# The Flip Wilson Show

The Flip Wilson Show is an hour-long variety show that originally aired in the US 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. 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. 2 | 27.9 |
| 2 (1971–72) | Thursday at 8:00–9:00 pm | No. 2 | 28.2 |
| 3 (1972–73) | Thursday at 8:00–9:00 pm | No. 12 | 23.1 |
| 4 (1973–74) | Thursday at 8:00–9:00 pm | 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 # | Episode # | Original Air Date | Guests |
| Season 1 ||||
| 1. | 1-1 | 17 Sep 70 | David Frost, James Brown, The Muppets |
| 2. | 1-2 | 24 Sep 70 | Roy Clark, Bobby Darin, Stanley Myron, Denise Nicholas |
| 3. | 1-3 | 01 Oct 70 | Lily Tomlin, Redd Foxx, The Tempatations, Roger Miller |
| 4. | 1-4 | 08 Oct 70 | Perry Como, Charlie Callas, Denise Nicholas, Lola Falana |
| 5. | 1-5 | 15 Oct 70 | Raymond Burr, Stanley Myron Handelman, The Muppets, Loretta Long, Sunday's Child |
| 6. | 1-6 | 22 Oct 70 | Louis Armstrong, Charlie Callas, Laura Greene, Pat Morita |
| 7. | 1-7 | 29 Oct 70 | Bill Cosby, Gina Lolabrigida, John Sebastian |
| 8. | 1-8 | 06 Nov 70 | Robert Goulet, Lola Falana, Robert Klein, Dean Martin |
| 9. | 1-9 | 13 Nov 70 | Moms Mabley, Marcel Marceau, Arte Johnson, Doug Kershaw |
| 10. | 1-10 | 20 Nov 70 | Bobby Darin, Charlie Pride, Ella Fitzgerald |
| 11. | 1-11 | 03 Dec 70 | Stevie Wonder, Connie Stevens, John Byner, Johnny Brown |
| 12. | 1-12 | 10 Dec 70 | Lena Horne, Tony Randall, John Lawrence |
| 13. | 1-13 | 17 Dec 70 | Sid Caesar, Bobby Darin, B.B. King |
| 14. | 1-14 | 24 Dec 70 | Slim Gaillard, Burl Ives, Sha-Na-Na |
| 15. | 1-15 | 07 Jan 71 | Bing Crosby, The Supremes, David Steinberg |
| 16. | 1-16 | 17 Jan 71 | Steve Lawrence, Zero Mostel, Roberta Flack |
| 17. | 1-17 | 21 Jan 71 | Muhammed Ali, Lily Tomlin, Bobby Darin |
| 18. | 1-18 | 28 Jan 71 | Bill Cosby, Claudine Longet, Nancy Wilson |
| 19. | 1-19 | 04 Feb 71 | Joe Namath, George Carlin, Johnny Mathis, Abbey Lincoln |
| 20. | 1-20 | 11 Feb 71 | Art Carney, Barbara Feldon, Hal Frazier, Modern Jazz Quartet |
| 21. | 1-21 | 18 Feb 71 | Aretha Franklin, David Frost, Charlie Callas |
| 22. | 1-22 | 25 Feb 71 | Don Rickles, Leslie Uggams, Ray Charles |
| 23. | 1-23 | 04 Mar 71 | Tim Conway, Diahann Carroll, Robert Klein |
| 24. | 1-24 | 11 Mar 71 | George Carlin, Lena Horne, Ray Stevens |
| 25. | 1-25 | 18 Mar 71 | Hamilton Camp, Lily Tomlin, Gaylord & Holiday |
| 26. | 1-26 | 01 Apr 71 | Johnny Brown, Raymond Burr, Tim Conway, Sandy Duncan |
| Season 2 ||||
| 27. | 2-1 | 16 Sep 71 | Lucille Ball, Ed Sullivan, Osmond Brothers |
| 28. | 2-2 | 23 Sep 71 | George Gobel, Joan Rivers, Mahalia Jackson |
| 29. | 2-3 | 30 Sep 71 | Raymond Burr, Ruth Gordon, Stevie Wonder |
| 30. | 2-4 | 07 Oct 71 | Tim Conway, Ruth Buzzi, Erroll Garner |
| 31. | 2-5 | 14 Oct 71 | Pat Boone & Family, George Carlin, Sugar Ray Robinson |
| 32. | 2-6 | 21 Oct 71 | David Frost, The Supremes, Willie Tyler & Lester |
| 33. | 2-7 | 28 Oct 71 | The Smothers Brothers, Melba Moore |
| 34. | 2-8 | 04 Nov 71 | The Jackson 5, Lily Tomlin, Dr. David Rueben |
| 35. | 2-9 | 11 Nov 71 | Dom DeLuise, Diahann Carroll, the Muppets |
| 36. | 2-10 | 18 Nov 71 | Tim Conway, Andy Griffith, Clara Ward |
| 37. | 2-11 | 25 Nov 71 | Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Lena Horne |
| 38. | 2-12 | 02 Dec 71 | Phyllis Diller, Billy Eckstine, Tony Randall |
| 39. | 2-13 | 16 Dec 71 | Petula Clark, Roy Clark, Redd Foxx |
| 40. | 2-14 | 23 Dec 71 | Melba Moore, Jimmy Osmond, Marty Feldman |
| 41. | 2-15 | 30 Dec 71 | Carol Channing, David Steinberg, Modern Jazz Quartet |
| 42. | 2-16 | 06 Jan 72 | Ray Charles, Dan Blocker, Kaye Ballard |
| 43. | 2-17 | 13 Jan 72 | Tim Conway, Bobby Darin, Redd Foxx |
| 44. | 2-18 | 20 Jan 72 | George Carlin, Aretha Franklin, Dom DeLuise |
| 45. | 2-19 | 27 Jan 72 | Jim Brown, Johnny Cash, June Carter |
| 46. | 2-20 | 03 Feb 72 | Phil Silvers, B.B. King, Barbara Feldon |
| 47. | 2-21 | 10 Feb 72 | Sandy Duncan, Jim Nabors, Slappy White |
| 48. | 2-22 | 17 Feb 72 | Roy Clark, Barbara McNair, Stiller and Meara |
| 49. | 2-23 | 24 Feb 72 | Joe Namath, George Carlin, Miss Black America |
| 50. | 2-24 | 02 Mar 72 | Sammy Davis Jr., Lily Tomlin, Ed McMahon |
| 51. | 2-25 | 09 Mar 72 | Ruth Buzzi, Lee Marvin, Jackie Vernon, Chi-Lites |
| 52. | 2-26 | 16 Mar 72 | Bing Crosby, Tim Conway, Melba Moore |
| Season 3 ||||
| 53. | 3-1 | 14 Sep 72 | Pearl Bailey, the Muppets, Jack Benny |
| 54. | 3-2 | 21 Sep 72 | The Fifth Dimension, Tim Conway |
| 55. | 3-3 | 28 Sep 72 | Melba Moore, Don Knotts, Dan Hicks & Hot Licks |
| 56. | 3-4 | 05 Oct 72 | Ruth Buzzi, Burns and Schreiber, the Supremes |
| 57. | 3-5 | 12 Oct 72 | Stiller and Meara, Bill Russell, Kenny Rankin, Paul McCartney and Wings (video) |
| 58. | 3-6 | 26 Oct 72 | Diana Sands, David Steinberg, the Jackson Five |
| 59. | 3-7 | 02 Nov 72 | Carol Channing, Ed Asner, Donny Hathaway |
| 60. | 3-8 | 09 Nov 72 | Don Adams, the Staple Singers, Roscoe Lee Browne |
| 61. | 3-9 | 16 Nov 72 | Burt Reynolds, Roberta Flack, Tim Conway |
| 62. | 3-10 | 23 Nov 72 | The Temptations, Joan Rivers, Frank Gorshin |
| 63. | 3-11 | 30 Nov 72 | Raymond Burr, Dom DeLuise, Gladys Knight and the Pips |
| 64. | 3-12 | 07 Dec 72 | Tony Randal, Dionne Warwick, Burns and Schreiber |
| 65. | 3-13 | 14 Dec 72 | Albert Brooks, Bill Russell, Johnny Cash & June Carter |
| 66. | 3-14 | 21 Dec 72 | Tim Conway, Slappy White, Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson |
| 67. | 3-15 | 04 Jan 73 | Jim Nabors, James Coco, Barbara McNair |
| 68. | 3-16 | 11 Jan 73 | Andy Griffith, Curtis Mayfield, Roscoe Lee Browne |
| 69. | 3-17 | 18 Jan 73 | Howard Cosell, Marty Feldman, Taj Mahal |
| 70. | 3-18 | 25 Jan 73 | Sammy Davis Jr., Marilyn Michaels, Ed Sullivan |
| 71. | 3-19 | 01 Feb 73 | Ray Charles, Phyllis Diller, The Committee |
| 72. | 3-20 | 08 Feb 73 | Dom Deluise, Helen Reddy, Diana Sands, Kreskin |
| 73. | 3-21 | 15 Feb 73 | Roy Clark, George Carlin, Della Reese |
| 74. | 3-22 | 22 Feb 73 | Rich Little, Ed McMahon, Cicely Tyson, Bill Withers |
| 75. | 3-23 | 01 Mar 73 | Tim Conway, Joe Namath, Papa John Creach |
| 76. | 3-24 | 08 Mar 73 | Don Knotts, Richard Pryor, Oscar Brown Jr, Jean Pace |
| Season 4 ||||
| 77. | 4-1 | 20 Sep 73 | Buddy Hackett, Ruth Buzzi, Richard Pryor, William Attmore II, Flippettes |
| 78. | 4-2 | 27 Sep 73 | The Pointer Sisters, Monty Hall, Sandy Duncan, William Windom |
| 79. | 4-3 | 04 Oct 73 | Richard Pryor, Ralph Edwards, Bobby Sandler, Nat Purefoy |
| 80. | 4-4 | 11 Oct 73 | Redd Foxx, Joan Rivers, Helen Reddy |
| 81. | 4-5 | 18 Oct 73 | Burns & Schreiber, Falumi Prince, Harry Belafonte |
| 82. | 4-6 | 25 Oct 73 | Robert Goulet, Carol Lawrence, Slappy White |
| 83. | 4-7 | 01 Nov 73 | Lee Grant, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Andrew Johnson, Henry Aaron |
| 84. | 4-8 | 15 Nov 73 | Tim Conway, Richard Pryor & Romark the Mentalist |
| 85. | 4-9 | 29 Nov 73 | Ed McMahon, Leonard Nimoy, Charlie Callas |
| 86. | 4-10 | 06 Dec 73 | Stiller and Meara, Aretha Franklin, Tim Conway |
| 87. | 4-11 | 13 Dec 73 | The Fifth Dimension, Burns and Schreiber |
| 88. | 4-12 | 20 Dec 73 | Anthony Newley, Jack Klugman, Roscoe Browne, Ajaye |
| 89. | 4-13 | 03 Jan 74 | Pointer Sisters, Ted Knight, Philip Paley |
| 90. | 4-14 | 10 Jan 74 | Roy Clark, George Carlin, Della Reese |
| 91. | 4-15 | 17 Jan 74 | Steve Lawrence, Richard Pryor, Kitty Lester |
| 92. | 4-16 | 07 Feb 74 | Dennis Weaver, O.J. Simpson, Len Glascow, Ernie Robinson |
| 93. | 4-17 | 21 Feb 74 | Don Adams, Redd Foxx, McLean Stevenson, Mac Davis |
| 94. | 4-18 | 28 Feb 74 | Tony Randall, Bob Elliott & Ray Goulding, Lena Horne |
| 95. | 4-19 | 07 Mar 74 | Andy Williams, Jonathan Winters, Arte Johnson, Bob Hope |