Buz Kohan

Diana

Diana Ross' 1981 TV special featuring live concert footage from The Forum in Inglewood, California mixed with studio performances.

Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas

Bing Crosby and his family spend Christmas at the estate of a distant relative in England.

Night of 100 Stars

The most glittering, expensive, and exhausting videotaping session in television history took place Friday February 19, 1982 at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The event, for which ticket-buyers paid up to $1,000 a seat (tax-deductible as a contribution to the Actors' Fund) was billed as "The Night of 100 Stars" but, actually, around 230 stars took part. And most of the audience of 5,800 had no idea in advance that they were paying to see a TV taping, complete with long waits for set and costume changes, tape rewinding, and the like. Executive producer Alexander Cohen estimated that the 5,800 Radio City Music Hall seats sold out at prices ranging from $25 to $1,000. The show itself cost about $4 million to produce and was expected to yield around $2 million for the new addition to the Actors Fund retirement home in Englewood, N. J. ABC is reputed to have paid more than $5 million for the television rights.

Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials

Bing Crosby and Christmas - they're inseparable. It was only natural for the voice that sold more than 100 million copies of 'White Christmas' to eventually celebrate the season on television. This second volume of Crosby television specials showcases those Christmas shows. Included in this premiere, two-disc collection are Bing's first holiday special, produced in England in 1961, his first color special from 1962 with Mary Martin, Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas with Robert Goulet and Mary Costa from 1971, and Bing s final special, Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas, which includes the iconic duet of 'The Little Drummer Boy / Peace on Earth' with David Bowie. These treasured programs have been meticulously restored from the original film and videotape sources, and are presented with all the original performances intact.

Home for Christmas

Dolly Parton returns home to Sevierville and to Dollywood where she joins her family and friends to share songs and memories of the holidays in this 1990 TV special to accompany her Christmas CD Home for the Holidays.

Ann-Margret: Hollywood Movie Girls

George Burns, Dom DeLuise, Danny De Vito, Dean-Paul Martin and Roger Moore provide arms for A-M to lean on as she impersonates Hollywood stereotypes, from a rejected script girl to an over-the-hill sex symbol. Highlights include Ann-Margret's slowed-down rendition of I Will Survive and a jaw dropping version of Stouthearted Men that looks like it is set in the backroom of a 70s gay club!

Doug Henning's World of Magic

Comic Relief VI

A TV special to raise money for the homeless, hosted by Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams.

Diana

Diana Ross' 1981 TV special featuring live concert footage from The Forum in Inglewood, California mixed with studio performances.

Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas

Bing Crosby and his family spend Christmas at the estate of a distant relative in England.

Night of 100 Stars

The most glittering, expensive, and exhausting videotaping session in television history took place Friday February 19, 1982 at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The event, for which ticket-buyers paid up to $1,000 a seat (tax-deductible as a contribution to the Actors' Fund) was billed as "The Night of 100 Stars" but, actually, around 230 stars took part. And most of the audience of 5,800 had no idea in advance that they were paying to see a TV taping, complete with long waits for set and costume changes, tape rewinding, and the like. Executive producer Alexander Cohen estimated that the 5,800 Radio City Music Hall seats sold out at prices ranging from $25 to $1,000. The show itself cost about $4 million to produce and was expected to yield around $2 million for the new addition to the Actors Fund retirement home in Englewood, N. J. ABC is reputed to have paid more than $5 million for the television rights.

Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials

Bing Crosby and Christmas - they're inseparable. It was only natural for the voice that sold more than 100 million copies of 'White Christmas' to eventually celebrate the season on television. This second volume of Crosby television specials showcases those Christmas shows. Included in this premiere, two-disc collection are Bing's first holiday special, produced in England in 1961, his first color special from 1962 with Mary Martin, Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas with Robert Goulet and Mary Costa from 1971, and Bing s final special, Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas, which includes the iconic duet of 'The Little Drummer Boy / Peace on Earth' with David Bowie. These treasured programs have been meticulously restored from the original film and videotape sources, and are presented with all the original performances intact.

Home for Christmas

Dolly Parton returns home to Sevierville and to Dollywood where she joins her family and friends to share songs and memories of the holidays in this 1990 TV special to accompany her Christmas CD Home for the Holidays.

Ann-Margret: Hollywood Movie Girls

George Burns, Dom DeLuise, Danny De Vito, Dean-Paul Martin and Roger Moore provide arms for A-M to lean on as she impersonates Hollywood stereotypes, from a rejected script girl to an over-the-hill sex symbol. Highlights include Ann-Margret's slowed-down rendition of I Will Survive and a jaw dropping version of Stouthearted Men that looks like it is set in the backroom of a 70s gay club!

Doug Henning's World of Magic

Comic Relief VI

A TV special to raise money for the homeless, hosted by Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams.

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

Television special taped before a live studio audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983, and broadcast on NBC on May 16. Highlights include Michael Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean", a Temptations/Four Tops "battle of the bands", Marvin Gaye's inspired speech about black music history and his memorable performance of "What's Going On", and a Jackson 5 reunion. This performance is noted for Michael Jackson debuting his signature moonwalk.

Ann-Margret Smith

Book-ending the year 1975 with two big budget TV Specials, Ann -Margret also earned her second Oscar nomination that year, for Tommy. In January, "Ann-Margret Olssen" premiered and was titled with the star's maiden name. This second special premiered late in the year and was titled with the star's married name. Her husband Roger Smith also appears in the opening sequences. Presented by the Bell System's Family Theatre, the program was filmed at the ATV Studios at BBC Elstree Centre, Borehamwood, England.

Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas

Bing Crosby hosts this music holiday special featuring performances by Mary Costa, Robert Goulet, the Mitchell Boys Choir and the Crosby family.

Happy Birthday, Bugs! 50 Looney Years

A 50th anniversary tribute to Bugs Bunny

The Shirley MacLaine Show

Shirley MacLaine in concert, featuring highlights from her films like Sweet Charity and Irma La Douce. There's also a dramatic reading from The Turning Point and an entertaining illustration of how the styles of some of her famed choreographers differ.

Julie Andrews' Invitation to the Dance with Rudolf Nureyev

In this program, Julie Andrews and Rudolf Nureyev explain what dancing is and introduce different styles of dance to their young audience.

The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show

Miss Piggy hosts her own variety show, with special guests John Ritter, George Hamilton and Tony Clifton (Andy Kaufman). Under the direction of Kermit the Frog, the Muppets work in the control room and, amidst chaos, manage to keep the show on the air. Throughout the show, a romantic triangle develops among Piggy, Ritter (who is smitten with the pig) and Hamilton (who is deeply uncomfortable with the star's romantic inclinations).

Here's Television Entertainment

A review of television variety series and specials.

Baryshnikov in Hollywood

The famed dancer encounters various characters in a busy day at work on a movie studio lot.

Bing Crosby: Cooling It

Entertainment variety special with Bing and special guests Dean Martin, Bernadette Peters, and Flip Wilson.

Sinatra: 80 Years My Way

'Ol' Blue Eyes' eightieth birthday celebration; star-studded entertainment, tributes by a diverse company of guests, songs closely associated with Sinatra sung by vocalists and groups from the early days of rock and roll to the 90's. A living legend toasted by legends of the music world and of Hollywood.

The New Adventures of Heidi

The long-familiar Heidi tale is given a contemporary (and musical) setting as the young heroine leaves her familiar Swiss mountain for the bright lights of Manhattan.

EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration

Danny Kaye tours EPCOT Center, singing its praises in Future World and the World Showcase. He meets celebrities and park characters like Dreamfinder and Figment, and speaks with some of the people responsible for creating the park.

Cher... Special

Cher... Special is a television special starring American singer/actress Cher and featuring guest stars Dolly Parton and Rod Stewart. The show was broadcast on ABC on April 3, 1978 and was a ratings success for ABC, ranking among the Top 10 most watched programs of the week. The Special is best remembered for its first number where over fifteen minutes, Cher sings and dances to a medley of songs from the musical West Side Story, playing both male and female characters. In the fall of 1978, it was honored with a technical Emmy Award for "Best Achievement in Lighting Direction". It also received an Emmy nomination for "Best Art Direction for a Comedy-Variety or Musical Special" and Dolly Parton was also nominated for an Emmy in the category of "Best Supporting Actress in a Variety or Musical Special".

Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back

In 1977, Bette Midler's first television special premiered, featuring guest stars Dustin Hoffman and Emmett Kelly. It went on to win Bette her first Emmy Award for Outstanding Special — Comedy-Variety or Music. To make the show palatable to home viewers, the special featured heavily cleaned up versions of the material Midler was performing at that time on stage. The title of the show, Ol' Red Hair is Back, was a takeoff on the title of Frank Sinatra's recent album Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back.

Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary

The Lane family from Evansville Indiana is about to embark on its annual vacation, let's join them. In this 1982 television special we celebrate Walt Disney World’s Tencennial anniversary. Originally aired on January 21st, 1982 we follow the family on a musical journey that includes: the Gatlin Brothers and John Schneider and multiple appearances by Michael Keaton.

Tony Awards

The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre.

The Oscars

An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, officially the Academy Award of Merit, that is better known by its nickname Oscar.

Laverne & Shirley

Best friends, roommates, and polar opposites, Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney work together at the Shotz Brewery in Milwaukee and keep each other's spirits up at home.

Will & Grace

That's right, honey! A decade after their unforgettable eight-season run, comedy's most fabulous foursome is back.

Snuffy Smith and Barney Google

There's feudin', fussin' and a whole lot of good ol' fashioned fun goin' on as those back woods rascals, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, rustle up a rib-ticklin' tub of mountain mirth. Barney and Snuffy are joined by the craziest collection of cantankerous characters ever to come out of them thar' hills, including Loweezy, Jughaid and Jerky Jockey for hours of down home country comedy.

Beetle Bailey

Beetle Bailey, the Private who'd rather drop and nap than drop and "do 20," is the wise-cracking joker of the most famous Army camp –Camp Swampy, where befuddled General Halftrack still hasn't heard from the Pentagon, grumbling Sgt. Snorkle has never had a date, Beetle hasn't washed his socks, and Cooke still makes those high-bouncing meatballs. Join Beetle Bailey and his army buddies and sound off with laughter.