The Abbott and Costello Show
The Abbott and Costello Show (1940-1949, United States)
ABC radio show NBC radio show American comedy show ABC radio sitcom NBC radio sitcomAfter being featured on singer The Kate Smith Hour radio program in 1938, the comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello became the resident comedians. The variety show gave them the platform to access the whole country. Two years later, during the summer of 1940, they were given their first own show, The Abbott and Costello Show, where their sketches were in the spotlight and the music numbers became the interludes.
After two years of hiatus, during which they starred as a duo in 9 films, in Autumn 1942 they returned to NBC and were the stars of that station for next seven years. The Abbott and Costello Show was mostly based around the formula of the duo trying to make it big on some ridiculous business venture or get involved in somebody else’s affairs. Their parts remained the same for their entire careers, with Costello being the loveable dim-witted one and Abbott being the irritable straight man in the duo.
Just like in their further careers, their humour derived from the clash of their characters and the ridiculous scenarios they were putting themselves into. Costello was often the instigator of their misery, while Abbott had to find a way to get them out of the trouble. The vaudeville style of their act, the simple humour and likeable nature of Lou Costello were the basis for their success as one of the most recognizable comedy duos of the 1940s (in radio) and later in other media.
add a commentEpisodes of The Abbott and Costello Show
Season 1 (1940)
Season 2 (1942)
Season 3 (1943)
Season 4 (1944)
Season 5 (1945)
Season 6 (1946)
Season 7 (1947)
Season 8 (1948)
Season 9 (1949)
Creators of The Abbott and Costello Show
Cast of The Abbott and Costello Show
The Abbott and Costello Show quotes
Costello:
I’ll have you know, beautiful women find me irresistible!
Mrs. Whipwash:
I don’t find you irresistible.
Costello:
And I don’t find you beautiful.
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