page_title: Topper (TV series)
section_title: Production notes
hierarchical_section_title: Topper (TV series) / Production notes
caption_attribution_description: Photo of the cast of the television program Topper. Standing-Anne Jeffreys (Marion Kerby), Robert Sterling (George Kerby). Center-Neil. Seated-Leo G. Carroll (Cosmo Topper), Lee Patrick (Henrietta Topper).
context_page_description: Topper is an American fantasy sitcom television series based on the 1937 film Topper, which was based on two novels Topper and Topper Takes a Trip by Thorne Smith. The series was broadcast on CBS from October 9, 1953 to July 15, 1955, and stars Leo G. Carroll in the title role. It finished at #24 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1954–1955 season. Topper also earned an Emmy nomination for Best Situation Comedy in 1954.
context_section_description: Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim wrote eleven episodes for Topper's first season with George Oppenheimer. The show's producer was John W. Loveton, with his agent, Bernard L. Schubert, credited as co-producer.
  R.J. Reynolds Tobacco's Camel cigarettes was the show's sponsor; the Kerbys were seen smoking in every episode, as required by Reynolds; the actors, along with Carroll, also appeared in integrated commercials promoting the product at the end of the show, as well as announcing where free cartons of Camels were being sent to various military bases and veterans hospitals each week.  Both ABC and NBC aired repeats of these episodes (ABC in 1955 and NBC in 1956).
  There were at least three forms of the opening announcement:
  "Camel — America's first choice among cigarettes — presents Topper. Starring — as Marion Kerby, the loveliest ghost in town — Anne Jeffreys. As George Kerby, the liveliest ghost in town — Robert Sterling. And Leo G. Carroll as Topper [a dog bark is heard]. Oh, yes, and ahh... the deadliest ghost, Neil".
  In another opening, the announcer adds, "And there are only three people in the world who can see or hear them — you and I... and Cosmo Topper".
  When Topper was shown in repeats, Anne Jeffreys was introduced as "the ghostess with the mostest"; Robert Sterling as "that most sporty spirit," and Leo G. Carroll as "host to said ghosts."
caption: Main cast in 1953.
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