The Bobby Vinton Show
Encyclopedia
The Bobby Vinton Show was a Canadian musical variety television series produced for the CTV Television Network
between 1975 and 1978, with a total of 52 episodes broadcast. Starring Bobby Vinton
, a best selling pop singer since the early 1960s, the series mixed comedy skits with musical interludes. Appearing on the series as a regular was comedian Billy Van
. The series often played up Vinton's Polish
heritage, and its theme song was an "umpah band" rendition of his 1974 hit "My Melody of Love
" (Vinton also ended each episode by performing the song himself). The series was created by Chris Bearde
and produced by Chuck Barris
.
The series was syndicated
to local stations in the United States, although the show's entry in the user-edited Internet Movie Database
suggests it may also have been aired by CBS
in 1975 (though CBS did air his one-hour special, Bobby Vinton's Rock N' Rollers, in 1978).
The series also spawned a 1975 soundtrack album on ABC Records
; see The Bobby Vinton Show (album)
.
Guests appearing on the show included: Ethel Merman, Ted Knight, Barbara Walters, Phyllis Diller, O.J. Simpson, The Spinners, Donna Summer, Petula Clark, Laine Kazan, Foster Brooks, Anne Murray, Jessica Walter, John Byner, Arte Johnson, Loretta Swit, Tanya Tucker, Clifton Davis, Adrienne Barbeau, Charlie Callas, Hank Garcia and Henny Youngman.
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
between 1975 and 1978, with a total of 52 episodes broadcast. Starring Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton is an American pop music singer of Polish origin. In pop music circles, he became known as "The Polish Prince".-Early life:...
, a best selling pop singer since the early 1960s, the series mixed comedy skits with musical interludes. Appearing on the series as a regular was comedian Billy Van
Billy Van
William Allan Van Evera, , known by the stage name Billy Van, was a Canadian comedian, actor and singer.-Biography:...
. The series often played up Vinton's Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
heritage, and its theme song was an "umpah band" rendition of his 1974 hit "My Melody of Love
My Melody of Love
"My Melody of Love" is the title of a popular song from 1974 by the American singer Bobby Vinton. Vinton adapted his song from a German song composed by Henry Mayer, and it appears on Vinton's album Melodies of Love....
" (Vinton also ended each episode by performing the song himself). The series was created by Chris Bearde
Chris Bearde
Chris Bearde is a comedy writer, producer and director best known for his work as a writer on the '60s zeitgeist hit Laugh In and for co-writing and producing TV specials for Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, Sonny and Cher, Bill Cosby, Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, Andy Williams, The Jackson Five, The...
and produced by Chuck Barris
Chuck Barris
Charles Hirsch "Chuck" Barris is an American game show producer, film director and presenter best known for hosting The Gong Show and creating The Dating Game. Barris, a survivor of lung cancer, is also an author and claims to have worked for the CIA.-Early career:Barris was born in Oakland, New...
.
The series was syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
to local stations in the United States, although the show's entry in the user-edited Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
suggests it may also have been aired by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in 1975 (though CBS did air his one-hour special, Bobby Vinton's Rock N' Rollers, in 1978).
The series also spawned a 1975 soundtrack album on ABC Records
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
; see The Bobby Vinton Show (album)
The Bobby Vinton Show (album)
The Bobby Vinton Show was Bobby Vinton's twenty-seventh studio album and his third studio album for ABC Records. It was released in 1975. It features 13 songs that were sung by Vinton on his half-hour variety show of the same name...
.
Guests appearing on the show included: Ethel Merman, Ted Knight, Barbara Walters, Phyllis Diller, O.J. Simpson, The Spinners, Donna Summer, Petula Clark, Laine Kazan, Foster Brooks, Anne Murray, Jessica Walter, John Byner, Arte Johnson, Loretta Swit, Tanya Tucker, Clifton Davis, Adrienne Barbeau, Charlie Callas, Hank Garcia and Henny Youngman.