DOLLY: A DOWN HOME COUNTRY CHRISTMAS {MAC DAVIS, BURL IVES} (TV)
Summary
One in this musical variety series hosted by Dolly Parton. In this special Christmas-themed episode, Parton appears as Santa on her studio rooftop and then enters through the chimney, greeting a large group of children and singing "I'll Be Home With Bells On" with them. Special guests Burl Ives and Mac Davis arrive in sleighs, accompanied by the puppets of the Peppercorn Players. Parton then demonstrates how a washboard can be used to make music, and she and her guests perform "Down-Home Country Christmas" on a number of improvised instruments. Davis shares his memories of his childhood Christmases in Texas, and Parton describes the year in which she received a new baby brother as a "gift" and sings "I Remember." She explains that her family had little money, but her parents made things fun for the children during the holidays by organizing games and treasure hunts. Ives, well-known as the voice of Sam the Snowman in the 1964 special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," sings "A Holly Jolly Christmas," and two of the young puppets wonder if he is in fact Santa Claus. The other puppet sing a medley of silly Christmas songs, including "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" and a version of "Jingle Bells," and Parton sings a parody song, "Santa Claus is Going on a Diet."
Davis performs "Kids," and Parton introduces the children to her beloved corn-silk doll from childhood, explaining that she was a source of comfort when Parton felt lonely upon leaving home and moving to Nashville to become a singer. Davis portrays Parton's new neighbor, and he explains that he too is a songwriter and gives her a preview of his works-in-progress, after which they sing "White Christmas" together. Next, Parton portrays Dixie the waitress and serves her diner customers a humble Christmas meal, and they are soon visited by the upper-class Fulbrights, whose Rolls Royce has run out of gas. Mrs. Fulbright confides in Dixie and admits that her husband is too focused on making money and has no other family apart from his brother, to whom he has not spoken in twenty years. Mr. Fulbright is then surprised to encounter his old fishing camp counselor, Mr. Pruitt, portrayed by Ives, who recalls the brothers' strong bond as children. As Dixie hands out gifts to her friends and customers, Mr. Fulbright has a change of heart and finally telephones his brother, who tells him that Mr. Pruitt in fact died many years ago, and he finds that the man has vanished. Impressed by the Christmas miracle, Dixie and the other sing "Deck the Halls" all together. Later, the children play outside in the snow, and Parton and her guests perform a medley including "We Need A Little Christmas," "Jingle Bells," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Caroling, Caroling," "Silent Night," "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Joy to the World." Parton then closes the program with "Once Upon a Christmas." Includes commercials and promos.
Also includes an "ABC News Brief" hosted by Carol Simpson.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: December 21, 1987 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:52
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:12375
- GENRE: Music/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music/Variety; Comedy; Christmas
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1987-1988
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Aim toothbrushes
- TV - Commercials - Alka Seltzer antacid relief
- TV - Commercials - André champagne
- TV - Commercials - Children's Tylenol medication
- TV - Commercials - Contac cold medication
- TV - Commercials - FTD Fireside Basket Bouquet flowers
- TV - Commercials - General Electric holiday lights
- TV - Commercials - General Mills Chex Party Mix
- TV - Commercials - General Mills Total cereal
- TV - Commercials - Hershey's Kisses candies
- TV - Commercials - Hoover vacuum cleaners
- TV - Commercials - Jeep/Eagle automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Johnson & Johnson Reach toothbrushes
- TV - Commercials - Lysol Basin Tub & Tile Cleaner
- TV - Commercials - Nabisco Wheat Thins crackers
- TV - Commercials - Pepsi-Cola soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - Purina Dog Chow
- TV - Commercials - Sun Light dishwashing liquid
- TV - Commercials - Vaseline Intensive Care lotion
- TV - Promos - "Dynasty"
- TV - Promos - "Hooperman"
- TV - Promos - "Moonlighting"
- TV - Promos - "Santa Claus: The Making of the Movie"
- TV - Promos - "The 'Slap' Maxwell Story"
- TV - Promos - "The Legend of the Lone Ranger"
- TV - Promos - "thirtysomething"
- TV - Promos - ABC News
CREDITS
- Sandy Gallin … Executive Producer
- Don Mischer … Producer, Director
- Jack Burns … Co-Producer
- Nina Lederman … Associate Producer
- John Aylesworth … Writer
- Fannie Flagg … Writer
- Phil Hahn … Writer
- Rhea Kohan … Writer
- Roger Miller … Writer
- Tom Perew … Writer
- Buddy Sheffield … Writer
- Bruce Vilanch … Writer
- Bubba Dean Rambo … Choreographer
- Dolly Parton … Host, Performer
- Burl Ives … Guest, Performer
- Mac Davis … Guest, Performer
- Randy Josselyn … Cast
- Ashley Bank … Cast
- Maia Brewton … Cast
- Ritch Brinkley … Cast
- Stacy Brogdon … Cast
- James Cooper … Cast
- Douglas Emerson … Cast
- Virginia Keehne … Cast
- Sal Lopez … Cast
- Dave Pavelonis' Peppercorn Players … Cast
- For "ABC News Brief":
- Carol Simpson … Anchor