The Ad-Libbers is a CBS comedy sketch game show that began on August 3, 1951, and ended on September 1, 1951, as a summer replacement for Mama.[1]
| The Ad-Libbers | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show |
| Directed by | Hal Persons |
| Starring | Peter Donald (host) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
|
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | August 3 – August 31, 1951 |
Format
Home viewers were invited to send in story ideas. The host would read the story outline to the performers, who would then attempt to ad-lib dialogue to fit the story.[2]
Cast
The show was hosted by Peter Donald. Regulars included Jack Lemmon, Charles Mendick, Patricia Housley, Joe Silver, Earl Hammond and Cynthia Stone.[3]
Background
The series was based on a similar program titled What Happens Now? The program aired on local New York station WOR-TV in 1949 and was hosted by Nelson Olmsted.[4] Regulars on the 1949 program included Ross Martin, Carol Ohmart and Larry Blyden.[5]
Production
Ted and Hal Persons produced the show, and Hal Persons directed it. Maxwell House was the sponsor.[3] It was broadcast on Fridays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time.[2]
Critical response
A review in the trade publication Billboard said that the program "comes off as fitfully interesting but hardly strong enough to stand the rigors of strong audience competition."[3] It said that because the actors were not trained in performing spontaneously the demands of the show's format were unrealistic.[3]
