Variety show hosted by singing group The Hudson Brothers.Variety show hosted by singing group The Hudson Brothers.Variety show hosted by singing group The Hudson Brothers.
Browse episodes
Featured reviews
It's easy to confuse the three series done by the Hudson Brothers, since they were done so long ago.
That's a lot of amazing information, "rcj5365"!
I think your memory has lumped all three series together, though. Mine had too, so I had to do a bit of digging to sort them out.
I just got the DVD box set of all 16 episodes of "Razzle Dazzle" (which includes some bonus material from the Hudson Brothers' prime-time summer variety show, which led to the Saturday morning series, "Razzle Dazzle", and "Bonkers"). This is what I learned from it, and from a bit of digging on my own:
The prime-time summer replacement variety series included the Hudsons, Ronny Graham, Stephanie Edwards, announcer Gary Owens, and guest stars like McLean Stevenson and Danny Thomas. None of the bonus material on the DVDs includes any mention of Katie McClure, so I can't determine if she was on the series or not. One segment from this series was included in an episode of "Razzle Dazzle", in the form of a film "projected" by Rod Hull (with the usual "help" from Emu). In it, Rod & Emu appear as guests on a talk show hosted by McLean Stevenson & his announcer Gary Owens. This series introduced the caricature logo of the Hudson Brothers.
"Razzle Dazzle" was made in Toronto, Canada, and featured Hudsons, plus Billy Van, Peter Cullen, Murray Langston, Freeman King (all formerly of "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour"), Avril Chown (of the original Canadian production of "Godspell", which had included Victor Garber, Gilda Radner, and many other future stars), Rod Hull & Emu, Scott Fisher (as Fabulous Freddie), and an uncredited Jack Duffy in various supporting roles. I'm still trying to find out who physically played "The Bear", although I know that Peter Cullen did the voice. This series used the same caricature logo, as the summer series did---which could be why it's often confused with the other series.
"Bonkers" was made in the UK, and syndicated to North America. It included the Hudsons, along with Bob Monkhouse and several other regular cast members. I haven't been able to screen any episodes, so I can't determine any other cast members, or whether it also used the caricature logo.
One more little correction...
Although "Tony Orlando & Dawn" used animated opening titles by John Wilson (the same animator who did titles & bumpers for "Sonny & Cher" and "Razzle Dazzle"), this series was produced by Saul Ilson & Ernest Chambers. I think, at that time, CBS was trying for a uniform look with the opening titles & bumpers for its variety shows, which could be why so many of them used John Wilson's animation.
Wilson also did animated music videos (including "Dark Lady", "Bad Bad Leroy Brown", "Brand New Key", and "Black & White") for "Sonny & Cher". But his most famous work was the opening titles for the movie "Grease". If you look really hard, you can find a VHS tape of his animated music videos, but it's now quite rare and very expensive.
I think your memory has lumped all three series together, though. Mine had too, so I had to do a bit of digging to sort them out.
I just got the DVD box set of all 16 episodes of "Razzle Dazzle" (which includes some bonus material from the Hudson Brothers' prime-time summer variety show, which led to the Saturday morning series, "Razzle Dazzle", and "Bonkers"). This is what I learned from it, and from a bit of digging on my own:
The prime-time summer replacement variety series included the Hudsons, Ronny Graham, Stephanie Edwards, announcer Gary Owens, and guest stars like McLean Stevenson and Danny Thomas. None of the bonus material on the DVDs includes any mention of Katie McClure, so I can't determine if she was on the series or not. One segment from this series was included in an episode of "Razzle Dazzle", in the form of a film "projected" by Rod Hull (with the usual "help" from Emu). In it, Rod & Emu appear as guests on a talk show hosted by McLean Stevenson & his announcer Gary Owens. This series introduced the caricature logo of the Hudson Brothers.
"Razzle Dazzle" was made in Toronto, Canada, and featured Hudsons, plus Billy Van, Peter Cullen, Murray Langston, Freeman King (all formerly of "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour"), Avril Chown (of the original Canadian production of "Godspell", which had included Victor Garber, Gilda Radner, and many other future stars), Rod Hull & Emu, Scott Fisher (as Fabulous Freddie), and an uncredited Jack Duffy in various supporting roles. I'm still trying to find out who physically played "The Bear", although I know that Peter Cullen did the voice. This series used the same caricature logo, as the summer series did---which could be why it's often confused with the other series.
"Bonkers" was made in the UK, and syndicated to North America. It included the Hudsons, along with Bob Monkhouse and several other regular cast members. I haven't been able to screen any episodes, so I can't determine any other cast members, or whether it also used the caricature logo.
One more little correction...
Although "Tony Orlando & Dawn" used animated opening titles by John Wilson (the same animator who did titles & bumpers for "Sonny & Cher" and "Razzle Dazzle"), this series was produced by Saul Ilson & Ernest Chambers. I think, at that time, CBS was trying for a uniform look with the opening titles & bumpers for its variety shows, which could be why so many of them used John Wilson's animation.
Wilson also did animated music videos (including "Dark Lady", "Bad Bad Leroy Brown", "Brand New Key", and "Black & White") for "Sonny & Cher". But his most famous work was the opening titles for the movie "Grease". If you look really hard, you can find a VHS tape of his animated music videos, but it's now quite rare and very expensive.
The show's theme song:
ITS TIME TO RAZZLE DAZZLE,TIME TO GET DOWN RAZZLE,DAZZLE--TIME TO BOOGIE Y'ALL RAZZLE DAZZLE-GET UP ON YOUR FEET AND RAZZLE DAZZLE!!!!
Blye and Bearde Productions,the same production company that was behind the scenes of the successful 1970's prime-time CBS variety series "The Sonny and Cher Show"(CBS,1970-1974) and also did the prime-time variety series "The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show"(also was on CBS from 1972-76) were the producers for this short-lived variety series that was part of CBS' Saturday Morning Schedule for three seasons from its premiere telecast on September 7,1974 until the final episode in repeated episodes on April 3,1977. However,only the first season of "The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show" of the 1974-75 season were original episodes,while seasons two and three were repeated episodes from the first season. However,this show premiered after another short-lived that followed it also premiered the same time this show did as well,"The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine"-which was also a live-action variety series featuring the Harlem Globetrotters along with one of the hottest child stars of the 1970's--Rodney Allen Rippy.
Getting back to The Hudson Brothers Show from the mid-1970's......
The Hudson Brothers debuted as a summer nightmare series that ran in prime-time on CBS-TV from July 31,1974-August 28,1974. On the strength of that series,the show quickly made the jump from prime time to the overall abyss of Saturday Mornings. The show however,was taped in Toronto,Canada(and was produced there as well)then was transferred with much of the cast to the Saturday morning schedule that was due to the believed appeal of variety shows that were made especially for children,and the Hudson Brothers show was just that. It had basically the same comic writers that wrote for "Sonny and Cher" not to mention the same comic "bumpers" Sonny and Cher did between light songs by the Hudson trio,who were related to each other not to mention some of the goofy sketches(for example,Rod Hull had a hand-puppet emu,which attacked any cast member that made fun of it). The show itself was very quick pace since "The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show" was a mixture of "Laugh-In" by way of "Sonny and Cher" with a mixture of the mischief that came from The Marx Brothers movies of the 1930's. Speaking of the cast members which consists of the brothers themselves from oldest to youngest--Bill,Mark,and Brett)along with Stephanie Edwards,Ronny Graham,and Katie McClure. Not to mention getting former "Laugh-In" regular Gary Owens as the announcer and MC duties as part of the cast. Several guest stars did appear on this show including one episode that featured Sonny Bono in a musical number with the trio and another featuring Don Rickles and the one and only Carol Burnett(in a rare Saturday Morning appearance).
But despite the quick pace of the show which became confusing sometimes ended its run on the Saturday Morning schedule for CBS on August 30,1975. Because of this the network switched the show from Saturday Mornings to Sunday Mornings from September 12,1976-April 3,1977 in repeated episodes from the first season. After April 3,1977,the show and the trio were never heard from again. However,as a bit of trivia,one of the brothers,the middle one Mark went on to become one of the songwriters for the heavy metal rock group Aerosmith. The show was replaced for the 1977-1978 season,by one of the biggest colossal failures ever in the history of Saturday Mornings-Skatebirds!
ITS TIME TO RAZZLE DAZZLE,TIME TO GET DOWN RAZZLE,DAZZLE--TIME TO BOOGIE Y'ALL RAZZLE DAZZLE-GET UP ON YOUR FEET AND RAZZLE DAZZLE!!!!
Blye and Bearde Productions,the same production company that was behind the scenes of the successful 1970's prime-time CBS variety series "The Sonny and Cher Show"(CBS,1970-1974) and also did the prime-time variety series "The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show"(also was on CBS from 1972-76) were the producers for this short-lived variety series that was part of CBS' Saturday Morning Schedule for three seasons from its premiere telecast on September 7,1974 until the final episode in repeated episodes on April 3,1977. However,only the first season of "The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show" of the 1974-75 season were original episodes,while seasons two and three were repeated episodes from the first season. However,this show premiered after another short-lived that followed it also premiered the same time this show did as well,"The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine"-which was also a live-action variety series featuring the Harlem Globetrotters along with one of the hottest child stars of the 1970's--Rodney Allen Rippy.
Getting back to The Hudson Brothers Show from the mid-1970's......
The Hudson Brothers debuted as a summer nightmare series that ran in prime-time on CBS-TV from July 31,1974-August 28,1974. On the strength of that series,the show quickly made the jump from prime time to the overall abyss of Saturday Mornings. The show however,was taped in Toronto,Canada(and was produced there as well)then was transferred with much of the cast to the Saturday morning schedule that was due to the believed appeal of variety shows that were made especially for children,and the Hudson Brothers show was just that. It had basically the same comic writers that wrote for "Sonny and Cher" not to mention the same comic "bumpers" Sonny and Cher did between light songs by the Hudson trio,who were related to each other not to mention some of the goofy sketches(for example,Rod Hull had a hand-puppet emu,which attacked any cast member that made fun of it). The show itself was very quick pace since "The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show" was a mixture of "Laugh-In" by way of "Sonny and Cher" with a mixture of the mischief that came from The Marx Brothers movies of the 1930's. Speaking of the cast members which consists of the brothers themselves from oldest to youngest--Bill,Mark,and Brett)along with Stephanie Edwards,Ronny Graham,and Katie McClure. Not to mention getting former "Laugh-In" regular Gary Owens as the announcer and MC duties as part of the cast. Several guest stars did appear on this show including one episode that featured Sonny Bono in a musical number with the trio and another featuring Don Rickles and the one and only Carol Burnett(in a rare Saturday Morning appearance).
But despite the quick pace of the show which became confusing sometimes ended its run on the Saturday Morning schedule for CBS on August 30,1975. Because of this the network switched the show from Saturday Mornings to Sunday Mornings from September 12,1976-April 3,1977 in repeated episodes from the first season. After April 3,1977,the show and the trio were never heard from again. However,as a bit of trivia,one of the brothers,the middle one Mark went on to become one of the songwriters for the heavy metal rock group Aerosmith. The show was replaced for the 1977-1978 season,by one of the biggest colossal failures ever in the history of Saturday Mornings-Skatebirds!
This was one of those shows that stuck out in the 1970's. The Hudson's were pretty much promoted as a combination bubble gum act/Marx Brothers act. The brothers had a prime time summer variety series and it pretty much was decided to move the boys to Saturday mornings where their talents would be more in line with the audience they were trying to reach. However, this was a pretty good show. It was a combination of "Laugh In" and "American Bandstand". The brothers, Bill, Brett and Mark, showed off both their musical and comedic talents backed with a great ensemble cast. Also, this was one of the few shows that were on during that year that didn't try to be overly preachy and try to teach the kiddies how to be good little boys and girls. This is definite lost gem of the 1970's.
The cut away from Family Guy animated show lasted FOREVER so had to check!! Lol
There was a time when kids shows were made for children for the purpose of entertainment and only entertainment. This is one of them. Where other shows were all about teaching you moral lessons or the alphabet, this show just wanted to entertain and make you laugh.
Big Bill, Middle Mark and Baby Brett made up the Hudson Brothers. They were a musical act that enjoyed some moderate success with a prime time variety show played for laughs and then a year later moved it to Saturday mornings as a kids show. The format was pretty much the same with the exception of a lack of guest star. They'd play a musical number, there would be sketches, they'd sing another song and the ending with bad jokes before they all piled into the van and drove off.
It's an interesting little time capsule that brings back feelings of nostalgia. The entire series is out on DVD meaning it's possible to see it again or for the first time if you missed it when it first ran.
Big Bill, Middle Mark and Baby Brett made up the Hudson Brothers. They were a musical act that enjoyed some moderate success with a prime time variety show played for laughs and then a year later moved it to Saturday mornings as a kids show. The format was pretty much the same with the exception of a lack of guest star. They'd play a musical number, there would be sketches, they'd sing another song and the ending with bad jokes before they all piled into the van and drove off.
It's an interesting little time capsule that brings back feelings of nostalgia. The entire series is out on DVD meaning it's possible to see it again or for the first time if you missed it when it first ran.
Did you know
- TriviaThe entire 2 minute, 38 second introductory promo played in a "cutaway" scene on And Then There's Fraud (2021).
- ConnectionsFeatured in Les Griffin: And Then There's Fraud (2021)
Details
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content