The Abbott & Costello Show

Watch The Abbott & Costello Show

  • TV-G
  • 1960
  • 2 Seasons
  • 8.1  (1,336)

The Abbott & Costello Show is a classic American television sitcom that aired from 1952 to 1957. The show starred the legendary comedy duo Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, who were known for their slapstick humor, witty banter, and expert timing. The series followed the misadventures of Abbott and Costello as they navigated various situations and characters in their everyday lives. Each episode was typically divided into several different skits, ranging from classic routines like "Who's on First?" to original sketches written specifically for the show.

Supporting cast members included Sidney Fields as Abbott's landlord, Gordon Jones as Mike the Cop, and Joe Besser as Stinky, among others. The cast also featured recurring guest stars like Hillary Brooke and Joe Kirk.

What set The Abbott & Costello Show apart from other sitcoms of the era was its emphasis on physical comedy and wordplay. Abbott and Costello were experts at comedic timing, and their performances were legendary for their precision and skill. Whether they were engaging in a hilarious argument or performing a complicated dance routine, their chemistry was undeniable.

The humor on the show was silly and lighthearted, often featuring slapstick gags and tongue twisters. Abbott and Costello's famous "Who's on First?" routine was a staple of the show, and they often incorporated other classic bits into their sketches as well.

Despite the show's popularity, it faced challenges in its later seasons. Lou Costello suffered from health issues that caused him to miss several episodes, and the show's ratings began to decline. In 1956, after five seasons and 130 episodes, The Abbott & Costello Show went off the air.

Despite its relatively short run, The Abbott & Costello Show remains an iconic example of classic American television. The show's enduring popularity is a testament to the talent and humor of its legendary stars, and their legacy continues to inspire comedians and audiences alike to this day.

The Abbott & Costello Show is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (56 episodes). The series first aired on January 1, 1960.

The Abbott & Costello Show
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Seasons
Uncle from New Jersey
41. Uncle from New Jersey
January 1, 1952
After Mr. Fields locks the boys out of their apartment, Bud hatches a plan to convince the landlord that Lou is the sole heir to the fortunes of his rich Uncle Ruppert. To pull off the scheme, Bud disguises Lou as his uncle, but Mike the Cop starts to believe that Ruppert has been bumped off by the boys.
Killer's Wife
32. Killer's Wife
January 1, 1952
Prizefighter Killer King moves into the rooming house and becomes convinced that Lou is fooling around with his wife, Dixie. When Costello accidentally knocks Killer's sparring partner unconscious, Bud volunteers Lou to take his place.
Uncle Bozzo's Visit
28. Uncle Bozzo's Visit
January 1, 1952
Lou's unemployed, opera singing Uncle Bozzo arrives from Italy and wreaks havoc with his booming voice. After a run in with Mike the Cop, the boys and Bozzo get arrested. While in jail, a fellow prisoner recruits them to assist in his escape.
Barber Lou
26. Barber Lou
January 1, 1953
fter helping Mrs. Bronson with her amateur benefit show, Bud is exhausted and asks Lou to give him a relaxing rub down by following the instructions of a radio masseuse.
Fall Guy
25. Fall Guy
January 1, 1953
After a penniless day of trying to sell "No Peddlers Allowed" signs, Bud and Lou are approached by two men with a scheme that will land them two hundred dollars. All they have to do is take two sisters out on a date and then switch places with the men.
Beauty Contest Story
24. Beauty Contest Story
January 1, 1953
Mr. Fields asks Bud and Lou to judge the "Miss Mud Turtle" beauty pageant for his lodge - and expects the boys to pick his niece as the winner. But then a tough thug pressures them to crown his girlfriend.
Fencing Master
23. Fencing Master
January 1, 1953
Bud volunteers Lou as a human guinea pig in a zany experiment performed by a mad scientist, Dr. Bluzak. Lou thinks he's indestructible until he gets challenged to a duel by a French fencing master.
Honeymoon House
22. Honeymoon House
January 1, 1953
With the aid of Bud and Mr. Fields, Lou constructs a prefabricated house for his fiancée, Sally. The new construction is sabotaged by Sally's former boyfriend, and when her parents arrive to inspect the dwelling, they are nearly killed.
The Pigeon
21. The Pigeon
January 1, 1953
A beautiful next-door neighbor, Ruby Norton, wants to rid herself of her mobster boyfriend, Steve Terry, so she can marry another man. She hatches a plan to make Terry think that Lou is her lover so that he will kill Lou and go to jail.
Well Oiled
20. Well Oiled
January 1, 1953
When Mr. Fields is threatened with a breach of promise lawsuit from a gold digging woman, the boys come to his aid. With Bud acting as his chauffeur, Lou poses as a Texas oil tycoon in an attempt to romance and discredit her.
Bank Holdup
19. Bank Holdup
January 1, 1953
Bud and Lou are hired as armed guards for hoodlums Joe and Lefty Lucas, and unwittingly assist in a bank robbery. They pay rent with their cut of the money, then attempt to recover the stolen cash from Mr. Fields' safe.
Public Enemies
18. Public Enemies
January 1, 1953
When a newspaper runs a story about safe-cracker "Dapper Dan" and accidentally includes Lou's photograph, a band of thieves living in the rooming house force him to join them in a warehouse robbery.
The Tax Return
17. The Tax Return
January 1, 1953
The IRS accidentally sends Lou a refund for $1 million. After he cashes the check at the bank, he is followed home by a pair of crooks. Meanwhile, Mr. Fields suspects that Lou is a counterfeiter
Private Eye
16. Private Eye
January 1, 1953
After Lou receives his diploma and private eye gear from "The Watchdog Correspondence School," he and Bud help a young girl locate $50,000 of bonds hidden inside her eccentric uncle's spooky mansion.
	 Uncle from New Jersey
15. Uncle from New Jersey
January 1, 1953
After Mr. Fields locks the boys out of their apartment, Bud hatches a plan to convince the landlord that Lou is the sole heir to the fortunes of his rich Uncle Ruppert.
Wife Wanted
14. Wife Wanted
January 1, 1953
After a quirky poker game with Mr. Fields, the boys get a letter from Lou's grandfather, who plans to give him $10,000 if he is married. After several attempts to meet women, Lou reconnects with his former girlfriend.
Car Trouble
13. Car Trouble
January 1, 1953
Lou wins an Edam automobile in a mail-in contest, but Bud sells it so they can go to Flint, Michigan and buy a new car. On their trip they encounter Mike the Cop's twin brother, hobos and an irate sheriff.
Efficiency Experts
12. Efficiency Experts
January 1, 1953
Bud and Lou land jobs as efficiency experts, and are assigned to restrain their client's daughters from spending money. The young women, however, get the boys to buy them expensive dresses and take them to a casino, where they end up in a brawl.
Amnesia
11. Amnesia
January 1, 1953
Lou plans to marry Edna, his lonely-hearts penpal, but Bud wants to break up the romance. He convinces Lou that he has amnesia and has a friend pose as Edna to make his life miserable
$1000 TV Prize
10. $1000 TV Prize
January 1, 1953
While trying to repair Mr. Fields' television set, Lou answers a phone call from the "Money to Burn" quiz show and provides the correct response to the $1000 question.
From Bed to Worse
9. From Bed to Worse
January 1, 1953
While working in a garden supply store, Bud and Lou learn that a civic group is offering a cash prize for the best backyard garden. The boys decide to enter the competition, but provoke a feud with their next door neighbor in the process.
South of Dixie
8. South of Dixie
January 1, 1953
Lou is smitten by a cute new neighbor. Thinking that she is in distress, he bursts into her apartment and into her rehearsal for a Civil War melodrama. Lou is so magnificent in his rescue effort that he lands a role in the play.
Cheapskates
7. Cheapskates
January 1, 1953
Bud and Lou accidentally purchase a crate of roller skates at an auction. Unbeknownst to them, the skates have diamonds hidden inside of them, and the smugglers behind the scam have moved into the rooming house.
Killerâ' Wife
6. Killerâ' Wife
January 1, 1953
Prizefighter Killer King moves into the rooming house and becomes convinced that Lou is fooling around with his wife, Dixie. When Costello accidentally knocks Killer's sparring partner unconscious, Bud volunteers Lou to take his place.
Pest Exterminators
5. Pest Exterminators
January 1, 1953
The boys have a new pest extermination business. While on a job at a psychiatrist's office, they answer a phone call from a Mrs. Featherton, who asks them to come to her house to "take care of her aunts."
Life Insurance
4. Life Insurance
January 1, 1953
Mr. Fields wants Bud to take a life insurance policy out on Lou that names him as beneficiary. Wary of their motives, Lou is too nervous to pass the physical, so Bud takes him on a hunting trip to relax.
In Society
3. In Society
January 1, 1953
Mrs. Olga Van Goo, a wealthy society woman, hires Bud and Lou to impersonate the Duke of Gluten and the Earl of Waldo at her formal reception. But a series of etiquette miscues leads to a food-flinging finale.
Uncle Bozzoâ' Visit
2. Uncle Bozzoâ' Visit
January 1, 1953
Lou's unemployed, opera singing Uncle Bozzo arrives from Italy and wreaks havoc with his booming voice. After a run in with Mike the Cop, the boys and Bozzo get arrested. While in jail, a fellow prisoner recruits them to assist in his escape.
The Paper Hangers
1. The Paper Hangers
January 1, 1953
While attempting to free it from a tight space, the boys damage Mrs. Bronson's car. Mr. Fields has the boys wallpaper her apartment. Later, they become waiters at a tough seafood joint where they get into a brawl.
Description
Where to Watch The Abbott & Costello Show
The Abbott & Costello Show is available for streaming on the E1 Entertainment website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch The Abbott & Costello Show on demand at Amazon Prime, Amazon, Vudu, FuboTV, Crackle, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, Peacock and Plex.
  • Premiere Date
    January 1, 1960
  • IMDB Rating
    8.1  (1,336)
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