Bing’s Variety Specials

Bing’s specials were the ultimate in “comfort television,” with Bing’s relaxed, mellifluous intonations seeming to reassure viewers that, despite cold wars, hot wars, inflation, and scandal, everything would be OK.

As was the case with his radio shows of the 1930s through the 1950s, a variety of Bing’s interests were often explored such as his love of travel and various sporting enthusiasms. Not surprisingly too, Bing’s TV guests were among the brightest stars of the day, including Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Dean Martin,

Perry Como, Peggy Lee, James Garner, The Smothers Brothers, Mary Martin, Andre Previn, The Supremes, Robert Goulet, Flip Wilson, Michael Landon, Carol Burnett
, Roy Clark, Jackie Gleason, Maurice Chevalier, Fred Astaire, a young Bernadette Peters, and Bing’s perennial buddy, Bob Hope.