The Hazel Scott Show
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| The Hazel Scott Show | |
|---|---|
| Format | Music |
| Starring | Hazel Scott (host) |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Production | |
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | DuMont |
| Original run | July 3, 1950 – September 29, 1950 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Hazel Scott Show was an early American television program broadcast on the now defunct DuMont Television Network. The series ran during the summer of 1950, and is most notable for being the first U.S. network television series to be hosted by a Black woman.[1][2]
The Hazel Scott Show was a 15-minute-long musical program hosted by pianist and singer Hazel Scott, who would perform show tunes and other numbers live on the show. Scott was no stranger to performing before she began appearing on the program: she had appeared in nightclubs, on radio and television programs, on Broadway, and in five feature films. The program, produced and distributed by the DuMont network, aired Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:45 to 8 PM on most DuMont affiliates.[1]
Trinidad-born Hazel Scott was described as a "novelty on the entertainment scene",[3] and the series was well-received by critics; Variety wrote: "Hazel Scott has a neat little show in this modest package. [The] most engaging element [...] is the Scott personality, which is dignified, yet relaxed, and versatile."[3]
Despite critical acclaim and decent Hooper Ratings, the series was cancelled after just a few months. On June 22, 1950, Scott's name had appeared in Red Channels, an anti-Communist publication which named supposed Communist sympathizers. Although Scott appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee on September 22 and vehemently denied the charges, The Hazel Scott Show found itself without a sponsor.[3]
The DuMont network cancelled the series just one week later. The final network telecast was on September 29, 1950. The network replaced the series with The Susan Raye Show.[1]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ a b c Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1964). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. ISBN 0-345-31864-1.
- ^ McNeil, Alex. Total Television. Fourth edition. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-024916-8.
- ^ a b c Bogle, Donald (2001). Primetime Blues: African Americans on Network Television. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 520 p. ISBN 0374127204 Excerpt
[edit] References
- McNeil, Alex. Total Television. Fourth edition. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-024916-8.
- Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1964). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. ISBN 0-345-31864-1.
