The Best Episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show Season 18

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.1/10(18 votes)

   #1 - Beach Boys / Alan King / Robert Goulet

   S18:E19/27/1964

   Guests: --The Beach Boys - ""I Get Around"" and ""Wendy"" --Robert Goulet - ""Let There be Love,"" ""Quiet Nights,"" ""This is All I Ask"" and ""My Love Forgive Me (Amore Scusami)"" --Leslie Uggams - ""I Feel Pretty"" & ""The Man I Love"" --Topo Gigio (mouse puppet) - routine might include ""Let's Call The Whole Thing Off"" --Vonda Kay Van Dyke & Curley - ""Wherever We Go, It's Together"" (""There She Is Miss America"" is played as they walk on stage.) --Alan King (stand-up comedian) - routine about ""Dr. Sam,"" Dr. Sam Roth, a doctor in his neighborhood (when he was a kid in the lower East Side of Manhattan) and other medical observances.

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2. 

   0.0/10(0 votes)

   #2 - Louis Armstrong / Sid Caesar / Abbe Lane / Pat Boone

   S18:E210/4/1964

   Guests: --Louis Armstrong – ""Hello Dolly"" & ""So Long Dearie"" --Sid Caesar (comedian) - 2 skits: (1) Japanese baseball player sketch (2) 1964 election news report sketch --Yogi Berra --Pat Boone - ""My Baby Just Cares for Me,"" ""Beach Girl"" and ""Exodus"" --Abbe Lane - ""I Didn't Know What Time It Was"" & ""I'm In Love with A Wonderful Guy"" --Jim Bouton (of the Yankees) - does a Frank Fontain impression --Tony Lema - golf match with Ken Venturi --The Radugas (Raduga dancers) - Russian Cossack folk dance --Topo Gigio (Italian mouse puppet) - puppet wearing a Beatle wig.

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3. 

   7.0/10(12 votes)

   #3 - Roy Orbison / Connie Francis / Harlem Globetrotters

   S18:E310/11/1964

   Guests: --Roy Orbison - ""Oh, Pretty Woman"" --Connie Francis - (1) baseball medley: ""Take Me Out to the Ballgame"" (& other baseball songs), ""Meet Me In St. Louis"" (& a song about New York). (2) medley: ""Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone"" and ""After You've Gone Away"" --Connie Francis - ""My Man"" --Juliet Prowse --Harlem Globetrotters --George Kirby (comedian who does impressions, imitates Sammy Davis Jr.) --Allen & Rossi (comedy team) --Jean Paul Vignon (French pop singer) --Jean Carroll (stand-up comedian, tells jokes about her husband & daughter) --The Youngs (circus act, performers do jumps using a teeterboard) CBS repeated this show on July 4, 1965.

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4. 

   8.2/10(13 votes)

   #4 - The Animals / Van Johnson / Jackie Mason

   S18:E410/18/1964

   Guests: --The Animals – ""I'm Crying"" & ""House of the Rising Sun"" --Jackie Mason (stand-up comedian) - routine includes imitation of news reporter Marvin Kalb commenting on LBJ's speech. --Van Johnson - ""I Want to be Happy"" & talks with Ed about his past films --John Byner (comedian) does impersonations of Ed Sullivan, Johnny Mathis & Tony Bennett --Joan Sutherland - ""Ardon gli incensi"" (as Lucia, from ""Lucia di Lammermoor"") --Rita Pavone - ""Sul Cucozzole"" --Totie Fields (stand-up, tells jokes about her weight, banks & safe deposit box) --The Cambridge Circus (British comedy troupe) Cameos: Bob Gibson & Tim McCarver (World Series heroes talk with Ed)

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5. 

   7.8/10(16 votes)

   #5 - Rolling Stones / Jack Jones / Stiller & Meara

   S18:E510/25/1964

   The Rolling Stones - ""Around and Around"" and ""Time is on My Side"" Other guests: --Stiller & Meara (comedy team) --Jack Jones - ""Travel On"" & ""Bewitched"" --London Lee (comedian) --Lawrence Harvey --Kim Sisters - ""Joshua"" --Charlie Drake --The Berosini Family (acrobats)

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6. 

   7.0/10(14 votes)

   #6 - Dave Clark Five / Rex Harrison / Alan King

   S18:E611/1/1964

   The Dave Clark Five - ""Anyway You Want It"" Other guests: --Rex Harrison (on film?) --Leon Bibb (folk singer) --Alan King (comedian) --Marilyn Michaels (singer-impressionist) --Dolores Gray (singer) --Richard Hearne (British comedian, a.k.a. ""Mr. Pastry"") --Rolando (a balancing artist)

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7. 

   0.0/10(0 votes)

   #7 - Jimmy Durante / Jean Paul Vignon / Nipsey Russell

   S18:E711/8/1964

   Guests: --Jimmy Durante - ""Old Man Time,"" ""Fascination"" & ""Count Your Blessings"" --Sonny King and Jimmy Durante - ""Hey, Look Me Over"" & ""I Ain't Down Yet"" --Eddie Jackson and Jimmy Durante - ""Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home?"" --Nipsey Russell (comedian) --Jean Paul Vignon (French pop singer) --Parker and Towers (ice skaters) --The Fabulous Kids from Hong Kong (a vocal-instrumental group) --Jay Nemeth (ventriloquist) --Ginny Tiu and family (a children's variety act) --The Del Rey Brothers (jugglers) Scheduled guests: --Richard Hearne --The Bachelors (music group from London)

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8. 

   7.2/10(10 votes)

   #8 - Peter and Gordon / Sammy Davis Jr. / Kaye Stevens

   S18:E811/15/1964

   Peter and Gordon – ""I Don't Want to See You Again"" & ""500 Miles"" Other guests: --Sammy Davis Jr. - ""Don't Shut Me Out"" --Kaye Stevens - ""I'll Tell Them All"" --The Kessler Twins (singers) --Jackie Vernon (comedian) --Charlie Drake --Trio Hoganas (high wire balancing act) --Brizio (Italian comic act)

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9. 

   0.0/10(0 votes)

   #9 - scheduled: Tony Bennett; Leslie Uggams; Victor Borge

   S18:E911/22/1964

   Scheduled guests: --Tony Bennett --Leslie Uggams --Victor Borge --The Womenfolk (folk singers) - ""Sail Away"" & ""Rock-Em Daddy-O"" --Pat O'Brien (actor) --The Pan Am North Stars (steelband musicians)

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10. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - scheduled: Ella Fitzgerald; Gordon and Sheila MacRae

    S18:E1011/29/1964

    Scheduled guests: --Ella Fitzgerald --Gordon and Sheila MacRae --Myron Cohen --Corps De Ballet --Obernkirchen Children's Choir

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11. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - scheduled: Piccola Pupa; Mitchell Trio; Sid Caesar

    S18:E1112/6/1964

    Guests: --Sid Caesar --Gary Lewis and the Playboys   --Piccola Pupa --The Mitchell Trio (folk singers) --Sophie Tucker --Allen and Rossi (comedy team) --Betsy Palmer Scheduled guest: --Bob Lewis (comedian)

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12. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Julie Harris / Stiller & Meara / Alan King / Robert Preston

    S18:E1212/13/1964

    Guests: --Robert Preston - sings ""Half the Battle is Learning How to Smile"" (in a scene from ""Ben Franklin In Paris"") --Julie Harris --Anita Bryant - ""Fly Me to the Moon"" --Stiller & Meara --Arthur Worsley (British ventriloquist) --Fabulous Hong Kong Hi-De-His --Danielle Barioni --Marquis Chimps --Con Conwally (balancing knife act)

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13. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Jack Jones / Allen & Rossi / Charlie Manna

    S18:E1312/20/1964

    Guests: --Jack Jones - Christmas medley & ""My Favorite Things."" --Jack Jones (later in show) - ""Somebody Loves Me"" & ""You're Nobody"" medley --Allen & Rossi (comedy team) - James Bond spoof --Steve Rossi sings ""Have You Had Any Fun?"" --Sandu and the Green Mountain Boys (might be Sandu Scott and the Scotties) - sings, does imitations including Ed Sullivan; Carol Channing singing ""Hello Dolly"" --Charlie Manna (comedian) - opera sketch, sings ""Barber of Seville"" --Jesuit Priests led by Father Lawrence Madden - Religious medley --Victor Julian (circus dog act with dogs in costume, one as Santa Claus) --Topo Gigio (mouse puppet) - Topo's homesick during Christmas, gets phone call from Mama --Jim Brown - talks to Ed on stage --Audience bow: Jack Rice (high-school all-American) --George Carl (comic pantomime) --Audience bows: Buddy Hackett & London Lee --The Morlidors (cortortionist act) - man in black mask with 2 female assistants

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14. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #14 - The Supremes / Serendipity Singers / Leslie Uggams

    S18:E1412/27/1964

    Guests: --The Supremes - ""Come See About Me"" --The Serendipity Singers - ""Every Time I Feel the Spirit"" --Leslie Uggams - ""Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo"" & ""Cockeyed Optimist"" --Rip Taylor (comedian) --Jean Carrol (comedian) --Frank Gorshin (impressionist) --Davis and Reese (stand-up comedians)

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15. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - scheduled: Liza Minnelli, Jean Paul Vignon, Totie Fields

    S18:E151/3/1965

    Scheduled guests: --Liza Minnelli --Jean Paul Vignon --Totie Fields --Marc London (comedian) --Carmen Sevilla --Lew Bassi (juggler) --The Mattison Trio (tap-dancers) --Topo Gigio

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16. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - scheduled: Sid Caesar; Wayne Newton; Betsy Palmer; Shari Lewis

    S18:E161/10/1965

    Scheduled guests: --Sid Caesar --Wayne Newton --Betsy Palmer --Shari Lewis (puppeteer) --London Lee (comedian) --The Kim Sisters (singers) --Topo Gigio --The Sophie Maslow Dance Company --Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang

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17. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Rex Harrison, Audrey Hepburn

    S18:E171/17/1965

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18. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Lesley Gore / Burt Lancaster / Mickey Rooney / Miriam Makeba

    S18:E181/31/1965

    Guests: --Lesley Gore - ""The Look of Love"" & ""Hello Young Lovers"" --Burt Lancaster (chats with Ed & film clips) --Mickey Rooney --Roger Williams --Miriam Makeba (South African folk singer, with back up singers) - ""Intoyam"" (African song) --The Agastonios (acrobat team) --Ravic & Babs (roller skaters)

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19. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Jimmy Durante / scheduled: Leslie Uggams; Stiller & Meara; Jean Carroll

    S18:E192/7/1965

    Guests (confirmed): --Jimmy Durante (entertainer, celebrating his 72nd birthday) --Sonny King Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --Leslie Uggams --Stiller & Meara --Rebecca Raz --Jean Carroll --Vaughn Monroe

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20. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Dave Clark Five / Rowan & Martin / Steve Lawrence

    S18:E202/14/1965

    Guests: --The Dave Clark Five - ""Everybody Knows,"" ""Because"" & ""Anyway You Want It"" --Steve Lawrence - ""Hello, Dolly!"" ""People"" & ""Where Can I Go"" --Victor Borge - ""Viennese Waltz"" and a routine about an ""inflationary language"" (in which Tuesday would become Threesday). --Rowan & Martin (comedy team does a spy sketch and a quiz show routine) --The Israeli Ballet - performs some native folk dances --Topo Gigio (Italian mouse puppet) --The Mattison Trio (tap dancers) - ""Malaguena"" --John's balancing act

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21. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #21 - scheduled: Sid Caesar; Roberta Peters; Betsy Palmer; Frank Gorshin

    S18:E212/21/1965

    Scheduled guests: --Sid Caesar --Roberta Peters (Metropolitan Opera soprano) --Jerry Vale (singer) --Betsy Palmer --Frank Gorshin --London Lee (comedian) --Malcolm Powell (ventriloquist) --The Three Kims (acrobats) --Conrad Buckner

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22. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - scheduled: Wayne Newton; Juliet Prowse; Alan King; Bill Dana

    S18:E222/28/1965

    Scheduled guests (from Florida's Miami Beach Auditorium): --Wayne Newton --Juliet Prowse --Alan King --Bill Dana --The Hurricanes (the University of Miami's Glee Club) --The Cypress Gardens water skiers --The Singing Hialeah Jockey Octet --The Sensational Leighs (aerial act)

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23. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Duke Ellington & Ella Fitzgerald / Rita Pavone / Stiller & Meara

    S18:E233/7/1965

    Guests: --Duke Ellington & Ella Fitzgerald (medley of Duke's hits) --Duke Ellington - ""It Don't Mean A Thing"" --Rita Pavone - ""My Eyes"" --Stiller & Meara (comedians) --On film: Film clip from ""The Sound of Music"" with Julie Andrews singing ""My Favorite Things"" --Roy Castle (comedian) --The Clark Brothers (tap dancers) --The Carmenas (balancing act)

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24. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Petula Clark / Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem / Nancy Walker & Bert Lahr

    S18:E243/14/1965

    Guests: --Petula Clark – ""Downtown"" and ""I Know a Place"" --Pat O'Brien --Nancy Walker & Bert Lahr --Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem - ""Wild Colonial Boy"" --Allen & Rossi (comedy team) --Steve Rossi - ""I'll Set My Love to Music"" --Jimmy Roselli - ""Femina"" & ""Rock-A-Bye Your Baby"" --Dorothy Donegan (pianist) - ""The Man I Love"" --The Olympiades (body builders)

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25. 

    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Gary Lewis & the Playboys / Connie Francis / Tony Bennett / Melinda Marx

    S18:E253/21/1965

    Guests: --Gary Lewis & the Playboys - ""This Diamond Ring"" & ""Count Me In"" --Tony Bennett (with the Woody Herman Orchestra) - ""Love Scene,"" ""If I Ruled The World,"" ""Lullabye of Broadway"" & ""Who Can I Turn To"" --Connie Francis - ""(Up Above My Head) There's Music in the Air"" (part of Gospel medley?) --Connie Francis - ""For Mama"" and ""Goldfinger"" --Melinda Marx - ""East Side of Town"" (Groucho Marx's daughter) --Woody Herman Orchestra - ""My Favorite Things"" --Pat Buttram (stand-up comedian) - tells stories about his grandparents --Jean Carroll (comedian) - jokes about domestic life & department stores --Ray Bloch & Band - Topo Gigo song --Texas Boys Choir Of Fort Worth - ""Mustang Grey"" --Claus Beckers (unicyclist act) - unicyclist with female assistant balances teapot & cups on tray. --Audience bow: Vic Ghezzi

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