GOLDIE AND KIDS . . . LISTEN TO ME (TV)
Summary
This musical special features Goldie Hawn and Barry Manilow in improvised conversation with a group of children. The program begins with an original song, in which the kids implore adults to "listen to us," particularly about issues directly affecting children. Hawn explains that she wanted to create a "pure and honest" special highlighting kids' unfiltered opinions, and she chats with Manilow about their respective childhoods before joining the kids for a sit-down chat in a library. They discuss the intersection of knowledge and emotions as well as the responsibility of marriage, as described in typical wedding vows. Hawn and Manilow perform a short skit in which they portray a bride and groom who reword their vows to include slightly more realistic promises to one another. The kids then discuss the value of living together before marriage, touching upon sex education and many teachers' refusal to answer their complicated and explicit questions about human behavior. Turning to music, one boy explains that he is fond of a new genre, rap, which is essentially "talking over a beat," and Hawn and the kids perform an elaborate dance number to "Music is Communication."
Next, Hawn and the kids discuss families and the impact of divorce, which one girl feels is "the easy way out," and Hawn and Manilow sing "Sunday Father" as they portray a divorced set of parents who struggle with the experience of sharing custody of their young son. Hawn notes that she currently in the process of divorcing second husband Bill Hudson, observing that men are often uncomfortable being married to highly successful women. The conversation then turns to women's liberation and women's roles in the workplace, with the kids debating if women can indeed perform all of the same jobs as men. Hawn then discusses names and the stereotypes associated with certain monikers, admitting that she disliked being "Goldie Jeanne" back in her school days. One boy, Chez, explains that he loves the song "The Greatest Love of All" for its positive messages, and he performs it for the rest of the group and a tearful Hawn. Manilow performs "One Voice" and Hawn performs "I Am Your Child," and the children conclude the program by declaring that they enjoyed the open conversation, as Hawn was willing to chat with them "at their level." Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:15
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:15889
- GENRE: Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Specials; Talk/Interview; Music/Variety; Children - Social conditions
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1982
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Goldie Hawn … Executive Producer
- Gary Smith … Producer
- Dwight Hemion … Producer, Director
- Michael B. Seligman … Associate Producer
- Buz Kohan … Writer
- Dorriet Kavanaugh … Based on the book by
- Larry Grossman … Music by
- Ian Fraser … Conductor
- Lester Wilson … Choreographer
- Goldie Hawn … Host, Performer
- Barry Manilow … Guest, Performer
- Allison Balson … Cast
- Betsy Chasse … Cast
- LaShana Dendy … Cast
- Danielle Freas … Cast
- Heather Haase … Cast
- Jeffrey Jacquet … Cast
- Nick Katt … Cast
- Marcello Krakoff … Cast
- James Kushner … Cast
- Chez Lester … Cast
- Pamela Segall … Cast
- Eric Taslitz … Cast
- Bill Hudson