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took its title seriously, using a huge stage set (complete with a live audience and an ice rink and swimming pool) and filling a 90-minute time-slot (one of the only variety programs in
American television history to run this length), with at least one two-hour installment broadcast. It was in many
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that the program's format was intriguing because "the variety format has evidently fallen out of favor with television audiences". He described the attempted revival via this program as "not only startling but gutsy." Nevertheless, O'Connor wrote that the premiere was "delightful" and added, "The
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Although the first broadcast ranked 16th in national ratings, poor reviews and low ratings of succeeding episodes (typical of NBC during the
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overall conception is astonishing, the pacing is bright, much of the comedy is funny, and the special acts are -- well, special."
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era) resulted in the program being cancelled after only a few months on May 8, 1980. The series nonetheless was nominated for six
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The series aimed to revitalize the moribund variety television genre, which had been in a downward spiral for several years.
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from 1950 to 1951 and likewise was a big-budget, 90-minute weekly variety show designed to prevent
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274:. Groups that appeared regularly included The Big Show Water Ballet, The Big Show Ice Skaters,
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Total
Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present
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The
Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present
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390:(4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 95.
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was broadcast on
Tuesdays from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
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414:"CBS First in TV Ratings: First 'Big Show' 16th"
222:respects a revival and television adaptation of
547:1980s American musical comedy television series
552:1980s American sketch comedy television series
443:Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009).
359:wrote in a review of the premiere episode in
309:. Skaters who performed in the show included
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486:"TV: NBC Extravaganza, 'The Big Show,' Bows"
210:television series produced and broadcast by
247:, winning for Outstanding Costume Design.
214:from March 4, 1980, through June 3, 1980.
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557:1980s American variety television series
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542:1980 American television series endings
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250:Regular performers included Joe Baker,
537:1980 American television series debuts
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16:American TV variety series (1980)
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493:. March 4, 1980. p. C 16
411:Brown, Les (March 12, 1980).
21:The Big Show (disambiguation)
567:Figure skating on television
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236:from fading into history.
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280:The Nick Perito Orchestra
276:The Tony Charmoli Dancers
228:, which had aired on the
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562:NBC original programming
344:was the producer, and
208:comedy-variety-musical
139:Dick Clark Productions
386:McNeil, Alex (1996).
285:Guest hosts included
19:For other uses, see
491:The New York Times
419:The New York Times
362:The New York Times
348:was the director.
270:, Paul Grimm, and
135:Production company
456:978-0-307-48320-1
352:Critical response
295:David Copperfield
266:, Owen Sullivan,
230:NBC Radio Network
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92:Original language
84:Country of origin
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495:. Retrieved
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346:Steve Binder
338:The Big Show
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272:Pamela Myers
268:Edie McClurg
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192:The Big Show
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127:Running time
74:Presented by
64:Steve Binder
40:Variety show
30:The Big Show
29:
497:February 6,
462:February 6,
425:February 6,
342:Nick Vanoff
291:Nell Carter
287:Steve Allen
245:Emmy Awards
173:3 June 1980
114:of episodes
60:Directed by
531:Categories
370:References
333:Production
319:John Curry
307:Sid Caesar
256:Shabba-Doo
177:1980-06-03
167:1980-03-04
130:90 minutes
122:Production
103:of seasons
78:Dick Clark
54:Stan Burns
46:Written by
323:Jim Bray
195:(radio)
185:Related
175: (
171: –
165: (
163:4 March
160:Release
150:Network
95:English
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325:, and
305:, and
278:, and
36:Genre
522:IMDb
499:2024
464:2024
451:ISBN
427:2024
392:ISBN
520:at
212:NBC
154:NBC
112:No.
101:No.
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