Flip Wilson in character as Geraldine Jones, on a recently released "best of" DVD set.

The Flip Wilson Show was a variety show that aired in the U.S. on NBC from September 17, 1970 to June 27, 1974. The show starred black comedian Flip Wilson; the program was one of the first American television programs starring a black person in the title role to become highly successful with a white audience. Specifically, it was the first successful network variety series starring an African American. [1] During its first two seasons, its Nielsen ratings made it the nation's second most watched show. Image File history File links Flip Wilson DVD cover. ... Image File history File links Flip Wilson DVD cover. ... A variety show is a show with a variety of acts, often including music and comedy skits, especially on television. ... Motto: Official (Latin): E pluribus unum (1789 to 1956) (Translated: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government  â€¢ President  â€¢ Vice President Federal... The National Broadcasting Company or NBC is an American television broadcasting company based in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 187 days remaining. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black), is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... Clerow Flip Wilson (December 8, 1933–November 25, 1998) was an African-American comedian and actor. ... When TV viewers or entertainment professionals in the United States mention ratings they are generally referring to Nielsen Ratings, a system developed by the New York City-based firm Nielsen Media Research to determine which shows television viewers watch at what times. ...

The show consisted of many skits over an hour. It also broke new ground in American television by using a "Theatre-In-The-Round" stage format, with the audience seated on all sides of a circular performance area (with some seats located behind the sketch sets on occasion). Sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes, or sketches, commonly between one and ten minutes long. ... Theatre In The Round , or arena theatre, is any theatre space in which the audience is seated on all sides of the stage. ...

Wilson was most famous for creating the role of Geraldine Jones, a sassy, modern woman who had a boyfriend named Killer (who, when he was not in prison, he was at the pool hall). Flip also created the role of Reverend Leroy, who was the minister of the Church of What's Happening Now!. New parishioners were wary of coming to the church as it was hinted that Reverend Leroy was a con artist. Flip popularized such catch phrases as "What you see is what you get," and "The devil made me do it!". Modern can simply mean something that is up-to-date, trendy, new, or from the present time. ... Billiards is a family of games played on a table, with a stick, known as a cue stick, which is used to strike balls, moving them around the table. ... In most Protestant churches, a minister is a member of the ordained clergy who leads a congregation or participates in a role in a parachurch ministry; such a person may also be called a Pastor, Preacher, Bishop, Chaplain or Elder. ... A church building (or simply church) is a building used in Christian worship. ... A confidence trick, confidence game, or con for short, (also known as a scam) is an attempt to intentionally mislead a person or persons (known as the mark) usually with the goal of financial or other gain. ... A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ... WYSIWYG (pronounced wizzy-wig or wuzzy-wig) is an acronym for What You See Is What You Get, and is used in computing to refer to the technology that makes sure the image seen on the screen corresponds to what is printed out on paper. ...

In addition to the skits, Flip Wilson also signed many popular singers to provide entertainment. African-American singers such as The Jackson Five, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, The Pointer Sisters, Charley Pride, and Roberta Flack appeared on the program, as well as many contemporary white entertainers. Usually, the singers also chose to partake in skits with Wilson. LeAnn Rimes singing in concert A singer is a type of musician who uses his or her voice as an instrument to produce music. ... Entertainment is an amusement or diversion intended to hold the attention of an audience or its participants. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black), is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... The cover to the Jackson 5s first LP, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, released on Motown Records in 1969. ... Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an iconic American gospel, soul and R&B singer born in Memphis, Tennessee, but raised in Detroit, Michigan. ... Stevie Wonder (born May 13, 1950) is an African-American singer, songwriter, producer, musician, humanitarian and social activist. ... Ray Charles was the stage name of Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004). ... The cover to Gladys Knights 2001 album At Last. ... The Pointer Sisters was an American vocal group and recording act that achieved great success during the 1970s and 1980s. ... Charley Pride on the cover of one of his several greatest hits albums, from 2003 Charley Frank Pride (born March 18, 1938 in Sledge, Mississippi) is a former Negro League baseball player who became one of the only African Americans to have a successful career in modern country music. ... Roberta Flack Roberta Flack (born February 10, 1939) is an American singer. ...

Wilson's clout allowed him to get both the new breakout performers (such as Sandy Duncan, Lily Tomlin, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Albert Brooks, Lola Falana and Melba Moore all of whom became very popular during this period) as well as established singers. In late 1971, gospel legend Mahalia Jackson made one of her last public performances on The Flip Wilson Show. Sandy Duncan (born February 20, 1946 in Henderson, Texas) is an American singer and actress of stage and television. ... Lily Tomlin as The West Wings Deborah Fiderer. ... George Carlin in the film Jersey Girl George Dennis Carlin (born May 12, 1937 in New York City) is a Grammy winning Irish American stand-up comedian, actor, and author, noted especially for his irreverent attitude and his observations on language, psychology and religion along with many other taboo subjects. ... Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American comedian, actor, and writer. ... Albert Brooks Albert Brooks (born July 22, 1947) is a Jewish-American actor, comedian and director. ... Lola Falana (born Loletha Elaine Falana) (September 11, 1942 - ) is an American dancer and actress of part Cuban descent. ... Melba Moore Melba Moore is an African-American R&B singer. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... Mahalia Jackson Mahalia Jackson (October 26, 1911–January 27, 1972) was an African American gospel singer, widely regarded as the best in the history of the genre. ...

While The Flip Wilson Show first shared a studio with other television series, Wilson's massive popularity allowed for him to get his own set of soundstages, starting in the fall 1972 season. As the seasons went on, however, the show's ratings slipped. This, coupled with Wilson's repeated demands for higher raises in his salary, caused the series to become over-budget, and led to its cancellation. This was the television schedule on all three networks for the fall season beginning in September 1972. ...

See also

• List of guest stars on The Flip Wilson Show.

This is a list of guest stars who appeared on The Flip Wilson Show. ...

External link

The Flip Wilson Show at The Internet Movie Database The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about actors, movies, television shows, television stars and video games. ...