Something Fishy: The Way It Was, 18 September

FEATURED BROADCAST
THE PHIL HARRIS-ALICE FAYE SHOW:
PHIL RETURNS FROM VACATION
(NBC, 1949)

Everyone's rounded up for rehearsal for the first show of the new season except for Phil (Harris), who's still up on a Canadian jaunt with some of his band with one day left before showtime.

And the delay in his return has Alice (Faye) just a little bit worried; harrumphing deadbeat Willie (Robert North) just a little bit too eager to think of standing in for his vain brother-in-law; and, Little Alice (Jeanine Roos) and Phyllis (Anne Whitfield) snorting at the very idea . . .

Then Phil returns rather jauntily, with a suitcase full of salmon as proof he went fishing; a snootful of indifference from Remley (Elliott Lewis), who isn't comfortable with emotional reunions even with his best friend; the standard withering contempt from sponsor Scott (Gale Gordon), who thinks (as usual) that one and all need to step up the show preparation, after seeing a too-leisurely magazine spread ("For what I'm paying you people, I expect at least one ulcer"); and, when it proves Phil forgot to re-hire the writers for the new season, an offer to help write the show from . . .

Julius: Walter Tetley. Announcer: Bill Forman. Music: Walter Sharp, conducting the Phil Harris Orchestra. Director: Paul Phillips. Writers: Ray Singer, Dick Chevillat.

CHANNEL SURFING . . .

THE WHISTLER: BLACK MAGIC (CBS, 1944)---Near an American mine in equatorial Africa, mine executive Paul Arnold (possibly Elliott Lewis) hopes enough illness among the natives forces the mine closure he secretly hopes for, at least until the unexpected arrival of his company doctor---who's now married to the girl (possibly Cathy Lewis) from whom he ran in a jealous rage, who now tries to convince him she still loves him . . . but for her own reasons. Additional cast: Possibly Joseph Kearns, Wally Maher, John Brown, Gerald Mohr. The Whistler: Bill Forman. Music: Wilbur Hatch. Whistling: Dorothy Roberts. Director: George Allen. Sound: Berne Surrey. Writer: J. Donald Wilson, Harold Swanson, Joel Malone.

OUR MISS BROOKS: THE FACULTY CHEERLEADER, A.K.A. THE SWEATER (CBS, 1949)---Connie (Eve Arden) is only slightly less aghast at being tapped to become a faculty cheerleader than she is at Conklin's (Gale Gordon) tightened-up anti-faculty fraternisation rules moving her room farther away from Boynton's (Jeff Chandler). Mrs. Davis: Jane Morgan. Harriet: Gloria McMillan. Walter: Richard Crenna. Miss Enright: Mary Jane Croft. Stretch: Leonard Smith. Announcer: Bob LaMond. Music: Wilbur Hatch. Writer/director: Al Lewis.