This Is Show Business is an American variety television program that was broadcast first on CBS and later on NBC beginning July 15, 1949, and ending September 11, 1956.
[3] Bern Bennett was the announcer, and Ray Bloch and his orchestra provided music,[2] Beginning on July 8, 1949, the program moved from its original 9:30-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesdays slot to 9-10 p.m. E.T.
[13] Sources close to the program said that several hundred complaints came in, some of which contained threats to boycott the sponsor if Kaufman did not leave.
[14] Kaufman explained that his comment was anti-commercialism, rather than anti-religious, saying, "I was merely speaking out against the use and overuse of this Christmas carol in connection with the sale of commercial products.
In a letter to William S. Paley, chairman of the board of CBS, Douglass wrote that what Kaufman said was "more expressive of religious sensitiveness than of any spirit of derision.
"[16] He added, "The real sacrilege is the merciless repetition of 'Silent Night' and similar Christian hymns by crooners, hillbillies, dance bands and other musical barbarians.
[15] This Is Show Business returned to TV on June 19, 1956, on NBC with Fadiman as host and a panel made up Dave Garroway, Lillian Roth, and Walter Slezak.