Tag: 1970s TV

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1970s Variety Special: Mary Tyler Moore with David Letterman, Michael Keaton & Swoosie Kurtz

Mary Tyler Moore sings and dances with David Letterman, Michael Keaton and Swoosie Kurtz in a number from Mary’s 1978 variety special.

I love 70s song and dance specials, but this is really pretty awful. David Letterman looks like he’s just trying to survive the segment.

And the choreography! They go from box steps to just plain jogging. Bless their hearts.

The funny thing is Mary is a talented singer and dancer herself. It’s just a shame this is a huge mess. But she sure does give it her all. I’ll say that much.

The first clip is Michael Keaton watching & remembering the experience with Dave, and the second clip is the number in it’s entirety.

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Suzanne Crough Of THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY Fame Dies At 52

Former “Partridge Family” actress Suzanne Crough Condray died Monday night, the Clark County coroner’s office said Tuesday.

The 52-year-old died in a Laughlin residence, likely her own, about 9:30 p.m. the coroner’s office said.

Condray’s cause and manner of death will be released by the coroner’s office.

Crough swung a mean tambourine on The Partridge Family from 1970 to 1974, when she was ages 7 to 11. She later appeared on TV shows such as Mulligan’s Stew and Wonder Woman.

She last reunited with her ‘Partridge’ co-stars for an appearance on the ‘Today’ show back in 2010.

(source)

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Camp Fabness: Joey Heatherton “Look What They’ve Done To My Song”

I have a special affinity for the music specials of the 1970s. Growing up in that period, just knowing I was destined to be a performer somewhere, somehow, I thought shows like this were fabulous.

(And I didn’t even know I was gay yet…)

This clip of the uber-fab Joey Heatherton (from a Jack Benny TV special, apparently) epitomizes the sometimes wild ideas performers and the creative teams would come up with to do something “fresh.” The slow, seductive walk through the wacky, mod set  = 1970s gold.

I love the swing into French for a few lines. Very popular at that time.

(tipped by TRR reader Gary)

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Video: Ballet Zoom “Cats”

I honestly have no idea what this is. But I bet if you’re high, it’s fabulous.

Ballet Zoom was a Spanish disco dance troupe formed in 1973.

I post it because I have a love for all things “hip and groovy,” and because I did the musical CATS back when it was a good credit.

As they used to say, “this is far out, man.”

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70’s TV series “Love, American Style” to get reboot

According to Deadline, the only real “reboot” component will be the name, not the concept. According to Deadline, CBS’ Love, American Style follows the lives of four different couples who are connected through the many stages of love and their complicated relationships.

As many folks know, the original Love, American Style was an “anthology” series that ran for five years on ABC in the 1970s.

From Wikipedia:

Each week, the show featured unrelated stories of romance, usually with a comedic spin. Episodes featured different characters, stories, and locations. The show often featured the same actors playing different characters in many episodes. In addition, a large, ornate brass bed was a recurring prop in many episodes. Charles Fox’s delicate yet hip music score, featuring flutes, harp, and flugelhorn set to a contemporary pop beat, provided the “love” ambiance which tied the stories together as a multifaceted romantic comedy each week.

Frothy and light, it was easy viewing for any audience at the time. And who didn’t love the “groovy” theme song (check it out above)?