The Flip Wilson Show
George Gobel, Joan Rivers, Mahalia Jackson
TV Flash files “George Gobel, Joan Rivers, Mahalia Jackson” as hour 22 of 43 in the TV Flash guide — The Flip Wilson Show (1970–1974) on NBC, season 2, episode 2, aired 1971-09-23, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S02E02: listed hour 22 of 43 in the The Flip Wilson Show guide, hour 2 of 13 in season 2. It aired 1971-09-23 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Lucille Ball, Ed Sullivan, Osmond Brothers” (S02E01). Next is “Raymond Burr, Ruth Gordon, Stevie Wonder” (S02E03).
Viewer FAQ
Where does George Gobel, Joan Rivers, Mahalia Jackson sit in the The Flip Wilson Show guide?
S02E02 is listed hour 22 of 43 — hour 2 of 13 in season 2, season 2 episode 2.
When did The Flip Wilson Show S02E02 air?
George Gobel, Joan Rivers, Mahalia Jackson aired 1971-09-23 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…