........to early 1970's Wednesday nites, when 8-9 pm was reserved for Sonny and Cher. The audiocassette recorder (then, the only means of preserving the show for personal use) at the ready. Looking at this collection, all the memories came back. Typical '70's CBS variety format: it didn't always hit the heights of the Carol Burnett show, but it wasn't far off; most of their opening monologues and skits are cute, the musical numbers splashy and fun.
And it had personality: the chemistry of the stars, Cher's good-natured put-downs, Sonny's tone-deaf enthusiasm, guest stars who sometimes surprised you with the shtick they were willing to do, and occasional appearances by adorable and then-tiny Chastity.
The best were the original "Sonny & Cher Comedy Hours", pre-divorce; afterward, in spite of the show's good writing and supporting cast, the stars' affectionate insults didn't seem as playful. The post-breakup "Sonny & Cher Show" left a bit of a weird feeling--especially for their hardcore fans 👋--but it went on for a while, and later they branched out into their own individual series. By then magic had dimmed.
Fans, you should check this out if you haven't seen the original show in a while. Once you adjust your eyes to the megawatt, splashy colors (so Seventies) it brings back very fond memories.
