Burns & Allen and Friends

This collection of eight half-hour shows from 1947 features the wry George Burns and his ditzy wife, Gracie Allen, as Beverly Hills homeowners. Supporting players include their announcer, their bandleader, and famous voice actor Mel Blanc (Bugs Bunny). Interspersed in the shows are performances by the band and Maxwell House coffee commercials; the latter are also worked into the plot. Unfortunately, the ads, orchestra, and audience reactions are noticeably louder than the dialogue. The ads, while quaint, can grow tiresome, and the writing is sometimes thin and too silly. But many of the lines are still funny. The shows will amuse radio comedy fans and especially please fans of George and Gracie. W.M. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine