Flight of the Comedians

In all its 22 years, NBC had never seen anything like it. First Amos 'n' Andy and Jack Benny went over to rival CBS. Then Fred Allen said flatly that he was through with radio after next June.

Last week, the casualty list continued to grow. Edgar Bergen announced that he was leaving NBC and radio after Dec. 26, and taking Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd with him.

In Hollywood, NBC's Al Jolson said he was getting out in May, complained: "I don't like going on the air and doing the show direct. Frankly, I don't know music and I can go flat. I'd like to do radio just like pictures--leave the imperfect stuff on the cutting-room floor."

Even in television, monolithic NBC seemed to be having trouble keeping its balance. Last week the Lanny Ross show announced a TV ice show which would feature raspberry-colored ice to eliminate glare from the screen. But a compressor unit failed to do its job and by program time the footing was closer to raspberry sherbet. As a replacement, NBC hustled up some film shorts. Two hours later the ice show finally went on the air.

Accumulated disasters had NBC groggy but game. Said NBC Vice President Sid Eiges: "Nobody's sitting around worrying. We have new programs in the works--shows of all kinds, including comedy." Meanwhile, NBC is playing musical chairs with its disordered Sunday night schedule. Horace Heidt and his orchestra will be moved from 10:30 p.m. to Jack Benny's 7 p.m. slot; two new comics, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, will replace Heidt. Fred Allen switches from 8:30 to 8 p.m. But that still leaves holes to be plugged.

Having suffered two setbacks in its struggle with CBS, NBC now hopes to recoup by making a talent raid on its ex-stepchild, ABC. Said Eiges: "NBC is negotiating with 'the greatest name in the entertainment world, an international figure.' " At week's end, the "name" was revealed--Bing Crosby.

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