The ABC Comedy Hour

The ABC Comedy Hour

1972
The ABC Comedy Hour
The ABC Comedy Hour

The ABC Comedy Hour

7.9 | en |

The ABC Comedy Hour is an American television variety series that aired on ABC in 1972. Seven of the 13 episodes featured a guest host and a team of comedy impressionists known as The Kopycats. Guest hosts included Steve Lawrence, Orson Welles, Ed Sullivan, Raymond Burr, Robert Young, Debbie Reynolds and Tony Curtis. The remaining six episodes were variety specials and included two Friars Club roasts and a revival of the musical Hellzapoppin' starring Jack Cassidy. The show originally aired on Wednesday at 8:30 PM. Summer reruns of the seven Kopycats episodes were aired under the title The ABC Comedy Hour Presents the Kopycats. The same episodes aired in Great Britain simply as The Kopycats.

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Seasons & Episodes

1
EP13  Show 13
Apr. 05,1972
Show 13

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EP12  Show 12
Mar. 29,1972
Show 12

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EP11  Show 11
Mar. 22,1972
Show 11

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EP10  Show 10
Mar. 15,1972
Show 10

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EP9  Show 9
Mar. 08,1972
Show 9

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EP8  Show 8
Mar. 01,1972
Show 8

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EP7  Show 7
Feb. 23,1972
Show 7

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EP6  Show 6
Feb. 16,1972
Show 6

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EP5  Show 5
Feb. 09,1972
Show 5

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EP4  Show 4
Feb. 02,1972
Show 4

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EP3  Show 3
Jan. 26,1972
Show 3

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EP2  Show 2
Jan. 19,1972
Show 2

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EP1  Show 1
Jan. 12,1972
Show 1

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7.9 | en | | More Info
Released: 1972-01-12 | Released Producted By: , Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

The ABC Comedy Hour is an American television variety series that aired on ABC in 1972. Seven of the 13 episodes featured a guest host and a team of comedy impressionists known as The Kopycats. Guest hosts included Steve Lawrence, Orson Welles, Ed Sullivan, Raymond Burr, Robert Young, Debbie Reynolds and Tony Curtis. The remaining six episodes were variety specials and included two Friars Club roasts and a revival of the musical Hellzapoppin' starring Jack Cassidy. The show originally aired on Wednesday at 8:30 PM. Summer reruns of the seven Kopycats episodes were aired under the title The ABC Comedy Hour Presents the Kopycats. The same episodes aired in Great Britain simply as The Kopycats.

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Cast

Frank Gorshin , Charlie Callas , Rich Little

Director

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Reviews

John Wayne Peel I am glad someone remembers Will Jordan's participation in this underrated show. Ever since I saw Vaughn Meader do his JFK impression, I have wanted to do impressions. People like Gorshin, Little and some lesser known impressionists like Guy Marks made it an amazing art form. Many have noted that Marilyn Michaels was the only female doing it, but Debbie Reynolds also did some incredibly good impressions like her standout Mae West and Zsa Zsa Gabor (before there was a Paris Hilton there was this crazy Hungarian "actress," and I use the term loosely, who was in the Hilton family and the source of a lot of press attention. The irony of it was that when I was in high school I talked to friends a lot about how great it would be to have a show with people doing this very kind of show. The entertainment gods must have heard my pleas. Let us hope that they will listen again and bring this to DVD.
ster2001 I remember this show fondly. Especially a show where Orson Welles was the guest host. Yes Orson Welles. I was only 8 years but I knew him as a personality not as a great director. In one skit he is the host of a mystery show, mocking his own series at the time. The show is sponsored by "Freds gas station" or something like that. He sits down and says "sit back and with a fine glass of Freds gas, enjoy" I broke up into laughter. Now I can see that he was able to mock his own persona and be funny doing it. I'll never forget that image. The show was vintage 70's skit comedy and the impersonators were the best in the business. I hope this show is brought back on DVD.
Merrick I loved this show -- it was only on for a short time but has stuck in my brain all these years. Why no one has picked up the idea since is bewildering. I don't remember the Raymond Burr sketch, but it does sound reminiscent of what they did on the show. Brilliant.I remember Marilyn Michaels being a standout -- not only because she was the only woman, but because she was so damn good! I also remember George Kirby. Amazingly, I DON'T remember Rich Little's participation, and didn't realize Fred Travalena was even performing that early.For some reason I thought that this was originated by the BBC and syndicated in the US. But it is credited as an ABC show, so perhaps my memory is not serving correctly.Producers: bring back The KopyKats..!! We need it so bad...!
SanDiego The finest impressionists in comedy skits spoofing movies and TV series was a forerunner to Saturday Night Live's parody skits. Memorable parodies included ALL IN THE FAMILY with George Kirby (an African-American) as Archie Bunker and Marilyn Michaels as Edith. Marilyn Michaels was the only woman in the group and played most female roles ranging from Gracie Allen (with Rich Little as George Burns) to Lily Tomlin to Barbara Streisand. She had a strong singing voice and made music a major part of her solo skits. Niteclub favorite Frank Gorshin (The Riddler on TV's BATMAN) was noted for doing Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, and Peter Faulk (as COLUMBO). Rich Little soon rose as the lead star and introduced new characterizations each week. Quite simply, he could do anyone. Though many of the Kopycats did the same impressions there was a real support system evident as if they belonged to a special club, which they did. In fact, "dueling impressions" was a frequent source of comedy. In one episode Raymond Burr (PERRY MASON, IRONSIDE) was the guest and each of the Kopycats surrounded Burr with their impression of him. Rich Little and Frank Gorshin were the best in the country and it was a marvel to seem them work together and with such able support from the rest of the cast. It seemed that everyone in the country was doing impressions of Rich Little doing someone else, Rich Little's Richard Nixon perhaps the most famous. Rich Little introduced young impressionist Fred Travalena on the show who seemed destined to walk in Little's shoes equally adept at comedy and singing parodies from Jim Nabors (both as squeeky Gomer Pyle and his baritone singing voice) to Glen Cambell. Impressionists have never been better or funnier.