The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour - Ultimate Collection 1971-1977 (2004) 3xDVD9

Video: NTSC 4:3 (720x480) VBR, 29.970 fps, 4900-5000 kbps
Audio: Dolby AC3, 2 ch, 48.0 kHz, 192 kbps

It's not what you'd call high art, but there are some highly enjoyable moments in this nicely packaged box set, featuring nine complete shows (plus ample bonus material) spread out over three discs. Beginning as a summer replacement in 1971, "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" earned its own regular time slot that same year, running for three straight seasons and then returning in 1976 (as "The Sonny & Cher Show"), after the couple's divorce. The show's formula, which had already been established both onstage and on the small screen (their '69 pilot episode is among the extra features), includes plenty of music (duets, Cher's solo performances in typically outlandish Bob Mackie gowns, various guest shots); lots of shtick (consisting mostly of Cher's put-downs of the minimally talented but good-natured Sonny); and sketches and skits (ranging from lame to inspired, including a mock-opera based on "All in the Family" and starring Metropolitan Opera tenor Robert Merrill as a warbling Archie Bunker).

Disc 1

Show One
01. Opening Monologue & "All I Ever Need Is You" - music element (with copyright)
02. What Is Life - Sketch
03. Gypsies, Tramps And Thieves - music element (with copyright)
04. Vamp
05. Where You Lead
06. Sonny & Harvey Korman - Sketch
07. One Tin Soldier
08. At the Opera with Freeman King: All in the Family - Sketch
09. Goodnight
Show Two
10. Opening Monologue & "Cry Like A Baby" - music element (with copyright)
11. Sonny & Cher introduce Burt Reynolds
12. Am I Blue
13. Yankee Doodle - Sketch
14. Raggedy Sonny And Raggedy Cher
15. Sonny, Cher and Burt - Sketch
16. Shakespeare Spot - Sketch
17. Vamp
18. The Letter
19. Headlines In The Papers - Sketch
20. Goodnight with Burt Reynolds & "I Got You Babe" - music element (with copyright)
Show Three
21. Opening Monologue & "Get Ready" - music element (with copyright)
22. The Way Of Love
23. Sonny & Cher with Merv Griffin - Sketch
24. The Sonny & Cher Stomp
25. Vamp
26. Fortune Teller Cher - Sketch
27. For Once In My Life
28. A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done - Concert segment
29. At The Opera With Freeman King: Russian Tico Tico - Sketch
30. Goodnight
Extras
31. Cher's Commentary Play All of Show 2
32. Cher's Commentary Play Show 1 and 2 Scenes
33. Producers Interview Part 1 (How the Show Started, The Writers, CBS, Vamp, John Wilson's Animation, Burt Reinolds)
34. CBS Network Promo Spot 1
35. CBS Network Promo Spot 2

Disc 2

Show One
01. Opening Monologue & "Let Me Down Easy" - music element (with copyright)
02. Sonny & Cher with Michael Jackson - Sketch
03. Looking Through The Windows
04. Vamp
05. Sonny & Cher with Govenor Ronald Reagan
06. Say It Isn't So
07. At the Opera with Freeman King: Commercialus Americanus
08. Ben
09. Fortune Teller Cher - Sketch
10. Mr. Tambourine Man
11. Goodnight with Chastiy & "I Got You Babe" - music element (with copyright)
Show Two
12. Intro with Howard Cosell & Chuck Connors
13. Opening Monologue & "Games People Play - music element (with copyright)
14. Lady Luck - Sketch
15. At the Launderette - featuring Cher as "Laverne"
16. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Animated Musical Number
17. Window On The World - Sketch
18. Little Darlin'
19. Concert segment "Long Train Running"
20. Half-Breed
21. Goodnight with Chastiy
Show Three
22. Intro with Danny Thomas
23. Opening Monologue & "Heartbeat - It's A Lovebeat" - music element (with copyright)
24. Welcome To My World
25. Mr. And Ms. - Sketch
26. Le Boxing Squad - Sketch
27. Cliff House
28. At the Launderette - featuring Cher as "Laverne"
29. Sonny's Pizza - Sketch
30. Dark Lady
31. Goodnight with Chastiy & "I Got You Babe" - music element (with copyright)
Extras
32. Cher's Commentary Play All of Show 1
33. Cher's Commentary Play Show 1 Scenes
34. Cher's Commentary Play Show 2 Scenes
35. Cher's Commentary Play Show 3 Scenes
36. Producers Interview Part 2 (Chastity, Cher as Laverne With Teri Garr, Governor Ronald Reagan, Cliff House, Sonny & Cher Spli-up)

Disc 3

Show One
01. Opening Monologue & "That'll Be The Day" - music element (with copyright)
02. Disaster Film - Sketch
03. Sonny & Cher with Donny & Marie
04. Silly Love Songs
05. Battle of the Sexes - Sketch
06. It Had To Be You
07. Channel 86 Cutsey News - Sketch
08. Goodnight
Show Two
09. Opening Monologue & You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - music element (with copyright)
10. Channel 86 Cutsey News - Sketch
11. What A Difference A Day Made
12. The Lady Is A Doctor
13. Southern Nights
14. Rhinstone Cowboy
15. Beauty and the Beast - Sketch
16. Mannequins featuring Cher and Farrah
17. Goodnight
Show Three
18. Opening Monologue & "Teach Me Tonight" - music element (with copyright)
19. Vente Nove Studio - Sketch
20. Shields & Yarnell - Sketch
21. The Prisoner
22. Danny's Song
23. The Psychiatrist featuring David Steinberg
24. Watch Closely Now
25. Mr. Melody
26. Sonny's Pizza - Sketch
27. Goodnight
Extras
28. Cher's Commentary Play Show 1 Scenes
29. Cher's Commentary Play Show 2 Scenes
30. Cher's Commentary Play Show 3 Scenes
31. Cher's Commentary Play 1969 TV Pilot Scenes
32. 1969 TV Pilot
33. Gypsies, Tramps And Thieves - Sonny & Cher Karaoke
34. I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher Karaoke
35. All I Ever Need Is You - Sonny & Cher Karaoke
36. Gypsies, Tramps And Thieves - Music Video
37. Dark Lardy - Music Video
38. Discography
38. Radio Jingle
39. Network Promos - Cher
40. Network Promos - Sonny Comedy Revue
41. History of the Show
42. Biographies

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