Flip Wilson, George Carlin
Tim Conway, Redd Foxx
Richard Pryor, Ruth Buzzi
Dom DeLuise Avery Schreiber
Show Info
One of the many variety shows available in the 1970s (along with Sonny and Cher, Captain and Tennille, Donny and Marie, etc). Hosted by black comic Flip Wilson, this show featured skits, music and frequent appearances by "Geraldine Wilson" (really Flip Wilson in drag).
Trivia
-> The exclamation "The devil made me do it!" by Geraldine Jones, one of Flip Wilson's many characters, was ranked #16 in TV Guide's list of "TV's 20 Top Catchphrases" (21-27 August 2005 issue).
-> He got custody of his children in 1979 and quit show biz to devote more time to them.
-> He won a Grammy in 1970 for Best Comedy Recording for "The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress".
-> He also claimed (seriously) that one of the homes he lived in was haunted in some way.
-> He is the subject of a song by the World/Inferno Friendship Society, "Nosliw Pilf".
-> Had four children with common-law wife Blonell Pitman.
Original Airdate
September 17th, 1970
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Flip wilson Merchandise
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Where on Earth is Flip now???
(November 25th, 1998) Flip Wilson, who became the first Black host of a long-running, primetime variety show, died in Malibu, CA, of liver cancer. He was 64.
Wilson, who gave television audiences such memorable characters as his two alter egos, Geraldine and Rev. Leroy, had undergone surgery in October for a malignant tumor that was close to his liver. His assistant, Angie Hill, said he died peacefully at home with his daughter Michelle by his side. "He passed very peacefully in his sleep," Ms. Hill said.
