1977
The Richard Pryor Show is an American comedy variety series starring Richard Pryor. It premiered on NBC on Tuesday, September 13, 1977 at 8 p.m. opposite ABC's popular television shows Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days. The show was produced by Rocco Urbisci for Burt Sugarman Productions. It was conceived out of a special that Pryor did for NBC in May 1977. Because the special was a major hit, both critically and commercially, Pryor was given a chance to host and star in his own television show. TV Guide included the series in their 2013 list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon".
1968
Where the Girls Are was a music and comedy special that aired on NBC in 1968. Noel Harrison, fresh from his role in the NBC series Girl From U.N.C.L.E., hosted the hour-long special. Comic skits were performed by Professor Irwin Corey and Don Adams, who was starring in the NBC series Get Smart. Musical numbers were performed by The Association, Barbara McNair, Cher and The Byrds. The "Close-Up" for the program in the April 20–26, 1968 TV Guide also notes: "The goings-on include antic camerawork and a bevy of mini-clad beauties." Celanese Arnel was a major sponsor. The special was broadcast on Tuesday, April 23, 1968. It pre-empted the Jerry Lewis Show on NBC's network schedule.
1984
Graffiti Rock was a hip-hop based television program, originally screened June 29, 1984. Intended as an on-going series, the show only received one pilot episode and aired on WPIX channel 11 in New York City and 88 markets around the country, to good Nielsen ratings. Graffiti Rock resembled a hip hop version of the popular television dance shows at the time such as Soul Train and American Bandstand. The show was created and hosted by Michael Holman, who was the manager of the popular break-dancing crew, the New York City Breakers. The episode features Run D.M.C., Shannon, The New York City Breakers, DJ Jimmie Jazz and Kool Moe Dee and Special K of the Treacherous Three. The New York City Breakers, who were fresh off of their success from the movie, Beat Street, made a showcase appearance. The episode also features television and film actress, Debi Mazar and actor/director Vincent Gallo as dancers on the show. A segment of the show was sampled on The Beastie Boys' LP Ill Communication. "[...] alright, you're scratchin it right now, cut the record back and forth against the needle, back and forth, back and forth, make it scratch, but let me tell you something don't try this at home on your dad's stereo only under hiphop supervision, alright ?" The show has since become an important 'must-see' for hip-hop enthusiasts, alongside such titles as Wild Style and Beat Street.
2020
1963
The Jerry Lewis Show is an American variety series hosted by Jerry Lewis that aired on ABC from September 21, 1963 to December 21, 1963. The variety series was originally supposed to be 40 episodes long but only 13 episodes aired due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963.
1976
Donny & Marie is an American variety show which aired on ABC from January 1976 to January 1979. The show stars brother and sister pop duo Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond. Donny had first become popular singing in a music group with his brothers, The Osmonds, and Marie was one of the youngest singers to reach #1 on the Billboard Country Music charts. The siblings were offered a weekly show by ABC-TV President Fred Silverman after he saw the duo co-host a week on The Mike Douglas Show which followed their series of popular remakes of oldies, such as "I'm Leaving It Up To You", "Morning Side Of The Mountain", "Deep Purple" and "Make The World Go Away". Donny and Marie were the youngest entertainers in TV history to host their own variety show. A year later, The Keane Brothers would break this record.
1969
Hee Haw was an American variety show featuring a mixture of country music and comedy skits. Co-hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark for most of the series, the show also guested well-established country music stars including Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. Originally airing on CBS from 1969 to 1971, the show ran for over 20 years in syndication until 1993.
