The Orson Welles Almanac guest when he returned to the show April 11, 1943. Orson Welles's variety show was auditioned in New York December 2, 1943, with the Compton advertising agency representing Mobilgas. The cast included Welles (host) and Duke Ellington (music), with guest spots by Rita Hayworth and Jimmy Durante on an audition record. "Billboard" reported that plans were under way for scheduling the show. The 30-minute program was heard Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET January 26 – July 19, 1944. The wartime variety show presented readings from classic works, drama, music, sketch comedy, magic, mindreading and personal commentary by Welles. Many of
Me and Orson Welles original incidental music and staged in a style as close to that of the 1937 production as is now possible. Teachout wrote that he "was floored by the verisimilitude of the results", and that "you will never get any closer to the Welles "Julius Caesar" than by watching "Me and Orson Welles," whose DVD version also includes a special feature comprising footage of the reconstructed scenes, not all of which made the final cut." In 2015, Mercury actor Norman Lloyd (who is portrayed by Leo Bill in the film) praised Christian McKay's performance as Orson Welles as "the best rendition