History Radio / TheBurnsAndAllenShow

** There was also ''Wendy and Me'', which took the basic formula of this show and retooled the premise into Burns fictionalized as a landlord getting roped into wacky situations by his {{Ditz}} tenant Wendy (Connie Stevens). Debuting shortly after Allen died, it also only lasted one season (1964-65).

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}''. While many reviewers compare his show with ''Series/ILoveLucy'' (a show of which both the fake and real Jerrys seem proud to say they've never watched an episode), Jerry Seinfeld has said that he and Larry David were trying for a "Burns and Allen Show feeling".

* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Harry Morton.

In a famous stunt on their radio series, Gracie ran for president in 1940 on the [="Surprise Party"=] ticket, predating by 28 years the run made by Pat Paulson of the ''SmothersBrothersComedyHour''.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* CrossOver: With ''Radio/TheJackBennyProgram''. Jack and George were lifelong friends and appeared on each others shows often. In one episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CoYC1QhjgI&list=UUoJDv_hP2zmTX8SIKPsuW7A&index=1&feature=plcp George gets Jack on his special television]] which Jack lampshades with "You're not watching me on your silly TV are you? I'm not on until Sunday Night!". After Jack then starts to quote his appearance fee, George turns off the TV. In another episode George threatens Von Zell by pondering, "I wonder what Don Wilson (Jack's announcer) is doing next year..."

* AfterShow: After Gracie retired from showbusiness following a minor heart attack, George tried to go it alone (with the supporting cast intact) in ''The George Burns Show''; but it wasn't the same and only lasted one season. And you wonder why [[SelfDeprecation he always credits Gracie as the reason for the show's success]].

''"Say goodnight, Gracie." "Goodnight, Gracie!"''

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Such was the public's complete faith in Gracie's dizzy innocence that, on occasion, she could get away with the kind of innuendo not often heard on 1950s television.
-->'''Gracie Allen''': Now, take Mrs. Grosvenor. She's been begging her husband to let her take a trip for years. And yesterday, he finally told her that she could have her choice between going to have her face lifted or the Bahamas.
-->'''Creator/GeorgeBurns''': Which did she choose?
-->'''Gracie Allen''': Well, I don't know. But I told her, start with your Bahamas. And if it turns out all right, then you can have your face lifted, too.

One of the defining series of the nascent medium of television, this {{Sitcom}}/{{DomCom}} debuted in 1950 when it was transferred from CBS Radio to CBS Television. The main setting of the series was the Beverly Hills home of comedians Creator/GeorgeBurns and Gracie Allen, who stared as [[AsHimself versions of themselves]]. The main supporting characters in the series were their next-door neighbors, Blanche and Harry Morton; the show's announcers, Bill Goodwin (first season) and Harry Von Zell (subsequent seasons, 1951-58); and their real-life adopted son, Ronnie.

* ProductPlacement: Episodes sponsored by Carnation Evaporated Milk.

''"Say goodnight, Gracie." "Goodnight."''

[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/9242005.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:225:"You've got to be honest; if you can fake that, you've got it made."]]

[[quoteright:337:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/necaf00z_7924.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:337:George Burns and Gracie Allen]]

* TVGuide: The episode "The Burns and Mortons Go To NY" has a subplot about George and Gracie making the cover.

** In the first episode of the 1953-54 season -- in what may have been the most extreme breaking of the fourth wall in history -- Fred Clark (who played Harry Morton) left the series in part because he had demanded a higher salary. Literally! He left the series about twenty minutes into the episode. As Blanche was about to express her displeasure with a gift Harry had given her by hitting him with a vase, George stopped the action, turned to the audience and told them that Clark was leaving the series. Clark exited, replacement actor Harry Keating entered, and the action resumed.

* AfterShow: After Gracie retired from showbusiness following a minor heart attack, George tried to go it alone (with the supporting cast intact) in ''The George Burns Show''; but it wasn't the same and only lasted one season.
** And you wonder why [[SelfDeprecation he always credits Gracie as the reason for the show's success]].

-->'''Actor''': ''[anticipation in his voice]'' No!

* OneSteveLimit: Subverted with Harry Morton and Harry Von Zell.
** Of course this helps Gracie mistake someone talking about one Harry for the other Harry.

-->'''George Burns''': (to the audience) Remember last week when my publisher Simon and Schuster suggested I show a copy of my book ''I Love Her, That's Why!'' on the show to help sales, and I thought it was a bad idea? (He holds up a copy of the book.) I still do.
* RunningGag: Gracie has a closet full of hats of visitors who come into the house, take off their hat, and get confused by Gracie so much they leave without it.

* SheldonLeonard: Guest starred in one episode Gangster Silky Thompson.
-->'''Silky Thompson''': I came all this way to blow a Dame's brains out and someone's beaten me to it!

* UncannyFamilyResemblance: Blanche and her Mother.

* ArentYouForgettingSomeone: One episode ends with Creator/GeorgeBurns calling up a guest star playing a General in the episode. The guest star drops character, saying about what an honor it is to appear on the show and goes on to say how professional everyone is, naming each person one by one ... except for George.
-->'''Creator/GeorgeBurns''': Say, in next week's show we have an opening for a Lawyer, are you working?
-->'''Actor''': Why,no...no I'm not.
-->'''Creator/GeorgeBurns''': You said it! (Hangs up, smiles to camera)

** Not only does George speak to the audience, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXIW3kjWpu0 he has a tv in his den]] that lets him watch the characters in their scenes without him!

** In the episode "Appearences Are Deceiving" the story takes place upstairs as George is downstairs answering fan mail for his book. He says, "I don't mind the writers writing me out of tonight's story so much, I just wish they'd send someone to let me know what's going on." Cue Harry Morton storming in to talk to George. However once Harry [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness starts throwing around his trademark three dollar words]], George says "Fellas, you sent the wrong guy, I ''still'' don't know what's going on!"

* CloudCuckoolander: Three guesses, no hints

* CrossOver: With ''Radio/TheJackBennyProgram''. Jack and George were lifelong friends and appeared on each others shows often. In one episode [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CoYC1QhjgI&list=UUoJDv_hP2zmTX8SIKPsuW7A&index=1&feature=plcp George gets Jack on his special television]] which Jack lampshades with "You're not watching me on your silly TV are you? I'm not on until Sunday Night!". After Jack then starts to quote his appearence fee George shuts off the tv! In another episode George threatens Von Zell by pondering, "I wonder what Don Wilson (Jack's announcer) is doing next year..."

* HypnoFool: In one two part episode, Gracie bumps into a Hypnotist who later hypnotizes her into being the smartest woman alive. Later, as George tries to reverse the situation, Blanche is accidently [[FreakyFridayFlip turned into 'the old Gracie Allen']].
* JuryDuty: One episode subverts the troupe by having both Blanche and Harry happy at the prospect of her being called (Blanche looking foward to do her civic duty, and Harry looking foward to the free time and non-burned food he'll get with her gone).

-->'''George Burns''': (to the audience) Remember last week when my publisher Simon and Shulster suggested I show a copy of my book ''I Love Her, That's Why!'' on the show to help sales, and I thought it was a bad idea? (He holds up a copy of the book) I still do.

-->'''George''': I don't need a financial advisor. 20 years ago I took $2 and made an investment that's paid out a million times over since. (Pause, puff on cigar) I bought a marrage licence.

-->Gracie: [tells some bizaare non-sequitur story]

-->'''Creator/GeorgeBurns''': See, everyone has a happy ending in this episode. Especially Blanche -- She gets two checks this week, one for playing herself and one for playing her Mother. Come to think of it, I don't get a happy ending....I have to pay her!

''"Say Goodnight, Gracie." "Goodnight."''