The Last of Jack Benny?

When Jack Benny’s series left television in 1965 after 33 years (including radio), he wasn’t finished with the small screen. He and NBC signed a pact to do a special. One aired on November 3, 1965 and featured some sketch material with Bob Hope that could make even the most ardent Benny fan cringe (in exchange, Benny appeared on Hope’s 1965 Christmas show).

Ratings must have been good enough for the network and Benny to get together again. Another The Jack Benny Hour aired on December 1, 1966 with Phyllis Diller (who had her own professional connections with Bob Hope), Trini Lopez (photo to left ) and Jack’s long-time friend Mel Blanc, who evoked nostalgia for Benny’s radio days by recreating the Si-Sy-Sue routine they did many times.

Fred Allen had done a joke on radio years earlier about NBC cutting off Benny’s radio show two weeks in a row for running late. To paraphrase Allen, he explained there was a new saying: “You’ll never hear the end of Benny.” Was this 1966 special the end of Benny? That was a subject broached by the entertainment columnist of the Indianapolis News in his review of the show the day after it aired.

'The Jack Benny Show' May Be Only A Memory
By RICHARD K. SHULL
Although not a word was said about it, the audience saw what was probably the last of its kind last night -- "The Jack Benny Show."
For the first time in 35 years, the 73-year-old comedian is no longer under any contract for future shows of his own with any network.
But if you're getting the wrong idea, stop. Don't plan on sending flowers just yet.
Although Benny has made his exit from broadcasting, he still has his full schedule of club dates, and a commitment to take his theater revue to England next spring.
And he's still whittling away on his perennial project: donating a benefit concert to every symphony orchestra in the country. So far he has been at that particular pastime 10 years and he has raised $4 million for orchestras, including the Indianapolis Symphony.
And he'll still be seen on television occasionally in guest appearances, such as on "Hollywood Palace" Feb. 4.
There's also the possibility he may become bored in a couple of years and decide to come back to TV for a special or two of his own. But at the moment, there are no more Jack Benny shows in sight.
Entertaining
To say that Benny went out in a blaze of glory last night would be an overstatement, but his show was substantially entertaining, thanks primarily to the Smothers Brothers and the singing of Trini Lopez.

Benny also had Phyllis Diller and 10 pretty girls -- a rather grotesque parlay.
His mark in entertainment has never been to say funny things, but to say things funny. His swishy gestures and walk, his insufferable vanity, his ability to milk an extra 30 seconds of laughter from an audience by freezing in position, have been his great assets.
It's a pity there's such a spread in ages between Benny and Tom Smothers, because never has Benny had such a perfect working companion.
Tom's dullhead mutterings and comments are perfect for Benny's reactions. The segment last night played between Benny and the Smothers was the high spot of the show.
The closeout portion of the hour had Benny in a luxuriant black wig (he has a thing about wigs) mimicking Bert Parks' as host of a phony beauty-contest.
The girls were eyefilling and the gimmicks abounded, even though Phyllis Diller did assault the nation's ocular faculties by appearing in a swimsuit alongside the beauties.
The Smothers played the judges which gave occasion for Tom to tell Benny, "I just gave you eight points for your walk."
And Just for old-times sake, Benny had Mel Blanc on the show for a repeat of one of their comic dialogues which they've been doing together for more than a quarter century.
Nearly five years ago, I sat with Benny in his Hollywood office, lazing in overstuffed chairs while he reflected on his long career in show business.
His heart bled for his old pal, the late Eddie Cantor, whose health at the time prohibited him from working even though his spirit was willing.
To Benny, the greatest tragedy which could befall a comedian would be to have the desire to entertain, yet for reasons of health or public indifference not have the opportunity.
Fortunately, Jack Benny still has the desire to entertain, the health to permit it, an audience that wants him, and the financial independence to pick and choose what he'll do. That's awfully nice for the aging comedian, even though he still practices on his violin daily in hope that someday someone may say, "Jack Benny, the violinist."

As we know, Jack didn’t bow and walk off the television stage for good after the special. He continued to appear on TV and had a special scripted and ready to go when he died in 1974. But, for the record, Variety reported on February 6, 1967 that NBC was “impressed by the high ratings” of the two specials, so long-time network executive Mort Werner signed him for a third. However, it didn’t air until 1968 (it was called Jack Benny’s Bag). Benny was busy with casino appearances in Vegas, hosted The Hollywood Palace, was honoured by the Variety Club for his charity work and maintained a busy schedule performing violin concerts across the U.S. It’s a wonder he had time, at age 72, for specials at all.