When I was growing up, George Burns was reinventing himself, getting back into acting with the "Oh God" movies and a feature film adaptation of Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys", and even moonlighting as a country singer (!).
Back in the day, however, George and his wife, Gracie Allen, starred in their own radio & television shows. Gracie perfected the persona of the well meaning but otherwise scatterbrained housewife, with George off to the side serving as our host & narrator in the TV version, which began in 1950, and never without that ever present cigar.
In this season 2 Christmas episode from 1951, George & Gracie are joined by announcer-co-star Harry Von Zell and, as the Mortons, Fred Clark (later of The Double Life of Henry Phyfe) and Bea Benaderet, whose own work in the 60's made her an icon all by herself (The Flintstones, Petticoat Junction, & periodic appearances on The Beverly Hillbillies). A commercial for the show's sponsor, Carnation evaporated milk, is cleverly inserted, thanks to Gracie.
Personal note: I used to tease my ex-girlfriend by doing my best mimic of George Burns, which wasn't that good anyway, and would call her "Gracie". Unfortunately, she didn't quite get the reference, even though we watched a DVD of the show together one night. Oh, well.
Rating: B.
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