In the fall of 1953, I Love Lucy was the defending ratings champion. So it’s puzzling why NBC scheduled another comedy opposite the monster hit. The other three sitcom showdowns that season were more competitive.
I Love Lucy vs. The Dennis Day Show on Monday at 9:00 p.m. (ET)
Dennis Day was a longtime player on The Jack Benny Program on both radio and television. He also had his own radio show and got his own television series in early 1952. Like his boss, Benny, his television show was part sitcom, part variety show. NBC did him no favors when it moved his series opposite the I Love Lucy juggernaut.
The results were predictable. I Love Lucy remained the overwhelming number one series on television ,while The Dennis Day Show was cancelled after one year of battling Lucy.
Winner: I Love Lucy
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet vs. Mama on Friday at 8:00
This was rematch of the previous season, when Mama easily defeated The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
While Mama dropped from 18th to 25th place this season, it still won the timeslot over Ozzie and Harriet. Mama had the advantage of being a longtime Friday night favorite and airing on CBS, while the Nelsons were in just their second television season on the fledgling ABC network. Both shows were renewed and left in the same timeslot for the next fall.
Winner: Mama
The Life of Riley vs. Topper on Friday at 8:30
Two new sitcoms debuted in the same timeslot on Friday nights in 1953. NBC’s The Life of Riley was based on the radio series of the same name. Both versions starred William Bendix. Topper, on CBS,was inspired by the 1926 novel and 1937 feature film. NBC had previously tried to adapt The Life of Riley for television, with Jackie Gleason starring. However, the 1949 version of the show lasted only one season.
The Life of Riley was more top-of-mind as the radio version ended just a couple of years ago, while Topper had not been in the public consciousness for quite some time. Even though Topper was led in by the popular Mama, The Life of Riley won the slot. Finishing 13th in the ratings, it was the highest-rated new sitcom of the season, and second only to I Love Lucy among all sitcoms. Still, Topper was renewed, and the two shows would go head-to-head again in the fall of 1954.
Winner: The Life of Riley
The Jack Benny Program/Private Secretary vs. Mister Peepers on Sunday at 7:30
Though his television show, airing since 1950, was a tremendous success, radio superstar Jack Benny remained more committed to his radio series in the early days of television. In the fall of 1953, his show would air more frequently than in previous seasons, but still only once every three weeks. The remaining weeks, Private Secretary, a second-season sitcom starring movie and radio star Ann Sothern, would air in the slot on CBS. NBC countered with Mister Peepers, returning after performing solidly in the slot the season before.
The star power of Jack Benny and Ann Sothern was a little too much for Mister Peepers. The Jack Benny Program was good for 16th in the ratings, while Private Secretary also did well, in 24th. However, all three competing shows were renewed to battle again in the same timeslot next season.
Winner: The Jack Benny Program/Private Secretary
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