But even Conan doesn't captivate the nation (think Ed Sullivan) and honestly, 9 of every 10 guests are garbage
Don't actually watch that.
My favorite old variety show is The Johnny Cash Show. He just brought all his favorite musicians on the show to perform and usually play a tune with him. Check out Ray here playing "Ring Of Fire."
Television just doesn't get that classy anymore.
Then of course I have to mention the Dean Martin Show. This still cracks me up every time I watch it. It's a big deal these days when someone goes on a talk show drunk but Dean Martin got wasted before every show! The show included a smashed Dean Martin sliding down a fire pole, telling dirty jokes, making guests uncomfortable, and slurring his way through a few tunes...
And it's hilarious.
The late 90's saw an unlikely variety show revival in the WB's saturday morning cartoon lineup. I (like thousands of other kids) was addicted to "The Animaniacs." The premise involves 3 "Dog Children" that live in the famous water tower on the Warner Brothers movie lot. They always escape from the tower and run around causing trouble until the end of the episode when they are caught and returned to the tower. This was a true variety show with different characters, (Pinky and The Brain, Chicken Boo, Katie Kaboom, Slappy Squirrel and more) hilarious satire, (most of which I missed when I was 8) and enough anvils and explosions to entertain any child. AND IT WAS EDUCATIONAL!!
Here they are making fun of tv nerds
Unfortunately, the Animaniacs went the way of the do do bird and Johnny Carson. It is my dream that someday I will have enough money to fund my own variety show. I'll play with all my favorite musicians, I'll mess with celebrities in front of a giant audience, and I'll be drunker than Dean Martin.
Click a few of the adds on the side of my page and help make that dream a reality.
From the front,
O
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