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Season guide

The Ed Sullivan Show: Season 20

42 episodes Premiered Sep 11, 1966 Updated Sep 30, 2026
Previously on The Ed Sullivan Show

Season 20 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 19.
  • ⚡ 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.
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Season 20 Episodes

Episode Guide

🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD

Season 20 Progress Shield

Future titles & synopses blurred. Tap "Reveal" on any card to peek.
Binge Efficiency Engine

Season 20: Filler vs. Essential Canon

Filter episodes by narrative weight. Focus on essential mytharc and skip standalone side quests.

93%
Mytharc (3): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (39): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler
S20·E1 Mytharc

Rolling Stones / Louis Armstrong / Robert Goulet

Sep 11, 1966 · 60 min

--The Rolling Stones - ""Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In the Shadow?"" ""Paint It Black"" & ""Lady Jane"" --Louis Armstrong - ""Cabaret"" --Joan Rivers --Rober

S20·E2 Core

Jackie Mason / Herman's Hermits / The Peanuts

Sep 18, 1966 · 60 min

Guests include: --Herman's Hermits - ""My Reservation's Been Confirmed"" and ""Dandy"" (and possibly ""L' Autre Jour"") --Jackie Mason (stand-up comedy) - tells jokes about A

S20·E3 Core

Supremes / Nipsey Russell / Ethel Merman

Sep 25, 1966 · 60 min

--The Supremes - ""You Can't Hurry Love"" & medley (""I Hear A Symphony,"" ""Stranger In Paradise,"" ""Wonderful, Wonderful,"" ""Without A Song"" & ""Yes I Do"") --Ethel Merman -

S20·E9 Core

Lou Rawls / Nancy Ames / Corbett Monica

Nov 6, 1966 · 60 min

Guests: --Lou Rawls - ""Love Is A Hurtin' Thing"" & ""In the Evening"" --Topo Gigio (mouse puppet) - boxing skit --Nancy Ames - ""Be Ready"" & ""Time After Time"" --The K

S20·E12 Core

Leslie Uggams / Glenn Yarbrough / Muppets

Nov 27, 1966 · 60 min

Guests: --Leslie Uggams - ""We Can Work It Out"" --Glen Yarbrough - ""Rose"" (audience singalong during chorus, title might be ""Rose'd Say"") --The Muppets - ""Glow Worm""

S20·E14 Core

Mamas & the Papas / Joan Rivers / Morey Amsterdam

Dec 11, 1966 · 60 min

--Mamas & the Papas - ""Monday, Monday,"" ""California Dreamin',"" & ""Words of Love"" Start of show: --Harry James (with orchestra) - ""Ciribirin"" and ""A Taste of Honey""

S20·E17 Core

The New Vaudeville Band / Peter Nero / Joan Rivers

Jan 1, 1967 · 60 min

--The New Vaudeville Band - ""Winchester Cathedral,"" ""Whispering"" & ""Shine"" Other guests: --Joan Rivers (comedian) --Peter Nero - ""Summertime"" & ""It Ain't Necessarily

S20·E19 Core

Rolling Stones / Petula Clark / Allan Sherman

Jan 15, 1967 · 60 min

--The Rolling Stones - ""Ruby Tuesday"" & ""Let's Spend Some Time Together"" (censored version of ""Let's Spend the Night Together""). --Petula Clark - ""Elusive Butterfly"" & "

S20·E20 Core

Lovin' Spoonful / Johnny Mathis / Ginger Rogers

Jan 22, 1967 · 60 min

Guests: --The Lovin' Spoonful - ""Nashville Cats"" & ""Darlin' Be Home Soon"" --Johnny Mathis - medley of hits: ""It's Not For Me To Say,"" ""Twelfth Of Never,"" ""Wild Is The

S20·E22 Core

Woody Allen / Lainie Kazan / Wayne & Shuster

Feb 5, 1967 · 60 min

Guests: --Woody Allen (stand-up) --Lainie Kazan (""My Man's Gone Now"") --Wayne And Shuster (stand-up comedians) --Stu Gilliam (stand-up comedian) --The Muppets (female

S20·E25 Core

Nancy Sinatra / Henny Youngman / Xavier Cugat

Feb 26, 1967 · 60 min

Nancy Sinatra - ""My Buddy"" & ""Sweet Georgia Brown"" Other guests: --Henny Youngman (joined onstage by 10 violinists) --Xavier Cugat Orchestra - ""Tequila"" --Xavier C

S20·E26 Core

Dionne Warwick / Gwen Verdon / Rodney Dangerfield

Mar 5, 1967 · 60 min

Guests: --Dionne Warwick - ""The Way You Look Tonight"" --Gwen Verdon - ""If My Friends Could See Me Now"" (from ""Sweet Charity"") --Rodney Dangerfield (stand-up comedy, j

S20·E27 Core

Lou Rawls / Nancy Ames / The Kessler Twins

Mar 12, 1967 · 60 min

Guests: --Lou Rawls - ""Yesterday"" --Nancy Ames - ""Cherish"" & ""They Can't Take That Away From Me"" --Jack Carter (stand-up, jokes about California, politics, fatherhood

S20·E28 Core

Lovin' Spoonful / Johnny Rivers / Cab Calloway

Mar 19, 1967 · 60 min

Guests: --The Lovin' Spoonful - ""Bald Headed Lena"" (and 2 more songs at end of show) --Johnny Rivers - ""Baby I Need Your Lovin'"" --Alan Drake (stand-up comedian) - talks

S20·E35 Core

Expo '67: The Supremes; Xavier Cugat with Charo

May 7, 1967 · 60 min

Broadcast from Montreal's Expo '67 --The Supremes - ""The Happening"" --The Supremes - medley: ""Thoroughly Modern Millie,"" ""Second Hand Rose"" and ""Mame."" (Supremes are we

S20·E36 Core

The Turtles / Woody Allen / Leslie Uggams

May 14, 1967 · 60 min

The Turtles - ""Happy Together"" & ""She'd Rather Be with Me"" Other guests: -- Woody Allen (stand-up comedy routine) - includes jokes about Ed Sullivan & Ed's show. --Leslie

S20·E37 Core

Expo '67: The Seekers; Petula Clark; Alan King

May 21, 1967 · 60 min

Broadcast from Montreal's Expo '67 Guests: --The Seekers - ""Georgy Girl"" --Petula Clark - medley: ""I Know A Place,"" ""Je Me Sens Bien,"" ""My Love"" and ""Downtown""

S20·E40 Core

Mamas and the Papas / Richard Pryor / Alan King

Jun 11, 1967 · 60 min

--Opening of show, Ed's intro --Topo Gigio (mouse) - talks about being sick from eating too much candy. --Topo Trio (Topo Gigio and two other mouse puppets) - sing ""Pop,"" a

S20·E41 Mytharc

20th Anniversary: Diahann Carroll; Spanky & Our Gang

Jun 18, 1967 · 60 min

Ed Sullivan's 20th Anniversary show: Guests: --Spanky & Our Gang - ""Sunday Will Never Be the Same"" & ""Coney Island Washboard"" --Diahann Carroll (singer-actress) - ""As

S20·E42 Mytharc

Connie Francis / Ronnie Dove / Henny Youngman

Jun 25, 1967 · 60 min

Guests: --Connie Francis – ""Born Free,"" ""Winchester Cathedral"" and an Italian medley --Ronnie Dove and the Swingle Singers – ""Cry"" (Johnnie Ray imitation) --Swin

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