TicketSince no one has done an extensive survey of Cher’s televisions shows, I’ve decided to work on a catalog of each episode of the 1970s variety TV shows and specials.

When these shows first aired, I thought they were God’s gift to television. When I re-watched them years later on TV Land, I thought they were pretty bad. Then I started watching them all again in my 40s looking for aspects of culture relevance and forward thinking. I found a lot.

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (1971-1974)

Cher (1975-1976)

The Sonny & Cher Show (1976-1977)

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sonny_%26_Cher_Comedy_Hour

Producers: Chris Bearde & Allan Blye
Director: Art Fisher (dating Sally Struthers from All in the Family at the time)
Filmed at CBS, Television City

Cast:

Writers

  • Jack Hanrahan (1971)
  • Bob Arnott (1971-1974)
  • George Burditt (1971-1974)
  • Phil Hahn (1971-1974)
  • Coslough Johnson (1971-1974) – brother of Arte Johnson from Laugh In
  • Paul Wayne (1971-1974)
  • Bob Einstein (1971-1974) – went on to become Super Dave Osbourne and appear on Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • Steve Martin (1971-1973) – see above
  • Jim Mulligan (1971-1974)
  • Earl Brown (1971-1972)
  • Allan Blye (1971-1974)
  • Chris Bearde (1971-1974)

Wikipedia production notes: “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour taped its opening and closing segments in front of a live studio audience. The Sonny & Cher “concert” segment was also taped in front of the same audience, as were some of the segments featuring musical guest stars—as these typically were taped after the closing segment was completed. Due to blocking, costuming, and other staging and production requirements, most of the comedy segments were taped without an audience, with a laugh track added later.”

Art Fisher was the first television director to use chroma key (a.k.a. green screen) technology according to IMDB.

Emmy nominations:

  1. Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction of a Variety, Musical or Dramatic Program (James E. Dale) (1972)
  2. Outstanding Achievement In Costume Design (Bob Mackie, Ret Turner) (1972)
  3. Outstanding Variety Series – Musical (1972)
  4. Outstanding New Series  (1972)
  5. Outstanding Writing Achievement In Variety Or Music (Bob Arnott, Chris Bearde, Allan Blye, George Burditt, Bob Einstein, Phil Hahn, Coslough Johnson, Steve Martin, Paul Wayne) (1972)
  6. Outstanding Achievement in Music, Lyrics and Special Material (Earl Brown) (1973)
  7. Outstanding Achievement In Lighting Direction (John R. Beam) (1973)
  8. Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction and Electronic Camerawork (Gorman Erickson, Charles Franklin, Jack Jennings, Tom McConnell, Barney Neeley, Richard Nelson) (1973)
  9. Outstanding Variety Musical Series (1973)
  10. Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction of a Variety, Musical or Dramatic Program (Art Fisher) (1973)
  11. Outstanding Music-Variety Series (1974)

Emmy wins:

  1. Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music (Art Fisher) (1972)

Source

Shows were cut and rearranged on re-airing and so these listings are not the original or in a definitive order.

Season 1  (6 episodes)

Writers: Bob Arnott, George Burdett, Paul Wayne, Chris Bearde, Allan Blye
Associate Producer: Joe DeCarlo (Sonny & Cher’s manager)
Musical Director: Jimmy Dale
Choreographer: Tony Mordente
Animation: John Wilson
Makeup: Louis Phillippi
Cher’s Hair: Garry Chowen
Cher’s Gowns: Bob Mackie
Costumes: Ret Turner
Sesion 1 Cast: Ted Ziegler, Peter Cullen, Freeman King, Murray Langston

Episode 1 / Episode 2 / Episode 3 / Episode 4 / Episode 5  / Episode 6

Date Range: August 7, 1971 – September 5, 1971

Highlights: A lot of the first season’s banter is meta-performance on how bad Sonny is at performing, missing cues or how they’re not doing the act right, how they’re not on the same page. Some of the best musical performances are in this season. It’s also a look at the humble beginnings of the Fortune Teller, Sadie Thompson, Cher singing VAMP, and Cliff House. The show is also tackling racial issues with Freeman King and showcasing Cher in a few ethnic looks, which at that time in television history seemed more inclusive than appropriating. This is a small summer replacement season and the budget is low for sets and costumes. It’s like a mini-me version of the show.

Season 2  (13 episodes)

Writers: Bob Arnott, George Burdett, Paul Wayne, Coslough Johnson, Phil Hahn, Steve Martin, Bob Einsten, Chris Bearde, Allan Blye
Jimmy Dale Orchestra
Bob Mackie (Cher’s Gowns)
Ret Turner (Costumes)
Tony Mordente (Choreography)
Louis Phillippi (Makeup)
Rena (Hair) – She’s NEW!
Season 2 Cast: Ted Zeigler, Murry Langston, Peter Cullen (announcer), Freeman King, Steve Martin, Teri Garr, Billy Van, Ralph Morrow

Episode 7 / Episode 8 / Episode 9 / Episode 10 / Episode 11 / Episode 12 / Episode 13 / Episode 14 / Episode 15 / Episode 16 / Episode 17 / Episode 18 / Episode 19

Date Range: December 27, 1971 – March 20, 1972

Highlights: The show is getting slicker. Many fewer empty stage sketches this season. Cher’s look is getting more glamorous although the dresses are still thrifty. The monologues have a different setup: Sonny brags, Cher undercuts. There are more Indian and nose jokes, less bad-singing jokes, but those are still there. Cher’s hair is much better, especially when worn straight and long. The show’s lighting is better. But you can see (and Cher has reported) that the makeup is taking its toll on her skin. The budget still isn’t allowing Cher to become a glamazon but she’s still looking groovy here. The last episode with meta The Sonny & Cher stomp (they’re not even a year into it) hints at the phenom they were becoming and they give a self-knowing wink at that. But the show has the formula down and is starting to explore special effects like double exposures.

There were not as many Vamp segments as I assumed there were. Not every episode has one. Of 13 episodes, there was only 1 poem (awww), 3 Headlines in the Papers, 3 S&C creation myths or reality videos, 3 John Wilson cartoons, 5 fortune tellers, 8 Vamps, and 9 operas.

1971-72 Ratings: An estimated 12.5 million viewers per episode (a 20.2 share), ranking at #27 for the year. All in the Family is #1 with an estimated 21 million. See my blog piece about TV Share Through Time.
Sources: Classic TV Hits, Wikipedia

Season 3  (24 episodes)

Writers: Bob Arnott, George Burdett, Paul Wayne, Coslough Johnson, Phil Hahn, Steve Martin, Bob Einsten, Chris Bearde, Allan Blye.
Around episode #20 is where Chris Bearde’s name starts showing up as Chrisbearde in the credits. Episode #30 is the last episode credited with Steve Martin.
Jimmy Dale Orchestra
Bob Mackie (Cher’s Gowns)
Ret Turner (Costumes)
Tony Mordente (Choreography)
Louis Phillippi (Makeup)
Rena (Hair)
Season 3 Cast: Ted Zeigler, Murry Langston, Peter Cullen (announcer), Freeman King, Steve Martin, Teri Garr, Clark Carr. Laura Lacey is also sometimes credited.

Episode 20 / Episode 21 / Episode 22 / Episode 23 / Episode 24 / Episode 25 / Episode 26 / Episode 27 / Episode 28 / Episode 29 / Episode 30 / Episode 31 / Episode 32 / Episode 33 / Episode 34 / Episode 35 / Episode 36 / Episode 37 / Episode 38 / Episode 39 / Episode 40 / Episode 41 / Episode 42 / Episode 43

Date Range: September 15, 1972 – March 21, 1973

Highlights: This is the season where the wheels fell off. Maybe you can tell when they start their ritual of shaking hands after the first song ends. Around the holidays Sonny looks sad and Cher seems more lose and free. By the spring Sonny has bounced back. The writers are slipping in more content about unity and good marriage. Maybe they’re all worried about their jobs. But all this is subtle and just so much guesswork. Sonny & Cher are consummate professions, as they say, and better actors than they are given credit for being. Many jokes and references to ethnicity (some questionable and appropriating but many are attempts to be inclusive and multicultural). They’ve started to end skits with the “Sonny stare.” They Vamps are getting more obscure but Cher’s femme fetales (with all their sexual agency) always win out. Some great work by John Wilson and Cher is starting to come out of her shell and act like a rock star. The first Cliff House and Sonny’s Pizza episodes. Early Cher man-drag in the Mr. And Mrs. sketches. Tons of irony in scenes with Chastity and her parent’s attempts to envision her as a little princess.

1972-73 ratings: They did not rank in the top 29 this season. Sources: Classic TV Hits, Wikipedia

Season 4  (24 episodes)

Writers: Paul Wayne, George Burditt, Coslough Johnson, Bob Arnott, Bob Einstein, Allan Blye, Chrisbearde, Phil Hahn, Jim Mulligan
Musical Director: Marty Paich
Jimmy Dale Orchestra
Bob Mackie (Cher’s Gowns)
Ret Turner (Costumes)
Jamie Rogers (Choreography)
Louis Phillippi (Makeup)
Rena (Hair)
Season 3 Cast: Teri Garr, Ted Zeigler, Murry Langston, Peter Cullen (announcer), Freeman King, Billy Van, Bob Einsten

Episode 44 / Episode 45 / Episode 46 / Episode 47 / Episode 48 / Episode 49 / Episode 50 / Episode 51 / Episode 52 / Episode 53 / Episode 54 / Episode 55 / Episode 56 / Episode 57 / Episode 58 / Episode 59 / Episode 60 / Episode 61 / Episode 62 / Episode 63 / Episode 64 / Episode 65 / Episode 66 / Episode 67

Date Range: September 12, 1973- March 6, 1974

Highlights:

1973-74 ratings: An estimated 15.4 million viewers a week (a 23.3 share), ranking at #7 for the year (tied with Kojak). The top show was All in the Family with an estimated audience of 20.6 million. See my blog piece about TV Share Through Time.
Sources: Classic TV Hits, Wikipedia

ChCher-show-ader

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cher_(TV_series)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072485/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

Producers: George Schlatter
Directors: Bill Davis, Art Fisher, George Schlatter
Filmed at CBS, Television City

Writers

Musical Director: Jimmy Dale, Jack Eskew
Choreographer:  Anita Mann, Dee Dee Wood, Tony Charmoli
Set: Robert Kelly
Makeup: Jeffrey Hamilton, Ben Nye III
Cher’s Hair: Rena Horten
Cher’s Gowns: Bob Mackie
Costumes: Ret Turner
Cast: Jack Harrell, Gailard Sartain (2nd season)

Shows were cut and rearranged on re-airing and so these listings are not the original or in a definitive order.

Also details are sketchy for this series and multiple people filled multiple roles. Below is a sketch of the main people.

Cher-show-ad

Season 1  (14 episodes)

Episode 1 / Episode 2 / Episode 3 / Episode 4 / Episode 5  / Episode 6 / Episode 7 / Episode 8 / Episode 9 / Episode 10 / Episode 11 / Episode 12 / Episode 13 / Episode 14

Date Range: February 16, 1975  – May 18, 1975

Season 2  (15 episodes)

Episode 15 / Episode 16 / Episode 17 / Episode 18 / Episode 19 / Episode 20 / Episode 21 / Episode 22 / Episode 23 / Episode 24 / Episode 25 / Episode 26 / Episode 27 / Episode 28 / Episode 29

Date Range: February 23, 1975  – May 18, 1975

Show Hightlights:

The glamour has been ramped up. Cher made an effort to cultivate good musical guests. Some good girl-power between Cher and her female guests.

1975-76 ratings: Tied at #22 for the year with The Streets of San Francisco and The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie. The top show was still All in the Family.  Source: Classic TV Hits, Wikipedia

Emmy nominations:

  1. Outstanding Achievement in Choreography, Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series (Dee Dee Wood) (1975)
  2. Outstanding Directing In A Comedy-Variety Or Music Series (Art Fisher) (1975)
  3. Outstanding Writing In A Comedy-Variety Or Music Series (Nick Arnold, John Boni, Alan Katz, David Panich, Ronny Pearlman, Iris Rainer, Don Reo, George Schlatter, Ray Taylor, Digby Wolfe) (1975)
  4. Outstanding Achievement In Special Musical Material (Billy Barnes, Earl Brown) (1975)
  5. Outstanding Achievement In Costume Design (Bob Mackie) (1975)
  6. Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for Music-Variety (Bob Mackie, Ret Turner) (1976)

Emmy wins:

  1. Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music (Jack Albertson) (1975)
  2. Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music (Cloris Leachman) (1975)
  3. Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Design – For a Single Episode of a Comedy-Variety or Music Series or a Comedy-Variety or Music Special (Robert Checchi, Robert Kelly) (1975)
  4. Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Design – Single Episode of a Comedy-Variety or Music Series or a Comedy-Variety or Music Special (Robert Checchi, Raymond Klausen) (1976)

Sources: Emmys

TSonnychershowadhe Sonny & Cher Show

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074058/

Producers: Nick Vanoff
Director: Tim Kiley  
Filmed at CBS, Television City

Writers

Musical Director: Harold Battiste Jr.
Choreographer:  Jamie Rogers
Set: Donald J. Remacle
Makeup: Jeffrey Hamilton,
Cher’s Hair: Rena Horten
Cher’s Gowns: Bob Mackie
Costumes: Ret Turner
Cast: Ted Zeigler, Robert Shields, Lorene Yarnell, Gailard Sartain, Billy Van, Richard Lewis (uncredited)

Season 1  (11 episodes)

Episode 1 / Episode 2 / Episode 3 /  Episode 4 / Episode 5 / Episode 6 / Episode 7 / Episode 8 / Episode 9 / Episode 10 / Episode 11

Date Range: February 1, 1976  – April 11, 1976

Season 2  (22 episodes)

Episode 12 / Episode 13 / Episode 14 / Episode 15 / Episode 16 / Episode 17 / Episode 18 / Episode 19 / Episode 20 / Episode 21 / Episode 22 / Episode 23 / Episode 24 / Episode 25 / Episode 26 / Episode 27 / Episode 28 / Episode 29 / Episode 30 / Episode 31 / Episode 32 / Episode 33 / Episode 34

Date Range: September 26, 1976  – March 11, 1977

Show Hightlights:

Better writting than their first show.

1976-77 ratings: #23 for the year. The top show was still All in the Family.

It’s interesting to note that in the 1976-77 season, Sonny & Cher would fall off the list entirely and All In the Family would drop for the first season from #1 to #12. Source: Wikipedia

Emmy nominations:

  1. Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series (Bob Arnott, John Aylesworth, Jeanine Burnier, Stuart Gillard, Phil Hahn, Coslough Johnson, Frank Peppiatt, Iris Rainer, Ted Zeigler) (1976)
  2. Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series (Tim Kiley) (1976)

Sources: Emmys