What Might've Been: The Burns & Schreiber Comedy Hour (1973)

Jack Burns & Avery Schreiber formed one of the most popular comedy teams of the 60's & 70's. After appearing on all the usual talk & variety shows, it seemed natural that they would get their own show.

And in 1973, they did.

The Burns & Schreiber Comedy Hour was a summer replacement series for ABC. Unfortunately, it didn't last beyond that summer season.

Schreiber & Burns had done separate gigs in primetime during the 1965 season. Schreiber, of course, was the antagonist opposite Jerry Van Dyke in My Mother The Car, while Burns was cast as Deputy Warren Ferguson for 11 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, asked to succeed Don Knotts. Unfortunately for Burns, it didn't work.

Here's a clip from The Burns & Schreiber Comedy Hour. The guys are doing their famous taxi skit.



In memory of Burns, 86, who passed away earlier this week. He joins Schreiber, who passed in 2002, and original partner George Carlin, in comedy heaven.