CBS decided to cancel the show at the end of the 1970-71 season, without giving Ed Sullivan the opportunity to present a farewell show after more than 20 years on the air. Sullivan returned for a few specials over the next year.
Ed Sullivan offered Burt Reynolds the chance to appear on the show. At the time, Reynolds was starring in Hawk (1966), and Sullivan was a fan. Reynolds turned it down because he felt he wasn't famous enough. In The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show 2 (1991), Reynolds said he deeply regretted turning the offer down.
"Toast of the Town" was re-titled "The Ed Sullivan Show" on Sunday, September 18, 1955, the beginning of the 8th season.
The program was a victim of the "Rural Purge." In 1970, CBS was derisively called "The Country Broadcasting System." The next year, Chief of Programming Fred Silverman ordered several highly-rated shows canceled because their audience was considered too old or too rural. Other canceled shows included Hee Haw (1969) (which aired in first-run syndication until 1997), Lassie (1954) (which aired in first-run syndication until 1974), The Beverly Hillbillies (1962), and Green Acres (1965).
Elvis Presley made three appearances on the show: Guest Host: Charles Laughton; guest stars: Elvis Presley, The Vagabonds, The Amen Brothers, Dorothy Sarnoff, Conn & Mann, Amru Sani, Al Bernie, Carl Ballantine (1956), Episode #10.6 (1956), Elvis Presley, Carol Burnett, Lena Horne, Jackie Robinson, Sugar Ray Robinson, Don Budge, Will Jordan, Arthur Worsley (1957). However, for the last one, he was shot from the waist up to hide his swiveling hips.