Silly skits, sweet songs and a slew of celebrities made Tony Orlando & Dawn's 1970s variety show a hit with fans and stars of host Orlando and his partners Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent. Highlights of the collection include appearances by Jackie Gleason, Jerry Lewis, Sid Caesar, Joey Bishop, Anne Meara, Freddie Prinze and the gang from "Hee Haw," as well as musical numbers such as "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree."

1974 NR 3 discs

Disc 1:
Episode 1: 3.25 stars (Dale-3.75,David-2.75)
Episode 2: 3.88 stars (Dale-3.75, David-4)
Episode 3: 2.5 stars
Episode 4: 2.88 stars (Dale-3, David-2.75)

Disc 2:
Episode 1: Original CBS Airdate: November 5, 1975
Starring: Tony Orlando, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent-Wilson
Guest Stars: Phyllis Diller and Neil Sedaka
Special Guest Star: Jim Nabors
Opening Song: "What The World Needs Now"
Song: "Hank Williams Medley" - Performed by: Tony and Jim Nabors
Sketch: Lou Effy and Moreen - "Police Informants" - Telma, Joyce and other cast
Song: "Bad Blood" - Performed by: Neil Sedaka
Comedy Routine: Phyllis Diller
Musical Sketch: "A Salute To Great Ships of Film History" - Starring: The Entire Cast
Concert Spot: Imitating Humphrey Bogart - Song: "Dinah Won't You Blow Your Horn"
3.75 stars (Dale-4, David-3.5)

Episode 2: Original CBS Airdate: November 19, 1975
Starring: Tony Orlando, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent-Wilson
Guest Star: Adrienne Barbeau
Special Guest Star: Freddie Prinze
Opening Song: "I Got The Music In Me" - Performed by: Freddie and Dawn
Comedy Routine: Freddie Prinze
Tony's Fantasy: "Rudolph Valentino" - Song: "The Shiek Of Arubi" - Tony and Dawn
Song: "That Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady" - Performed by: Telma and Joyce
Song: "If They Could See Us Now" - Performed by: Telma, Joyce and Adrienne
Sketch: "The Road To Puerto Rico" - Tony, Freddie, Adrienne and Alice Dunn
Closing Song: "Down By The Riverside"
3.75 stars (Dale-3.5, David-4)

Episode 3: Original CBS Airdate: January 14, 1976
Starring: Tony Orlando, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent-Wilson
Guest Star: Buck Owens and The Buckaroos and The Hee Haw Gang
Tony Orlando and Dawn Salutes - "Hee Haw"
Opening Song: "Gentle On My Mind"
What Tony went through to get Buck on the show - Tony, Telma, Joyce, Buck and some of the Hee Haw Gang
Sketch: "The Hee Haw Gang's Tour of Hollywood" - Chinese Theater/Hollywood and Vine/Freddies of Hollywood
Song: "Big John Law" - Performed by: Buck Owens and The Buckaroos
Song: "When Will I Be Loved" - Performed by: Telma and Joyce
Comedy Sketch: "The Strawberry Patch" - Tony, Telma, Joyce and The Hee Haw Gang
Sketch: "Country Fashion Freak-Out" - Starring: The Entire Cast
Closing Song: "Hold That Tiger" - Tony, Telma, Joyce and Buck
Concert Spot: "You All Come/She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain" - Tony teaches Junior the "Orango Tango"
2.75 stars (Dale-3, David-2.5)

Episode 4: Original CBS Airdate: February 18, 1976
Starring: Tony Orlando, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent-Wilson
Guest Stars: Joey Bishop, Sid Ceasar
Special Guest Star: Milton Berle
Opening Song: "Comedy Tonight" - (performed with guests)
Tony asks Joey and Milton for advice - How to deal with hecklers
Song: "Theme From Mahogany" - Performed by: Telma and Joyce
Sketch: "The Art Of Elegant Dining" - Tony, Sid and other cast
Song: "Cupid" - Perfomed by: Tony and Dawn
Sketch: A Japanese P.O.W. Camp - Sid Ceasar and Joey Bishop
Sketch: "Streetcar Named Desire" - Sid Ceasar, Alice Dunn and Milton Berle
Sketch: A scene from: "Treasure of Sierra Madre" - Tony, Sid, Milton and Joey
3.5 stars (Dale-4, David-3)

Disc 3:
Episode 1: Original CBS Airdate: March 3, 1976
Starring: Tony Orlando, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent-Wilson
Guest Star: Anne Meara
Special Guest Star: Jerry Lewis
Opening Song: "That's Good News"
Sketch: "Lewis and Orlando" - Starring: Tony and Jerry
Sketch: Lou Effy and Moreen - "Moreen's Secret Lover" - Telma, Joyce and Kristoff St. John
Song and Dance: "Flings Are Wonderful Things" - Alice Dunn and dancers
Sketch: Commercials Directed By Famous Hollywood Directors - "Crunch" / "Head and Neck" / "Sleep It Off" - Tony, Telma, Joyce and Anne
Tony introduces the show's conductor, Robert "Bob" Rozario
Song: "I Write The Songs" - Performed by: Tony and Rozie
4.25 stars (Dale-4.5, David-4)

Episode 2: Original CBS Airdate: September 21, 1976
Starring: Tony Orlando, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent-Wilson
Guest Star: George Carlin
Special Guest Star: Alice Cooper
Opening Song: "Rainbow In Your Eyes"
Sketch: "Latino Escort Service" - Tony and other cast member
Song: "Theme From Mahogany" - Performed by: Joyce
Sketch: "A Teenager" - Starring: Edie McClurg
Song: "Up The Lazy River" - Performed by: Tony
Sketch: "Newer, Tougher American Tourists" - Starring: Telma and other cast members
"Time For George" - George Carlin
Song: "Blue Finger Lou" - Performed by: Telma and Joyce
Sketch: Lou Effy and Moreen - "Harold Moves In" - Telma, Joyce and Adam Wade
Song: "You Make Me Feel Brand New" - Performed by: Tony and Dawn
Sketch: "To Tell The Truth" - Tony, Telma, Joyce, Alice and other cast
Song: "Give The Kid A Break" - Performed by: Alice Cooper
Closing Song: "It's Alright"
3.13 stars (Dale-3.5, David-2.75)

Episode 3: Original CBS Airdate: October 5, 1976
Starring: Tony Orlando, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent-Wilson
Guest Stars: George Carlin and England Dan and John Ford Coley
Special Guest Star: Freddie Prinze
Opening Song: "Someone's Knockin' At The Door"
Sketch: "Gross Out Press" - Starring: Freddie Prinze
Song: "When The Party's Over" - Performed by: Tony (Dawn) and Freddie
Freddie discusses his pay with Tony
Sketch: "A Teenager" - Starring: Edie McClurg
Sketch: An Unbelievable Rock Concert - Starring: Tony and another cast member
Song: "Sad Eyes" - Performed by: Telma and Joyce
"Time For George" - Words - George Carlin
Sketch: Pennance - Freddie Prinze and other cast member
Song: "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight" - Performed by: England Dan and John Ford Coley
Sketch: "Rainbow Wrap-Up" - "A Step Forward In Race Relations/Conserving Energy/An Encouraging Word For Compulsive Smokers" - Starring: Entire Cast
Sketch: "A Mixed Marriage" - Starring: Telma and Freddie
Sketch: "The Greatest Courtroom Trial In British History"
Closing Song: "Nothin' From Nothin'" - Performed by: Tony and Dawn
4.25 stars (Dale-4, David-4.5)

Extras: 4 stars


Collection: 3.49 stars