New Series 1951

Lucy gets on stage at the club

I Love Lucy  (1951–1957) - Starring real life married couple Lucile Ball and Desi Arnez with neighbors Fred and Ethel Mertz played by William Frawley and Vivian Vance. The first sitcom to be produced on film with multiple cameras rather than live action. The groundbreaking show is produced on film, The antics of Lucy always trying to get into husband Ricky's Cuban nightclub act at the Copacabana. The I love Lucy Show

The Nairobi Trio

Ernie Kovacs Show (1951- 1956) A hodgepodge of live comedy using innovative visual gags, ad lib's, and taking the television audience past the 4th wall into the set.Ernie Kovacs laid the groundwork for the Steve Allen Show, the Tonight Show and Laugh In. Ernie Kovacs

The Red Skelton Show (1951 -1971) - Starring Red Skelton this variety show ran for 30 minutes until 1962 when it became the Red Skelton Hour. Though the show had a special guest each week it was mostly live sketches of Red doing his gang of characters such as Clem Kadiddlehopper. The Red Skeleton Show

Dragnet (1951–1959) - Created, produced and starred Jack Webb this was the first series in a documentary format. After the 7 note lead in, narrator George Fenneman would introduce the case and Sargent Joe Friday with his partner Frank Smith played by Ben Alexander would solve the crime without guns (which caused the NRA at the time to constantly complain). Each episode ended with the mug shot of the criminal and the outcome of the court case and sentence. Dragnet!

The Roy Rogers Show (1951–1957) - A Saturday morning contemporary western starring Roy Rogers (The King of the Cowboys), his wife Dale Evans (Queen of the West) and sidekick Pat Brady all playing themselves. And of course Trigger, Bullet the wonder dog and Nellybelle the jeep with a mind of its own! The show made for a touring Roy Rogers money making machine. Roy Rogers Show

Amos & Andy (1951–1953).

Love of Life (1951–1980).

Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986).

Television News 1951

Radio - With McCarthyism on the rise, conservative commentator Paul Harvey Aurandt began his daily Noon 15 minute presentation to millions of listeners. The show lasted 58 years before God took him home in 2009. He was best friends with Evangelical minister Billy Graham and FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and made no bones about his conservative leanings.
There still exists controversy if he ducked out of World War II over a self inflicted wound to the foot. Though the history of conservative talk radio hosts does point to a Chicken Hawk mentality. Paul Harvey Passes.

A reminder that conservative actor and pro war activist John Wayne flat out refused to fight in WW II for economic reasons. Straight Dope John Wayne

Live feed both coasts split screen

See It Now (1951 -1958) - Hosted live by Edward R Murrow from Studio 41 at CBS in New York was the 60 Minutes of its day. Murrow and the show were instrumental in bringing down Wisconsin Senator Joe "Tailgunner" McCarthy and his ugly brand of finger pointing politics called McCarthyism. See it Now

Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present) - An occasional anthology series that is considered the longest running show on television. It brought live opera, Shakespeare, Biography's, musicals and broadway plays with great acting to American living rooms winning over 80 Emmys. Hallmark Hall of Fame

The Emmy's 1951 - 1952

Best Dramatic Show: Studio One
Best Actor: Sid Caesar
Best Actress: Imogene Coca
Best Comedy Show: Red Skelton Show
Best Comedian or Comedienne: Red Skelton
Best Variety Show: Your Show of Shows

Series End 1951

The Alan Dale Show (1948–1951).
Club Seven (1948–1951).

Most Watched 1951-1952

1. Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts          
2. Texaco Star Theater
3. I Love Lucy
4. The Red Skelton Show
5. The Colgate Comedy Hour
6. Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
7. Fireside Theatre
8. Your Show of Shows
9. The Jack Benny Show
10. You Bet Your Life
11. Mama
12. Philco TV Playhouse
13. Amos 'n' Andy
14. Gangbusters
15. Big Town
16. Goodyear TV Playhouse
17. Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts
18. The Lone Ranger
19. Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
20. All Star Revue