The Captain and Tennille

The Captain and Tennille were a husband and wife musical duo that burst on the scene in 1975 with "Love will Keep Us Together", which was a huge hit that year. In the following months they had subsequent top 40 hits, none as popular as their first though. With the onset of the disco era, their sound was distinct and of a higher quality than the disco dreck that often permeated the airwaves.

Since visually they seemed like a bit of a gimmick and they had their on unique sound, they got their own variety show in the fall of 1976 on ABC. The guests look like a who's who of that rather unique period of time in entertainment history - mid to late 70s. The first show alone had Gabe Kaplan, Penny Marshall, Ron Palillo, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and Jackie Gleason as guest stars. What do all of these guest stars have in common? They all were on popular TV shows that were also on ABC, with the exception of Jackie Gleason. I don't know if it was in their contracts to help out on new shows like this for the same network, but it probably boosted their own shows' ratings too.

The show was largely musical, since that is where Captain and Tennille's talents lay. Any comedy would usually involve them interacting with each other or their guests. The problem was that for them to be a top 40 group, they were just over-exposed in an era when appearances by prominent musical groups were supposed to be savored. Captain and Tennille decided to not renew for a second season, but they probably would have faded in popularity as a weekly TV show even if they had decided to go on. There are copies of entire shows on youtube. If you don't think you'll have flashbacks from all of the glittering disco balls, I'd recommend watching it for the nostalgia.

The Captain and Tennille have released a very good 3 DVD package with minimal editing. Unlike most variety show releases these shows have not been hacked to bits. The musical and dance numbers are included with the skits just as they were when first broadcast. I suspect that some musical numbers on the DVD may have been edited into shows in which they did not originally appear but have been unable to verify that suspicion. I've noticed a few inconsistencies between what is on the DVD and program information I've found on the net. I've been unable to verify whether the net information is inaccurate or if the musical performances have been edited into the shows on the DVD. Whatever the truth may be, I'm very appreciative of the efforts made by the production company. I wish every variety show released would show the same respect for the format. I would guess about half the shows broadcast are included. I believe they ran into rights problems on the shows which weren't included. Hopefully those issues can be resolved and a Volume 2 can be released sometime in the future. There are some individual music videos along with a dance rehearsal among the extras. I recommend this DVD to any C&T fan.

I too would like to know if these episodes are floating around! This show - along with Sonny & Cher and Carol Burnett - made being a kid growing up in the 70s very, very fun.

I do not remember much of this show other than I really liked it, never missed it, and was mad when it was canceled. Oh yes, I also remember the "Bionic Watermelon." Makes me laugh just thinking about it now....

I was a big fan of Captain and Tennille back then, but I can't say the show was all that good. The skits were poorly written and not all that innovative, but who cared? I believe they had 2 Captain and Tennille singing segments that were great. They always had guest stars, I think they were always singers....like Leo Sayer, whoever was popular at the time. I still cringe at some of the jokes and skits...but Tennille had such a good voice, it was worth it to watch her sing the songs...remember there was no MTV back then. I remember they did "Gangster, you're no good", to the tune of "You're No Good"-by Linda Rondstadt. It was a tribute to "The Godfather" movies. I was mad when they cancelled it. I had no way to way to see Captain and Tennille. It was replaced by "Eight is Enough" on ABC. I boycotted the show.

Wow - this DVD set is like going right back to 1976, sitting on your upholstered couch, drinking some Hi-C and eating some Fiddle-Faddle. I have a movie group and we get together to watch strange and off cinema 9you know - that stuff that is soooo bad it is good) and this variety show falls into that category. Now Im not talking about Cap'n/Tenille as a pop group - they obviously had many big hits and when they come on the oldies station, I do find myself tapping my toes - fine. BUT as a TV show - this thing is a nightmare - a fun, enjoyable nightmare but a nightmare nonetheless. First off, the Captain (Daryl dragon) did NOT want to be a TV star, hated being on camera unless he could play his music and yet the network was damned determined that he would do that Vegas banter with his wife just like Sonny and Cher did. But the Captian has NO screen prescence, zero comic timing and no personality. So Toni Tenille tries to make up for that by going completely overboard on her line readings and guest intros - she is giving a THOUSAND percent of energy to make up for the black hole of energy from the Captain. My group and I are now hooked on these 70's variety show collections - we always throw an episode of Sonny & Cher or Tony Orlando & Dawn or Capn & Tenille on in between our feature showings and it is a blast. TV or faded film stars are trotted out to appear in awful sketches - everyone from John Travolta to Don Knotts to Jackie Gleason to Bob Hope to Vincent Price. The jokes they give Tenille to do with her husband make you cringe - so he is reduced to doing "hat jokes". Get it? He wears that captain's hat so.....yikes!!!! Great 70's cheese time capsule stuff (plus check out the disc where Toni Tenille trots out her two sisters to sing with her or appear in sketches - one of them has NO talent whatsoever - no rhythm - she is actually "off" when everyone else is waving their arms to the song. It is amazing.