# The Jim Backus Show

The Jim Backus Show is a 39-episode American television sitcom that aired in broadcast syndication in 1960 and 1961. The series was also known as Hot Off the Wire.

## Premise

The program focuses on Backus in the role of Mike O'Toole, the editor/proprietor of a low rent wire service struggling to stay in business.

## Cast

* Jim Backus as Mike O'Toole
* Nita Talbot as Dora Miles
* Bobs Watson as Sidney

## Episodes

* "The Woman's Touch" with George Ives as a bigamist con man, Douglas Aldrich.
* "Floundered in Florida" with Alan Carney as Hogan, Milton Frome as Irving Rudolph, Vivi Janiss as Mrs. Rudolph, and Olan Soule as Elmo
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
| 1 | "The Mad Bomber" | John Florea | John L. Greene | October 6, 1960 (1960-10-06) |
| 2 | "The Patriots" | Bretaigne Windust | Dick Conway & Roland MacLane | October 25, 1960 (1960-10-25) |
| 3 | "Mike O'Toole, Angler" | Gene Reynolds | Joseph Quillan | November 1, 1960 (1960-11-01) |
| 4 | "South Hampton Story" | James Sheldon | Bill Danch & Tedd Pierce | November 8, 1960 (1960-11-08) |
| 5 | "No Help Wanted" | Gene Reynolds | Dick Chevillat & Jay Sommers | November 15, 1960 (1960-11-15) |
| 6 | "The Marry-Go-Round" | Christian Nyby | Ray Singer | November 15, 1960 (1960-11-15) |
| 7 | "The Nephew" | Hollingsworth Morse | David Chandler & Don Quinn | November 22, 1960 (1960-11-22) |
| 8 | "Baby, Come Home" | Ralph Levy | Bill Danch & Tedd Pierce | November 29, 1960 (1960-11-29) |
| 9 | "The Frame Up" | Christian Nyby | Dick Chevillat & Ray Singer | December 6, 1960 (1960-12-06) |
| 10 | "Painting Caper" | Howard W. Koch | Dick Chevillat & Ray Singer | December 13, 1960 (1960-12-13) |
| 11 | "The Three Sisters" | James Sheldon | Jess Carneol & Kay Lenard | December 16, 1960 (1960-12-16) |
| 12 | "Uncle Chester" | Alan Crosland Jr. | Bill Davenport & Charles Tannen | December 20, 1960 (1960-12-20) |
| 13 | "Crime a la Carte" | Theodore J. Flicker | Bill Danch & John L. Greene | December 27, 1960 (1960-12-27) |
| 14 | "The Desk" | Howard W. Koch | Bill Danch & Tedd Pierce | December 27, 1960 (1960-12-27) |
| 15 | "Piano Prodigy" | Christian Nyby | Hendrik Vollaerts | January 10, 1961 (1961-01-10) |
| 16 | "Mike Cheats a Cheater" | James Sheldon | Peggy Chantler Dick & William Cowley | January 17, 1961 (1961-01-17) |
| 17 | "Meet Melvin" | Ben Feiner Jr. | George Atkins & Bob Ogle | January 24, 1961 (1961-01-24) |
| 18 | "The Woman's Touch" | Christian Nyby | Story by : Robert A. Cinader, Teleplay by : Marvin Marx & Manny Manheim | January 31, 1961 (1961-01-31) |
| 19 | "Sidney's Scoop" | Hollingsworth Morse | Peggy Elliott & Tedd Pierce | February 7, 1961 (1961-02-07) |
| 20 | "The Hypnotist" | Ben Feiner Jr. | Bill Danch & Tedd Pierce | February 14, 1961 (1961-02-14) |
| 21 | "Once Upon a Moose" | Christian Nyby | Harry Crane & John Tackaberry | February 21, 1961 (1961-02-21) |
| 22 | "Pinkmalion" | Alan Crosland Jr. | Bill Davenport & Charles Tannen | December 28, 1961 (1961-12-28) |
| 23 | "When a Body Meets a Body" | Sidney Salkow | George Atkins, John O'Dea, Bob Ogle & Sidney Salkow | March 7, 1961 (1961-03-07) |
| 24 | "Arabian Night" | James Sheldon | Walter Black | March 14, 1961 (1961-03-14) |
| 25 | "Old Army Game" | Christian Nyby | Story by : Robert A. Cinader Teleplay by : Stanley Davis & Elon Packard | March 21, 1961 (1961-03-21) |
| 26 | "The Fix" | Arthur Lubin | Arthur Alsberg | April 4, 1961 (1961-04-04) |
| 27 | "Sad Sack Santa" | Harvey Hart | Sam Locke & Joel Rapp | April 11, 1961 (1961-04-11) |
| 28 | "The Plant" | James Sheldon | Story by : Jay Sommers, Teleplay by : Carol & Joseph Cavella | April 18, 1961 (1961-04-18) |
| 29 | "The Temporary Scoundrel" | Theodore J. Flicker | Thomas Knickerbocker & Mort R. Lewis | April 25, 1961 (1961-04-25) |
| 30 | "Floundered in Florida" | Unknown | Unknown | May 2, 1961 (1961-05-02) |
| 31 | "Dear Minnie" | Unknown | Unknown | May 9, 1961 (1961-05-09) |
| 32 | "In the Rough" | Unknown | Unknown | May 16, 1961 (1961-05-16) |
| 33 | "Dora's Vacation" | Unknown | Unknown | May 23, 1961 (1961-05-23) |
| 34 | "The Birthday Boy" | Unknown | Unknown | May 30, 1961 (1961-05-30) |
| 35 | "War Bride" | Unknown | Unknown | June 13, 1961 (1961-06-13) |
| 36 | "The Texas Tycoon" | Unknown | Unknown | June 20, 1961 (1961-06-20) |
| 37 | "Gift for Grandma" | Unknown | Unknown | June 27, 1961 (1961-06-27) |
| 38 | "O'Toole and Son" | Christian Nyby | Stanley Davis & Elon Packard | July 4, 1961 (1961-07-04) |
| 39 | "Farewell to Dora" | Unknown | Unknown | July 11, 1961 (1961-07-11) |