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Variety shows were everywhere in the 1970’s, but The Flip Wilson Show was the first starring an African American comedian/host. It was groundbreaking for that, and also for its short, but incredibly highly-rated, run on the Thursday night TV slate—for a few years, it was All in the Family at number one, and The Flip Wilson Show at number two.
Wilson, whose first name was Clerow, got his nickname because his wild stories used to “flip” people out. He was already a well-known stand-up comedian and Tonight Show frequenter when NBC asked him to host his own hour show.