The Bob Cummings Show was a pioneering sitcom in the late 1950's. With the benefit of over 50 years of hindsight we can now see how it influenced the "formula" used by many other successful shows in later years. One reason being the work of lead writer Paul Henning who later went on to create many of the popular "rural" sitcoms aired by CBS in the 60's. 173 episodes were produced and aired between 1955 and mid-1959, 55 of which are found on these discs. Following it's active run it enjoyed a long life in syndication on ABC under the title of Love That Bob.
Starring Bob Cummings as professional photographer and pilot Bob Collins, he shared his home with his widowed sister Margaret played by Rosemary DeCamp (who was Peg Riley opposite Jackie Gleason in the first version of, and oldest surviving TV sitcom, The Life of Riley and Marlo Thomas' mom in That Girl) and her teenage son Chuck (played by Dwayne Hickman who followed this show with his starring role in the Many Loves of Dobie Gillis). Bob shared his studio with his assistant Schultzy (played by Ann B. Davis who later starred in The Brady Bunch) and often with Pamela Livingstone (played by Nancy Kulp who went on to be Miss Jane Hathaway on the Beverly Hillbillies). And then there were the models Bob used in his studio and other family friends.
When it comes to script development, character utilization and comic pacing, this one is right up there with the Phil Silvers Show.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The Bob Cummings Show
