The Flip Wilson Show
Stiller & Meara, Bill Russell, Paul McCartney & Wings (video)
TV Flash files “Stiller & Meara, Bill Russell, Paul McCartney & Wings (video)” as the first listed hour of season 3 — The Flip Wilson Show (1970–1974) on NBC, season 3, episode 5, aired 1972-10-12, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S03E05: listed hour 34 of 43 in the The Flip Wilson Show guide, first listed hour of season 3. It aired 1972-10-12 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Sammy Davis Jr.” (S02E24). Next is “Albert Brooks, Bill Russell, Johnny Cash & June Carter” (S03E13).
Viewer FAQ
Where does Stiller & Meara, Bill Russell, Paul McCartney & Wings (video) sit in the The Flip Wilson Show guide?
S03E05 is listed hour 34 of 43 — first listed hour of season 3, season 3 episode 5.
When did The Flip Wilson Show S03E05 air?
Stiller & Meara, Bill Russell, Paul McCartney & Wings (video) aired 1972-10-12 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…