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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:

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