Dolly (1987 TV series)
Dolly is an American variety show starring Dolly Parton that aired on ABC from September 27, 1987 to May 10, 1988. Guest stars included Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, Tyne Daly, Bruce Willis, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty, Tom Selleck, the Neville Brothers, Dudley Moore, and Oprah Winfrey. Tyne Daly's appearance on the show, in which she sang a duet with Parton, directly led to Daly being cast in the lead role in the 1989 Broadway production of Gypsy.[1]
| Dolly | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for the series | |
| Created by | Dolly Parton Sandy Gallin |
| Starring | Dolly Parton |
| Opening theme | "Baby I'm Burnin'" by Dolly Parton |
| Country of origin | USA |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Nick Vanoff |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | September 27, 1987 – May 10, 1988 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Dolly (1976) |
Background
The show was an attempt at a traditional variety show, featuring music, comedy skits and various guest stars. It had been roughly a decade since the last successful variety shows, The Carol Burnett Show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and Cher had gone off the air, and it was regarded as a gamble to try to revive the genre. Banking on Parton's talent and appeal, however, ABC paid the performer a reported $44 million for a two-year contract.
Production
Though most of the show's episodes were taped in ABC's studios in Los Angeles, a number of "special" episodes were recorded on location, including one in Hawaii, one in New Orleans, one in Nashville (featuring most of the cast of the Grand Ole Opry), and a Thanksgiving episode in Parton's hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, featuring most of her extended family.
Ratings
With 39.47 million viewers, the first episode of Dolly attracted the largest audience for any television series premiere until Undercover Boss in 2010.[2] It was acknowledged that a great deal of talent and work went into producing the show, but the initially high ratings during the first few episodes steadily declined, and despite many format changes and other attempts to create interest, ratings did not improve. Halfway through the run, Parton, who retained creative control over the show, took command and jettisoned many of the lavish, splashy segments that she felt were not working in favor of a more "down home" feel. By this time, however, many of the initial viewers had already stopped watching. To bolster the odds they brought in veteran variety show writers Buddy Sheffield, John Aylesworth, Jack Burns and producer Nick Vanoff. Around this same time, Parton also hired then-relatively-unknown Brett Butler as one of the writers. Bruce Vilanch and Fannie Flagg were also on the writing staff.
Theme songs
The opening theme song was Parton's 1978 hit, "Baby I'm Burning" (later to be replaced with "Hoedown-Showdown"); as with her 1976 series, Parton closed each week with her signature song, "I Will Always Love You."
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [3] | Directed by | Written by | Original air date [3] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Don Mischer and Jeff Margolis | Fannie Flagg, Phil Hahn, Rhea Kohan, Roger Miller, Buddy Sheffield, Tom Tenowich, and Al Rogers | September 27, 1987 | |
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Guest star(s): Dudley Moore, Hulk Hogan, Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman, Oprah Winfrey, and Ed Koch Dolly speaks to the audience from her bathtub. The theme song "Baby I'm Burning" plays over the opening credits. Dolly performs "Bubbling Over", followed by the "Dolly's Date" segment with Dudley Moore. In retaliation at the tabloids that claimed she would wed a 300-pound wrestler, Dolly wrote a song titled "Headlock on My Heart" about marrying a wrestler and got Hulk Hogan to appear in the video. Dolly and Acapella sing "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind". Dolly pays a visit to Pee Wee's Playhouse and the duo sing "Hey Good Lookin'". The "Solo in the Spotlight" segment features Dolly singing "Someone to Watch Over Me" from the play Crazy for You. Dolly chats with Oprah Winfrey which leads to a skit with Dolly playing a ditzy actress auditioning for the play Porgy and Bess. Dolly sneaks up on NYC Mayor Ed Koch during the "Out and About" segment. Dolly sings "Coat of Many Colors" during the "My Tennessee Mountain Home" segment. Dolly hosts a Q&A session with the studio audience. Dolly and Oprah sing "This Little Light of Mine" with a choir. Dolly closes the show by singing "I Will Always Love You", followed by the closing credits. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Jeff Margolis | Fannie Flagg, Phil Hahn, Rhea Kohan, Roger Miller, and Buddy Sheffield | October 4, 1987 | |
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Guest star(s): Burt Reynolds, Alabama, and Whoopi Goldberg Dolly gives an opening introduction from her bathtub. The theme song "Baby I'm Burning" plays over the opening credits. Dolly's opens the show with "Savin' It for You" from her new album Rainbow. Burt Reynolds is Dolly's guest for the "Dolly's Date" segment. Dolly and Acapella sing "Holdin' on to You". During the "Out and About" segment Dolly gets to spend the day at a fire station and ride on a firetruck. Alabama perform their song "Chosen Few". During the "Solo in the Spotlight" segment Dolly sings "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". The "Vanity Fair" segment follows where Dolly tries to talk fourteen and a half year old valley girl Whoopi Goldberg out of getting into a van with a guy, but she only succeeds in talking her out of a haircut. Dolly begins the "My Tennessee Mountain Home" segment by singing the title song. She is then joined by Alabama and they sing "I Saw the Light" and "Play Me Some Mountain Music" together, followed by Dolly singing "Tiptoe, Tiptoe Little Dolly Parton". Dolly and Acapella sing "Look on the Bright Side", and then Dolly hosts a Q&A session with the studio audience. Dolly sings the Biblical song "My Name Is Jonah" with a group of children. The show closes with Dolly singing "I Will Always Love You", followed by the closing credits. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Jeff Margolis | Fannie Flagg, Phil Hahn, Rhea Kohan, Roger Miller, Buddy Sheffield | October 11, 1987 | |
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Guest star(s): Bruce Willis, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and Daniel Rosen Dolly gives an introduction from her bathtub. The theme song "Baby I'm Burning" plays over the opening credits. The show opens with Dolly singing "The Fire That Keeps You Warm". Bruce Willis is Dolly's guest for the "Dolly's Date" segment and they sing a bit of "Under the Boardwalk". Dolly begins the "My Tennessee Mountain Home" segment by singing the title song, she then introduces Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. The Trio sing "My Dear Companion", "Hobo's Meditation", and "Those Memories of You". A new segment titled "Dixie's Place" features Dolly working in a diner where she sings "Hollywood Potters". Acapella sing "Jukebox Saturday Night". The "Out and About" segment follows Dolly to Yankee Stadium to visit with the New York Yankees. A new segment titled "The Novelty Club" follows featuring Daniel Rosen. Dolly hosts a Q&A session with the studio audience. Dolly closes the show by singing "I Will Always Love You", followed by the closing credits. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Episode 4" | TBA | TBA | October 18, 1987 | |
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Guest star(s): Patti LaBelle, Patrick Duffy, Christine Ebersole, and the Flying Karamazov Brothers Dolly speaks to the audience from her bathtub. The theme song "Baby I'm Burning" plays over the opening credits. Dolly opens the show by singing "A Better Place to Live". Patrick Duffy is Dolly's guest for the "Dolly's Date" segment. Dolly and Acapella sing "Shattered Image". Patti LaBelle sings "I've Been Loving You Too Long". After the song Patti and Dolly have a conversation. The "Dixie's Place" segment follows, featuring Christine Ebersole and she and Dolly sing "Sittin' on the Front Porch Swing". Dolly begins the "My Tennessee Mountain Home" segment by singing the title song, before singing "Traveling Man". Dolly introduces the Flying Karamazov Brothers and then sings a short version of "Great Balls of Fire" towards the end of their act. Dolly and Acapella sing "Look on the Bright Side" and then Dolly has a Q&A session with the studio audience. Patti LaBelle returns to sing "Up Above My Head" with Dolly. The show closes with Dolly singing "I Will Always Love You", followed by the closing credits. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Don Mischer and Jeff Margolis | Fannie Flagg, Phil Hahn, Rhea Kohan, Roger Miller, and Buddy Sheffield | October 25, 1987 | |
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Guest star(s): Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Delta Burke, Terence Trent D'Arby, and the Oak Ridge Boys Dolly speaks to the audience from her bathtub. The theme song "Baby I'm Burning" plays over the opening credits. The show opens with Dolly singing "How Does It Feel". Kermit the Frog is Dolly's guest for the "Dolly's Date" segment and they sing "Everyday People". The Oak Ridge Boys perform "This Crazy Love". Delta Burke guest stars with Dolly in the "Vanity Fair" segment. Terence Trent D'Arby performs "If You Let Me Stay". During the "Dixie's Diner" segment Dolly performs "A Cowboy's Ways". Dolly begins the "My Tennessee Mountain Home" segment by singing the title song, before singing "Elvira" and "Swing Down Sweet Chariot" / "Have a Little Talk with Jesus" with the Oak Ridge Boys. Dolly and Acapella sing "Look on the Bright Side" and then Dolly has a Q&A session with the studio audience. Dolly performs "Oh, No!" with a group of children. The show closes with Dolly singing "I Will Always Love You", followed by the closing credits. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Don Mischer and Jeff Margolis | Fannie Flagg, Phil Hahn, Rhea Kohan, Roger Miller, Buddy Sheffield, Al Rogers, and Tom Tenowich | November 1, 1987 | |
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Guest star(s): Ned Beatty, Jackée Harry, Jon Lovitz, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers The show opens with Dolly performing "Don't Stop Dreaming". Jackée Harry joins Dolly for the "Vanity Fair" segment and they perform "Here You Come Again". Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform "Think About Me". Dolly performs "Night Life" for the "Solo in the Spotlight" segment. Ned Beatty guest stars in the "Dixie's Diner" segment and Dolly performs "I'm a Drifter". Jon Lovitz is Dolly's guest for the "Dolly's Date" segment. Dolly begins the "My Tennessee Mountain Home" segment by singing the title song, she then sings "Appalachian Memories". Mat Plendl performs for the second installment of "The Novelty Club". Dolly and Acapella sing "Look on the Bright Side" and then Dolly has a Q&A session with the studio audience. Dolly performs "The Seeker". The show closes with Dolly singing "I Will Always Love You", followed by the closing credits. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "A Tennessee Mountain Thanksgiving" | Don Mischer | Dolly Parton and Buz Kohan | November 8, 1987 | |
| Dolly speaks to the audience from her bathtub. The episode opens with Dolly performing "My Tennessee Mountain Home" on the front porch of the Tennessee Mountain Home where she grew up, interspersed with footage of the Smoky Mountains. Dolly attends Dolly Day in downtown Sevierville, Tennessee. The Gatlinburg-Pittman-Seymour High School and Sevierville High School bands perform "9 to 5" at the ceremony. Dolly talks to a few of her classmates before performing "Mountain Magic". Dolly gives a small tour of Dollywood, highlighting the rides, crafts, and entertainment. She then performs "Rocky Top", followed by "In the Pines" with her brothers, Randy and Floyd. Dolly walks through the fields surrounding the Tennessee Mountian Home and talks about growing up there. She then joins her parents, Lee and Avie Lee Parton, on the front porch and they reminisce about their memories of living there. Dolly performs "In the Good Old Days" (When Times Were Bad)". Dolly gives a tour of Craftsman's Valley at Dollywood and performs "Poor Folks Town". Dolly's introduces her uncle, John Henry Owens III. Her aunt Dorothy Jo Owens performs "Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man" with Dolly providing backing vocals and various other family members also performing. Dolly performs "On Top of Old Smoky" with her sisters, Stella and Frieda, in front of the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Chapel. Inside the chapel, Dolly and her extended family perform "In the Sweet By-and-By". Dolly's grandfather, Jake Owens, leads the group in a verse of "Amazing Grace" and "At the Cross". Dolly then performs "The Better Part of Life" with her siblings. Dolly closes the episode by performing "I Will Always Love You". | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Episode 8" | Louis J. Horvitz | Fannie Flagg, Phil Hahn, Rhea Kohan, Roger Miller, Tom Perew, Buddy Sheffield, and Bruce Vilanch | November 15, 1987 | |
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Guest star(s): Juice Newton, Jerry Reed, and Frank Oz as Miss Piggy. Miss Piggy speaks to the audience from Dolly's bathtub. The theme song "Baby I'm Burning" plays over the opening credits. The show opens with Dolly performing "Could I Have Your Autograph". Dolly attends a Hollywood party. Miss Piggy takes over Dolly's dressing room and plots ways to get Dolly off the show before Dolly arrives and they perform "Friendship". Juice Newton performs "Tell Me True" and then Dolly joins her for "Ride 'Em Cowboy". Jerry Reed guest stars in the "Dixie's Diner" segment and Dolly performs "Down". Miss Piggy performs "Someone to Watch Over Me" for the "Solo in the Spotlight" segment, before being interrupted by a producer. Dolly performs "Hoedown Showdown" and then hosts a short Q&A session with the audience. Jerry Reed and Dolly perform "She Got the Goldmine" and then Juice Newton joins them for "Oh, Lonesome Me". The show closes with Dolly singing "I Will Always Love You". | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Episode 9" | Louis J. Horvitz | John Aylesworth, Phil Hahn, Rhea Kohan, Tom Perew, Buddy Sheffield, and Bruce Vilanch | November 22, 1987 | |
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Guest star(s): The Smothers Brothers, Allyce Beasley, Louis Nye, and Willie Nelson The show opens with Dolly performing "Hoedown Showdown, followed by "Two Doors Down". Dolly then hosts a short Q&A session with the audience. Dolly and Acapalla perform "This Old House". The Smothers Brothers perform a short acapella song for Dolly. Dolly gives Allyce Beasley a tour of the set while the Smothers Brothers do a comedy sketch. Willie Nelson performs "Stardust" and is then joined by Dolly and they perform a medley of "Crazy", "Funny How Time Slips Away", "On the Road Again", "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain", and "Family Bible". Dolly and Allyce Beasley go on a double date with the Smothers Brothers for the final "Dolly's Date" segment. Willie Nelson performs "Still Is Still Moving" before being joined on stage by Dolly, Allyce Beasley, and the Smothers Brothers for "To All the Girls I've Loved Before". The show closes with Dolly performing "I Will Always Love You". | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "A Down Home Country Christmas" | TBA | TBA | November 29, 1987 | |
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| 11 | 11 | "Episode 11" | TBA | TBA | January 5, 1988 | |
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| 12 | 12 | "Episode 12" | TBA | TBA | January 12, 1988 | |
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| 13 | 13 | "Episode 13" | TBA | TBA | January 19, 1988 | |
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| 14 | 14 | "Episode 14" | TBA | TBA | January 23, 1988 | |
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| 15 | 15 | "Episode 15" | TBA | TBA | January 30, 1988 | |
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| 16 | 16 | "My Hawaii" | TBA | TBA | February 6, 1988 | |
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| 17 | 17 | "Episode 17" | TBA | TBA | February 13, 1988 | |
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| 18 | 18 | "Nashville Memories" | TBA | TBA | April 9, 1988 | |
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| 19 | 19 | "Episode 19" | TBA | TBA | April 16, 1988 | |
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| 20 | 20 | "Episode 20" | TBA | TBA | April 23, 1988 | |
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| 21 | 21 | "Down in New Orleans" | TBA | TBA | April 30, 1988 | |
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Guest star(s): Doug Kershaw, George Kirby as Louis Armstrong, Pete Fountain, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, the Dixie Cups, the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Good Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters, and Paul Prudhomme The episode begins with Dolly marching down the streets of New Orleans in a funeral parade. She then boards a steamboat and sings "Down by the Riverside" accompanied by Pete Fountain. Dolly discusses the steam calliope with Vic, and the Mississippi River with Captain Doc Holley. Dolly performs "New Orleans" on the deck of the steamboat, again accompanied by Pete Fountain. Dolly takes a tour of New Orleans in a mule-drawn carriage. The Dixie Cups perform "Iko Iko" in the streets of New Orleans and are joined by the Neville Brothers who then perform "When You Go to New Orleans". Dolly tells about riding on a float during the Mardi Gras parade and footage is show of the parade and her performance at the Super Dome ("When the Saints Go Marching In"). George Kirby performs "What a Wonderful World" as Louis Armstrong at Storyville in the French Quarter, followed by Dolly performing "The House of the Rising Sun". Dr. John then performs "Right Place, Wrong Time". Next, Allen Toussaint performs "Southern Nights", followed by Irma Thomas performing "Breakaway". Dolly joins Dr. John, Allen and Irma on stage and they perform "Working in the Coal Mine". Dolly and Doug Kershaw discuss Cajun food with chef Paul Prudhomme. Dolly sings "Rock-a-Bye Baby" before attending a party where Good Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters are performing "Fais Do-Do". Doug Kershaw then performs "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" and "Louisiana Man". He and Dolly then perform "Louisiana Saturday Night". Dolly performs "Shall We Gather at the River" and "Gather on the Other Side" with a choir on a riverbank. Dolly closes the show by singing "Blue Bayou". | ||||||
| 22 | 22 | "Episode 22" | TBA | TBA | May 7, 1988 | |
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References
- "Bruce Vilanch on getting Tyne Daly on Dolly Parton's show (Archive of American Television interview)". YouTube. August 2, 2016.
- "38.6 Million Viewers Watch "Undercover Boss"". The Futon Critic. February 8, 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- "Dolly (TV Series 1987–1988) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved November 22, 2019.