Ep 64: 70's Variety Shows

To celebrate the holidays and ring in the new year CFX is rolling it all out: Songs! Elaborate Dance Routines! Corny Banter! Skits! Sketches! Disco! Ice Skating! Washed up old celebrities! Sid and Marty Kroft! Fred Silverman! Uncle Milty’s schlong! The 70s! That’s right, the CFX Holiday 2025 70s Variety Show Spectacular is here. In this episode, we wipe away the cobwebs on what essentially is an extinct TV show phenomenon, focusing on four shows in particular: two that were very successful and two that were generally recognized as fiascos. We find out why this type of show was at once so popular but then seemed to die at the end of the decade. Where other once popular phenomena such as the Western and the Musical, have come back over the years, the Variety Show, despite some valiant attempts, seems pretty much dead in the dirt. Why the fuck is that? Well, we’ll tell you and, along the way, we’ll learn… What was the recurring Variety Show sketch that a young Eddie Vedder sang along with every night Which ‘70s celebrity didn’t date Cher (we still don’t know) Which ‘80s rock guitarist was too ashamed to admit he played on a Donnie Osmond album Who made up the cast of the lost, all gay ‘70s Wizard of Oz remake What 70’s variety show was widely considered to be one of the worst things ever to air on TV Why Jerry Lewis was even less funny than you remember The depths of hell Jeff is willing to endure in order to entertain our “fan” in revisiting a reviled and horrific musical duo And, finally, we have a visit from a wizened special guest who brings some holiday cheer and advice both romantic and hygienic Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.