The Martin and Lewis Show (radio program)
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis
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| Genre | Comedy-variety |
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| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Syndicates | NBC |
| Starring | Dean Martin Jerry Lewis |
| Announcer | Jimmy Wallington Johnny Jacobs |
| Written by | Ed Simmons (1950-1953) Norman Lear (1950-1953) |
| Directed by | Robert L. Redd Dick Mack |
| Produced by | Bob Adams |
| Original release | April 3, 1949 – July 14, 1953 |
| Sponsored by | Chesterfield cigarettes Anacin |
The Martin and Lewis Show was a radio comedy-variety program in the United States. It was broadcast on NBC beginning April 3, 1949, and ending July 14, 1953.
After losing The Jack Benny Program and Amos 'n' Andy from its Sunday night lineup to what had been called "the CBS talent raids" of 1948-49, NBC turned to the young comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, a pair "virtually unknown to a radio audience." Reinehr and Swartz commented in their old-time radio reference book, "the program ... was never as successful as the network had hoped, because much of Martin and Lewis's comedy was visual.
Work on the program began early in 1949, after NBC "decided to build a show around Martin and Lewis."Billboard magazine reported that the network spent approximately $400,000 over five months getting the show ready. Preparation was worked around the duo's performances in night clubs and in the movie My Friend Irma. The basis for NBC's investment was a five-year radio contract signed in December 1948. The deal guaranteed the pair $150,000 per year and "a choice time slot." The program was scheduled to begin Jan. 16, 1949, but it did not go on the air until April.
Reviews of the program's first broadcast indicated that the episode left much room for improvement. A Billboard reviewer wrote, "Off the initial outing, the lads will have to do considerable improving to live up to all the web's hopes." However, he offered some optimism by writing, "[I]f the scripters can come up with material as fresh as their style and talent, Martin and Lewis still may earn all the accolades which were tossed their way before they ever faced a mike." Meanwhile, media critic John Crosby wrote in his newspaper column, "The general attitude was one of friendly skepticism."
In January 1950, Billboard reported that CBS "was making a determined effort to sign, among others, the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis." The story added that at that point the program still had no sponsors and was "costing NBC close to $10,000 per week."
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