Feb. 22, 1982 article on Suzanne Somers / Mentions CBS show

[Ireneparalegal]

TV: 'SUZANNE SOMERS SPECIAL' ON CBS
By TONY SCHWARTZ
Published: February 22, 1982

BY dint of her own soft-core exhibitionism and the advice of a slick Svengali-style husband-manager, Suzanne Somers has evolved into one of the least appealing personalities on television.

Miss Somers began staking out her territory as the empty-headed star of ABC-TV's vapid ''Three's Company.'' She earned further points when she defended a nude Playboy photograph session she had once done by contending that her sole motivation was the support of her son at a time of financial need - neglecting to mention that she continued to promote her television career by posing half-nude for countless other magazines.

Last fall, Miss Somers sealed her qualification by publicly demanding an increase in salary from $30,000 an episode for ''Three's Company'' to a staggering $50,000 an episode. The producers chose, instead, to write her out of the series. ''Three's Company,'' minus Miss Somers, remains as inexplicably successful as ever.

Miss Somers, meanwhile, has moved over to CBS-TV, where she is due to star in a new series, playing a flight attendant. In the interim, she has taken her act to Las Vegas, Nev., and it is apparently there that she evolved the sort of nightclub show she has adapted for her first television special, ''The Suzanne Somers Special,'' tonight at 10 o'clock on CBS.

In the course of an hour, Miss Somers demonstrates a whole new range of things she does without distinction. She sings, she dances, she tells jokes. The hook here is that the performance takes place before 6,000 sailors aboard the carrier Ranger.

That might seem like an enterprising Bob Hope-style gesture on behalf of our lonely boys at sea, but it's not quite that. For this show, the Ranger is safely docked in sunny San Diego, and the only apparent reason for recording the show aboard the carrier seems to be that it affords Miss Somers the opportunity to make smarmy jokes about herself and all those sailors. To wit: ''I've never been in a room with so many sailors before, no matter what you've read about me.''

It doesn't take long to get down to business. Miss Somers makes her first appearance fully dressed, but quickly strips down to a long Tshirt. Moments later, she uses the song ''Take Back Your Mink'' as a convenient way to unveil herself again - this time down to a little Frederick's of Hollywood number.

To be fair, the sailors seem to get a great kick out of Miss Somers, but then they're a generally appreciative bunch. They cheer just as lustily for Miss Somers's guests - Flip Wilson, Marie Osmond, and Gladys Knight and the Pips - who are not exactly the hottest or hippest acts in show business.

With the exception of the response of the sailors, there is not a spontaneous moment or a genuine emotion expressed in this entire hour.

[Mr. Television]

I remember she did make a sitcom pilot based on the movie Goodbye Charlie. The pilot did air on CBS one summer. I don't think any of her other pilots she did for CBS ever made it to the air.

[TVFactFan]

So was this CBS special going to be a Sitcom? I do have a 1982 CBS Variety Special with Suzanne performing on Stage. I was saying it couldn't be that. That Special is not Viewing, just storing-lol

[Ireneparalegal]

it is talking abt a CBS variety hour special...the writer is giving his review. He also mentions the sitcom that never aired where Suzanne was playing a flight attendant...this is the series that ABC threatened to sue her over because the character on that CBS show was basically "Chrissy".

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

it is talking abt a CBS variety hour special...the writer is giving his review. He also mentions the sitcom that never aired where Suzanne was playing a flight attendant...this is the series that ABC threatened to sue her over because the character on that CBS show was basically "Chrissy".

Ok I guess I do have the CBS Variety Special-lol

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

TV: 'SUZANNE SOMERS SPECIAL' ON CBS
By TONY SCHWARTZ
Published: February 22, 1982

BY dint of her own soft-core exhibitionism and the advice of a slick Svengali-style husband-manager, Suzanne Somers has evolved into one of the least appealing personalities on television.

Miss Somers began staking out her territory as the empty-headed star of ABC-TV's vapid ''Three's Company.'' She earned further points when she defended a nude Playboy photograph session she had once done by contending that her sole motivation was the support of her son at a time of financial need - neglecting to mention that she continued to promote her television career by posing half-nude for countless other magazines.

Last fall, Miss Somers sealed her qualification by publicly demanding an increase in salary from $30,000 an episode for ''Three's Company'' to a staggering $50,000 an episode. The producers chose, instead, to write her out of the series. ''Three's Company,'' minus Miss Somers, remains as inexplicably successful as ever.

Miss Somers, meanwhile, has moved over to CBS-TV, where she is due to star in a new series, playing a flight attendant. In the interim, she has taken her act to Las Vegas, Nev., and it is apparently there that she evolved the sort of nightclub show she has adapted for her first television special, ''The Suzanne Somers Special,'' tonight at 10 o'clock on CBS.

In the course of an hour, Miss Somers demonstrates a whole new range of things she does without distinction. She sings, she dances, she tells jokes. The hook here is that the performance takes place before 6,000 sailors aboard the carrier Ranger.

That might seem like an enterprising Bob Hope-style gesture on behalf of our lonely boys at sea, but it's not quite that. For this show, the Ranger is safely docked in sunny San Diego, and the only apparent reason for recording the show aboard the carrier seems to be that it affords Miss Somers the opportunity to make smarmy jokes about herself and all those sailors. To wit: ''I've never been in a room with so many sailors before, no matter what you've read about me.''

It doesn't take long to get down to business. Miss Somers makes her first appearance fully dressed, but quickly strips down to a long Tshirt. Moments later, she uses the song ''Take Back Your Mink'' as a convenient way to unveil herself again - this time down to a little Frederick's of Hollywood number.

To be fair, the sailors seem to get a great kick out of Miss Somers, but then they're a generally appreciative bunch. They cheer just as lustily for Miss Somers's guests - Flip Wilson, Marie Osmond, and Gladys Knight and the Pips - who are not exactly the hottest or hippest acts in show business.

With the exception of the response of the sailors, there is not a spontaneous moment or a genuine emotion expressed in this entire hour.

Irene thank you for posting this because I never had the airdate to the CBS Variety Special. Now I know it was aired on 2/22/82. I think I have a crush on you since u do research so well-lol

[TJ]

Suzie Mahoney (Aka The Suzanna Somers Show) - never aired on CBS would have aired in 82-83
Suzanne Somers plays a regular in a long-running sitcom who lives in an apartment with her six-year-old (Ryan Janis). William Windom, who runs the building and John Putch, her next-door neighbor, double as surrogate fathers to her son while she is working. Each episode would include scenes fron the fictional series that would spotlight Somers in physical comedy.

Goodbye Charlie - 06/04/85 on ABC
Based on the 1964 movie starring Debbie Reynolds and Tony Curtis. In the play and movie, a womanizing mobster named Charlie, killed by a jealous husband, returns to earth as a woman (Reynolds). In the sitcom, a womanizing advertising executive falls to his death--and comes back as Suzanne Somers, a fate worse than death. The reincarnated Charlie... now Charlene...goes to work as the secretary for the guy (Ray Buketenica) who replaced him. But She's very still much He, and best friend John Davidson is the only one who knows the truth.

Cast: Suzanne Somers (as Charlie/Charlene), John Davidson (George), Ray Buketenica (Ray), Kathleen Wilhoite (Victoria). It is interesting to note that Ray Buktenica was Joyce DeWitt's boyfriend.

I don't see any info listed for the one where she would have played a flight attendant - maybe that became Suzie Mahoney.

[Mr. Television]

I thought Goodbye Charlie was pretty funny. I'm shocked it was on ABC. I could have swore it was CBS. I think she did that right before she made her comeback with Hollywood Wives.

[Pavan]

Originally Posted by I Walk The Line

I thought Goodbye Charlie was pretty funny. I'm shocked it was on ABC. I could have swore it was CBS. I think she did that right before she made her comeback with Hollywood Wives.

Did you watch that pilot or tape it? That would be very rare to have now.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

Did you watch that pilot or tape it? That would be very rare to have now.

I only watched it. I didn't get a VCR until 1986. I wish I had though.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by I Walk The Line

I only watched it. I didn't get a VCR until 1986. I wish I had though.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by TJ

Suzie Mahoney (Aka The Suzanna Somers Show) - never aired on CBS would have aired in 82-83
Suzanne Somers plays a regular in a long-running sitcom who lives in an apartment with her six-year-old (Ryan Janis). William Windom, who runs the building and John Putch, her next-door neighbor, double as surrogate fathers to her son while she is working. Each episode would include scenes fron the fictional series that would spotlight Somers in physical comedy.

Goodbye Charlie - 06/04/85 on ABC
Based on the 1964 movie starring Debbie Reynolds and Tony Curtis. In the play and movie, a womanizing mobster named Charlie, killed by a jealous husband, returns to earth as a woman (Reynolds). In the sitcom, a womanizing advertising executive falls to his death--and comes back as Suzanne Somers, a fate worse than death. The reincarnated Charlie... now Charlene...goes to work as the secretary for the guy (Ray Buketenica) who replaced him. But She's very still much He, and best friend John Davidson is the only one who knows the truth.

Cast: Suzanne Somers (as Charlie/Charlene), John Davidson (George), Ray Buketenica (Ray), Kathleen Wilhoite (Victoria). It is interesting to note that Ray Buktenica was Joyce DeWitt's boyfriend.

I don't see any info listed for the one where she would have played a flight attendant - maybe that became Suzie Mahoney.

Well Goodbye Charlie is another TV show not listed in the COMPLETE directory to Primetime Network and Cable TV shows.

Complete Directory My ASS-lol

[TJ]

The info is from Unsold Television Pilots 1955 through 1989 by Lee Goldberg. You should pick it up on eBay or Amazon. It has info on 2269 unsold pilots.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Well Goodbye Charlie is another TV show not listed in the COMPLETE directory to Primetime Network and Cable TV shows.

Complete Directory My ASS-lol

It wasn't a tv show. It was just an usold pilot and ABC aired it during the summer. In that book for it to be considered a series, it has to air for 2 straight weeks.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by I Walk The Line

It wasn't a tv show. It was just an usold pilot and ABC aired it during the summer. In that book for it to be considered a series, it has to air for 2 straight weeks.

OK i understand now