episodes of The Bickersons
Don Ameche & Francis Langford John and Blanche were the "Battling Bickersons" -- a comedy with a one-joke premise, but an infinite number of clever variations. Band singer Francis Langford and radio actor Don Ameche handled with brilliant timing author Phil Rapp's genuinely acerbic scripts.
Many people don't realize that there wasn't actually a show called "The Bickersons." The contentious couple first appeared as a recurring skit on The Chase and Sanborn Hour in 1946, and moved over to Drene Time in 1951. A later series of comedy LP adaptations kept the characters alive well past radio drama's demise.
An immense number of later subsequent situation comedy shows, from "The Honeymooners" to "Married With Children" owe a great debt to John and Blanche's nightly battles.
- http://www.bickersons.com is the official website, and offers scripts in book form.
- Wikipedia has an excellent appraisal of the show.
Click on a script title below to view it:
| circa 1946 | The Honeymoon Is Over |
| circa 1946 | John's Operation |
| circa 1946 | The Tax Refund |
| Dec 22 1946 | Christmas Eve |
| Jan 12 1947 | The New Puppy |
| May 18 1947 | John's Will |
| Feb 13 1948 | Valentine's Day |
| May 14 1948 | Two Weeks with Pay |
| Date Unknown | Gloria Gooseby Dinner |
| Date Unknown | Easter |
| Date Unknown | Eighth Wedding Anniversary |
| Date Unknown | Blanche Bets a Horse |
| Date Unknown | 2nd Honeymoon |