PERRY COMO'S CHRISTMAS SHOW {THE CARPENTERS, PEGGY FLEMING, RICH LITTLE} (TV)
Summary
This televised Christmas special features Perry Como and several special guests. Como opens the program with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" as he hurries to do some last-minute shopping, though he is stopped by "Perry Mason," portrayed by comedian Rich Little, who suspiciously questions Como about his habit of singing in public. Next, a group of children explore "Toyland," and "Howard Cosell," again Little, talks with ice skater Peggy Fleming in the sports department as she hunts for a new pair of skates. Fleming then performs an ice-skating routine to "Christmas Waltz," after which Como encounters both Johnny Carson and the garrulous Edith Bunker from "All in the Family" (both Little), and they join a group of carolers for "It's Beginning to Look at Lot Like Christmas."
Fleming performs another skating routine with two animated penguins, and Como performs "Christmas Dream" with a group of young ice-hockey players. Karen and Richard Carpenter join Como for "Silver Bells," "Sleep Well, Little Children" and "This is That Time of the Year," and Como chats with "Jack Benny" (Little) as Santa Claus, who observes that, in the current economic climate, "misers are where it's at." Karen performs "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and Como joins her for a medley of their respective popular songs, including "Close to You," "It's Impossible," "We've Only Just Begun," "And I Love You So," "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes," and "Yesterday Once More." Finally, Como narrates the tale of the first Christmas, featuring such songs as "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "The First Noel," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "We Three Kings," and "Silent Night." Como then closes the program with "O Holy Night." Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:52:28
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 118948
- GENRE: Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Specials; Music/Variety; Christmas
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1974
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Nick Vanoff … Producer, Director
- Rita Scott … Associate Producer
- Frank Peppiatt … Writer
- John Aylesworth … Writer
- Ray Charles … Music by
- Bob Paul … Choreographer
- Perry Como … Host, Performer
- Rich Little … Guest, Performer
- Peggy Fleming … Guest, Performer
- Karen Carpenter … Guest, Performer
- Richard Carpenter (see also: The Carpenters) … Guest, Performer