Variety looks back at how Bob Hope's NBC specials shaped the network
The gist
Comedian Bob Hope hosted 283 variety and comedy specials for NBC over 46 years, Variety recounted.
The run is cited as a model of star-network longevity.
How it unfolded
- Apr 9, 1950Hope's first-ever television special for NBC, "The Frigidaire Star Spangled Revue," aired in the late afternoon in Eastern time zones on Easter Sunday.
- Sep 27, 1987Hope headlined a constitution bicentennial celebration at the Starlight Amphitheatre in Burbank, organized by Mayor Michael Hastings and intended to raise money for a memorial honoring the Constitution and Burbank's military veterans.
- Oct 12, 2026The city of Rancho Mirage began replacing asphalt on Bob Hope Drive at Dinah Shore Drive, scheduled through Oct. 23, and crews began slurry seal work on nearby stretches of the road.