The Guy Mitchell Show

Last updated
The Guy Mitchell Show
Written by
Directed byKevin Jonson
Presented by Guy Mitchell
Music by Van Alexander
Opening theme"Singing the Blues"
Country of originUnited States
Production
Producer Phil Cohan
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseOctober 7, 1957 (1957-10-07) –
January 13, 1958 (1958-01-13)

The Guy Mitchell Show is an American musical television series that was broadcast on ABC from October 7, 1957, until January 13, 1958. [1]

Contents

Format

Singer Guy Mitchell was the program's host, with Dolores Hawkins, the Guy Mitchell Singers, and the Ted Cappy Dancers as regular performers. [2] The Van Alexander Orchestra provided music. Guests on the show included Chuck Berry, [1] Margaret Whiting, Jack Carson, [3] Peggy Lee, [4] Marguerite Piazza, and Dizzy Dean. [5]

The show's format was revised in November 1957 to increase the focus on music. Eddie Joy, who was the program's executive producer, said, "We made the same mistake everybody did, with a smattering of comedy, music — everything. From now on music will be the most important part of the show." [6] That change included paying performers who had been scheduled to appear in upcoming episodes but found their contracts canceled. [6]

Production

Phil Cohan was the producer of The Guy Mitchell Show, with Kevin Jonson as the director. The writers were William Derman and Ben Starr. [7] The show was produced in Hollywood [1] after initial plans called for it to originate from New York. That move required changes in guests and writers. [6] The show was broadcast on Mondays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, when its competition included The Restless Gun on NBC and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show on CBS. [7] ABC's Videotape Center in Chicago recorded episodes for delayed broadcasts in some markets. [8] Max Factor cosmetics sponsored the program, [9] Its theme was Singing the Blues . [2] It was replaced by Love That Jill . [10]

Critical response

A review in the trade publication Variety said that the show's premiere episode "covered a lot of ground in its half-hour — too much so for viewer comfort." [5] The review commended Mitchell's efforts in "soloing, duetting and bantering with his two guests" but said, "since Mitchell is not yet a star of first magnitude, it was too much to expect him to overcome the excesses" of adding attempts at comedy to his musical performances. [5]

A follow-up review in Variety called The Guy Mitchell Show "a pleasing, if not standout, musical half-hour." [11] The review complimented the singing of Mitchell and Hawkins and said that Mitchell "handles the emcee chores with a boyish enthusiasm." [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 352. ISBN   0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. 1 2 Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 415. ISBN   0-345-42923-0.
  3. ↑ "Margaret Whiting To Be A Guest On Guy Mitchell Show". The Honolulu Advertiser. October 27, 1957. p. 85. Retrieved November 2, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Television Highlights". Ledger-Enquirer. Georgia, Columbus. November 16, 1957. p. 16. Retrieved November 2, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "Guy Mitchell Show". Variety. October 9, 1957. p. 29. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "Guy Mitchell's TV Alterations; Inked Guests Paid Off". Variety. November 13, 1957. p. 35. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Hyatt, Wesley (October 6, 2015). Short-Lived Television Series, 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops. McFarland. pp. 84–85. ISBN   978-1-4766-0515-9 . Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  8. ↑ Brown, Les (November 13, 1957). "Where else but Chi for relay?". Variety. p. 43. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Munsel, Winchell Shift in Revamp Of ABC-TV Shows". Variety. November 27, 1957. p. 35. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ Leszczak, Bob (November 16, 2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. p. 108. ISBN   978-0-7864-6812-6 . Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Guy Mitchell Show". Variety. November 20, 1957. p. 34. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
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