JOHN DAVIDSON SHOW, THE {VALERIE HARPER, JAMES COCO, ISABEL SANFORD} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of syndicated talk shows hosted by actor/singer John Davidson. This episode, which focuses on weight-loss and dieting techniques, features Valerie Harper, James Coco, Isabel Sanford, David Fisher, and Carole Shaw.
Davidson opens with "Just The Way You Are," after which Harper takes the stage to discuss her love of playing Rhoda Morgenstern on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Rhoda"; her involvement with Weight Watchers; working with actor and fitness expert (and eventual husband) Tony Cacciotti to lose weight for "Chapter Two" (1979); why "thin is not fit"; her highest weight of 160 pounds, due to a bout of hepatitis caused by a careless dietitian; her love of junk food and efforts to avoid big portions; her sense that mothers often solve kids' and husbands' emotional problems with food; Cacciotti's work with John Travolta, and then Richard Gere, who took over the role, for "American Gigolo" (1980); her hopes for Cacciotti to write a book about his efforts; the diet she used to lose weight quickly, eschewing fruit and alcohol and featuring fish and vegetables; "retraining" herself not to overeat or dine after 6 p.m.; whether supplementary vitamins are, in fact, "hooey"; maintaining discipline in one's food choices, including "cheat days"; her sense that she was actually too thin for "Chapter Two"; and her upcoming TV movie "The Day the Loving Stopped" (1981).
Next, Coco joins Harper and Davidson and discusses his role in Neil Simon's "Only When I Laugh" (1981), for which he would go on to be nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Razzie award; his recent loss of about 100 pounds at a "structure house" in North Carolina, where he learned behavior modification and other techniques; an 800-pound fellow patient who "went berserk" while on the strict program and had a binge-eating incident; how weight issues resemble other addictions; his attempts with other diets, including the infamous Scarsdale diet, created by Herman Tarnower, who was murdered by jilted ex Jean Harris in 1980; and why he prefers telling weight-related jokes to hearing them from others.
The next guest, Sanford of "The Jeffersons," then discusses her own weight-loss method, which involves being "wrapped"; her mother's belief that girls were not naturally athletic; her favorite foods and current goal weight; and whether being larger than her on-screen husband Sherman Hemsley is relevant to her character's domineering attitude, or to any other role.
Davidson sings "Chances Are," after which he interviews Dr. David Fisher about how "perfectionism" can render diets unsuccessful; deciding how much, when and with whom to eat; negative media messages and gender double standards regarding weight and attractiveness; why "fast and easy" weight-loss methods don't really work; why it is possible to be overweight and healthy; and why those who feel that they have "blown it" with a diet are likely to give up and overeat, rather than returning to previous healthy behavior.
Finally, Shaw joins the others to discuss her magazine "Big Beautiful Women," discussing the too-narrow beauty standards that promote youth and slimness; how the ideal appearance changes with "fads," ranging from the skinny flappers of the 1920s to the buxom beauties of the '50s; why sexiness is about one's feelings, not looks; the importance of "the variety of life"; and how negative messages can harm one's self-esteem. She then introduces a series of plus-sized (16 and up) models showing off a variety of styles in evening gowns and lingerie. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Syndicated
- DATE: November 30, 1999
- RUNNING TIME: 1:09:13
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:04051
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Actors and actresses; Diet; Weight loss
- SERIES RUN: Syndication - TV series, 1980-1982
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Crazy Foam soap
- TV - Commercials - Delta Airlines
- TV - Commercials - Jheri Redding Collection hair care products
- TV - Commercials - Sue Bee raw honey
- TV - Commercials - True Value hardware stores
CREDITS
- Frank Brill … Executive Producer
- Vince Calandra … Producer
- Ron de Moraes … Director
- John Davidson … Host
- Valerie Harper … Guest
- James Coco … Guest
- Isabel Sanford … Guest
- David Fisher … Guest
- Carole Shaw … Guest
- Tony Cacciotti
- Jean Harris
- Sherman Hemsley
- Neil Simon
- Herman Tarnower