Pioneers of Television Sitcoms (Season 1, Episode 1)
TV Episode | 55 min | Documentary, History

Pioneers of Television

Sitcoms (Season 1, Episode 1)

TV Episode | 55 min | Documentary, History

Sitcoms have been a major form of entertainment since the very early days of U.S. television. Jackie Gleason surprised many when he decided to stop his variety show in favor of a 30 minute version of The Honeymooners, which had its origin ...See moreSitcoms have been a major form of entertainment since the very early days of U.S. television. Jackie Gleason surprised many when he decided to stop his variety show in favor of a 30 minute version of The Honeymooners, which had its origin as one of his regular skits. Working with regulars Art Carney and Audrey Meadows, they created 39 episodes of pure joy. 'Lucille Ball' and Desi Arnaz made history with I Love Lucy not only by making people laugh but by writing in Lucy's real-life pregnancy. In The Danny Thomas Show, Danny Thomas presented a believable family and as a producer, introduced Andy Griffith to a broader TV audience in The Andy Griffith Show. The Dick Van Dyke Show show, also with Mary Tyler Moore, made use of the stars inestimable talents. Written by garykmcd See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
48 cast members

Name	Known for
Steve Allen Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Casino (1995)
Morey Amsterdam Self / Buddy Sorrell (archive footage) Self / Buddy Sorrell (archive footage) See fewer	The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)
Desi Arnaz Self / Ricky Ricardo (archive footage) Self / Ricky Ricardo (archive footage) See fewer	I Love Lucy (1951)
Lucille Ball Self / Lucy Ricardo (archive footage) Self / Lucy Ricardo (archive footage) See fewer	I Love Lucy (1951)
Frances Bavier Self / Aunt Bee (archive footage) Self / Aunt Bee (archive footage) See fewer	The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
Jack Benny Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	The Jack Benny Program (1950)
Barbara Britton Self / Laura Petrie (Head of the Family Pilot) (archive footage) Self / Laura Petrie (Head of the Family Pilot) (archive footage) See fewer	The Fabulous Suzanne (1946)
Art Carney Self / Ed Norton (archive footage) Self / Ed Norton (archive footage) See fewer	Harry and Tonto (1974)
Angela Cartwright Self / Linda Williams (archive footage) Self / Linda Williams (archive footage) See fewer	The Sound of Music (1965)
Tim Conway Self Self See fewer	The Carol Burnett Show (1967)
Barbara Eden Self / Dancer Self / Dancer See fewer	I Dream of Jeannie (1965)
Robert Emhardt Self / Malcolm Tucker (archive footage) Self / Malcolm Tucker (archive footage) See fewer	3:10 to Yuma (1957)
William Frawley Self / Fred Mertz (archive footage) Self / Fred Mertz (archive footage) See fewer	I Love Lucy (1951)
Jackie Gleason Self / Ralph Kramden / Reginald Van Gleason III (archive footage) Self / Ralph Kramden / Reginald Van Gleason III (archive footage) See fewer	The Hustler (1961)
Gale Gordon Self / Theodore J. Mooney (archive footage) Self / Theodore J. Mooney (archive footage) See fewer	Our Miss Brooks (1952)
Andy Griffith Self / Sheriff Andy Taylor Self / Sheriff Andy Taylor See fewer	The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
Rusty Hamer Self / Rusty Williams (archive footage) Self / Rusty Williams (archive footage) See fewer	The Danny Thomas Show (1953)
Oliver Hardy Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Saps at Sea (1940)
Pat Harrington Jr. Self Self See fewer	One Day at a Time (1975)
Florence Henderson Self Self See fewer	The Brady Bunch (1969)
Ron Howard Self / Opie Taylor (archive footage) Self / Opie Taylor (archive footage) See fewer	Arrested Development (2003)
Sherry Jackson Self / Terry Williams (archive footage) Self / Terry Williams (archive footage) See fewer	The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)
The June Taylor Dancers Themselves (archive footage) Themselves (archive footage) See fewer	The Jackie Gleason Show (1952)
Pert Kelton Self / Alice Kramden (archive footage) Self / Alice Kramden (archive footage) See fewer	The Music Man (1962)
Mary LaRoche Self / Doris McAfee (archive footage) Self / Doris McAfee (archive footage) See fewer	Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
Stan Laurel Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Saps at Sea (1940)
Janet Leigh Self / Rosie DeLeon (archive footage) Self / Rosie DeLeon (archive footage) See fewer	Psycho (1960)
Art Linkletter Self Self See fewer	Champagne for Caesar (1950)
Marjorie Lord Self / Kathy Williams (archive footage) Self / Kathy Williams (archive footage) See fewer	The Danny Thomas Show (1953)
Ken Lynch Self / State Police Officer (archive footage) Self / State Police Officer (archive footage) See fewer	North by Northwest (1959)
Paul Lynde Self / Harry McAfee (archive footage) Self / Harry McAfee (archive footage) See fewer	Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
Rose Marie Self / Sally Rogers Self / Sally Rogers See fewer	The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)
Audrey Meadows Self / Alice Kramden (archive footage) Self / Alice Kramden (archive footage) See fewer	The Honeymooners (1955)
Mary Tyler Moore Self / Laura Petrie Self / Laura Petrie See fewer	Ordinary People (1980)
Howard Morris Self / Ernest T. Bass (archive footage) Self / Ernest T. Bass (archive footage) See fewer	The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
Jim Nabors Self / Gomer Pyle Self / Gomer Pyle See fewer	Gomer Pyle: USMC (1964)
Tony Orlando Self Self See fewer	That's My Boy (2012)
Jerry Paris Self / Dr. Jerry Helper (archive footage) Self / Dr. Jerry Helper (archive footage) See fewer	The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)
Denver Pyle Self / Briscoe Darling (archive footage) Self / Briscoe Darling (archive footage) See fewer	The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
Amanda Randolph Self / Louise the Maid (archive footage) Self / Louise the Maid (archive footage) See fewer	The Amos 'n Andy Show (1951)
Joyce Randolph Self / Trixie Norton Self / Trixie Norton See fewer	The Honeymooners (1955)
Carl Reiner Self / Rob Petrie (Head of the Family Pilot) (archive footage) Self / Rob Petrie (Head of the Family Pilot) (archive footage) See fewer	The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)
Harlan Saperstein Narrator Narrator See fewer	Biography (1987)
Red Skelton Self Self See fewer	The Red Skelton Hour (1951)
Danny Thomas Self / Danny Williams (archive footage) Self / Danny Williams (archive footage) See fewer	The Danny Thomas Show (1953)
Marlo Thomas Self Self See fewer	That Girl (1966)
Dick Van Dyke Self / Rob Petrie Self / Rob Petrie See fewer	Mary Poppins (1964)
Vivian Vance Self / Ethel Mertz (archive footage) Self / Ethel Mertz (archive footage) See fewer	I Love Lucy (1951)