THE ROAD TO BRILLIANCE NBC PRESENTS BOB HOPE AT HIS BEST - OFF THE CUFF AND SMOOTH AS SILK.

Byline: Fred Shuster Staff Writer

HE BROKE RATINGS records in radio, revolutionized television by perfecting the opening monologue and always left audiences hungry for more.

Bob Hope's 60-year broadcast career at NBC was marked by more high points and memorable moments than anybody's. From his early years in vaudeville and radio to movies and television, Hope was an unparalleled success due to a carefully honed persona that included a sly, speedy delivery, relaxed personality and topical gags that let audiences feel they were in on the joke.

``He was a natural because he'd done vaudeville, Broadway, radio and movies, and by the time he got to TV, he was an expert,'' veteran comedian Phyllis Diller observes. ``He was such a brilliant, brilliant showman. And he worked so easily. It was never work for him. Wanda Landowska, the great harpsichordist, once said, 'I never practice. I only play.' And with Bob, it was all play.''

Hope, who turns 99 on May 29, still lives at his sprawling compound in his beloved Toluca Lake with wife Dolores. Among the wealthiest and best-known entertainers and most savvy of property owners, the British-born, Ohio-raised Hope - initially billed as master of ``song, patter and eccentric dancing'' - conquered every show-biz arena before becoming a presence in home video and on the Internet.

Not only is he on the map, he's on the map. There are Bob Hope drives in Burbank (near the NBC studios) and in Palm Springs. The desert city also hosts the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic celebrity golf tournament.

Practically everyone agrees Hope was a scream, but just how funny was he when he departed from the script? You can find out Tuesday when Kelsey Grammer hosts ``Bob Hope's Funniest Outtakes,'' an hourlong look at some of the best ad-libbed moments from the 284 variety programs the legendary comic taped for NBC. Along with never-before-seen footage, famous faces including Lucille Ball, Sammy Davis Jr., Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton discuss the impact of Hope's long and influential career.

``When NBC approached me to host the program, I simply said, 'Yeah, I'm in,' '' Grammer said from the ``Frasier'' set. ``I've been a lifelong fan of Bob along with all my family members when I was growing up. Not only is he a great comedian, he's also a great American. His contribution to the war effort is something to be honored and respected. So, to tip my hat to one of history's greatest comics and patriots was a real joy.''

The Hope outtakes reveal the spontaneous and unrehearsed Bob, said Linda Hope, the entertainer's daughter and executive producer and writer of the program.

``You get a good sense of the man behind the show,'' she says. ``One of my favorite segments is a sketch Bob does with Jack Benny and Rosemary Clooney where they just break each other up.''

The program is part of NBC's 75th-anniversary celebration in which a series of shows and reunion programs honor the country's first commercial broadcasting network. Hope's last special for NBC was in 1997.

``He's been with NBC almost as long as NBC has been around,'' says Ron Simon, a television curator at the Museum of Television & Radio in New York. ``He started in radio there in the '30s and moved into TV when (NBC) did. His opening monologue where he kidded politicians and had fun with the news everyone was talking about was a direct influence on people like Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, David Letterman and Jon Stewart. He had a major, major impact on the medium and, of course, comedy.''

Hope was a traveling vaudevillian before landing a comedy role in a Broadway musical in 1933. A frequent radio performer, Hope was offered a part in the movie ``The Big Broadcast of 1938,'' which resulted in an offer to host ``The Pepsodent Show'' radio series.

During World War II, Hope began broadcasting from military bases around the world, entertaining the folks back home and the troops at home and abroad. The coast-to-coast Tuesday-night radio program, which concluded each week with a specially penned version of Hope's traditional theme song, ``Thanks for the Memory,'' aired for more than 10 years at the top of the ratings. Here, Hope's comic personality, that of a brash and frequently self-deprecating emcee who appeared to take listeners into his confidence, became a familiar voice.

``Sometimes, listening to Dad on the radio was a chore,'' jokes Linda Hope. ``Us kids would rather have been listening to 'The Lone Ranger' or something.''

In 1947, Hope presided over TV's inaugural West Coast broadcast, but his NBC debut in April 1950 was his first national TV appearance. As host of ``Star Spangled Revue,'' a variety show featuring his trademark opening monologue, plus skits and musical segments live from New York, Hope brought the format of his radio show to television viewers.

The variety show was a common format in early television, partly because many performers were former vaudevillians with experience performing live on stage. Most early TV was broadcast live, Simon said.

``Star Spangled Revue'' was an immediate hit and within a short time, the program was renamed ``The Bob Hope Special,'' a longtime staple of NBC's schedule. Hope brought to television his visits to American soldiers with a traveling special each Christmas. In 1970, this 90-minute Christmas tradition earned NBC the highest-rated program to date.

``Growing up with Bob, he was so funny around the house,'' Linda Hope recalls. ``A lot of comics save their humor for the stage.''

Asked why Hope remained with NBC for so long, becoming as identified with the network as its famous peacock logo, his daughter had an answer that's perhaps not too surprising considering Hope's well-known love for golf.

``The (Toluca Lake) house was so close to the studio,'' she says. ``ABC and CBS were much farther away. And he was able to be close to the golf course at Lakeside Country Club, where he could hit a few balls between (studio) setups. The Valley was a beautiful and rural place when Mom and Dad first moved there.''

With the age of 99 just weeks away, how is Hope doing?

``He's hanging in there,'' Linda Hope says. ``Like any of us, he has good days and bad days. Some days we see a lot of the old Bob Hope, but otherwise he does a lot of sleeping.''

She said the idea of Hope living to 100 ``is something that really appeals to him,'' adding that he wants to beat longtime pal George Burns, who lived to be 100 years and 49 days.

In the meantime, Linda Hope says, ``he's surrounded by people who love him and are touched by his sweetness and goodness.''

BOB HOPE'S FUNNIEST OUTTAKES

What: Kelsey Grammer hosts an hourlong look at unscripted moments from comedy great Bob Hope's TV specials.

Where: KNBC (Channel 4).

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Kelsey Grammer hosts ``Bob Hope's Funniest Outtakes'' Tuesday on NBC.

(2) ``Bob Hope's Funniest Outtakes,'' Tuesday night on NBC, is an hourlong look at some of the funniest ad-libbed moments from the 284 variety programs the legendary comic taped during his 60-year broadcast career for the network. Hope turns 99 May 29.