Comedy Stars on Suspense, Day 29: Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard!

Today's Suspense episode is "Too Little to Live On" (December 26, 1947) starring the husband/wife duo of Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard! This was the first of 3 Suspense episodes that starred Ozzie and Harriet. Ozzie and Harriet had been a bandleader and singer who made plenty of radio appearances together (most notably on the Red Skelton Show) then parlayed their success as bit players into headlining the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet on radio (1944-1954), film (1952) and TV (1952-1966).

The O'Connors are sick of their invalid Uncle Ed, who constantly taunts them about writing them out of his will, knowing they're only caring for him in the hopes of inheriting his money. One day he goes too far and they decide to speed up matters.

"Too Little to Live On" had previously appeared on Suspense on February 7, 1946 but without Ozzie and Harriet. Obviously, it wasn't written for them, so that makes their success in these roles so much the better; later Suspense programs would cast them as their sitcom selves (seriously, in one of them-- "Mr. Diogenes"-- they were literally Ozzie and Harriet) but this episode proved they had a bit of dramatic range too.

Tomorrow: Ginger Rogers!