The Greatest VARIETY SHOWS of All Time

LAUGHS, MUSIC AND EXCITING GUESTS MADE THESE SERIES SPECIAL

10. YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS

Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca and Carl Reiner anchored this live 90-minute variety series, which debuted in 1950 and boasted Mel Brooks and Neil Simon as two of its writers. "They did sketches that really were characterdriven and not dependent on a pie in the face," says David Inman, author of Television Variety Shows: Histories and Episode Guides to 57 Programs.
"The work really stands up today."

9 HEE HAW

Set in fictional Kornfield Kounty, the series hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark brought country to the masses.

"Country music had not been given a big spot on network TV before," notes Inman of the series that bowed in 1969.

"It showcased a lot of great performers." Frequent guests included Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and Charley Pride.

8 THE THE MUPPET SHOW

"One of the great episodes featured Kermit tap-dancing with Gene Kelly," says Inman of The Muppet Show, which ran from 1976 to 1981. "It was a true family show with sweetness in its heart. It's also timeless. You can watch it now and it's still as good as you remembered."

7 THE FLIP WILSON SHOW

Bowing in 1970, Flip's show became the first successful network variety series starring a Black performer.