Here is a delightful television episode with the greatest of radio stars, Jack Benny and Fred Allen. Way back in the radio days, one of made a slight personal comment about the other, and then he was riposted; and the next thing you knew, there was a hilarious, steady stream of very funny insults. This culminated in their movie together, Love Thy Neighbor; and one of the early requests from Command Performance listeners in the Second World War (American GI's), was that Benny and Allen would make up (it was simply hilarious). Fred was unsuccessful on television--could have been those awful baggy eyes--but Jack was a sensation. The episode reminisces their wonderful rivalry on radio, with Fred trying to steal Jack's sponsor; but doesn't give this gifted, intelligent comedian his best milieu--listen to him on old radio shows for a high sardonic wit. And then, as the episode contents reveal, there is a joyful appearance by an even earlier radio star, Eddie Cantor. Double nostalgia--then, and now.
