Debbie Allen, Ellen Foley and Mimi Kennedy played fictionalised versions of themselves, a dancer, singer and comic plucked from obscurity to host a weekly hour of sketches and songs. The trio addressed the camera directly, rehearsing numbers, sparring with agents and commenting on their sudden fame, while real musical guests dropped by and the studio audience watched the machinery of television manufacture a hit. NBC bought the project after ABC balked at casting unknowns and CBS wanted to retool it for a solo Diahann Carroll; 300 women were auditioned before the final trio landed the parts.
Critics loved it. The New York Times’ John J. O’Connor hailed the 30 March premiere as “the freshest, liveliest and most exciting premiere of a series that television has concocted in years.” Viewers agreed, delivering solid ratings for the opener, which ended with an on-air promise that the show would return. NBC reneged, shelving episode two and cancelling the series, then bowed to protests by burning off the remaining three instalments in June. Summer ratings tanked and the network never revived the format, leaving the three would-be stars to pursue actual overnight success elsewhere.
Production Details
NBC / 1 Season / 1 Episode / 1977 - Present
Created by: Dwight Hemion, Gary Smith
Writer(s): Kenny Solms, Gail Parent, Ed Scharlach
Producer(s): Kenny Solms, Gail Parent
Main Cast
Debbie Allen as Self
Ellen Foley as Self
Mimi Kennedy as
