The Flip Wilson Show
Aretha Franklin, David Frost, Charlie Callas
TV Flash files “Aretha Franklin, David Frost, Charlie Callas” as hour 19 of 43 in the TV Flash guide — The Flip Wilson Show (1970–1974) on NBC, season 1, episode 21, aired 1971-02-18, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E21: listed hour 19 of 43 in the The Flip Wilson Show guide, hour 19 of 20 in season 1. It aired 1971-02-18 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Art Carney, Barbara Feldon” (S01E20). Next is “Don Rickles, Leslie Uggams, Ray Charles” (S01E22).
Viewer FAQ
Where does Aretha Franklin, David Frost, Charlie Callas sit in the The Flip Wilson Show guide?
S01E21 is listed hour 19 of 43 — hour 19 of 20 in season 1, season 1 episode 21.
When did The Flip Wilson Show S01E21 air?
Aretha Franklin, David Frost, Charlie Callas aired 1971-02-18 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Where should I start in a variety run?
Any complete hour: Wilson's host persona plus Geraldine and Reverend Leroy. Guest stars rotate; the characters are the brand.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Flip Wilson owns a hit NBC variety hour on his own brand terms: Geraldine, Reverend Leroy, musical guests, and catchphrases that invaded playgrounds. First Black host of a major network variety franchise at this scale, packaged as entertainment rather than a lecture. The devil made him do it — and the sketches did.
The devil made him do it — and NBC made Flip Wilson the first Black host to own a major hit network variety franchise on his own brand terms. The Flip Wilson Show (1970–1974) ran four seasons, 43 hours, mixing Geraldine Jones and Reverend Leroy with musical guests in a colorful early-1970s blast from Wilson and Bob Henry. Charm disarmed. Sketches invaded playgrounds. Variety's door opened wider without asking the audience to treat the hour as civic spinach. On the palate: sequins, a catchphrase, and a host who…
Filed against
- Flip Wilson as Host / Geraldine Jones / Reverend Leroy
Flip Wilson owned NBC variety as himself — Geraldine, Reverend Leroy, musical guests, catchphrases that invaded playgrounds, and the first Black host of a major network variety franchise at this scale, packaged as entertainment rather…
Also in season 1
- S01E01 David Frost, James Brown, The Muppets
- S01E02 Roy Clark, Bobby Darin, Stanley Myron, Denise Nicholas
- S01E03 Lily Tomlin, Redd Foxx, The Tempatations, Roger Miller
- S01E04 Perry Como, Charlie Callas, Denise Nicholas, Lola Falana
- S01E05 Raymond Burr, Stanley Myron, The Muppets, Loretta Long, Sunday's Child
- S01E06 Louis Armstrong