Recurring characters include Pauline (Myrna Fahey), a college friend of Laurie, and Mrs. Creavy (Jesslyn Fax), a gossipy neighbor.
The first public notice of the new series came in May 1958, when a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge approved the contracts between the Thalia-Keethwyn production company and the two minor actors, Jacklyn O'Donnell and Sherri Alberoni.
[8] While showing the pilot to prospective buyers, the representatives for the production companies[fn 1] were asked the same question each time: "Isn't he a bit old to risk in the lead?
[7] The primary sponsor was Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company for its Chesterfield cigarette brand, with the commercials handled by McCann Erickson.
Reviews after the debut broadcast agreed that the show's concept precluded Ed Wynn from displaying much of his talent, with the writing an even bigger problem.
[12] William Ewald in his UPI syndicated column praised Wynn's performance as "warm and professional" but was blunt about the show itself: "It is a formula comedy complete with contrived situations and ha-ha-ha soundtrack".
After seeing two episodes, Canadian reviewer Les Wedman wrote in The Province: "Mr. Wynn is fun to watch but the storyline appears likely to be a continued thin one.
By early November, a columnist reported that a cigarette sponsor was considering dropping The Ed Wynn Show for a new Jack Webb series.