Welcome to a new Wildcard Wednesday! This week, we’re honoring the late Carol Channing, who passed last month at the age of 97. I’ve reached deep into my bag of goodies to pull out one of the legendary Broadway star’s television specials — but not one that currently circulates and can be found online in full with some mild sleuthing. No, this is a rarity — something that hasn’t been widely seen since its initial broadcast by ABC on April 14, 1969.
Entitled Carol Channing Proudly Presents The Seven Deadly Sins, this musical-comedy-variety special riffs on the aforementioned seven deadly sins: gluttony, envy, lust, wrath, avarice, pride, and sloth. It was directed by Clark Jones and written by Hal Goodman, Al Gordon, Ernest Chambers, and Saul Ilson, all of whom had written for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and first two of whom had also written for The Carol Burnett Show. Oh, yeah… Carol Burnett also appears… with Danny Thomas no less — making for a veritable trifecta of talent!
In fact, here’s a clip of the trio singing a version of “Happiness,” originally from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (1967). Subscribers interested in obtaining a copy of the full program, please comment below and alert me of your interest! For everyone else, please enjoy this taste.
Come back next week for another Wildcard post!! And stay tuned Tuesday for more Sitcom fun!
Hi Jackson! Wonderful tribute to Carol Channing. I’ve long wanted to see the Seven Deadly Sins special and I hope you can provide me with a link. Thanks! Carol’s specials were always great fun.
Hi, Jimmy! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
Hi, I would like a copy of the Carol Channing special please. Much thanks.
Hi, Darren! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
One of the great ones. Would love to see this tv special. Thanks Bob K.
Hi, Bob! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
Carol plus Carol… I’m in heaven…and oh yeah, there’s Danny Thomas too. Please send me your pot of gold now. Thanks so much!
Hi, Kim! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your stokesvideo address.
I’d love a copy of the Channing special too. Thanks!
Hi, Jon! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your yahoo address.
April 14, 1969 was the same night as the Academy Awards that year, also on ABC. I guess this aired before the Oscars in the East but after in the West, as I think the Oscars were carried mostly live across the country, similar to how ABC had to juggle its Monday night programming for Monday Night Football a couple years later,
“Happiness” obviously had its lyrics changed to fit adults singing it. I think Carol Channing would’ve been fun on THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW, especially in the later seasons. I’d love to see her fit into a Family sketch, maybe as a flighty friend of Eunice’s (like Madeline Kahn) or even Mama’s.
Yes, this special preceded the Oscars in the East and followed them in the West!
Also, as I’m sure you know, while Channing never made any appearances in the later (better written) seasons of THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW, she did appear three times — in 1968, 1971, and 1972, respectively.
Jackson, thank you so much for this. Carol Channing was the great star of my theater-loving childhood. I’d love a copy of the full special.
Hi, David! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
Jackson – Your grandmother would be stopped in airports and asked for her autograph as people would think she was Carol Channing. I witnessed this a couple times myself.
Hi, Uncle Dan! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Yes, Mimi looks so much like Channing in the photos I’ve seen. My dad says she sounded like her, too!
Yes, please and thank you!
Hi, Ray! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your fastmail address.
I must admit I’ve never heard of this special before, but what a great clip. You’re an education as always, Jackson. I’d love to see the entire special. Thanks!
Hi, Greg! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your earthlink address.
Please send me a copy of this program. Thanks!
Hi, Travis! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
I met Carol when I was a Theatre Critic back in the 70’s when she was touring with “Hello, Dolly!” What a charming and beautiful soul she was! Please send me her special! Thanks, Jacksonk!
Hi, Michael! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your AT&T address.
Nothing like Carol Channing! I’d love to see this special if it’s possible for you to send it. Thanks!
Hi, Shawn! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
Hi! Terrific posts! I’d like to get a copy of this program, if I can! Thanks for posting!
Hi, Curly Girly! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Please subscribe to this blog using your preferred email address and I will send a link your way!
Hello, I sent you an email regarding this special. Would really like to get a full copy of this show please. I have enjoyed going through your site its very cool and full of great information. I’d love to chat with you sometime I at one time was Carol’s personal assistant. Now I impersonate Carol.
Hi, Nicky — thanks for reading and commenting, and subscribing!
I have emailed you at your gmail address. Hope this brings back great memories!