The Ed Sullivan Show: Season 11
Season 11 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of The Ed Sullivan Show Season 10.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 11 Progress Shield
Betty Grable / Carol Channing / Harry James / Bobby Helms / George Raft
Sep 22, 1957 · 60 min
Guests: --Betty Grable - ""Put Your Arms Around Me"" --Harry James (trumpet player) - ""You Made Me Love You"" and ""Two O'clock Jump"" --Bobby Helms - ""My Special Angel""
scheduled: George Burns & Gracie Allen; Johnnie Ray; Ida Lupino & Howard Duff
Sep 29, 1957 · 60 min
Scheduled guests (broadcast from Hollywood): --Johnnie Ray (singer) --George Burns and Gracie Allen (comedy team) --Della Reese (singer) --Ida Lupino and Howard Duff (husb
scheduled: Eva Marie Saint; Everly Brothers; Danny Thomas; Bob & Ray
Oct 6, 1957 · 60 min
Scheduled: --Eva Marie Saint (actress) --The Everly Brothers - ""Wake Up Little Susie"" --Danny Thomas (comedian) --Bob and Ray (comedy team) --Alan King (comedian)
The Sparkletones / Mills Brothers / Georgia Gibbs / Sammy Kaye
Oct 20, 1957 · 60 min
Scheduled: --The Mills Brothers (vocal group) --Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones perform ""Black Slacks"" --Georgia Gibbs (singer) --Mickey Rooney (actor) --Sammy Kay
The Platters / Frances Farmer / Jane Morgan
Oct 27, 1957 · 60 min
ASCAP Show with guests: --The Platters - The Great Pretender"" (on film, Ed in Paris at Platters concert) --Frances Farmer - ""Down in the Valley"" (performed towards end of s
Sam Cooke / Jimmie Rodgers / Paul Anka / Sparkletones
Nov 3, 1957 · 60 min
Musical acts: --Sam Cooke - ""You Send Me"" (excerpt performed at end of show) --Paul Anka - ""Diana"" --Jimmie Rodgers - ""Honeycomb"" and ""Kisses Sweeter Than Wine"" --T
Robert Wagner & Joan Collins / Sarah Vaughan / Roger Williams / Billy Eckstine
Nov 10, 1957 · 60 min
Guests: --Ed talks with Robert Wagner & Joan Collins. A clip from the movie ""Stop Over Tokyo"" is shown. --Sarah Vaughan - ""Lucky In Love"" --Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine
Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps / Georgia Gibbs / Carol Burnett
Nov 17, 1957 · 60 min
Guests: --Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps - ""Dance to the Bop"" --Georgia Gibbs - ""Great Balls of Fire"" & ""Rock A Bye My Baby"" --Carol Burnett - ""Careless"" --Johnny Ca
scheduled: Rex Harrison; Kay Kendall; Tony Martin; the Four Aces; Barbara McNair
Nov 24, 1957 · 60 min
Scheduled: --Rex Harrison (star of Broadway's ""My Fair Lady"") --Kay Kendall (comedian, wife of Rex Harrison) --Tony Martin (singer, in a remote from Boston) --The Fou
Buddy Holly and the Crickets / Sam Cooke / Bobby Helms
Dec 1, 1957 · 60 min
--Buddy Holly and the Crickets - ""That'll Be the Day"" and ""Peggy Sue"" --Sam Cooke - ""You Send Me"" and ""For Sentimental Reasons"" --The Rays - ""Silhouettes"" --Bobby
The Platters / Noel Coward / Ray Peterson
Dec 8, 1957 · 60 min
--The Platters - ""Only You"" and ""Indiff'rent"" --Ray Peterson - ""Fever"" --Noel Coward - sings medley of his own songs (please see Recap for titles) --Noel Coward sings ""
scheduled: Tony Bennett; Della Reese; Eddie Foy; Barbara Perry
Dec 15, 1957 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Tony Bennett (singer) --Della Reese (singer) --Eddie Foy and Barbara Perry (from the Broadway musical ""Rumple"") --Lo, Hite and Stanley (comedy tea
10th Christmas Show - Frankie Lymon; Rise Stevens; Carol Lawrence
Dec 22, 1957 · 60 min
--Frankie Lymon - ""Goody Goody"" and ""It's Christmas Once Again"" Other guests: --Mary Knoll Seminarians - ""Mary Had a Baby"" --Parade Of The Snowmen - skate to ""Winter
scheduled: Red Buttons; Roberta Sherwood / John Wayne (on film)
Dec 29, 1957 · 60 min
--Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five - ""Caldonia"" & ""Peace Of Mind"" Scheduled guests: --Red Buttons --Roberta Sherwood --Victor Julian and his pets --Jo Hanwey (comic
scheduled: The Everly Brothers; Johnnie Ray
Jan 5, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Johnnie Ray (singer) --The Everly Brothers --Clifford Guest (ventriloquist) --Bambi Linn (dancer) --Rod Alexander (dancer) --The ""Vienna on Pa
Bing Crosby (on film) / James Arness / Mike Kellin & Sondra Lee
Jan 12, 1958 · 60 min
Guests: --On film: Clip of Bing Crosby playing golf. --James Arness - appears on stage to talk with Ed. Then a film clip from the TV series ""Gunsmoke"" is shown (Marshall Di
Mario Lanza (on film, interview) / Kirby Stone Quartet / Marissa Alotsio
Jan 19, 1958 · 60 min
Guests: --On film: Mario Lanza - (1) In Rome, Lanza talks to Ed about the film ""7 Hills of Rome"" (2) Film clip: Lanza sings ""Arrivaderci Roma"" --Marisa Allasio (Italian actre
Buddy Holly & the Crickets (2nd appearance) /Jimmie Rodgers / Ted Lewis
Jan 26, 1958 · 60 min
--Buddy Holly and the Crickets (their 2nd Sullivan appearance) – ""Oh Boy"" (performed towards end of show) --Jimmie Rodgers - ""Oh, Oh, I'm Falling In Love"" and ""Long, Hot
scheduled: Ted Lewis; Helen Gallagher; Georges Guetary
Feb 2, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Ted Lewis (bandleader) --Beverly Marshall (comedian) --Georges Guetary (French singer) --Helen Gallagher (dancer) Georges Guetary and Helen Gallag
scheduled: Gina Lollobrigida; Sally Ann Howes; Jack Carter; Billy Kenny
Feb 9, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Gina Lollobrigida (actress) --Sally Ann Howes (musical-comedy star who replaced Julie Andrews in Broadway's ""My Fair Lady"") --Billy Kenny (singer, fo
scheduled: Vic Damone; Anna Magnani (on film, tour of Rome)
Feb 16, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Vic Damone sings ""Gigi"" and ""Gift of Love"" --On film: Anna Magnani (actress, takes Ed on a filmed tour of Rome) --Davis and Reese (comedy team) -
LaVern Baker / Victor Moore / Tina Robin
Feb 23, 1958 · 60 min
--The Happy Jesters (comedy singing male trio) - ""Somebody Stole My Gal"" --Radio City Music Hall Symphony [song - unknown] --Victor Moore (veteran actor, celebrating his 82
scheduled: Douglas Fairbanks Jr.; The Everly Brothers; Charles Manna
Mar 2, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (actor) --The Everly Brothers (singers) - ""This Little Girl of Mine"" --Charles Manna (comedy singer) --Jean Carroll (comedia
Everly Brothers / Jo Stafford / The Sparkletones
Mar 9, 1958 · 60 min
Guests: --The Everly Brothers - ""Wake Up Little Susie"" & ""Be Bop a Lula"" --Jo Stafford - ""Anything Goes"" & ""Tomorrow Mountain"" --The Sparkletones - ""Cotton Pickin'
St. Patrick's Day / scheduled: Mickey Shaughnessy; Myron Cohen; Sue Carson
Mar 16, 1958 · 60 min
St. Patrick's Day show with scheduled guests: --Mickey Shaughnessy (actor, appeared in the 1957 movie ""Don't Go Near the Water"") --Myron Cohen (comedian) --Sue Carson (co
Rodgers & Hammerstein / Bert Lahr / The Rays / Four Preps
Mar 23, 1958 · 60 min
Guests: --Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II promote their film ""South Pacific."" A film of the NYC premiere of the movie is shown. Rodgers and Hammerstein appear on stag
scheduled: Della Reese; Frankie Vaughan; Jane Morgan
Mar 30, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Della Reese (singer) --Roger Williams (pianist) --Frankie Vaughan (singer from England) --Jane Morgan (singer) --Sam Levenson (comedian) --Geor
Maurice Chevalier / Carol Burnett / Conrad Hilton
Apr 6, 1958 · 60 min
Guests: --Carol Burnett (comedian, doing a tribute to the Emmy Awards) --Maurice Chevalier - ""Gigi"" & ""Quay De Bercy"" --Conrad Hilton (reads a poem he wrote) --Guy L
scheduled: Nat King Cole; Mickey Mantle; Yogi Berra; Jack Norworth
Apr 13, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Nat King Cole (singer) --Mickey Mantle (of the New York Yankees, was the American League's most valuable player of 1957) --Yogi Berra (catcher) --Wh
The Champs (Tequila) / Vivian Blaine / Hermoine Gingold
Apr 20, 1958 · 60 min
Guests: --The Champs - ""Tequila"" --Hermoine Gingold & Billy Dewolfe - ""Careless Talk"" --Kathy Linden - ""Billy"" --Vivian Blaine - ""Say, Darling"" (from the Broadway
Everly Brothers / Sal Mineo / Patachou / Teresa Brewer
Apr 27, 1958 · 60 min
Guests: --The Everly Brothers - ""All I Have To Do Is Dream"" --Sal Mineo (actor) - sings ""A Couple Of Crazy Kids"" & ""Baby Face"" --Patachou - ""Poor People Of Paris"" &
Lillian Roth / The Chordettes / David Seville / Helen Gallagher / Denise Darcel
May 4, 1958 · 60 min
Guests: --The Chordettes - ""Lollipop"" --David Seville - ""Witch Doctor"" --Lillian Roth - ""How About You"" & ""Sing You Sinners"" --Wayne & Shuster (comedy team) - Juli
scheduled: Eleanor Roosevelt; Connie Francis; Tony Martin
May 11, 1958 · 60 min
--Connie Francis - ""Who's Sorry Now?"" Scheduled guests: --Eleanor Roosevelt - pays tribute to Israel's 10th anniversary --Tony Martin (singer) --Wayne and Shuster (comedy
scheduled: Maurice Chevalier; Sophie Tucker; Carol Lawrence; Jack E. Leonard
May 18, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Maurice Chevalier (star of the new movie ""Gigi"") --Sophie Tucker --Carol Lawrence (of ""West Side Story"") --Jack E. Leonard (comedian) --The W
scheduled: Frankie Lymon; Alan King; Hermione Gingold
May 25, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Frankie Lymon (singer) --Alan King (comedian) --Hermione Gingold (actress-comedian) --Allan Drake (comedian) --Althea Gibson (tennis star, making
scheduled: Wayne and Shuster; Jimmie Rodgers; Edie Adams
Jun 1, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster (guest hosts, taking over while Ed was at the World's Fair in Brussels) --Edie Adams (singer-comedian) --Jimmie Rodgers (s
scheduled: Alan King; Hugh O'Brian; Jack E. Leonard; Roberta Sherwood
Jun 8, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Della Reese --Hugh O'Brian (star of ""Wyatt Earp"") --Alan King (comedian) --Carol Haney and Peter Gennaro (dancers) --Jack E. Leonard (comedian)
The Brussels World's Fair / Sophia Loren / The Platters
Jun 15, 1958 · 60 min
The Brussels World's Fair (a filmed tour of the fair) Guests (also on film): --The Platters - probably ""Twilight Time"" --William Holden --Sophia Loren --Brigitte Ba
10th Anniversary Show (clips from past shows)
Jun 22, 1958 · 60 min
Note: The 10th Anniversary Special is made up of clips from the past 10 years of ""Toast of the Town"" & ""The Ed Sullivan Show."" Clips: --1948 highlights: The June Taylor Gi
Moscow's Moiseyev Ballet
Jun 29, 1958 · 60 min
Newspaper description #1: Hour-long show devoted to Moscow's famed Moiseyev dancers, with Ray Bloch and his orchestra. Newspaper description #2: Tonight's show should fare con
Esther Williams / Frank Sinatra (on film) / Princess Grace (film)
Jul 6, 1958 · 60 min
Program broadcast from Las Vegas: Esther Williams swimming segments: --(1) Esther introduces ""Water Babies"" (children diving into swimming pool). Esther Williams gives litt
scheduled: Ann Blyth; The Four Preps; Anna Maria Alberghetti
Jul 13, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests (from the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, Nevada): --Ann Blyth (movie star) - might have performed ""Little Girl Blue"" on this date. --The Four Preps (vocal group)
scheduled: The 5th Annual Army talent show; Teresa Brewer (guest host)
Jul 20, 1958 · 60 min
The 5th Annual Army talent show: --Teresa Brewer (scheduled guest host) Scheduled Army talent: --Pfc. Constantine Cassolas (operatic tenor from Brooklyn, NY) --The Seco
Ernie Kovacs / Sheb Wooley / Gordon MacRae / Bobby Van
Jul 27, 1958 · 60 min
Guests: --Ernie Kovacs - conducts the Nairobi Symphony (with musicians in monkey costumes). --Sheb Wooley - ""The Purple People Eater"" --Gisele MacKenzie - ""All The Way""
scheduled: Wayne and Shuster; Dolores Gray; Margaret Tynes
Aug 3, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled: --Wayne and Shuster (comedy team) --Dolores Gray (musical-comedy star) --Jack E. Leonard (comedian) --Margaret Tynes (singer) --Dieter Tasso (juggler)
scheduled: 4th Annual U.S. Navy Talent Contest with guest host Sam Levenson
Aug 10, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled: The 4th Annual U.S. Navy World Wide Talent Contest --Sam Levenson (comedian, appearing as guest host) Guests include --Rear Adm. Dan Gallery's steel drum band
Gregory Peck (cameo) / Teresa Brewer / Carol Lawrence
Aug 17, 1958 · 60 min
Guests include: --Gregory Peck (cameo, introduces Judy White, burn victim) --Teresa Brewer - ""Don't Bring Lulu"" and ""I Wouldn't Trade The Sliver"" --Roger Williams (piani
scheduled: Frankie Lymon; Georgie Kaye; Wayne & Shuster
Aug 24, 1958 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Wayne and Shuster (comedy team, appearing as guest hosts while Ed was in Israel) --Frankie Lymon (singer) - ""The Only Way To Love"" --Georgie Kaye (com
Dick Powell / Jack E. Leonard / Air Force Talent Show
Aug 31, 1958 · 60 min
The Air Force Talent Show Civilian guests: --Dick Powell (actor, appearing as guest host while Ed was in Israel) --Jack E. Leonard (comedian) --The Air Force talent cons
Georgia Gibbs / Ice Capades / scheduled: Johnny Ray; Jane Morgan
Sep 7, 1958 · 60 min
Broadcast from Madison Square Garden --John Harris's Ice Capades --Georgia Gibbs - sings ""The Hula-Hoop Song"" Scheduled guests: --Johnny Ray (singer) --Jane Morgan (si