Same Song, Separate Voices; made for television version

I finally got to watch the Lennon Sisters pledge special last Sunday, let me just say I was not disappointed at one bit.

As you well know, the title of the special comes from the Lennon's best selling autobiography of the same name. It's a retrospective of their career in showbiz starting from their Christmas Eve debut on the Welk show to today.

And along the way, they made plenty of fans and friends, some whom are interviewed on this special.

Famous folk like Kathie Lee Gifford.....

.....and Andy Williams to name a few.

But the stars of the show are the Lennon Sisters themselves.

This special covers all the goods, not just from the time as members of the Musical Family, but when they worked with other showbiz heavyweights like Perry Como, Johnny Carson, Jimmy Durante and of course, Moon River Boy himself......

....plus all the trials, tribulations, tragedy and the joy of discovering Branson are covered too. If your public television station is carrying the special during it's pledge drive, make a date to watch it, or tape it, or do both.

It's just like reading the book, only it has moving pictures!

Same Song, Separate Voices; made for television version

Same Song, Separate Voices

There's a brand new pledge special coming to PBS on November 26th....

And in the spotlight, the Lennon Sisters!

Which in my opinion about flippin' time....

Promo - Lennon Sisters: Same Song, Separate Voices from Polly O. Entertainment on Vimeo.

Same Song, Separate Voices

Some Thursday rumblings

Yeah I know, it's been a while since I lasted posted here, it's not easy trying to find new and fresh Welk related material.

That aside, here's some things I like to get off my chest.

I'm excited about the new season on PBS, it's very cool that the first episode of the season is the original premiere episode from July 2, 1955. Should be a real treat seeing some of your old favorites making their national television debut.

I also been hearing horror stories that many PBS affiliates have dropped the Welk show from their schedule due to cuts in the budget, like what has happened in Florida.

Because the Sunshine State's governor, Rick Scott, decided to veto $4.8 million to fund public broadcasting, Orlando's PBS affiliate WMFE is no more, selling the station to a religious broadcaster.

The good news is that WUCF is now the new PBS affiliate for the market. The bad news is, at least for now, they are not carrying the Lawrence Welk Show like WMFE did.

There's two things we all should learn from this.....

One. Rick Scott is a flippin' idiot and he'll suffer a painful defeat when he runs for re-election. (Hell has no fury than a Welk fan scorned)

Two. The importance of public television cannot be taken for granted.

Support your public broadcaster, whether they carry the Welk Show or not, it's one of the great cultural and educational treasures that our country has to offer.     

Some Thursday rumblings

Yes, there will be a new Lawrence Welk PBS special

And it will be hosted by Doc Severinsen of Johnny Carson fame.....

These are the details I got from Welknotes today.....

The name of the special is LAWRENCE WELK'S BIG BAND SPLASH and it will air on many PBS stations starting March 5th and will air throughout the month.

I'm not sure which stations, including mine, but will find out soon.

The special is a celebration of big band hits, and ol' Doc himself will host....they'll even air his performance of "Love Story" when he guested on one of the Maestro's shows back in 1972.

Band soloists include Henry Cuesta, Bob Havens, Pete Fountain, Jo Ann Castle, Johnny Zell, Kenny Trimble, Jack Imel, Bob Ralston and Johnny Klein.

Vocal solos will include Alice Lon, Mary Lou Metzger, Tanya Falan, Guy Hovis and Ralna English and the dance numbers will feature Bobby Burgess, Cissy King, Elaine Balden, Jack Imel and Arthur Duncan plus many more!

I'll keep you posted on any further details.....stay tuned.

Yes, there will be a new Lawrence Welk PBS special

New season starts tonight

Just a few thoughts as another season of Lawrence Welk on public television starts tonight...

Even though they're all repeats from last year, the weekly anticipation still stays stronger than ever!

Having Mary Lou Metzger and Bobby Burgess as co-hosts is working well, but in the future would like to see the return of the wraparounds by the Musical Family.

For once, maybe my station will finally show the Musical Tour of the USA from 1969, it ALWAYS gets pre-empted by those pesky pledge drives.

And speaking of pledge drives, will my station EVER show Marvin Hamlisch Presents: The Way We Were - The 70s? I say that because Guy & Ralna are in the show with some musical numbers.

And finally, for OETA when they are choosing new episodes for the 2011-12 season, I know that plenty of fans would like more classic black & white episodes but would guys also consider a few episodes from seasons 14 through 16 on ABC?

On that note, commence with the new season and happy viewing!

New season starts tonight

2010-11 Welk schedule on public television

Here's the listing of shows scheduled to air this season, all repeats that have been recycled from the 2009-10 season courtesy of our friends from OETA.

1. SALUTE TO THE USA - September 4, 2010
2. SALUTE TO SWING BANDS - September 11, 2010
3. DO YOU REMEMBER? - September 18, 2010
4. BIG CITY USA - September 25, 2010
5. SEASON PREMIERE '76 - October 2, 2010
6. HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS - October 9, 2010
7. FARM SHOW - October 16, 2010
8. SONGS OF PERRY COMO - October 23, 2010
9. HALLOWEEN PARTY - October 30, 2010
10. SONGS OF THE 70s - November 6, 2010
11. MOVIE SONGWRITERS - November 13, 2010

12. THANKSGIVING SPECIAL - November 20, 2010
13. MUSICAL MEMORIES - November 27, 2010
14. FRENCH SHOW - December 4, 2010
15. WINTER - December 11, 2010
16. CHRISTMAS REUNION '85 - December 18, 2010
17. TRIBUTE TO BING CROSBY - December 25, 2010
18. TRIBUTE TO WALT DISNEY - January 1, 2011
19. COUNTY FAIR - January 8, 2011
20. KEEP A SONG IN YOUR HEART - January 15, 2011
21. ALL TIME FAVORITES - January 22, 2011
22. TRIBUTE TO THE BIG BANDS - January 29, 2011
23. SALUTE TO VINCENT YOUMANS - February 5, 2011

24. LOVE SONGS - February 12, 2011
25. FASHIONS & HITS THROUGH THE YEARS - February 19, 2011
26. RHYTHM IS OUR BUSINESS - February 26, 2011
27. SONGS FROM THE CLASSICS - March 5, 2011
28. MUSICAL TOUR OF THE U.S.A - March 12, 2011
29. TRIBUTE TO JEROME KERN - March 19, 2011
30. 25th ANNIVERSARY - March 26, 2011
31. EASTER - April 2, 2011
32. SONGS OF JIMMY McHUGH - April 9, 2011
33. TOP SONGS FROM BROADWAY SHOWS - April 16, 2011
34. BIG BAND DAYS - April 23, 2011
35. GRAMMY AWARD SONGS - April 30, 2011

 
36. CALIFORNIA SHOW - May 7, 2011
37. GREAT ENTERTAINERS - May 14, 2011
38. CHILDHOOD MEMORIES - May 21, 2011
39. MUSIC OF IRVING BERLIN - May 28, 2011
40. OCCUPATIONS - June 4, 2011
41. CARNIVAL - June 11, 2011
42. FAMOUS RESORTS - June 18, 2011
43. STRIKE UP THE BAND - June 25, 2011
44. LIVE FROM HAWAII - July 2, 2011
45. FROM POLKAS TO CLASSICS - July 9, 2011
46. WE CAN MAKE MUSIC - July 16, 2011
47. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT A HOMETOWN BAND - July 23, 2011

48. SONGS BY JOHNNY MERCER - July 30, 2011
49. PLEASANT DREAMS - August 6, 2011
50. CAN'T HELP SINGING - August 13, 2011
51. TOUR OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - August 20, 2011
52. COUNTRY & WESTERN - August 27, 2011

2010-11 Welk schedule on public television

It's Mary Lou again in the new format

...as your co-host of the weekly Lawrence Welk Show repeats on PBS

So far, I like the new format with Mary Lou sharing the hosting duties with Bobby Burgess. Most of you kinda missed the interviews with the Welk Stars, me being one of them.

That being said, who's left for Mary Lou to interview? And if it's a returning guest, what is there to ask?

Sometimes, one has gotta evolve, kinda like reinventing the wheel.

It's Mary Lou again in the new format

What the Music Makers are doing this pledge weekend

So far, very exciting and then some!

There's Mary Lou Metzger and her friends from Sacramento's PBS affiliate hosting a birthday celebration of what would've been the Maestro's 107th birthday.

LAWRENCE WELK BIRTHDAY WITH MARY LOU METZGER AT KVIE

Oh, if you're thinking about attending....they've reached full capacity.

Sorry!

And there's our friends from Iowa Public Television with their Festival, tonight it's Welk Stars Through The Years with Gail Farrell in the studio.

That's just the tip of the iceberg over in the Hawkeye State.

Next week it's Bobby Burgess and Mary Lou Metzger the week after.

What the Music Makers are doing this pledge weekend

OETA's 2009-2010 Welk Schedule - The Second Half

Great news everyone! Our friends from the Oklahoma Network has released the long-awaited second portion of this season's Lawrence Welk Show schedule for public television!

And yours truly is very excited about this...

First, the repeat episodes from years gone by....

#1227 - Songs From The Classics (3-6-10)

#1228 - Musical Tour of the USA (3-13-10)

#1231 - Easter (4-3-10)

#1232 - Songs of Jimmy McHugh (4-10-10)

#1236 - California (5-8-10)

#1239 - Music of Irving Berlin (5-29-10)

#1240 - Occupations (6-5-10)

#1241 - Carnival (6-12-10)

#1244 - Live from Hawaii (7-3-10)

#1246 - We Can Make Music (7-17-10)

#1248 - Songs by Johnny Mercer (7-31-10)

#1249 - Pleasant Dreams (8-7-10)

#1251 - Tour of Southern California (8-21-10)

 

And now, what we've been waiting for....the brand new shows!

#1229 - Tribute to Jerome Kern (3-20-10)
#1230 - 25th Anniversary show (3-27-10)
#1233 - Top Songs from Broadway Shows (4-17-10)
#1234 - Big Band Days (4-24-10)
#1235 - Grammy Award Songs (5-1-10)
#1237 - Great Entertainers (5-15-10)
#1238 - Childhood Memories (5-22-10)
#1242 - Famous Resorts (6-19-10)
#1243 - Strike Up The Band (6-26-10)
#1245 - From Polkas to Classics (7-10-10)
#1247 - Something about a Hometown Band (7-24-10)
#1250 - Can't Help Singing (8-14-10)
#1252 - Country & Western (8-28-10)

For more details, just go to OETA's Lawrence Welk section

OETA's 2009-2010 Welk Schedule - The Second Half

2009-2010 season of Welk

The 2009-2010 season of the Lawrence Welk Show on PBS is hot off the Oklahoma Network's presses!

It all starts September 5th, so far it runs through February 27th so there's more to come later in '10.

First, here's the 13 confirmed repeats from previous shows....

1. Big City USA - airs 9-26-09

2. Season Premiere '76 - airs 10-3-09

3. Farm Show - airs 10-17-09

4. Songs of Perry Como - airs 10-24-09

5. Thanksgiving Special - airs 11-21-09

6. Musical Memories - airs 11-28-09

7. French Show - airs 12-5-09

8. Winter - airs 12-12-09

9. Christmas '72 - airs 12-19-09

10. Tribute to Bing Crosby - airs 12-26-09

11. All Time Favorites - airs 1-23-10

12. Tribute to the Big Bands - airs 1-30-10

13. Fashions & Hits Through the Years - airs 2-20-10

And now what we are waiting for, the brand spanking new episodes!

1. Salute to the USA - airs 9-5-09

2. Salute to the Swing Bands - airs 9-12-09

3. Do You Remember? - airs 9-19-09

4. Highways and Byways - airs 10-10-09

5. Halloween Party - airs 10-31-09

6. Songs of the 70s - airs 11-7-09

7. Movie Songwriters - airs 11-14-09

8. Tribute to Disney - airs 1-2-10

9. County Fair - airs 1-9-10

10. Keep a Song In Your Heart - airs 1-16-10

11. Youman's Salute - airs 2-6-10

12. Love Songs - airs 2-13-10

13. Rhythm is Our Business - airs 2-27-10

From what I know, I think the interview segment is intact...don't know yet whom will be in the hot seat. But I do like the schedule setup, especially in the event of any possible pledge drives around Christmas.

Go to OETA's LAWRENCE WELK PAGE for full details

Now to get my DVR ready to roll!

2009-2010 season of Welk

Adventures in Public Broadcasting

After about two weeks of pledge drives in my area, I wonder if PBS ever thought about their shows doing crossovers to boost ratings....and pledges?

I can just picture it now.....

The cast of Sesame Street appearing on the new version of Electric Company

Poirot from Mystery! making a guest appearance on Austin City Limits....

....and the best one of them all

 

The cast of This Old House with their latest project, home renovation of any select Music Maker from the Welk Show....

Could be Anacani's house, with new additions to her kitchen....

 

....or maybe Sally and Clay Hart's home, looking to add more rooms

 

Who knows, maybe the roof on Ralna's house could use some new shingles?

 

The possibilites are endless!

Adventures in Public Broadcasting

Pledge Naseum

Alas, it's pledge time again for the public televison networks.....which means no regular Welk shows for two weeks.

This week, we got "Say It With Music" for the second time this season and in condensed, edited-for-pledge breaks form. That is a first for me in all the years I have watched Lawrence Welk on my local PBS.

According to OETA, they scheduled "Songs of Johnny Mercer" from 1976....did anyone get to see that?

Back to the show I got (and the rest of Northwest Ohio as well)....several numbers were cut....such as Clay Hart's "Gentle On My Mind", Buddy Merrill's "It May Be Silly But Ain't It Fun" and the Calcutta number just to name a few.

Remember the good ol' days when they didn't edit and cut any numbers during pledge drives? That seems like ages ago....

....and now, a pledge haiku.

What's on PBS?

They're asking for your support

Empty your wallet

Hey, at least they didn't cut Gail Farrell's number.

....and that's always nice.

Pledge Naseum

Another week....another round of pledge specials....

On this Saturday.....we in the Toledo area were treated to "Lawrence Welk: God Bless America"

It's two hours full of patriotic American standards, such as "You're a Grand Old Flag", "Coming to America" and "From A Distance" just to name a few!

Here's Jo Ann Castle ticking the ivories from the show....

Afterwards, WGTE (my public broadcaster) aired My Music: 50s Pop Parade....

....and here's the real reason us Welk fans watched.....

I'm glad to say that Mary Lou got more camera time this go around....

Next week, everything should be back to normal, we're supposed to get "Winter" from 1967.....gotta get my VCR ready to go!

Another week....another round of pledge specials....

OETA's Full 2007-08 schedule is out!

Great news, the Oklahoma Network has released the full list of Lawrence Welk Show episodes for the 2007-08 season!

It's got a lot of great interviews by Mary Lou, with the Aldridge Sisters, Otwell Twins, Rose Weiss, Rocky Rockwell, Charlotte Harris and Dee Dee Lennon just to name a few.

The episodes airing are diverse, and gonna be alot of fun to watch....mixed in well with repeats from years past.

The list can be found by CLICKING HERE AT OETA'S WELK SITE.

OETA's Full 2007-08 schedule is out!

All Hail the New Season of Welk

Here's the 8-1-07 picture of the day, Lawrence and his musical family from the first show of the 1969-70 season with Sandi & Sally reading the Riot Act to the boss about his "new" look!

Also, OETA has released a partial list of the 2007-08 season of Welk shows, and there's plenty of new ones that I am looking forward to seeing.

The fun officially begins on September 8th, with Mary Lou interviewing Arthur Duncan. So far, the schedule goes up to Thanksgiving with more to be added later. Among the shows included are "Salute To Big Cities" and "Salute To Jimmy McHugh" with Bobby Burgess and Ralna English be interviewed respectively.

But there are two I have my eyes on, "Fashion Hits Through The Years" and on Thanskgiving, a Turkey Day episode with Sandi Griffiths being interviewed.

I know that Rocky Rockwell and the Aldridge Sisters did do interviews, and I'll bet the house that their shows will be aired later in the season.

All Hail the New Season of Welk

Early Bird News about the new season

The new season of Welk shows on public television is in the works and is also in the process of being taped and put together!

Also, it is confirmed that Sheila and Sherry Aldridge are one of the many exciting interviews conducted by Mary Lou Metzger....as well as Rocky Rockwell!

More information to follow later....I'll keep you posted on both this fine blog and when all the interviews are accounted for....put them on my webpage's news section.

Also, speaking of the Aldridge Sisters....I got a nice email from Sherry that she and Sheila were recently at Crossnore's Heritage Festival over in Avery County, North Carolina. Here's some interesting fun facts I learned....the sisters and their family actually come from this part of the Tar Heel State, they were living and performing in Knoxville, Tennessee around the time they met the Maestro.

It's alot of fun knowing about your family's roots....mine in particular have their roots (my mother's side) originally hail from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France.

Ironically, that's the same region where another famous family, Lawrence Welk's, can trace their roots from!

Now that's something to think about.....

Early Bird News about the new season

Memories of Precious Memories....and GO CAVS!

Tonight, in many markets, "Easy Listening" is supposed to air...but here in Toledo, they are in mini-pledge mode so that means I'm getting the pledge special "Precious Memories" for the sixteen thousandth time.

Thank god I have Bowling Green to fall back on...

But still, Precious Memories...orginally taped on Labor Day 2004, was one of the finer Welk pledge specials, here are some....well.....precious memories!

The cast in the opening number, fellows in their tuxes and the ladies in their deep red velvet dresses....

The Lennon Sisters....Kathy, Janet and Mimi singing "Ava Maria".

The talented and lovely Gail Farrell...singing "You Can Do Anything".

Joe Feeney and his son Chris...all grown up.....singing "Walk On" with such gusto!

And the finale, everybody gathered around the piano singing a meldey of that old time religious hymns and songs!

In case of reference, the Welk stars in this special include the Feeneys, Lennons, Gail, Ralna English, Jo Ann Castle, Mary Lou Metzger, Tom Netherton, Ken Delo, Norma Zimmer, Guy Hovis and Bob Ralston.

Maybe I will switch back and forth and watch a bit of the show tonight....

....and at eight, watch the Cavaliers take down the Pistons in Game Six of the NBA Eastern Finals!

Since I have Sirius radio....I'll have the TV muted and listen to Joe Tait's play-by-play.

Better get the popcorn ready, this will be a wunnerful Saturday night!

Memories of Precious Memories....and GO CAVS!

Ralna English: From My Heart

Tonight, in week two of public television's pledge-a-thon, I got to see Ralna's own PBS special. Ralna English: From My Heart was taped last September at the Belk Theatre in Charlotte, NC where Ralna and her vocals were backed up by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. This is the first time I got to see it, and lets just say that it lived up to it's name....simply wunnerful, wunnerful!

I liked the selection of songs she used in the program, from big band standards like "Tangerine", "You'll Never Know" and "I'll Be Seeing You", to torch songs like "Memory", patriotic fare such as "God Bless America" and gospel spirituals such as her signature "How Great Thou Art". Ralna's 90-minute special was basically a musical tour of American history....all written in song.

Here's Ralna to open up the show.....

....and when it is time for act two, where she swings into high.....

....leading up to act three in which "everything comes together" for one heckua finale!

And by the way....I did put in a pledge of $60, which means in a few weeks, I'll be getting the family cookbook complete with pictures. It is money well spent, doing my part to keep public TV with many more seasons of Welk and super-cool specials, such as TV Treasures and this one.

See you all later, tommorow is the Maestro's birthday and don't forget to jump your clocks ahead an hour for Daylight Savings Time!

Ralna English: From My Heart

Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio....

.....and it is still pledge time for my local PBS stations, WGTE and WBGU.

WGTE aired "Precious Memories" again this evening, and while it's a very good show....that's two straight weeks! Could they have at least shown "Milestones and Memories" or even "God Bless America" for crying out loud?

They also aired My Music: The Best of Fifties (and Sixties) Pop: Part Two, and I felt that Mary Lou Metzger's co-hosting appearances second time around was very very short...she only appeared in ONE co-host segment (introducing the DeCastro Sisters...whom I never heard of) and two seperate pledge pitches when it came time for everyone to call in.

Still, even though her on-camera time was limited, Mary Lou is lookin' fine....hello nurse.

Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio....