The
Carpenters TV Specials
This
section is dedicated to the five U.S. Network television specials
that the Carpenters appeared on from the mid 70s to early
80s.
The
Carpenters TV specials each had an overall theme or message,
every show was an hour in length (about 50 minutes without
commercials). The Carpenters TV shows consisted of musical
numbers, comedy skits, and two or more guest stars.
Please
note, as far as we know these TV specials have never been
officially released on home video. The only way to see some
of these Carpenters Television moments is to trade with individuals
who have some home recordings or to check out eBay. All these
home-made recordings tend to not be of very good video quality.
CarpentersFans.com
does not sell or trade unofficial Carpenters TV moments. We
do suggest, however, to make legal video trades with those
who have these precious Carpenters moments.
Carpenters
Very First Special
1976, ABC TV
Hosts:
Richard & Karen Carpenter
Guest Stars: John Denver, Victor Borge
Other Stars/Cameos: Olivia Newton-John, Howard Cosell, Al
Unser and Johnny Rutherford
Songs Included: We've Only Just Begun / Top of the World /
Close to You (Spike Jones version) / Strike up the Band /
Poems Prayers & Promises / Medley: (Superstar-Rainy Days
& Mondays) / Through the Rye-Good Vibrations / Hits Medley
'76
The
Carpenters First TV Special was aired in 1976 on ABC TV. The
special came in at #6 in the Nielson ratings for that week.
The theme of this first Carpenters special was Richard and
Karen Carpenter themselves. It's a wonderful showcase of Richard
and Karen Carpenter's music and interests. Richard Carpenter
gets to display his love for fast cars on the fast track when
he races Al Unser and Danny Rutherford at the old International
Riverside Raceway in California. The highlight for me was
seeing both Karen Carpenter and one of my other favorites,
John Denver, sing a duet together, "Through the Rye/Good
Vibrations". Richard also does a fun piano duet/skit
with Victor Borge. The "hits medley" and the "Superstar-Rainy
Days & Mondays" medley are unique because as far
as I know they're only found on the Carpenters Essential
Collection, or the As Time Goes By CD.
Carpenters
At Christmas
1977, ABC TV
Hosts:
Richard & Karen Carpenter
Guest Stars: Harvey Korman, Kristy McNichol
Other Stars/Cameos: Burr Tilstrum's Kukla & Ollie
Songs Included: Sliegh Ride Together / Winter Wonderland-Silver
Bells-White Christmas / Top Hat, White Tie, & Tails /
Merry Christmas To One and All / Christmas Alphabet / Merry
Christmas to You / Christmas Time is Here / Kukla & Olie
Duet Song / O' Holy Night / Deck the Halls-Joy to the World
/ New Year's Resolution / Christ is Born
The
Carpenters at Christmas TV show ran in 1977. The theme of
this special is finding the true meaning of Christmas. In
this show we get to see one of my mother's favorites - Burr
Tilstrum's "Kukla and Olie" - along with Harvey
Korman and Kristy McNichol. The Carpenters band members are
also seen in the show. Some of the songs include "Christmas
Alphabet", in which Karen and Kristy sing with a wonderful
complimentary sound with both of their voices. Other songs
include: "White Christmas" and "Christ is Born".
I also like the song "New Year's Resolution", which
is played at the end of the show.
Space
Encounters
1978, ABC TV
Hosts:
Richard & Karen Carpenter
Guest Stars: John Davidson, Suzanne Somers
Other Stars/Cameos: Charlie Callas
Songs Included: Sweet Sweet Smile / Dancing in the Streets
/ Goofus / I Like You Just the Way You Are / Little Girl Blue
/ Piano Picker / The Women Are Smarter / Boogie Nights / Calling
Occupants of Interplanetary Craft
With
the popularity of films like Star Wars and Close Encounters,
The Carpenters also got on the "Space" bandwagon
with their third TV special "Space Encounters".
The general theme of the show is about how John Davidson,
who plays a captain of a spaceship, is searching for knowledge
within the galaxy about how to sing songs with true value
and meaning. So he and Suzanne Somers travel to planet earth
in their spacecraft to get some needed advice and inspiration
from Richard and Karen Carpenter. Whenever I see John Davidson
I expect him to say something like "Tonight on That's
Incredible, we'll learn how Bob Specca knocks down over seventy-thousand
dominoes." John actually has a pretty good voice and
he displays his talent when he sings "I Like You Just
The Way You Are." I hope John is doing well these days
- I noticed that he does have his own website at www.johndavidson.com.
Charlie
Callas, who was the voice of "Elliot the Dragon"
in the Disney film "Pete's Dragon", plays the role
of the Carpenters manager. I really like the song "Sweet
Sweet Smile", which is sung at the beginning of the show.
It sure is fun to see the Carpenters enjoying themselves in
this television special.
Christmas
Portrait
1978, ABC TV
Hosts:
Richard & Karen Carpenter
Guest Stars: Gene Kelly, Kristy & Jimmy McNichol
Other Stars/Cameos: Georgia Engels
Songs Included: Merry Christmas Darling / Jingle Bells / Santa
Claus Is Coming To Town / Ave Maria
A
Christmas Portrait was The Carpenters fourth TV special overall,
and their second TV special that had a Christmas theme. Kristy
McNichol returns for her second appearance on a Carpenters
TV special, this time with her brother Jimmy. Karen sings
the classic song "Merry Christmas Darling", written
by Frank Pooler. Karen and Richard's parents are also introduced
near the end of the special. It's great to see the legend
Gene Kelly sing with the Carpenters as well.
Music,
Music, Music
1980, ABC TV
Hosts:
Richard & Karen Carpenter
Guest Stars: John Davidson, Ella Fitzgerald
Other Stars/Cameos: Nelson Riddle Orchestra
Songs Included: A Song For You / Without a Song / I Got Rhythm
/ Ain't Misbehaving / Dizzy Fingers / You'll Never Know /
Karen-Ella Medley / Slaughter on 10th Ave / When I Fall in
Love / You're Just in Love / How High the Moon / 1980 Medley.
Music
Music Music was the Carpenters' last TV special. In the Close
to You documentary, Richard Carpenter states that this was
his favorite of all the Television specials because there
aren't any skits or canned laughter, "It's just music
start to finish." In this special we get to see Karen
Carpenter sing and dance to the song "I Got Rhythm".
Karen and Ella Fitzgerald sing a great duet together. Richard
plays "Slaughter on 10th Avenue", which is a nice
piece written by Richard Rogers. John Davidson returns for
his second Carpenters TV special appearance and sings "You'll
Never Know" and "You're Just in Love" with
Karen. The Final Carpenters special closes with the "1980
Medley", which includes the songs "Sing", "Knowing
When To Leave", "Make It Easy On Yourself",
"Someday" and "We've Only Just Begun".
This is a very "Classy" Carpenters TV Special -
very good indeed.
The
Carpenters Television:
Timeline
- Specials -
Documentaries - Shows
