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Of all the variety shows hitting the airwaves in the 70s, The Flip Wilson Show was unique. It was the first to star an African-American host, and its high ratings in its Thursday night time slot showed that people were more than ready for it.

 

Comedian Wilson played several memorable characters in the show’s segments. Reverend Leroy was the ethically questionable pastor of the Church of What’s Happening Now. He also played Freddie Johnson, just a regular guy, Danny Danger, a private investigator, Herbie the Good Time Ice Cream Man, and the classic drag character Geraldine – who had a boyfriend named Killer, and like to exclaim “What you see is what you get!”

 

The circular stage was sparsely set and the audience sat around it. Wilson began each show with a monologue, followed by ad-libbed skits involving his guests. He kept a difficult schedule, rehearsing five days prior to taping, but Wilson, who wrote about a third of his material, was insistent that skits worked the way he wanted them to. His popularity attracted major guest stars – John Wayne, Dean Martin, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, and Johnny Carson (who “discovered” Wilson along with Redd Foxx.)

 

Flip’s talent enabled him to hold a show solo – one of last times just one person hosted a variety show. He became one of the best-loved comedians of the 70s and helped break ground for a new generation of black comedians.