Podcast Summary: Abbott & Costello 47-12-31 (195) New Year's Eve

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Original Air Date: December 31, 1947 (rebroadcasted December 31, 2025)
Episode Theme: New Year's Eve hijinks with Abbott & Costello

Overview

This special New Year’s Eve episode from the legendary Abbott & Costello Show delivers a comedic take on ringing in 1948. With rapid-fire wordplay, classic slapstick, and musical interludes, Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Susan Miller, and Maddie Melnick’s orchestra celebrate and spoof New Year's resolutions, football, horoscopes, and family traditions. The episode offers listeners a window into the golden age of radio humor while keeping the atmosphere festive and light.

Key Discussion Points & Comedy Segments

1. California and New Year’s Festivities

• Opening Banter: Lou Costello is delighted about California’s sunshine and bustling nightlife, setting up a slew of jokes about family and the holiday spirit.
  • “The sun is shining. The flowers and their buds, the bees and their honey. The cats and their honey.” (01:58, Costello) ABBOTT corrects him: “Cats don’t have any honey.”
• Family Celebration: Costello jokes about his family staying up to hear a factory whistle after a year and a half of unemployment.

2. Wordplay & Slapstick

• Champagne and Mistletoe Mix-ups: Costello confuses mum’s champagne with his mother and makes puns about “popping corks” and “loaded moms.”
  • “When you open the cork, pop. The champagne is mum and the cork pops.” (03:13, Costello)
• Sports Coat Joke: Abbott receives a short coat for Christmas; Costello ribbed him: “I thought it was a little too short for a bathrobe.”
• Morning Routine: Costello gives a comedic account of his daily routine, introducing more classic one-liners.
  • “My legs got so numb I had to pinch them to see if they were mine…my case comes up tomorrow.” (06:34, Costello)

3. Resolutions and Silliness

• Lou’s New Year’s Resolutions:
  • “Number one: Stop spending my money on girls. Number two: Stop flirting with girls. Number three: Stop necking with girls. Good. What’s number four? Ignore numbers one, two and three.” (18:32–19:24, Abbott & Costello)
• On giving up hard liquor:
  • “I know. That’s what makes it easy to give it up!” (08:35, Costello)

4. Susan Miller & Football Fools

• Susan Miller enters, playfully rebuffing Costello’s advances.
  • Quote:
    • Susan: “I might give you a good innocent kiss.” (09:28)
    • Costello: "No, what good are they?" (09:36)
• The Rose Bowl is lampooned with gags about crowded stands and football misunderstandings.
  • “I put on my Dick Tracy bag and grab the guy who fired the gun!” (12:04, Costello)
  • “What’s two feet to the halfback? … He could run through the rest of the game on his knees.” (13:38, Costello)

5. Horoscope and Astrology Segment

• Costello visits Madama Zaza (Susan Miller), who predicts his future with a blend of fortune-telling and slapstick.
  • “In your case, I will have to predict your future by the bumps on your head…” (24:35, Susan Miller as Zaza)
  • “You will meet a gorgeous blonde. She will hug you and kiss you… and then tell me more. Well, I can’t. You don’t have any more bumps!” (25:08, Miller & Costello)

6. New Year’s Eve Party Antics

• The show ends with Abbott & Costello improvising a party at a stranger’s house, tossing furniture out the window in rambunctious celebration.
  • “Come on, help me throw the sand out the window… Here she goes, Abbott. Boy, is this fun!” (26:58, Costello)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Resolutions:
  • Costello: “Why should I start a resolution? I’m satisfied with the government we got now.” (18:10)
• Football mix-ups:
  • Costello: “You grab what you like and I’ll grab what I like!” (11:55)
  • Abbott: “Now the quarterback makes a hole in the left guard...”
    Costello: “This is terrible. First the fullback kicks off, now someone puts a hole in the left guard!” (13:05–13:15)
• Horoscope Segment:
  • “How do you manage to accumulate such an abundance of ignorance?” – Abbott
    “I keep in touch with my congressman!” – Costello (22:16–22:20)
  • “If he’s sickle on the right side, it could be very dangerous. He might have a pentasicle.” (21:52, Costello)

Detailed Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|------------| | Opening California/New Year’s Banter | 01:58–04:08| | Abbott introduces local PDQ dealers | 04:08–05:18| | Lou’s alarm clock routine | 06:34–07:54| | Lou’s New Year’s Resolutions | 18:02–19:45| | Football Shenanigans | 11:35–14:29| | Horoscope visit with Madame Zaza | 23:46–26:07| | Chaotic New Year’s Eve party | 26:49–27:55| | Final New Year’s Greetings | 29:07–29:51|

Characteristic Tone & Style

The episode is peppered with fast, vaudeville-style banter, wordplay, and gentle holiday ribbing. Abbott acts as the straight man, while Costello’s childlike innocence and literal misunderstandings fuel the humor. Susan Miller’s musical performance and roles in sketches bring variety to the format. The comedic tone remains warm, festive, and nostalgic throughout, with rapid transitions between sketch, song, and monologue.

Conclusion

Abbott & Costello’s New Year’s Eve special encapsulates the charm and wit of radio’s golden age. The pair’s signature misunderstandings, peppered with pop culture references and slapstick wordplay, make for a timeless comedic celebration. Whether lampooning New Year’s traditions, sports, or astrology, the episode captures the playful spirit of ringing in a new year in classic radio style.

Final Words:
Costello: “A happy New Year to everybody, including my family... Happy New Year to everybody all over the world.” (29:31, Costello)

For listeners seeking a blend of nostalgia, holiday cheer, and relentless gags, this episode is a perfect New Year’s treat.