Jack Benny – Guests, Ronald and Bonita Colman. ep596, 461117

A black and white photograph of Jack Benny, a man in a suit and tie, standing against a plain background. He is looking off to the side with a slight smile on his face, and his hands are clasped in front of him. Benny was a comedian and actor, best known for his radio and television shows in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. The photograph conveys a sense of classic Hollywood glamour and style, with Benny's sharp features and piercing blue eyes on prominent display.

Don talks to his wife as he leaves for the studio, and sets up the flashback scene. Rochester talks with Jack about the leftovers and the amazing way Rochester made them over into fresh creations. Phil and Dennis pop in for a few moments of joking around with Polly the parrot. When Mr Kitzel shows up, the gang has enough to play a game of Bridge, as long as Dennis can grasp the rules of the game. Although Phil and Kitzel seem to be playing a game of their own rules as well.

The band plays some travelling music, and the game continues. Jack reads a telegram to tell that Leo Durocher, Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, will visit. Jack tells how thrilling it was to travel with the Dodgers, and how he’s a big fan. So why was he rooting for St Louis? After he explains the team is in a different league than the Dodgers, Jack sends Rochester to the Coleman’s to borrow some sugar. We eavesdrop on Ronald and Bonita Coleman as they complain about their mooching neighbor, and Ronald goes over the list of borrowed items. Fountain pens, the Sunday comics, dishes, and more. Listen and learn how Jack went Trick or Treating at the Coleman’s. But wait, the borrowing isn’t over when Manchester… I mean Rochester returns for more goodies.

Leo Durocher pops in at the wrong door, and talks to the Colemans. Bonita has some trouble figuring out exactly what Leo does, and what baseball is all about. In their candidness, the Coleman’s spill the beans about Jack and his rooting for that St Louis team. I don’t think Leo takes it well, as he confronts his old buddy, Jack. As a matching bookend to the opening scene, Don wraps up his conversation with his wife as the show ends.