''Cher'' was an American

variety show Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is normally introduced by a co ...

that premiered on CBS in 1975, hosted by singer-actress

Cher Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female ...

. The show had many famous musical guests. It followed a TV special featuring

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...

Bette Midler Bette Midler (;'' Inside the Actors Studio'', 2004 born December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress, comedian and author. Throughout her career, which spans over five decades, Midler has received numerous accolades, including four Golden ...

, and

Flip Wilson Clerow "Flip" Wilson Jr. (December 8, 1933 – November 25, 1998) was an American comedian and actor best known for his television appearances during the late 1960s and 1970s. From 1970 to 1974, Wilson hosted his own weekly variety series ''The F ...

as guests. ''Cher'' premiered at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 16, 1975, and finished the season ranked first among variety shows and twenty-second among all programs, with a 21.3 average household share, also receiving the most

fan mail Fan mail is mail sent to a public figure, especially a celebrity, by their admirers or " fans". In return for a fan's support and admiration, public figures may send an autographed poster, photo, reply letter or note thanking their fans for th ...

of any CBS program at the time. The first season aired Sundays at 7:30 and the second aired at 8:00.

Overview

The show featured Cher interviewing various celebrity guests ranging from musicians to actors and pop culture figures. The series also featured sketches and comedic field reports. Cher would also perform her songs with a live band.

David Geffen David Lawrence Geffen (born February 21, 1943) is an American business magnate, producer and film studio executive. He co-created Asylum Records in 1971 with Elliot Roberts, Geffen Records in 1980, DGC Records in 1990, and DreamWorks SKG in ...

, with whom Cher had an

affair An affair is a sexual relationship, romantic friendship, or passionate attachment in which at least one of its participants has a formal or informal commitment to a third person who may neither agree to such relationship nor even be aware of ...

while waiting for her divorce from

Sonny Bono Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono (; February 16, 1935 – January 5, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and politician who came to fame in partnership with his second wife Cher as the popular singing duo Sonny & Cher. A member of the Republica ...

to be finalized, served as producer. David Bowie and Cher 1975

With Sonny, Cher had co-starred in ''

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour ''The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour'' was an American variety show that starred American pop singers Sonny Bono and Cher, who were married to each other at the time. The show ran on CBS in the United States, and premiered in August 1971. The show was ...

'' for CBS from 1971 to 1974, before the two divorced amid major bitterness and acrimony. Each partner would get their own series: Cher got this series on CBS, while Sonny (who got to keep all of the staff and intellectual property from the ''Comedy Hour'') got ''

The Sonny Comedy Revue ''The Sonny Comedy Revue'', starring Sonny Bono, was a variety show that aired on ABC in 1974 for one season. It was his first solo effort after the end of his marriage to Cher and the resulting cancellation of their variety show ''The Sonny & Che ...

''. Cher was allowed to keep the ''Comedy Hour's'' musical director,

Jimmy Dale Jimmy Dale may refer to: * Jimmy Dale (footballer) (1870–1948), Scottish footballer * Jimmy Dale (musician) Jimmy Dale (23 October 1935 – 20 May 2017) was a British-born Canadian arranger, composer, conductor, organist, and pianist. He ...

, and ''Comedy Hour'' director

Art Fisher The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Five of the Marx Brothers' thirteen feature films were selected by the American Film Institute (AFI) ...

also directed several ''Cher'' episodes. The two were to face each other head-to-head in the ratings, but ABC cancelled the ''Revue'' before ''Cher'' premiered. By the end of the season, Sonny and Cher had set aside their differences and agreed to reunite. She later stated that doing the show alone was overwhelming. ''Cher'' was immediately replaced by a revived ''The Sonny & Cher Show'', with a new production and writing team. With Sonny, the new show lasted 1 seasons, airing until 1977.

Home media and syndication

Time-Life includes select episodes of ''Cher'' as part of its compilation DVD sets: ten episodes are included in ''The Best of Cher'' and five on ''I Got You Babe: The Best of Sonny & Cher''.https://timelife.com/products/i-got-you-babe-the-best-of-sonny-cher

getTV getTV is an American digital multicast television network owned by the Sony Pictures Television Networks subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television. Originally formatted as a movie-oriented service, the network has since transitioned into a genera ...

sporadically reruns the series.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cher Show 1970s American comedy television series 1970s American variety television series 1975 American television series debuts 1976 American television series endings CBS original programming Cher English-language television shows