1423 Dec 71Melba Moore, Jimmy Osmond, Marty Feldman41.2-1530 Dec 71Carol Channing, David Steinberg, Modern Jazz Quartet42.2-1606 Jan 72Ray Charles, Dan Blocker, Kaye Ballard43.2-1713 Jan 72Tim Conway, Bobby Darin, Redd Foxx44.2-1820 Jan 72George Carlin, Aretha Franklin, Dom DeLuise45.2-1927 Jan 72Jim Brown, Johnny Cash, June Carter46.2-2003 Feb 72Phil Silvers, B.B. King, Barbara Feldon47.2-2110 Feb 72Sandy Duncan, Jim Nabors, Slappy White48.2-2217 Feb 72Roy Clark, Barbara McNair, Stiller and Meara49.2-2324 Feb 72Joe Namath, George Carlin, Miss Black America50.2-2402 Mar 72Sammy Davis Jr., Lily Tomlin, Ed McMahon51.2-2509 Mar 72Ruth Buzzi, Lee Marvin, Jackie Vernon, Chi-Lites52.2-2616 Mar 72Bing Crosby, Tim Conway, Melba MooreSeason 353.3-114 Sep 72Pearl Bailey, the Muppets, Jack Benny54.3-221 Sep 72The Fifth Dimension, Tim Conway55.3-328 Sep 72Melba Moore, Don Knotts, Dan Hicks & Hot Licks56.3-405 Oct 72Ruth Buzzi, Burns and Schreiber, the Supremes57.3-512 Oct 72Stiller and Meara, Bill Russell, Kenny Rankin, Paul McCartney and Wings (video)58.3-626 Oct 72Diana Sands, David Steinberg, the Jackson Five59.3-702 Nov 72Carol Channing, Ed Asner, Donny Hathaway60.3-809 Nov 72Don Adams, the Staple Singers, Roscoe Lee Browne61.3-916 Nov 72Burt Reynolds, Roberta Flack, Tim Conway62.3-1023 Nov 72The Temptations, Joan Rivers, Frank Gorshin63.3-1130 Nov 72Raymond Burr, Dom DeLuise, Gladys Knight and the Pips64.3-1207 Dec 72Tony Randal, Dionne Warwick, Burns and Schreiber65.3-1314 Dec 72Albert Brooks, Bill Russell, Johnny Cash & June Carter66.3-1421 Dec 72Tim Conway, Slappy White, Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson67.3-1504 Jan 73Jim Nabors, James Coco, Barbara McNair68.3-1611 Jan 73Andy Griffith, Curtis Mayfield, Roscoe Lee Browne69.3-1718 Jan 73Howard Cosell, Marty Feldman, Taj Mahal70.3-1825 Jan 73Sammy Davis Jr., Marilyn Michaels, Ed Sullivan71.3-1901 Feb 73Ray Charles, Phyllis Diller, The Committee72.3-2008 Feb 73Dom DeLuise, Helen Reddy, Diana Sands, Kreskin73.3-2115 Feb 73Roy Clark, George Carlin, Della Reese74.3-2222 Feb 73Rich Little, Ed McMahon, Cicely Tyson, Bill Withers75.3-2301 Mar 73Tim Conway, Joe Namath, Papa John Creach76.3-2408 Mar 73Don Knotts, Richard Pryor, Oscar Brown Jr, Jean PaceSeason 477.4-120 Sep 73Buddy Hackett, Ruth Buzzi, Richard Pryor, William Attmore II, Flippettes78.4-227 Sep 73The Pointer Sisters, Monty Hall, Sandy Duncan, William Windom79.4-304 Oct 73Richard Pryor, Ralph Edwards, Bobby Sandler, Nat Purefoy80.4-411 Oct 73Redd Foxx, Joan Rivers, Helen Reddy81.4-518 Oct 73Burns & Schreiber, Falumi Prince, Harry Belafonte82.4-625 Oct 73Robert Goulet, Carol Lawrence, Slappy White83.4-701 Nov 73Lee Grant, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Andrew Johnson, Henry Aaron84.4-815 Nov 73Tim Conway, Richard Pryor & Romark the Mentalist85.4-929 Nov 73Ed McMahon, Leonard Nimoy, Charlie Callas86.4-1006 Dec 73Stiller and Meara, Aretha Franklin, Tim Conway87.4-1113 Dec 73The Fifth Dimension, Burns and Schreiber88.4-1220 Dec 73Anthony Newley, Jack Klugman, Roscoe Browne, Ajaye89.4-1303 Jan 74Pointer Sisters, Ted Knight, Philip Paley90.4-1410 Jan 74Roy Clark, George Carlin, Della Reese91.4-1517 Jan 74Steve Lawrence, Richard Pryor, Kitty Lester92.4-1607 Feb 74Dennis Weaver, O.J. Simpson, Len Glascow, Ernie Robinson93.4-1721 Feb 74Don Adams, Redd Foxx, McLean Stevenson, Mac Davis94.4-1828 Feb 74Tony Randall, Bob Elliott & Ray Goulding, Lena Horne95.4-1907 Mar 74Andy Williams, Jonathan Winters, Arte Johnson, Bob Hope

References

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