NOW ON NETFLIX! The documentary Sunday Best, directed by Sacha Jenkins, tells the story of Ed Sullivan, the father of the variety show, who became one of the most influential figures in American broadcasting and culture. Originally a sports journalist and a reluctant Broadway columnist, Sullivan had little background in entertainment and an unconventional look but was tapped by CBS to host the new variety show Toast of the Town, later renamed The Ed Sullivan Show. Despite predictions of failure, Sullivan became a Sunday night fixture, uniting households across the country and transforming television for 23 years.
The film places Sullivan’s career against the backdrop of the 1950s and early 1960s, a period of enormous cultural and political change. Sullivan broke barriers by making his the first television show to invite Black performers onto his stage at a time when networks feared backlash from Southern audiences. Artists like Bo Diddley, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown, and Ike & Tina Turner gained a national spotlight on Sullivan’s stage when no other show would do the same. He grew so big that he was able to withstand being dropped by his largest sponsor, Lincoln Automotive.
This wouldn’t be an Ed Sullivan documentary without music. Alongside groundbreaking music acts like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Motown stars such as Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and The Jackson 5, Sullivan created iconic moments in television that redefined popular culture and are regularly featured in documentaries and retrospectives to this day.
“Artists like Bo Diddley, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown, and Ike & Tina Turner gained a national spotlight on Sullivan’s stage when no other show would do the same.”
Drawing from 1,000 episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show and Sullivan’s personal archives, the documentary uses rare footage, recreated voice narration, and firsthand accounts from artists and family to trace his impact. The film walks us through famous and infamous historical moments. He was an active supporter of John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign. After Kennedy’s assassination, Sullivan brought attention to the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.
Sullivan played a pivotal role in bridging the nation’s divide through music and performance. Sunday Best shows that Ed Sullivan was not just a television pioneer, but also someone whose belief in equality and representation left a legacy far deeper than the superstardom he helped create. He was born in Harlem, when it was a predominantly Irish and Jewish community. His parents weren’t broad-minded when it came to race; they were sensible.
Sunday Best reminds us that Ed Sullivan’s influence went far beyond introducing legendary performers—he directly influenced the cultural fabric of America. His legacy endures as a testament to the power of television to unite people and move society forward.
For screening information for Sunday Best, visit the MPS Legacy Productions website.
"…He grew so big that he was able to withstand being dropped by his largest sponsor..."
