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A full 90 minutes of fun, with the glamorous, unpredictable, Talulah Bankhead. Crossing the country to broadcast from Los Angles, rather than New York, Talulah calls on Bob Hope to help with the jokes. Will she agree to be on his comedy show? Is Bob getting the finger when a joke has a little innuendo? Meredith Willson’s orchestra singers perform, I Got a Look At You. Crash, Bam, Alakazam!
Talulah has her singing ability gets poked fun at by Bob, and Meredith. Meredith tells about his hometown of Mason City, Iowa, then Phil Harris finds his way on stage to add his own brand of cutting up. Though Phil cracks jokes at the husky voiced Talulah, she gets back by not admitting she has heard his latest hit record, the Thing Meredith’s singers do a medley of, Yes We Have No Bananas, Three Little Fishes, The Hutsa Song, and Talulah even helps out with The Thing.
Louie Armstrong arrives to add his own husky voice to the joking around. The compliments fly for all but Talulah. Louie sings, Ain’t Misbehaving. Will Talulah get to sing a few bars with Louie?
Part 2. Bob Hope is back to joke about his travels, and shares a little of what Christmas means to him. Hometown, childhood memories, relatives, humble beginnings, and traditions all get poked fun at. Bob tells about his school days, and prowess as an athlete and scholar.
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis are thrilled to have made it to the Big Show, and are full of wise cracks for their hostess, Talulah. Jerry feels slighted when Talulah has compliments for him, rather than insults. Dean sings, Hold Me Close.
dean tries to get Jerry to think of where he may have heard of Talulah in the entertainment world. The suggestions of her work only fall on deaf ears. He just can’t quite place her. Will they finally be accepted by Talulah?
Dean and Jerry stick up for each other as they ask Talulah to introduce them to Bob Hope. Will the veteran comedian swap some of his old jokes to them for one of their new ones?
Part 3. After being the target of jokes from all of her male guests, Talulah finally gets to call on her female guests to do a dramatic sketch. Will things go better for her, just because they’re girls? First, the guys fight over who gets to take out Deborah Karr and Dorothy McGuire after the show. Frankie Lane sings, I’m Gonna Live Til I Die.
The girls put on a production of, the Women. The drama deals with the relationships and gossip of the three ladies. Affaires and scandal tug at the emotions, but the gals pull through.
Later, the guys do their own spoof version, the Men. Bob Hope, Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis present the melodramatic counterpart of the tale of love lost and found.
The gals make small talk about their careers in the theater and films. The jokes and snide remarks seem to cut Talulah deeper than the stuff the guys said to her through the show. Or is it just… acting!
Notable lines: Bob Hope: I have to keep working, I have a government to support.
Dean: There are plenty of other fish in the sea. Jerry: I don’t like fish, I like women.
