This link is an excerpt from Bob Hope's appearance on The Joe Franklin Show in 1989. When Hope is questioned about someone in other interviews, he usually refers to their act rather than their personality.

For example, I remember him being asked about Lucille Ball: "Lucy? She's quite a gal...do you know she can do..." and he goes on to quote examples of her work. He rarely says anyrthing about the person.

This is a rare moment as he discloses a personal observation about Bing. Listen carefully to what he says when Joe Franklin suggests that he got Bing on his show through Kathryn. There's neither adoration nor malice. Hope just simply states who he thought Bing was. He sounds genuine and it debunks all the nonsense sometimes said about the two men not getting along.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL9KsvMPqmY
 

Last edited by Aaron Tickner (11/9/2026 9:07 pm)

Thanks Aaron and well said, Pantelis. 
Hope seemed very candid here and non-gushing over Bing.
I also felt he diplomatically did a little sidestepping but that's no bad thing. 
Yes, one of the few interviews with Hope where he seemed to be fully engaging with the questions asked over someone's personality traits but credit where it's due, Joe Franklin was professionally persistent.
Possibly also, it may have helped with the Hope interview that an audience wasn't present to distract or to play up to?