There were no television sitcoms scheduled opposite each other until the fall of 1952. Variety shows and other genres dominated network television in its infancy. It was only after the phenomenal success of I Love Lucy that networks began to consider sitcoms an important part of their lineups. The first head-to-head matches relied heavily on radio sitcoms that were adapted for TV.

Beulah vs. Heaven for Betsy on Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. (ET)

Hit radio series Beulah was in its third season on television, starring its third performer in the title role. African-American film actress Louise Beavers, who had given a stunning performance in 1934’s Imitation of Life, spent much of her career playing maids, which she was now doing on this series. Beulah was the only nationwide Tuesday-night programming on the fledgling ABC network.

A 30-minute sitcom, Beulah faced two 15-minute shows on CBS. News aired at 7:30, followed by Heaven for Betsy, a husband and wife series starring future movie star Jack Lemmon and his then-wife Cynthia Stone. That series aired a second episode each week on Thursday at 7:45.

With the 15-minute head start, Beulah was the more successful of the two shows. Heaven for Betsy was gone before Christmas. Beulah continued until September 1953, although the series stopped production partway through the season, but continued to air reruns. Reportedly, Beavers was uninterested in continuing with the series, and the NAACP objected to some of the stereotypes the series presented.

Winner: Beulah

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet vs. Mama on Friday at 8:00

Before the debut of I Love Lucy, CBS’ Mama was the most popular comedy series on television. Though the warm series is more accurately described as a comedy/drama. Around since 1949, it faced new competition from ABC in the fall of 1952, as that network adapted radio’s The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet for television.

Mama’s ratings dropped slightly in light of the new competition, but it still finished a healthy 18^th in the season’s Nielsen ratings. It would run seven full seasons and produce a handful of additional segments that aired outside of primetime. While the Nelson family’s new TV show didn’t win the timeslot, it somehow ran for 14 seasons, making it the longest-running live-action broadcast network sitcom of all time. Never particularly popular, it barely slipped into the top 30 once during its 12^th season.

Winner: Mama

Our Miss Brooks vs. The Aldrich Family on Friday at 9:30

One of the more popular early television sitcoms, The Aldrich Family, was in its fourth season on NBC. Another series adapted from radio; the show did well despite a frequently changing cast. CBS scheduled the debut of another successful radio comedy, Our Miss Brooks, opposite The Adrich Family in the fall of 1952.

Produced by Desilu, the same company responsible for I Love Lucy, Our Miss Brooks had a professional sheen and featured more contemporary humor than the aging Aldrich series. Dynamic star Eve Arden and her likable supporting cast were well known from the radio comedy. The show finished its first season in 22^nd place. Our Miss Brooks lasted four seasons on television and produced a theatrical version. The Aldrich Family was cancelled at season’s end.

Winner: Our Miss Brooks