Ep 1. Milton Berle Show: Texaco Star

The Milton Berle Show premiered on Tuesday, June 8, 1948, with its first episode titled "Milton Berle Show: Texaco Star." The show aired on NBC and was sponsored by Texaco, hence the name of the episode.

The show presented a variety of sketches, jokes, gags, and musical performances from the start. The first episode began with a monologue from Milton Berle, who was known as "Mr. Television" at the time. He opened the show with his signature greeting, "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!" and proceeded to make jokes about the sponsors, Texaco, and himself. He joked that he had been asked to appear as a guest on the show but had declined because he was too busy hosting it. Berle's quick-witted humor and comedic timing set the tone for the rest of the show.

The first sketch was a parody of the then-popular radio show "The Breakfast Club." The sketch featured a group of actors portraying various stereotypical characters, including a housewife, a businessman, a farmer, and a teenager. Berle played the role of the show's host, Don McNeill, and he exaggerated McNeill's famously nasal voice for comedic effect. The sketch was a hit with audiences and would become a recurring segment throughout the show's run.

Another sketch featured Milton Berle and comedian Jack Carter dressed as detectives investigating a murder at a nightclub. The sketch was a comedic take on the film noir genre and included jokes about the detectives' incompetence and the club's flamboyant host. Berle and Carter's chemistry and comedic timing were noteworthy and would lead to future collaborations on the show.

The musical performances in the first episode were varied, showcasing both established and up-and-coming talents of the time. The episode featured performances by popular crooner Frank Sinatra, who sang "All the Things You Are," as well as jazz vocalist Peggy Lee, who sang "It's All Over Now." The episode also featured performances by lesser-known performers, such as the vocal group The Skylarks, who sang "Gonna Build a Mountain," and the jazz quartet The Rampart Street Paraders, who performed "Mahogany Hall Stomp."

The episode ended with a sketch called "Burlesque," where Berle and his guests performed comedic stripteases. The sketch was a nod to Berle's roots in vaudeville and burlesque and was a hit with audiences, solidifying his reputation as a master of comedy.

Overall, the first episode of the Milton Berle Show was a smash success, with a reported 75% of televisions in America tuned in to watch. The variety show format, which had been popular in radio before the advent of television, proved to be a perfect fit for the emerging medium, allowing for a mix of comedy, music, and drama in one program. The show's success would lead to a long run on television, with Berle continuing to entertain audiences for decades to come.