If you go back 35 years to the late 70’s, it seemed that everyone had a variety show – and one of the best things was that they were all live. I loved watching the Carol Burnett show, and one of the best parts was that Harvey Korman could never keep a straight face once Burnett and Tim Conway got going.
Donny & Marie had an enormously popular variety show in the late 70’s based around their singing, dancing, charming personalities and wholesome images. They brought in a younger crowd than other shows and also provided an alternative to the growing seediness of the punk and disco era.
From Neatorama we get a look at their 1978 take on Star Wars. It features Redd Foxx in the Obiwan role (with references to Sanford & Son), Kris Kristofferson as a singing Han Solo, Chewbacca, C3PO and R2D2, Paul Lynde as an Imperial Officer (ala Grand Moff Tarkin), and what sounds like James Earl Jones as Darth Vader.
There are adaptations of popular songs (like a direct copy of The Temptation’s ‘Get Ready’ and John Denver’s ‘Leavin’ On a Jet Plane’), and some of the most cheesy song and dance numbers you are likely to see any time soon!
It is awesome, check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PMW4Ad8fIF4
