THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW - BEST OF
This disc has 4 PARTIAL episodes of the Dean Martin Variety show,
ranging from his second one(Sept. 23, 1965) to one from 1969! Also
on this are 4 interviews from Angie Dickinson, Gail Martin Downey
(Dean's daughter), Florence Henderson & Jonathan Winters! Great
fun abounds!!
EPISODE 0002(Sept. 23, 1965):
Cold Opening - Dean(A)
Monologue - Dean(A)
"Alright, Okay, You Win" - Peggy Lee(B)
Talk - Dean & John Wayne(A+)
"Don't Fence Me In" - Dean & JOHN WAYNE!!(A++)
Dressing Room - Dean & Krofft Puppets(C)
"Climb Ev'ry Mountain" - Jack Jones(B)
"I Can't Give You Anything But Love" - Dean, Peggy Lee & Jack Jones(B+)
Goodnights - Dean & John Wayne(A)
EPISODE 0021(Feb. 3, 1966):
Cold Opening - Dean(A)
Monologue - Dean(A)
Comedy Spot - Bob Hope(B+)
"A Shine On Your Shoes" - Joel Grey(B-)
"French Lesson" - "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" - Dean, Bob Hope & Juliet Prowse(B)
Goodnights - Dean(A-)
EPISODE 0803(Sept. 14, 1967):
I won't spoil the surprise, but this has the most
memorable entrance that Dean ever did in it!!
Cold Opening - Dean(A+)
"The Birds & The Bees" - Dean(A)
Monologue - Dean(A)
Early Radio Talk - Orson Welles(A)
Sound Effects - Dean & Orson Welles(A-)
"Cheek To Cheek" - Dean & Juliet Prowse(A+)
Ken Lane Spot - Dean & Ken Lane(A++)
"The Merchant Of Venice" Reading - Orson Welles(A)
Talk - Dean & Jimmy Stewart(A+)
"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" - Dean & Jimmy Stewart(A+)
Barbershop Bit - Dean, Jimmy Stewart & Orson Welles(B+)
"Personality" - Dean, Jimmy Stewart & Orson Welles(B+)
Goodnights - Dean(A)
EPISODE 427(It appears they started a new
numbering system in 1969!)(Apr. 3, 1969):
Cold Opening - Dean(A)
Monologue - Dean(A)
All In The Cards Sketch - Dean & Dom DeLuise(A)
Ken Lane Spot - Dean & Ken Lane(A+)
Comedy Spot -Stu Gilliam(C)
"Riverboat" Medley: "Camptown Races", "Old
Folks At Home", "Swanee", "Rockaby Your Baby",
& Waitin' For The Robert E. Lee" - Michael Landon(B)
"Dixie" Medley: "Is It True What They Say About Dixie:",
"Way Down onder In New Orleans", Sweet Georgia Brown"
& Hard Hearted Hannah" - Dean & Michael Landon(B+)
Spelling Lesson - Dean & Dom Deluise(B-)
"Wondrful Televisin" Finale - Dean, Michael Landon, Dom DeLuise & Stu Gilliam(B)
Goodnights - Dean(A)
Specials on disc:
Interviews:
Angie Dickinson: (B+)
Gail Martin Downey: (A)
Florence Henderson: (A)
Jonathan Winters: (A)
From a reviewer at IMDb.com:
At one time the most suggestive show on television,
Dean's show not only commented on other variety shows
(a form in decline even in the mid-sixties) but continued
in spinoff form with the later 'roast' format, a homage to
the Friars' Club affairs of society page legend. Dean was
able to use his own singing, joking and acting in a situation
that could lampoon the past, push the envelope in risk
and still seem like good, semi-clean fun. Spontaneity (in
short supply after the invention of videotape) was literally
forced on the actors and crew by doing (consciously or
not) what Jackie Gleason did or didn't do - he showed
up minutes before airtime knowing the sketch but totally
unrehearsed with the other players. Whatever happened,
happened. When it was on the money, it was a high
point in midcentury comedy. - occupant-1