COUSIN BRUCIE'S WLIW ROCK 'N' ROLL PARTY {BRUCE MORROW} (TV)
Summary
This live public television fundraiser for Long Island's WLIW is hosted by perennial New York City deejay Bruce Morrow, better known as "Cousin Brucie." Morrow's telecast is graced by several retro-music acts from the 1950s and '60s, who perform their hits from yesteryear. The host voices his support for public television, plays nostalgia trivia games with audience members, introduces musical acts, and interviews them following their performances. In one interview, singer Lesley Gore recalls her first meeting with the Beatles. There is also a '50s fashion show, with a special nod to the poodle skirt and the leather jacket. In a revealing moment, Morrow admits to an unusually strong attraction to the feel of taffeta, a fabric popular with young women during the 1950s. This program is interrupted once by a pledge break, in which Ronni Amster and Laura Savini -- WLIW staff members dressed like bobby-soxers -- extend the promise of a collectible Elvis Presley doll to generous donors. Musical selections include the following: "Remember Then," (Larry Chance & the Earls), "Once in Awhile," "Bye Bye Love" (Lenny Cocco & the Chimes), and "Great Balls of Fire/Sea Cruise" (medley) (Lesley Gore).
This program is interrupted by further pledge breaks, one of which features an interview by WLIW spokesperson Ronni Amster with singer Lenny Cocco, who refers to '50s music as "good clean fun" and "non-suggestive." A significant pledge offers lucky donors a chance at dolls that commemorate different stages of Elvis Presley's life. One of this hour's dolls captures the curled-lip "King" as a teen idol and another recalls the film "Jailhouse Rock." Also featured is a taped interview Morrow conducted with Ken Farrell, owner of Long Island's "Just Kids" nostalgia shop. Musical selections include the following: "Peek-A-Boo" (Earl "Speedo" Carroll & the Cadillacs), "Trouble in Paradise," "Step by Step," "16 Candles," (Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge), "We Just Can't Walk Through Life," (Lesley Gore), and "I'm in the Mood for Love," (Lenny Cocco & the Chimes). This program is interrupted by several pledge breaks, where WLIW staffers Ronni Amster and Laura Savini -- who are dressed in '50s fashions -- implore viewers to make donations, enticing them with dolls which commemorate the career of rock 'n' roll legend Elvis Presley. There is also a brief interview with Earl "Speedo" Carroll of Earl & the Cadillacs. Musical selections include the following: "Unchained Melody," "Welcome Me Love," "Worst That Could Happen" (Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge) and a performance by Larry Chance & the Earls. There is also a taped interview that Brucie conducted with Danny Slezak, president of Long Island's "Back to the Fifties Nostalgia Club." Slezak leads a caravan of classic cars and explains the concept of "cruising." The finale of the program has the featured performers joining together for a rendition of "Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay." Musical selections include the following: "It's My Party," "You Don't Own Me," (Lesley Gore), "Gloria," "Speedoo," (Earl "Speedo" Carroll & the Cadillacs), and "Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay," (Lesley Gore, Lenny Cocco, Johnny Maestro, Earl Carroll, Larry Chance, and Bruce Morrow).
Details
- NETWORK: WLIW-TV / PBS
- DATE: February 3, 1994 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 3:26:02
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:33479
- GENRE: Music; Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Fundraising; Rock music
- SERIES RUN: WLIW (Plainview, NY) - TV, 1994
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Bruce Morrow (see also: Cousin Brucie) … Producer, Host
- Roy Hammond … Producer, Director
- Maria Martello … Associate Producer
- Eileen Schein … Associate Producer, Director
- Chance, Larry & the Earls … Music Group
- Cocco, Lenny & the Chimes … Music Group
- Chance, Larry (Larry Figueiredo) … Singer
- Bobby Tee … Singer, Instrumentalist, Drummer
- Bobby Coleman … Singer, Instrumentalist, Bass
- Chris Cassone … Singer, Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- Danny Girlando … Singer, Instrumentalist, Keyboard player
- Lenny Cocco … Singer
- John Locicero … Singer
- Tony Denno … Singer
- Rocky Marsicano … Singer
- Lesley Gore … Singer
- Emilo Rodriguez … Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- Dennis Ciriolia … Instrumentalist, Drummer
- Jack Parrot … Instrumentalist, Bass player
- John Kane … Instrumentalist, Keyboardist
- Ronni Amster … Host
- Laura Savini … Host
- Les Marshak … Announcer
- Elvis Presley