The Jack Benny Program Season 6 Episode 12 Jack Opens Beverly Hills Office
- March 25, 1956
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8.0 (14)
Jack Benny's popular weekly radio show "The Jack Benny Program" came to television in the late 1950s, and in season 6 episode 12, titled "Jack Opens Beverly Hills Office," Jack is excited to announce his new business venture. In this classic episode, which originally aired on December 13, 1956, Jack decides to open his own real estate office in Beverly Hills with the help of his good friend and perennial sidekick, Rochester van Jones.
As the episode begins, Jack is bursting with confidence and full of optimism about his new venture. He has rented a small storefront in Beverly Hills, and he plans to set up his office there and start selling homes to all the big Hollywood stars. He envisions himself as a successful real estate mogul, rubbing shoulders with the elite of the entertainment industry and earning huge commissions on his deals.
But as is often the case with Jack Benny, things don't exactly go according to plan. In his typical self-centered fashion, Jack has gone ahead and advertised his new business without bothering to inform Rochester, who is less than thrilled to discover that he's supposed to be running the office. Rochester already has a full-time job as Jack's butler, and he's not too keen on adding "real estate agent" to his resume.
Of course, Jack is convinced that everything will work out just fine, especially since he's arranged for an important client to meet them at the new office. Enter the glamorous movie star, Ann Blyth, who has expressed interest in buying a house in Beverly Hills. Jack is thrilled to have such a prestigious client to kick off his new business, but of course, things quickly get complicated.
First of all, Jack has decided that he needs to impress Ann with his knowledge of the real estate market, so he's been cramming with books and studying every statistic he can find. Unfortunately for him, he's not exactly a natural when it comes to numbers, and he's prone to hilarious mistakes when he tries to show off his newfound expertise.
On top of that, Rochester and Ann seem to have hit it off, and Jack grows increasingly jealous and paranoid that Rochester is trying to take over his business and steal his client. He imagines all sorts of ridiculous scenarios in which Rochester and Ann are secretly plotting against him, and he becomes more and more agitated as the episode goes on.
Meanwhile, a series of mishaps and misunderstandings ensue at the office. The phone keeps ringing off the hook with wrong numbers and prank calls, and Jack struggles to maintain his composure while trying to impress Ann. He ends up getting into a heated argument with Rochester, and the two of them engage in a comedic battle of wits that is a classic example of the show's brilliant writing and comedic timing.
In the end, of course, everything works out just fine, as it always does on "The Jack Benny Program." Jack manages to seal the deal with Ann and make her his first official client, while Rochester reluctantly agrees to help him out with the real estate business from time to time. The two friends share a final laugh as the episode comes to a close, and the audience is left with another classic example of the genius of Jack Benny and his talented cast of regulars.
Overall, "Jack Opens Beverly Hills Office" is a timeless episode of one of the greatest comedy programs in television history. It showcases Jack's comic genius and his ability to turn the most mundane of situations into comic gold. The episode is full of memorable one-liners, hilarious sight gags, and witty banter between Jack and his team of talented writers and performers. It's a must-see for any fan of classic comedy, and a testament to the enduring appeal of Jack Benny and his legendary program.