Phil's band was formed in the 1920's and was very popular, mainly due to his strong personality as a band leader. Phil became the band leader for the Jack Benny show, which was Phil's springboard to his own show. During this time Phil also continued to appear on the Jack Benny Program.
In 1949 when Benny moved to CBS the distance between the studios (Phil was at NBC), created a problem. So, Phil was scripted in the first half of each Benny show so he could make it on time for his own show which aired back-to-back.
Alice Faye first met Phil when she was singing with Rudy Vallee. And it couldn't have been love at first sight because her face was wrapped in bandages, the result of an accident. Phil and Alice were married in 1941. Phil and Alice played themselves on the show (Phil was indeed a leading bandleader, and Alice Faye was a film star).
There really was a Frank Remley and he auditioned but it was decided he wasn't a good enough actor so Elliott Lewis got the part, playing the character of a hard-drinking guitar player in the band. Walter Tetley (formerly LeRoy on "The Great Gildersleeve") played Julius Abbruzio, the local grocery store delivery boy.
Gale Gordon, who at one time played the various serious role as The Whistler, turned to his better-known comedic side and starred as Mr. Scott of the Rexall Drug Company. Rexall Drugs was an actual sponsor on the show and Gale Gordon's references to the company on the series eliminated the need for one of the commercial breaks. The series ran from 1946 to 1953 on NBC.