John the OFM | 16 Aug 2016 10:58 p.m. PST |
It is a truth universally acknowledged that today's music and tv music sucks. Variety shows have been replaced with "reality" shows. We need… So. What are your favorite variety shows from the classic Golden Age of TC? Back when "acts" came on the TV shows and just performed? 1. Ed Sullivan. The Standard against which all other were measured. Frank Sinatra, followed by the Clancy Brothers, followed by Camelot, and then some guy spinning plates on sticks. You did have to put up with Topo Gigio… 2. Dean Martin. Did anyone ever have so much fun on TV? Rehearsal? We don't need no stinking rehearsal. A walk through is enough. They know what they are doing. They're professionals. 3. Carol Burnett. Harvey Korman and Tim Conway? Do you need more? |
Martin Rapier | 16 Aug 2016 11:00 p.m. PST |
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Doctor X | 16 Aug 2016 11:27 p.m. PST |
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daler240D | 16 Aug 2016 11:41 p.m. PST |
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MHoxie | 17 Aug 2016 1:32 a.m. PST |
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Militia Pete | 17 Aug 2016 3:00 a.m. PST |
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x42brown | 17 Aug 2016 3:19 a.m. PST |
Billy Cotton Band Show x42 |
Flashman14 | 17 Aug 2016 3:27 a.m. PST |
The Gong Show, Smothers Brothers, Rowan and Martin's Laugh In |
Editor in Chief Bill | 17 Aug 2016 5:17 a.m. PST |
Tony Orlando and Dawn Sonny & Cher |
surdu2005 | 17 Aug 2016 5:41 a.m. PST |
Definitely Ed Sullivan. The show had something for everyone. Why is the variety show dead? Why do variety shows today have to be contests with rude judges? I haven't turned in the TV in 8 years except to watch DVDs or Netflix, but I would watch something like Flip Wilson, Dean Martin, Barbara Mandrel, or even Hee Haw. |
Florida Tory | 17 Aug 2016 5:42 a.m. PST |
Jackie Gleason. "And away we go!" Rick |
Florida Tory | 17 Aug 2016 5:46 a.m. PST |
Anybody else remember The Hollywood Palace, with Raquel Welch introducing the acts? Rick |
RavenscraftCybernetics | 17 Aug 2016 5:48 a.m. PST |
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John the Greater | 17 Aug 2016 6:17 a.m. PST |
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nazrat | 17 Aug 2016 6:18 a.m. PST |
And I would say Carol Burnett and Jackie Gleason. |
redbanner4145 | 17 Aug 2016 6:21 a.m. PST |
Smother's Brothers. Nothing like the Who destroying their equipment had ever been seen on TV before. |
Tom Reed | 17 Aug 2016 6:51 a.m. PST |
Carol Burnett and Red Skelton. |
Jakar Nilson | 17 Aug 2016 7:35 a.m. PST |
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Dynaman8789 | 17 Aug 2016 7:40 a.m. PST |
Somebody else knows about Uncle Floyd! My favorite bit about that show is when my father watched an episode with me one time and said "you gotta hand it to a guy with that much talent being able to make a living". My dad was not normally known for such deadpan humor. But I'd have to vote for Carol Burnett – the Gone with the Wind segment is the best TV ever, though I hate the Momma's Family bits. |
Ragbones | 17 Aug 2016 7:59 a.m. PST |
Carol Burnett, Andy Williams, Jackie Gleason |
Patrick Sexton | 17 Aug 2016 8:33 a.m. PST |
Carol Burnett, Jackie Gleason and Dean Martin |
Liliburlero | 17 Aug 2016 8:52 a.m. PST |
Totally agree with the OFM and would add The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour to that list. And I still remember Dean Martin saying he thought a cotton gin was a fuzzy drink…. |
Hafen von Schlockenberg | 17 Aug 2016 9:06 a.m. PST |
You can still see the old ones on cable,or some broadcast subchannels,like GetTV,which shows Mervyn Griffin Judy Garland, and others. Buck, I like America's Got Talent,and some similar things. They're today's incarnation of Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour(with some Gong Show mixed in). Yes,you get some snark (Gong Show),and you get a little too much of this sort of thing: youtu.be/NxUrV9AJEUQ which is for schadenfreude purposes,apparently. But you also get some of this: youtu.be/m8273HGqxEc which I find highly entertaining(don't know where else you'd see it!) And sometimes,you get something like this,that I wouldn't want to do without: youtu.be/c_BMi9bOEgA In fact,I think I'll post that one on the OFM'S watery Plus thread. |
Cold Steel | 17 Aug 2016 10:00 a.m. PST |
Red Skelton and Benny Hill. |
rmaker | 17 Aug 2016 10:37 a.m. PST |
Ernie Kovacs Herb Schreiner Tennessee Ernie Ford |
The Beast Rampant | 17 Aug 2016 10:47 a.m. PST |
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Hafen von Schlockenberg | 17 Aug 2016 11:33 a.m. PST |
Erie Kovacs was in a one-man catagory. Genius. |
Zyphyr | 17 Aug 2016 11:39 a.m. PST |
Why is the variety show dead? Short answer – cable TV plus cheap televisions. Longer answer- when Variety shows were big, most homes had only 1 TV and no more than 5 channel choices. These programs provided a little bit for every member of the family, which made it an easy choice for what to watch. Today, most homes have multiple TVs (in many cases as many as there are people) and with cable/satellite they have hundreds of channels. Everyone gets to chose their own show with little concerned for others desires. So, there really isn't much of a market… |
Old Contemptibles | 17 Aug 2016 12:00 p.m. PST |
Carol Burnett. Smothers Brothers Your Show of Shows, and Caesar's Hour – Sid Caesar Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In The Jackie Gleason Show |
michaelsbagley | 17 Aug 2016 12:24 p.m. PST |
The Muppet Show, best variety show ever… Although "The Hilarious House of Frightenstein" gave me a lot of joy too. |
Hafen von Schlockenberg | 17 Aug 2016 12:31 p.m. PST |
Anyone remember "Continental Showcase",1966,"hosted" by Jim Backus? Showed European acts. First place I saw Juliette Greco. Yow! |
zoneofcontrol | 17 Aug 2016 5:12 p.m. PST |
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert and Soul Train |
zippyfusenet | 17 Aug 2016 6:18 p.m. PST |
Good analysis Zyphyr. Jackie Gleason was a favorite. He was lushed for every show. I don't think it was an act. |
javelin98 | 17 Aug 2016 10:02 p.m. PST |
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Wolfshanza | 17 Aug 2016 10:34 p.m. PST |
the Mitch Miller show. Lucky Strike top 10. |
Dn Jackson | 18 Aug 2016 3:36 a.m. PST |
Carol Burnett was the best by far. The Muppet Show!!! |
skinkmasterreturns | 18 Aug 2016 5:28 a.m. PST |
While before my time,I have enjoyed a few clips of Spike Milligan on Youtube. |
Scorpio | 18 Aug 2016 8:36 a.m. PST |
Please include an option for "I was born after the age of variety shows." |
IronDuke596 | 18 Aug 2016 8:44 a.m. PST |
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