History: April 1949 to January 1950 on NBC; October 1951 to July 1953 on
NBC.

30 minute shows.



NBC, in search of new talent after CBS siphoned off Jack Benny and others,
began a talent hunt for rising, promising young performers.  A NBC network
executive discovered Martin and Lewis during a performance of their
nightclub comedy act. The show was budgeted $10,000 weekly-a princely sum at
the time-but it enabled hiring top-notch guest stars (Lucille Ball appeared
on the first show.)  While their earlier nightclub act drew rave reviews in
that circle, radio critics panned the show as being dull and uninspired.
The duet's visual comedy (slapstick, mugging) did not play on radio
audiences. The pair went into movies, and a subsequent attempt at a radio
show failed again in 1951.