The Andy Williams Show

Last updated
The Andy Williams Show
Andy williams 1969.JPG
Andy Williams in 1969
Genre Variety show
Written by John Aylesworth, Frank Peppiatt
Presented by Andy Williams
Opening theme Moon River
Composers Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time60 minutes
Production companyBarnaby Productions
Original release
Network NBC
Release1962 (1962) 
1971 (1971)

The Andy Williams Show was an American television variety show hosted by singer Andy Williams that ran from 1962 to 1971 (alternating during the summer of 1970 with Andy Williams Presents Ray Stevens ). [1] It became a half-hour syndicated series beginning in the fall of 1976. [2]

Contents

Series regulars

The Andy Williams Show featured a number of regular performers including: [1]

Series synopsis

The first series began as a summer replacement on CBS in 1959. The weekly year-round series premiered on NBC in 1962, where it ran until 1967, when William reduced his workload to three specials a year. He returned to having a weekly series from 1969 through 1971. [1]

At the beginning of the series The New Christy Minstrels were the backup singers, but on December 20, 1962 The Osmond Brothers appeared on the show, and they became the regular backup performers for the rest of the series run. [1]

In 1967 Williams decided to cut back to three specials per year. However, two years later he returned to weekly television in a revised format that included rock and roll acts and psychedelic lighting. [1]

Starting with the 1969 season more emphasis was placed on comedy. [3] Hungarian acrobat and stuntman Janos Prohaska began appearing in a bear costume, asking for cookies. The bear never got any cookies on the series, but fans began mailing baked goods to Prohaska. [4]

Five years after his second weekly run at NBC had ended, Williams hosted a half-hour syndicated weekly variety show with Wayland Flowers and orchestra leader George Wyle. [5]

Awards and nominations

YearCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
1963 Outstanding Variety Series The Andy Williams ShowWon [6]
1963 Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program or Series Andy Williams Nominated [7]  

Partial list of guest stars

Related Research Articles

The term Cookie Bear refers to two distinct fictional bears:

<i>The Black and White Minstrel Show</i> British light entertainment show

The Black and White Minstrel Show was a British light entertainment show that ran for twenty years on BBC prime-time television. Running from 1958 to 1978, it was a weekly variety show that presented traditional American minstrel and country songs, as well as show tunes and music hall numbers, lavishly costumed. It was also a successful stage show that ran for ten years from 1962 to 1972 at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London. This was followed by tours of UK seaside resorts, together with Australia and New Zealand.

The year 1966 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in that year.

The year 1964 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events which occurred in that year.

Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is normally introduced by a compère or host. The variety format made its way from the Victorian era stage in Britain and America to radio and then television. Variety shows were a staple of English language television from the late 1940s into the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Williams</span> American singer (1927–2012)

Howard Andrew Williams was an American singer. He recorded 43 albums in his career, of which 15 have been gold certified and three platinum certified. He was also nominated for six Grammy Awards. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a television variety show, from 1962 to 1971, along with numerous TV specials. The Andy Williams Show won three Emmy Awards. He sold more than 45 million records worldwide, including more than 10 million certified units in the United States.

Olive May Osmond was the matriarch of the American Osmond singing family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Osmonds</span> American family music group

The Osmonds were an American family music group who reached the height of their fame in the early to mid-1970s. The group had its best-known configurations as a quartet and a quintet. The group has consisted of siblings who are all members of a family of musicians from Ogden, Utah, and have been in the public eye since the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The New Christy Minstrels</span> American large-ensemble folk music group

The New Christy Minstrels are an American large-ensemble folk music group founded by Randy Sparks in 1961. The group has recorded more than 20 albums and scored several hits, including "Green, Green", "Saturday Night", "Today", "Denver" and "This Land Is Your Land". The group's 1962 debut album, Presenting the New Christy Minstrels, won a Grammy Award and remained on the Billboard 200 albums chart for two years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Williams (actor)</span> American actor (1915–1992)

William Herman Katt, known as Bill Williams, was an American television and film actor. He is best known for his starring role in the early television series The Adventures of Kit Carson, which aired in syndication from 1951 to 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janos Prohaska</span> U.S.-based Hungarian actor and stunt performer

Janos Prohaska was a U.S.-based Hungarian actor and stunt performer on American television from the 1960s. He usually played the roles of animals or monsters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sweet Inspirations</span> American R&B vocal group

The Sweet Inspirations are an American R&B girl group mostly known for their work as backup singers on studio recordings for other R&B and rock artists. A founding member of the group was Dionne Warwick, who was later replaced by her aunt, Cissy Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne Osmond</span> American musician (born 1951)

Melvin Wayne Osmond is a retired American musician and singer. He is the second oldest of the original Osmond Brothers singers and the fourth oldest of the nine Osmond children.

Louis M. "Deke" Heyward was an American producer and film and television screenwriter.

Michael Ward Settle is an American songwriter, journalist, broadcaster, and singer.

NBC Daytime was the daytime programming block of NBC. It historically featured many soap operas, game shows, and talk shows. Its main competitors were CBS Daytime and ABC Daytime.

In regard to children's programming, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) has aired mostly programming from Walt Disney Television or other producers. This article outlines the history of children's television programming on ABC including the various blocks and notable programs that have aired throughout the television network's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Ramos</span> American pop musician

Hilario D. "Larry" Ramos Jr. was an American guitarist, banjo player and vocalist known primarily for his work with the 1960s pop band the Association. In 1963, he won a Grammy Award with the New Christy Minstrels, with Ramos being the first Asian American to do so.

Sheila Bernette is an English singer and character actress on film, TV and radio.

References