Throwback Thursday: Remember When Dolly Parton Had Her Own Variety Show?
This week in 1987 Parton debuted her own nationally syndicated television series on ABC, Dolly.
Dolly Parton can sing, she can act and she can tell jokes. That just happens to be the perfect combination for an old fashioned variety television show. This week in 1987 Parton debuted her own nationally syndicated television series on ABC, Dolly.
“People have been saying to me, well Dolly you’re never gonna sing like Glen Campbell and you’re never gonna be as funny as Carol Burnett and you’re never gonna look like Cher,” Parton says from a bubble bath in the introduction of the series’ first episode. “Heck I know that, I’m not trying to compete with those great people, I’m just out here trying to be myself.”
Dolly was Parton’s second attempt at a television series. A decade prior a show with a similar format, Dolly!, broadcast out of Nashville though it only lasted for one season. But with a new crew, ABC attempted to make variety shows popular again and put the country personality at the center of the revival.
Her sense of humor is evident just in the opening scene as you can watch above, and though we didn’t know it was possible, watching the old-school Parton tell jokes makes us love her even more.
“We’re gonna try really hard to please everybody,” she announces to a live audience. “For you ladies I’m gonna be wearing some pretty spectacular gowns. And for you men, I’m gonna be wearing some pretty spectacular gowns.”
The revamp of the show was recorded in L.A. and featured live performances, comedy skits and a whole slew of special guests including Loretta Lynn, Oprah Winfrey, Hulk Hogan, Kermit the Frog and a whole bunch more. She ended every episode with a rendition of her classic hit, “I Will Always Love You.”
Dolly also featured location episodes, including broadcasts from Hawaii, New Orleans, Nashville which included the cast of the Grand Ole Opry and a special episode from Parton’s hometown of Sevierville, Tenn., with much of her family making an appearance.
At the beginning of the series, ratings were relatively high. Though as the show continued viewership steadily declined. The show was cancelled after just one season.
Evidently, the loss of her television show didn’t hurt Parton’s career as an entertainer. She just got to add one more thing to her already impressive résumé and bring smiles to all her fans, even 29 years later.
