CAROL CHANNING AND 101 MEN (TV)
Summary
This musical variety special showcases the talents of Carol Channing and several guest stars, including Walter Matthau and Eddy Arnold. The program begins as Channing takes the stage and performs “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” She chats with the audience and brings out Matthau, saying that it is his first TV appearance as a “song and dance man,” although he soon admits that he can do neither. They have a brief “tête-à-tête,” soon joined by Arnold. Channing then introduces pop band The Association, who perform “Windy” in period costumes. Channing joins them and dances along with “Along Came Carol.” Next is a sketch in which Channing portrays three “little queens of the silver screen”: Mary Pickford, Theda Bara and Pearl White. They sing about the changes in movies over time, and Pickford recreates one of her silent pictures in which she portrays a damsel in distress beset by a caped villain. Bala then recreates one of her femme fatale roles, in which she plays a glamorous woman attempting to seduce a Roman soldier, played by Matthau.
Next is “Thoroughly Modern Carol,” in which two gangsters, Matthau and Arnold, are distracted from their covert plans by the appearance of Channing, who sings “Jazz Baby,” aided by many tuxedoed dancers. Following this, Channing introduces the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Choir, explaining that they have a united “American sound,” and they perform a medley of military-related fight songs, including “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” “Anchors Aweigh,” “Marines’ Hymn” and “The U.S. Air Force,” also called “The Air Force Song.” Channing then chats with the boys and sings “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” along with their harmony. Arnold takes the stage and performs “The Richest Man,” and Channing joins him, impressed by his “country expressions.” He gives her a quick lesson on his Southern jargon, and they sing “Dear Hearts and Gentle People” together.
George Burns surprises Matthau onstage, looking for his old friend Channing, and when she emerges, she scolds him for missing their dinner engagement the previous evening. Burns then attempts to teach Matthau to be a “straight man” to the wacky Channing and provides him with comedy tips, although she seems to outdo him. The three of them then sing “Some of These Days” together. Next, Channing embarks on a round-the-world tour of different kinds of music, “visiting” Russia, Japan, Germany, France and Brazil. She segues into the title song from “Hello, Dolly!”, dancing with the various “foreign” performers, and is soon joined by Matthau, Eddy, The Association and the Cadet Choir. Channing then bids the audience good night and sings “More I Cannot Wish You” to close the program. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 29, 1968 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:15270
- GENRE: Music/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music/Variety
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1968
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Monsanto Company products
- TV - Commercials - The American Red Cross
CREDITS
- Charles Lowe … Executive Producer
- Bob Wynn … Producer
- Alan Handley … Producer, Director
- E. Jay Krause … Associate Producer
- Milt Rosen … Writer
- Hermes Pan … Choreographer
- Carol Channing … Performer
- Eddy Arnold … Performer
- The Association … Performer
- The United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chorale … Performer
- Walter Matthau … Performer
- George Burns … Performer