By George Burns
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Related tags: humor(2), george burns, vaudeville, very funny and highly recommended, tv comedies, madeline kahn, classic tv
Review & Description
It's all about Old Skool, and just old, period, in George Burns - The TV Specials Collection, a four-disc set featuring nine shows recorded from 1976-1986. In nominally celebrating various milestones in the veteran comic's long career (there are commemorations of his 80th birthday, his 90th birthday, his 80 years in show biz, and his "100th birthday"--the last of which was taped in 1979, when he was actually a mere 83), these shows all rely on pretty much the same formula: Burns, with his big round glasses, toupee, and ever-present cigar, cracks a few jokes (some quite funny, many pretty stale), tells stories about his Vaudeville days, half-sings a few jaunty tunes, interacts with a parade of celebrity guests, and leers at beautiful, well-proportioned young women. There are old pros like Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Walter Matthau, Shecky Greene, Don Rickles (inevitably), a mummified George Jessel, and Johnny Carson (whose few ad-libbed asides with Burns are among the more amusing moments), along with some then-hot TV stars (Linda Evans, John Schneider). There are performances by some of the era's most homogenized pop singers, like the Osmond Brothers, Andy Gibb, and the Captain and Tennille. There's even a trip to Nashville (coinciding with Burns' early-'80s quasi-country hit, "I Wish I Was 18 Again"), where the kitsch runs rampant and and the corn is ripe. On the plus side, Burns, whom Hope calls "the Peter Pan of the prune juice set," is surprisingly sharp throughout, his timing and rapid-fire New York delivery intact. There's a nice bit with Madeline Kahn standing in for Gracie Allen (Burns' longtime wife and partner) that serves as a reminder that he was one of the all-time great straight men, and a few entertaining dance numbers. By and large, this is TV at its most bland and middlebrow, but celebrity gazers looking for few easy laughs won't be disappointed. The set includes no bonus material. --Sam Graham George Burns was a legendary comedian and actor and arguably the greatest straight man of the 20th century. He started his career in vaudeville, and later made a successful transition to film, radio and television, when he formed the Burns and Allen duo with talented comedian and future wife, Gracie Allen. His arched eyebrow and his cigar smoking became his trademarks in an illustrious career that spanned over three-quarters of a century. With his passing at the age of 100 in 1996, George Burns solidified himself as one of the grand old men of American show business. This collector's DVD set preserves his most memorable TV specials - never before available on DVD or VHS - and features many of the greatest names in entertainment.
George Burns Special (1976)
1. Introduction
2. George Burns' Opening Monologue
3. The Osmond Brothers
4. George Recalls his Vaudeville Days
5. Madeline Kahn
6. A Song and Monologue by George
7. Walter Matthau
8. A Dance Routine with Walter Matthau
9.George Sings the Grizzly Bear Song
10. Johnny Carson
11. Chita Rivera
12. George Recalls a Day with Friends<13. A Closing Song by George
George Burns One Man Show (1977)
1. George Burns' Opening Monologue
2. Show Introduction
3. George Talks about Show Business
4. Captain & Tennille
5. George Recalls His Younger Days
6. Gladys Knight & The Pips
7. Bob Hope
8. John Denver
9. Ann-Margret
10. George Burns Recalls Vincent Price's Party
11. George's Closing Song
George Burns 100th Birthday Party (1979)
1. Introduction
2. George Burns' Opening Monologue
3. Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Stewart
4. Milton Berle and George
5. George Recalls His Childhood
6. Steve Martin
7. Andy Gibb
8. Andy Gibb Sings
9. Don Rickles
10. Gregory Peck
11. George Recalls His Singing Act
12. Dancing Waiters
13. George Recalls His Animal Act
14. George Jessel
15. Goldie Hawn
16. Pat and Debby Boone
17. Helen Reddy
18. George Recalls His Dancing Act
19. George Burns Closing Monologue
George Burns In Nashville (1981)
1. Loretta Lynn
2. A Real Good Cigar
3. Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers
4. Old Bones
5. Minnie Pearl
6. The Stony Mountain Cloggers
7. The Arizona Whiz
8. The Grand Ole Opry Radio Show
9. George the Country Music Star
10. I Wish I was 18 Again
The George Burns Early, Early, Early Christmas Special (1981)
1. George Burns' Opening Monologue
2. Ann-Margret
3. George's Family
4. Bob Hope
5. The Playboy Playmates
6. Hans Conried as Ebenezer Scrooge
7. The Hawkins Family
8. George Introduces an Old Friend
9. Bob Hope as Santa
10. George's Closing Song and Monologue
George Burns And Other Sex Symbols (1982)
1. George Burns' Opening Monologue
2. George Sings As Time Goes On
3. John Schneider and George
4. John Schneider Sings
5. George's Girls
6. Bernadette Peters Sings
7. Bernadette and George
8. Frog Kissin'
9. Hollywood Sex Symbols
10. George and Gracie
11. Linda Evans and George
12. George Sings Young At Heart
George Burns: Celebrates 80 Years In Show Business (1983)
1. John Forsythe: Master Of Ceremonies
2. George Burns' Opening Monologue
3. Kenny Rogers
4. Danny Thomas
5. Buddy Hackett
6. Milton Berle
7. Bernadette Peters
8. Bob Hope
9. Ann-Margret
10. George Burns and Ann-Margret Sing
11. Phyllis Diller
12. Shecky Greene
13. Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers
14. Don Rickles
15. George Burns Remembers Jack Benny
16. Fred Travalena
17. Red Buttons
18. Rev. Billy Graham
19. Carol Channing and Johnny Carson
20. Jack Carter
21. Dionne Warwick
22. George Burns' Closing Monologue
George Burns: How To Live To Be A 100 Special (1984)
1. Introduction with George Burns
2. Finding the Right Doctor
3. Sex
4. Exercise
5. Avoiding Worry and Stress
6. A Song By George
7. Bob Hope
8. Old Age
9. Diahann Carroll and George
10. Diahann Sings
11. Relatives
12. Artificial Body Parts
13. George Burns Closing Monologue
George Burns 90th Birthday Party (1986)
1. John Forsythe - Master Of Ceremonies
2. Birthday Wishes from the Stars
3. Ann-Margret
4. Burns and Allen Film Shots
5. Billy Crystal
6. Birthday Wishes from The Stars
7. Burns and Allen Feature Films
8. Diahann Carroll
9. Birthday Wishes from the Stars
10. Burns and Allen Television Show
11. The Sunshine Boys
12. Walter Matthau
13. Oh, God!
14. John Denver
15. President Ronald Reagan
16. George Burns Closing Monologue Read more
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