THIS IS YOUR LIFE {TIM CONWAY, BARBARA MANDRELL} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of surprise testimonial programs honoring the career of an unsuspecting guest. The surprised guest, usually a celebrity, is honored with testimonials given by family and friends.

In this double program, host Ralph Edwards first surprises comedian Tim Conway, who grew up as only child Tom Conway in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and developed an early love of horses. Edwards introduces several childhood friends and Conway's frat brothers from Bowling Green State University, as well as famous pals Jack Riley and Ernie Anderson. Conway explains why he changed his first name, and his longtime agent Marty Klein stops by, as does famed television host Steve Allen. "McHale's Navy" co-star Ernest Borgnine appears to chat about Conway's starring role as Ensign Charles Parker. Edwards jokes about Conway's string of short-lived series, including "Rango," two iterations of "The Tim Conway Show," and "Ace Crawford ... Private Eye." Sally Struthers, a dancer on "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour," also makes an appearance.

Steve Lawrence and Harvey Korman appear to celebrate Conway's iconic success on "The Carol Burnett Show," and ditzy secretary "Mrs. Wiggins" wanders in, apparently thinking she is the one being honored, before reappearing as Burnett herself. Edwards then acknowledges Conway's work with cerebral palsy charities and introduces his seven children, all of whom join him onstage. Finally, Conway is presented with "Tim's Surprise," a horse.

Next, Edwards turns to country singer and actress Barbara Mandrell, born on Christmas Day in Houston, Texas, to Mary Ellen and Irby Matthew Mandrell. She developed a talent for music at a young age and went on to appear alongside the likes of Eddie Dean, Gordon Terry, Brian Lonbeck and even Glen Campbell, all of whom stop by, along with other friends, to honor Mandrell. Husband Ken Dudney joins his wife, as does Grand Ole Opry star Minnie Pearl and Mandrell's fellow singers Connie Smith, Jeanne Pruett and Dottie West. Country legend Dolly Parton salutes Mandrell in a taped message, and Edwards discusses Mandrell's successful singles and her 1980 variety series "Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters," also featuring Louise and Irlene Mandrell and a special 1981 appearance by "Dallas" star Patrick Duffy.

Edwards then discusses Mandrell's serious September 1984 car crash, in which the lives of Mandrell and her two children were narrowly saved by their seat belts; she is joined onstage by her two older children Matthew and Jamie, as well as the physicians who tended to their injuries. Mandrell acknowledges her challenging road to recovery, but adds that her life was improved a year after the accident by the arrival of her third child Nathaniel, who is brought on stage by her assistant, Kathy Brown. Commercials deleted.

Details

NETWORK: NBC
DATE: November 30, 1999 10:00 PM
RUNNING TIME: 0:48:52
COLOR/B&W: Color
CATALOG ID: B:46601
GENRE: Specials
SUBJECT HEADING: Specials; Biography; Comedians; Country music
SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1952-1961; 1987, 1993 / Syndication - 1971-1973; 1983-1984
COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

Ralph Edwards … Executive Producer
Kenny Solms … Producer, Writer
Pamela Lundquist … Associate Producer
Rod Paul … Associate Producer
Jack Regas … Director
Bruce W. Cook … Writer
Lenny Stack … Music by
Ralph Edwards … Host
Tim Conway … Honoree
Barbara Mandrell … Honoree
Steve Allen … Guest
Ernie Anderson … Guest
Ernest Borgnine … Guest
Kathy Brown … Guest
Carol Burnett … Guest
Glen Campbell … Guest
Eddie Dean … Guest
Ken Dudney … Guest
Kenneth Matthew Dudney … Guest
Jamie Dudney … Guest
Patrick Duffy … Guest
Marty Klein … Guest
Harvey Korman … Guest
Steve Lawrence … Guest
Brian Lonbeck … Guest
Irby Matthew Mandrell … Guest
Irlene Mandrell … Guest
Louise Mandrell … Guest
Mary Ellen Mandrell … Guest
Jack Riley … Guest
Minnie Pearl … Guest
Jeanne Pruett … Guest
Sally Struthers … Guest
Connie Smith … Guest
Gordon Terry … Guest
Dottie West … Guest
Dolly Parton