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SONNY AND CHER COMEDY HOUR |
August 1, 1971 - August 1977
CBS Musical Variety
Hosts:
Sonny Bono
Cher
Regular Performers:
Ted Zeigler (1971-1977)
Peter Cullen (1971-1974)
Freeman King (1971-1974)
Murray Langston (1971-1974)
Clark Carr (1971-1972)
Tom Solari (1971-1972)
Steve Martin (1972-1973)
Billy Van (1973-1976)
Chastity Bono (1973-1977)
Bob Einstein (1973-1974)
Teri Garr (1973-1974)
Gailard Sartain (1976)
Jack Harrell (1976)
Shields and Yarnell (1976-1977)
With:
The Jimmy Dale Orchestra (1971-1973)
The Marty Paich Orchestra (1973-1974)
The Harold Battiste Orchestra (1976-1977)
The Tony Mordente Dancers (1971-1974)
The Earl Brown Singers (1971-1974)
After almost a decade performing in clubs and auditoriums,
Sonny and Cher were given their own summer variety series
on CBS. The interplay between the two stars--Sonny's
ebullient enthusiasm and Cher's sardonic wit and continual
put-downs of her husband--was one of the strong points of
the program. The summer show did well and returned that
December to become a hit regular series. During its initial
run the show utilized several recurring comedy sketches.
There was a "Vamp" segment in which Cher would portray
several of the more notorious women throughout history; a
"Sonny's Pizza" segment featuring Sonny as the dumb owner
of a pizzeria and Cher as his sexy, beautiful waitress Rosa;
the "Dirty Linen" segment with housewife Laverne (Cher)
giving her views on men to Olivia (Teri Garr) at the
laundromat; and a segment in which news headlines, both
current and past, were treated in blackouts. Frequently
seen were full-scalle operettas based on legitimate
operas, television commercials, types of TV programs,
and almost anything else that could be spoofed.
At the close of the show Sonny and Cher would sing
their record hit "I've Got You Babe." Unfortunately,
the Bonos were having marital problems, and it was
announced in the spring of 1974 that they were getting
divorced and would give up the series. They went their
separate ways. Sonny failed with The Sonny Comedy Revue,
his own show on ABC that fall, and Cher had limited
success with Cher, her solo effort that began on CBS
the following January. With her solo effort limping along
after less than a year on the air, a professional
reconciliation was arranged with Sonny so that they
might work together again. The new venture was titled
The Sonny and Cher Show, but it could never regain the
magic of the original. The new series limped along
for two seasons and was canceled in 1977.
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An Official Website
Congresswoman Mary Bono
Sonny's widow's congressional website
Sonny and Cher
By Betty Hamby
The Sonny and Cher Shows
By TV Party
Sonny Bono Killed in Skiing Accident
By CNN
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