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The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

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The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour was a popular American variety show starring Sonny Bono and Cher that aired from 1971 to 1974 on CBS. The show was known for its comedic sketches, musical performances, and celebrity guest stars, including Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and The Jackson 5. The program was created by Chris Bearde and produced by Sonny Bono and Allan Blye, and it featured a mix of music, comedy, and dance, with appearances by Carol Burnett, Bob Hope, and Don Knotts. The show's success was a major factor in the popularity of Sonny and Cher as a musical duo, with hits like I Got You Babe and The Beat Goes On.

● Introduction

The show was first broadcast on August 1, 1971, and it quickly became a ratings success, thanks in part to the chemistry between Sonny Bono and Cher, as well as the show's eclectic mix of guests, including Tony Curtis, Dinah Shore, and The Muppets. The program was taped in front of a live studio audience at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, and it featured a house band led by Billy Preston and Steve Lukather. The show's format was influenced by other popular variety shows of the time, such as The Carol Burnett Show and The Dean Martin Show, which featured Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.. The show's success also spawned a number of spin-offs, including The Sonny Comedy Revue and Cher, which featured Bette Midler, Elton John, and Linda Ronstadt.

● Production

The show was produced by Sonny Bono and Allan Blye, with Chris Bearde serving as the show's creator and head writer. The program was directed by Art Fisher and Tim Kiley, and it featured choreography by Tony Charmoli and Walter Painter. The show's musical director was Billy Preston, who worked with a number of other notable musicians, including Quincy Jones, Leon Russell, and Ringo Starr. The show's production team also included Bob Mackie, who designed the show's costumes, and Bob Keene, who served as the show's production designer. The show was filmed in front of a live studio audience, with CBS broadcasting the show on Sunday nights, opposite The NBC Sunday Night Movie and The ABC Sunday Night Movie.

● Episodes

The show aired for a total of 47 episodes over three seasons, with the final episode airing on May 29, 1974. The show featured a wide range of guests, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who, as well as comedians like George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Groucho Marx. The show's episodes often featured Sonny Bono and Cher performing their hit songs, as well as comedic sketches and parodies of popular movies and TV shows, including Star Trek, The Brady Bunch, and The Twilight Zone. The show also featured a number of notable musical performances, including David Bowie's first appearance on American television, as well as performances by Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, and Gladys Knight & the Pips.

● Cast_and_Guests

The show's cast included Sonny Bono and Cher, as well as a number of regular performers, including Ted Zeigler, Peter Cullen, and Murray Langston. The show also featured a wide range of guest stars, including Farrah Fawcett, Ryan O'Neal, and John Wayne, as well as musicians like Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and The Jackson 5. The show's guests also included a number of notable comedians, including Don Knotts, Tim Conway, and Harvey Korman, as well as actors like Carol Burnett, Bob Hope, and Dinah Shore. The show's cast and guests often appeared in comedic sketches and parodies, with Sonny Bono and Cher frequently playing off each other's comedic strengths.

● Reception

The show was a major ratings success, with its premiere episode attracting over 20 million viewers, and it quickly became one of the most popular shows on television, with CBS broadcasting it on Sunday nights, opposite The NBC Sunday Night Movie and The ABC Sunday Night Movie. The show received widespread critical acclaim, with The New York Times praising its "lively and entertaining" format, and Variety noting its "strong comedic cast" and "impressive guest stars". The show also won a number of awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy, and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. The show's success also spawned a number of spin-offs, including The Sonny Comedy Revue and Cher, which featured Bette Midler, Elton John, and Linda Ronstadt.

● Legacy

The show's legacy can be seen in a number of other popular variety shows, including Saturday Night Live, which was influenced by the show's comedic format, and The Muppet Show, which featured a similar mix of music, comedy, and guest stars, including Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and The Jackson 5. The show's influence can also be seen in the work of other comedians and musicians, including Eddie Murphy, Whoopi Goldberg, and Madonna, who have all cited Sonny Bono and Cher as influences. The show's episodes have also been released on DVD, and it remains a popular and influential program, with its mix of music, comedy, and guest stars continuing to entertain audiences to this day, with CBS and MeTV airing reruns of the show, and Netflix and Hulu streaming episodes online. Category:American television series

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