Lewis' stint was successful, garnering huge ratings for the time period and a bidding war between the networks for his services as a talk show host.

Rule and other executives at ABC hired comedian Jerry Lewis to do a show for the network and videotape it at the newly renovated theater.

The opening night served as an omen; Lewis remained unable to find his footing as a 2-hour live talk show host during the ensuing weeks.

[9][10] Director and producer Bob Finkel decided to revise The Jerry Lewis Show nearly four years after the original ABC version ended its run.

Lewis was given access to the Osmond Brothers, featured musicians on the recently ended The Andy Williams Show, as regular performers.

[13] The 60 minute program continuously lost viewers at the half-hour point to The Red Skelton Show, ranked #7 on CBS and #28 rated It Takes a Thief on ABC.

Jeannie moved to Mondays and finished #26 in the Nielsen ratings, while Lewis lost his potential viewers to The Mod Squad on ABC.

Needing a replacement program, series distributor Metromedia gave Lewis an on-air tryout in Thicke's former slot.

[citation needed] Writing for The Washington Post, critic Tom Shales described the show in harsh terms, calling it "flabbergasting" and "hopelessly unfunny.