There has been much debate about what genre The Jack Benny Program fits into. I successfully got it declared a sitcom here with its own board. Antenna TV probably agrees as their lineup is all sitcoms besides Johnny Carson. One of the early TV transplants from radio shows, The Jack Benny Program aired a very long lasting 15 seasons from 1950-1965 on CBS, which beats Ozzie and Harriet in season count but widely trailing on episode count. Jack played himself. There were two settings for his life: at his house with butler Rochester Van Jones (Eddie Anderson), who might have been the first black regular on a TV show. The other setting was his staged variety show that had several big name guests from the time. Don Wilson was the variety show announcer and Dennis Day was the regular singer.

Up your nose with a rubber hose! Welcome Back, Kotter aired 4 seasons on ABC from 1975-1979. It launched the career of John Travolta, helping him become a movie star. Starring Gabriel Kaplan as Mr. Gabe Kotter, a former student at a school he now teaches a remedial class for called the Sweathogs. The Sweathogs were quite dumb. Their main four were John Travolta's Vinnie Barbarino, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington, Robert Hegyes as Juan Epstein, and Ron Palillo as Arnold Horshack who had an unusual laugh. Marcia Strassman was Gabe's wife Julie, and John Sylvester White was the very mean principal Mr. Woodman.

This is the final match of round one. Next Monday I will be announcing the 2nd round brackets with the 40 first round winners who will be pared down to 20 shows for round three. Since it is Thanksgiving week, there will be no more matches posted then until two weeks from today.

butler Rochester Van Jones (Eddie Anderson), who might have been the first black regular on a TV show

It seems Beulah debuted a few weeks before Benny in October, 1950. It's tough to say when Benny became a regular show, though. He started just doing a few specials, went to once a month, then every other week. He didn't completely drop the radio show till 1955, and went to an every week TV show in 1960.

Kotter over Benny

It seems Beulah debuted a few weeks before Benny in October, 1950.I just looked up Beulah's description in my primetime directory, strange that Ethel Walters made history but was recast in season 3. And it doesn't say she left like her replacement, was she fired?

And it doesn't say she left like her replacement, was she fired?

Per wikipedia, she came to believe the role was degrading.

Both good shows but Benny and Rochester over WBC any day. Jack had the greatest timing of any comic I've ever seen!

This is by far the closest match of the week. We have a dead heat with a little over 72 hours of voting left.

Jack Benny Program!!!

Tie broken, at least for the moment. Agree, that "look" Benny had was unparalleled.

Hey Stevie how are ya buddy??

I voted Welcome back Kotter :)

The Jack Benny Program defeats Welcome Back, Kotter 6-5 and is the final show advancing to the 2nd round. Tomorrow I will be posting the 2nd round brackets.