Great in the 70's and 80's, but awfully hard to find today. Where'd they all go? Usually hosted by a face the public knew and loved, these shows were virtual showcases for an entire generation of performers.
The Andy Williams Show:
Look! Up in the Sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Captain Weird! That was the strange and disheveled superhero that showed up every week, bashed through walls, uttered semi-senseless nonsense, then flew off. To this day, people remember the Captain with glee.
The Dom Deluise Show:
Although this series only lasted one season, some of tv's funniest moments were recorded on this show. According to Charlie, "Dom could read the phone book and be funny." He has reason to know. As a regular on the show, Charlie played Sam Spade wannabe Detective Charlie Tie. Visiting Dom's barber shop each week to study and solve life's little mysteries.
The Flip Wilson Show:
When judging other comedians, Charlie looks for timing, storytelling abilities, and a certain attitude. Flip Wilson, a seasoned Club entertainer and TV veteran, brought his unique combination of hip and edgy comedy to the American public's living room once a week for several seasons. Says Charlie, a frequent visitor to the show, "This guy was just plain brilliant!"
Jerry Lewis Show pilots:
This contracted 5-show pilot, gave Charlie the chance to work again with Jerry. The show didn't catch on, but both comedians enjoyed themselves immensely. When our Hero speaks of Jerry Lewis, it's with a respect and love that's hard to match. "Jerry gave me a couple of my early big breaks, first with his movie "The Big Mouth" and later in Vegas. He's been a good friend through the years, and always one of my favorite people in the world."
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Over 50 appearances on Hollywood Squares - "I never got tired of waiting for Paul Lynde's answers." Candid Camera with Allen Funt - "One of my favorite shows."
Specials and One-Offs:
Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Jonathan Winters, Alan King, numerous Network Specials - Charlie worked with them all. But trying to remember specifics about these shows is tough for our Hero. "Run here, run there -- show up, do your schtick -- and leave. Pretty much they've all merged together into one big show in my memories."
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Talk Shows
"Nothing drove bookings like the talk shows."
Perhaps it's because of its versatility. Maybe people just like to hear other people talk. But, Lord, people do love Talk Shows. And, Lord, Charlie did a lot of them. "How could it be any better?" he asks. "Do your act, sit down and brag for awhile, then watch your bookings go through the roof."
The Mike Douglas Show:
Remember him? Charlie does. Our Hero describes his many appearances on Mike's show as the true first TV breaks of his career. "I was doing small stuff here and there - making a living, you know. Then Mike started putting me on his show. Often, he'd just let me loose, giving me anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes just to be goofy. What a break!"
The Merv Griffin Show:
Merv must have found something he liked in the skinny comedian/musician, because he asked him back 50 times over several years. "It was all career building stuff, but one of my early appearances coincided with that of Jerry Lewis. I only had a small time slot at the end of the show. It went well, but I didn't know how well until Jerry came to me afterward and asked me to be in his next picture (my first), The Big Mouth."
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson:
"Nothing had the impact on bookings that The Tonight Show commanded." After more than 60 visits, Charlie should know. He and Johnny found a natural chemistry and, like so many clowns from that period, making Johnny laugh became more important than reaching the audience. Says Charlie, "You always wanted to be funny, but the real gratification came from looking over to the desk and seeing Johnny wiping tears from his eyes. A better listener never existed."
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Dean Martin Roasts
"The most complete, utter fun I've ever had on television."
Show up in costumes, insult everybody you saw, laugh 'til your belly hurt, then go home. That's how Charlie describes his numerous appearances on Dean';s shows. Our Hero has roasted such illuminaries as Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra (as a mafia don), Sammy Davis Jr., Joan Collins, Muhammad Ali (as his boxing coach), George Burns, Angie Dickinson, Joe Garagiola (batting coach, what else?), and Betty White. Woof.
"I still remember Ruth Buzzi whispering on her way to the dais, "Play along no matter what." She then proceeded to fall madly in lust with me. Hmmm. Interesting. The next I knew, she'd ripped my shirt right off my back and proceeded to carry me around piggy back. Years later, we had a blast together when we did a commercial touting an Indian Casino in California. She's a funny, funny lady."
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Series Visits
"Show up, remember your lines - and, try not to bump into anybody."
With few exceptions, series visits gave a guest actor very little space to feel at home or 'go with the creative flow'. They were, pretty much, just gigs. Still, people watched, people noticed. In the past 3 decades, Charlie has visited too many shows to count. It's a formidable body of work.
Early on, there were shows like The Munsters and the Monkees. In the 70's, appearances on Love Boat and Love American Style set the tone. More recently, serious roles on series like Hart to Hart, Gary Shandling, Hearts are Wild and Silk Stalkings have highlighted his acting skills.
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Switch! - the Series
"After Switch, TV Guide referred to me as comedian/actor, Charlie Callas. Heady Stuff!"
Remember this one from back in the 80's, well charlie was a regular for over 3 years. More good stuff to come on this one so stay tuned.
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Circus of the Stars
"Imagine giving actors a chance to star in the circus! We all had a blast!"
Remember these? You should. In the 80's and early 90's millions of TVs tuned into the Circus Specials to see their favorite celebrities do things they weren't used to seeing them do. In Charlie's several appearances he walked on hot coals, spun plates on long skinny poles (remember that act?) and gave demonstrations of expert marksmanship.
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