Edgar Bergen with Charlie McCarthy (1950)

In his first appearance on network television, Edgar Bergen hosts a Thanksgiving Day special featuring three of his partners in ventriloquism - Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd and the lesser known Podine Puffington (a life-size doll that Bergen would use as a comedy dancing partner). Orchestra leader Ray Noble becomes upset when Charlie tells him that Edgar has hired someone else as a pianist (who turns out to be the beautiful Diana Lynn) to perform a solo. In the last scene, Edgar and Charlie are the put on trial for witchcraft in Colonial Salem, Massachusetts and sentenced to be burned at the stake before escaping with the help of a fetching Indian maid.

Comedy, Music