Tuesday, December 30, 2008

INTRO TO HULLABALOO- NBC'S ATTEMPT AT A TEEN VARIETY PROGRAM-CIRCA 1966

NBC WANTED TO MOUNT A MUSIC/COMEDY/VARIETY PROGRAM WITH GUEST HOSTS AIMED AT AN ADOLESCENT AUDIENCE. BUT THE PROGRAM SENT A MIXED MESSAGE. JERRY LEWIS,AN ADULT PERFORMER WHO WAS BELOVED BY YOUNGSTERS, CO-HOSTED THIS EPISODE WITH HIS SON GARY LEWIS, WHO ALONG WITH HIS BAND, THE PLAYBOYS, HAD SEVERAL HIT SINGLES. NOTE THE SPONSORS WERE ALSO A MIXED METAPHOR: CARNATION EVAPORATED MILK ( FOR MOM AND DAD'S COFFEE) AND CLEARASIL ( FOR TEENS WHO WANTED TO BLOT AWAY BLEMISHES). PRODUCTION VALUES WERE ALSO SOMETIMES A BIT SCHIZOID: THE SHOW WOULD RANDOMLY ORIGINATE FROM THE NBC STUDIOS @ 30 ROCK, THE NBC BROOKLYN STAGES AND NBC BURBANK. SOMETIMES IT WAS BROADCAST IN LIVING COLOR , AND SOMETIMES IN LUSTEROUS BLACK AND WHITE.HULLABAL0O LASTED ONLY TWO SEASONS.

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