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jdandns
Reviews
Lynda Carter's Celebration (1981)
Great show with multi-talented, beautiful woman!
Solid Variety show with singing, dancing, and even some jokes. This is her 3rd Special if I'm not mistaken, so she's pretty comfortable with the form. Once again, the costumes are elaborate Bob Mackie designs, which of course, look fantastic on the woman who may well be the perfect subject. Lynda duets with Ray Charles on "Natural Woman" and he sings a solo number. Jerry Reed sings "Bayou Woman" to her. Solo performances by include "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and of course "Celebration" (given the shows title). There is also an elaborate dance number or two. All in all, a pretty nice artifact from the now vanished genre of Television Variety Specials. Don't know if these Specials (4 or 5 in all from 1978 to 1982, one per year) will ever be officially released, but if so, pick them up. Fans of Lynda Carter and 70's music in general will not be disappointed. Highly Recommmended!
Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights (1980)
GREAT! One of the best Variety Specials ever!
Where to start on this one? I adore this special and still watch it at least once a year. Virtually all of the music is performed live, so even the most familiar big hits are markedly different on this one. (This show was actually the last Special shown on ABC's Oscar Night before the Barbara Walters Interview Specials took over the spot for good in 1980.) The performances are uniformly excellent and include: Olivia and Andy Gibb singing live on stage at an Ice Skating Rink. It is cold there because you can see their breath when they exhale. To promote "Xanadu", Olivia teams up with legendary Gene Kelly for a song and dance number and then is joined by Cliff Richards for a breathtaking live version of "Suddenly" on a sound stage. She also is part of a one-time only female singer super group the "Heartaches" that includes Tina Turner and Karen Carpenter (They sing the Eagles "Heartache Tonight", hence their name). But the absolute highlight of the show features Elton John at the piano with a solo performance of his beautiful "Little Jeannie" before Olivia joins him to sing the vocal on his "Candle in the Wind" as he plays piano. What a show, from a consummate performer with some truly special guests! Don't know if there will ever be a DVD of this, but if there is, buy it immediately, you will not be disappointed...
The Goldie Hawn Special (1978)
Terrific!
This was on in 1978, but I didn't have a VCR then. Luckily, it was re-run in 1980 so I was able to get it then, and I watch it from time to time as its great nostalgia. This was filmed as Goldie was making her "comeback" after being away from the spotlight. She mentions being married to Bill Hudson and having just given birth (to Kate, who is now a successful actress in here own right, of course). Goldie does lots of musical numbers and some comedy bits. Highlights include a "Show Business" spoof song and dance with John Ritter (at the time, very popular on Three's Company). She does a soft-shoe number with George Burns and she is his "Gracie" for some light-hearted jokes. The Harlem Globetrotters join her for a montage, and the show finishes with Shaun Cassidy at the height of his Teen Idol fame. He does a song at the piano and another before a clearly delighted (mostly) female audience. Goldie also sings the ballad "We're All Alone" and another song medley in which she recounts her life and career up until 1978. All in all, great stuff, and highly recommended. Not sure if this will ever come out on DVD, but it reminds me, what a treasure trove the Networks must have in their vaults regarding the now vanished genre of TV variety shows. They sure don't make them like this anymore!
Country Comes Home (1982)
Great show with the best of late 70's country and earlier legends, too
Terrific show with Johnny Cash kicking things off at the Opry. As he enters the building before a packed audience, he sings a number which also doubles for who's going to be on the show. Lots of great music, pretty much all performed live. Highlights are "Make A Little Magic", plus Alabama, Oak Ridge Boys & the Gatlins, a tribute to Hank Williams with young Bocephus and many more, a tribute to the Carter Family with Johnny and June, Crystal Gayle with Hoagy Carmichael, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell with then wife Tanya Tucker, Doug Kershaw playing an amazing fiddle, and possibly best of all, a Statler Brothers medley where they copy the styles of yesteryear just flawlessly. All in all, a GREAT SHOW! I have a video from the original telecast, but hope for an official DVD someday. Watch this one if you can find it!