The Bootleg Files: The Awful Truth

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 936: “The Awful Truth” (1956 made-for-television production starring Bob Hope and Greer Garson).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: It is probably a case of clearing the rights to the source material.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Maybe someday.

As a comedian, Bob Hope was always a case of extremes. Either he was laugh-out-loud hilarious or groan-out-load awful. To be honest, I approached this 1956 made-for-television version of “The Awful Truth” with Hope playing opposite Greer Garson expecting the groan-out-loud version of the funnyman. After all, “The Awful Truth” is a classic 1937 screwball comedy that helped secure Cary Grant’s stardom. Hope starred in a radio version of “The Awful Truth” in 1941, so he was clearly familiar with the material. But, hey, Bob Hope doing a Cary Grant role?
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The 10 Weirdest Honorary Oscars of All Time

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Phil Hall

Earlier this week, Variety reported that Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, was lobbying members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to bestow an Honorary Oscar on Bob Iger, chief executive of the Walt Disney Company and Kennedy’s boss. This created a major conflict of interest problem, since Disney’s broadcast division ABC is the broadcast partner of the Academy Awards, and the two are now in negotiations to renew the Academy’s licensing agreement beyond 2028.
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The Bootleg Files: Bob Hope’s Comedy Christmas Special

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 889: “Bob Hope’s Comedy Christmas Special” (1976 television offering wit guests John Wayne, Dyan Cannon and Neil Sedaka).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: A perceived lack of commercial viability.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: No thanks for these memories!

On this day in 1976, NBC showed its contempt for the American public by broadcasting “Bob Hope’s Comedy Christmas Special” in prime time.

Okay, maybe that introduction was a wee bit harsh. This particular production wasn’t that bad – but as with most of Hope’s 1970s specials, it wasn’t that good, either. While Hope managed to score a number of humorous one-liners in this 90-minute presentation, the show was mostly too safe, too sedate and too square to resonate.
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The Bootleg Files: The Bob Hope Special – The Central Park Show

Posted on March 31, 2023 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 827: “The Bob Hope Special – The Central Park Show” (1974 TV special).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: There seems to be a rights issue that has yet to be cleared.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely at the moment.

If you’ve been paying attention to some politically motivative smart alecks on social media over the past few weeks, you may have seen the photograph at the top of this article. This photograph was presented as a pushback to recent legislation in certain states that have taken a dim view of public presentations of drag humor.
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The Bootleg Files: A Bob Hope Special (15 Of My Leading Ladies)

Posted on May 27, 2022 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 802: “A Bob Hope Comedy Special (15 of My Leading Ladies).”

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: Mostly likely due to rights clearance issues.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Probably not.

On September 28, 1966, Bob Hope hosted his first comedy special of the fall television season with a stellar cast – the ski-nosed funnyman recruited 15 actresses who starred opposite him during his film career.
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The 10 Best Non-Holiday Christmas Films

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Phil Hall

I know, I know, the annual onslaught of Christmas movies is upon us. Whether it involves those syrupy love stories that pollute certain cable channels or the usual round-up of holiday-themed productions, there are certain films that only show up during December and then vanish for the other 11 months.
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The Bootleg Files: Bob Hope on the Road to China

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 730: “Bob Hope on the Road to China” (1979 television special).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube in a truncated form.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: Out of circulation for many years.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely.

On January 1, 1979, President Jimmy Carter established U.S. diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Two months later, the longtime rivals established embassies in each other’s capitals. Remarkably, the two countries retained their diplomatic ties despite NBCs ‘s broadcast of the astonishingly atrocious “Bob Hope on the Road to China” in September that year.
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