Directed by Marc Breaux ~Executive Producer George Schlatter ~Written by Chris Bearde and Coslough Johnson Dinah Shore (Herself, Host / Various Characters) was born Fannye Rose Shore in 1916. She was a singer, actress, and television personality, and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s. She rose to prominence as a recording artist during the Big Band era, but achieved even greater success a decade later, in television, mainly as hostess of a series of variety programs. Her first recordings were with Desi Arnaz’s mentor, bandleader Xavier Cugat, and she later changed her named to Dinah after her success with the song of the same name. She was famous for blowing a kiss to her audiences (“Mwah!”) at the end of each show. Shore appeared as herself on a 1971 episode of “Here's Lucy” (S4;E7).Shore and Ball appeared together on many television talk shows, specials and award shows together. Her passions were golf, cooking, and painting. Shore died in 1994. Lucille Ball (Herself / Various Characters) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon, which was not a success and was canceled after just 13 episodes. Diana Ross (Herself / Various Characters) makes her first television appearance as a solo act after many years of headlining with The Supremes. The group released a record-setting twelve number-one hit singles on the BillboardHot 100. As an actress, she starred in Lady Sings The Blues (1971), Mahogany (1975), and The Wiz (1978). Dick Martin (Himself / Various Characters, below right) is probably best remembered as the co-host of “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” from 1967 to 1973. He was born Thomas Richard Martin on January 30, 1922, in Battle Creek, Michigan. As a teenager he lost a lung to tuberculosis and used bottled oxygen for the rest of his life. Martin was a writer for the popular radio show “Duffy’s Tavern” before teaming up with Dan Rowan in the 1950s. They played nightclubs and Las Vegas before Martin was cast as Lucy Carmichael's boyfriend Harry Conners on “The Lucy Show,” his ‘acting’ debut. He was married three times and died in 2008 of respiratory failure. Dan Rowan (Himself / Various Characters, above left) is best known as the co-host of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” which earned him a 1972 Emmy Award. In 1966 he had appeared with Lucille Ball on “The Dean Martin Show.” Rowan made two appearances on “The Lucy Show” in 1966 and 1967. He died in 1987 at age 65. Gary Owens (Announcer / Emcee, uncredited) was also, not surprisingly, the announcer for “Laugh-In.” Lorne Greene (Himself, uncredited) appears in his costume from “Bonanza” in a couple of quick comic cut-aways. The Smothers Brothers (Themselves, uncredited) had a variety show that was opposite this special on CBS. They were generally up against “Bonanza.” Greg Morris (Nightclub Patron, uncredited) was appearing in the Desilu spy thriller “Mission: Impossible” at the time. He does not have any dialogue. Victor Buono (Corrupt Rival Gang Leader, uncredited) played “Batman” villain King Tut from 1967 to 1968. A month before this cameo, he had appeared on an episode of “Here's Lucy” (S1;E21). He does not have any dialogue. Jay Meyer (uncredited) was a singer and actor who performed with such stars as Ray Conniff, Jack Benny, Danny Kaye, and Tennessee Ernie Ford, just to name a few. Jay also worked for 13 years at Disneyland in the Golden Horseshoe Revue and became one of the singing ghosts busts in the Haunted Mansion. His career continued until his mid-seventies. He died in 2009. Carole Cook (Lucy's Singing Voice, uncredited) played Thelma Green on “The Lucy Show” as well as a host of other characters. She was a protege of Lucille Ball’s during the Desilu Playhouse years. Although born as Mildred Cook, Ball suggested she take the name Carole, in honor of Lucy’s great friend, Carole Lombard. Cook appeared in five episodes of “Here’s Lucy” as various characters and sometimes was a ghost singer for Lucille Ball. About the title: Hip v Hep ~'Hip' is a slang term for fashionably current or to have an attitude in opposition to the unfree (or un-cool) world. It entered common parlance after World War II. In the 1940s the word 'hep' became used interchangeably (not without controversy) with 'hip,' especially by Jazz musicians, although 'hip' eventually proved the more time-tested of the two terms. “Like Hep” the TV special seems to suggest that the term 'hep' is coming back, which proved not to be true. You hep? In the fall of 1969, George Schlatter also had Diana Ross as a guest on two episodes of “Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.” The NBC smash hit's second half hour competed with “Here's Lucy” on CBS. Both Dan Rowan and Dick Martin had appeared many times on “The Lucy Show” before their big success with “Laugh-In.” Interestingly, “Here's Lucy” frequently incorporated catch phrases from “Laugh-In” like “Here Come the Judge” and “Sock It To Me” in order to stay contemporary. “Laugh-In” regulars Ruth Buzzi and Arte Johnson guest starred on “Here's Lucy.” In one of J. Randy Taraborrelli's books about Diana Ross, he wrote that Lucy and Dinah "gave Diana hell", and took advantage of her inexperience with comedy. Other accounts, however, relate that Ross's experience with Lucy and Dinah was a good one. The "gave her hell" line just referred to the fact that hey worked her hard, but she wasn't intimidated because they were all working hard to make it right. In the planning stages they all met at Lucy's house to discuss the special and everyone was very cordial. Diana and Lucy had a friendly relationship after the special as well with Lucy praising Ross's performance in Lady Sings The Blues. In a Diana Ross book, she's quoted as saying Lucy and Dinah pretty much ignored her. She may have been over-sensitive or it may be that Lucy and Dinah found it hard to find common ground for chit-chat, their backgrounds and ages being so different. When this special was shot, Lucy was 57 (going on 58) Dinah was somewhere between 52 and 55 (depending on your source), while Diana was just 25. Later in 1969, Diana Ross appeared on television with The Supremes in “G.I.T. on Broadway,” also produced by George Schlatter. That special also contained the song “Let The Sunshine In” from the Broadway musical Hair. Coincidentally, NBC's lead-in for “Like Hep” was the final episode of the Desi Arnaz series“The Mother-In-Law.” That night's episode was directed by Elliot Lewis and featured his wife, Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane on “Here's Lucy”). It was written by Lucy's original writers Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis. More coincidental, “Just Hep” was programmed opposite “The Smothers Brothers” on CBS which that night guest starred Dan Rowan. Following “The Smothers Brothers” was the Desilu produced series “Mission: Impossible.” Dinah makes her first entrance in an elegant setting singing “For Once In My Life” by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden in 1966 and popularized by Stevie Wonder. The song was also recorded by Diana Ross. Dinah stops herself (literally, thanks to special effects) and says that while “she” is singing songs like that, the rest of us will be doing something that's more “like hep.” After the opening credits, she finishes the song. After the break, Dinah sings “Both Sides, Now” by Joni Mitchell, popularized by Judy Collins in late 1968. After the song is over, Dinah bows and is instantly (thanks again to technology) in a new outfit. Lucy bounds out to join her. John O. Pastore is probably best remembered as the senator who was involved in quizzing Fred Rodgers about the value of Public Television when it was proposed that their Federal funding be raised by 20 million dollars. In the end, the generally grouchy Pastore was won over by Mr. Rogers and funding was increased to 22 million. Dinah explains to Lucy that the term 'hip' has reverted to 'hep' again. Which launches the song “Like Hep” written by Billie Barnes and W. Earl Brown especially for this special. Diana Ross (in her first appearance) struts in for the second chorus. Just as in “Laugh-In,” the song is occasionally interrupted for a few quick comic exchanges about being ‘hep.’ Some of the names mentioned in the fast-paced song include: Dinah introduces “The Story of the Singing Detective,” which opens in a nightclub located “in the outskirts of beautiful lower New Jersey.” Ross is singing a peppy “Baby Love” with four back-up dancers. Greg Morris (“Mission: Impossible”) is sitting at a table with Dick Martin who constantly (and inexplicably) wields a screwdriver. Dan Rowan is the “Boss” and Lucy is Joyce, his “Moll.” Diana asks the Boss about her performance. Ross is attempting the song“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, sung by Garland as Dorothy in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Little did she know then that she would also play Dorothy in the 1978 film adaptation, The Wiz. Joyce takes the floor to sing a few bars of “Big Spender” written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields for the 1966 stage musical Sweet Charity. The film version starring Shirley MacLaine was released two weeks before this special first aired. Lucy's belted vocals knock the corrupt rival gang leaders dead – literally. [Note: This is likely not Lucille Ball's voice, but that of her frequent ghost-singer, Carole Cook.] Enter the Singing Detective played by Dinah looking like Sherlock Holmes by way of Las Vegas. The Singing Detective also has a 'killer voice' and with a blast of “From This Moment On” (by Cole Porter) everyone in the nightclub (including Diana) drops over dead! During a bit of brief banter between Lucy and Dick Martin he says he watches “Here's Lucy.” Dan Rowan introduces a 'space age' song: “The Age of Aquarius” from the musical Hair sung by Diana Ross. The song pauses for Lucy and Dick to play robots who speak an unintelligible language. The robot sketch slowly morphs into a parody of “Laugh-In's” popular park bench skit starring Ruth Buzzi as handbag-wielding Gladys Ormphby and Arte Johnson as the muttering dirty old man Tyrone F. Horneigh. Lucille Ball did another version of the sketch in 1971′s“The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” with Arte Johnson himself. This goes directly into Diana [wearing an outfit that only Cher would envy] singing “Don't Ya Hear Me Calling To Ya?” popularized by the FifthDimension and appearing on their 1969 album “The Age of Aquarius”. It was also the 'B' side of the single. The song goes back to Diana singing “The Age of Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In.” After ”station identification” [remember that?] the background music plays “When You Wish Upon A Star” and Dinah introduces “The Fairy Godmother's Revenge,” a fairy tale parody set in Goosetown, a village populated by various storybook characters. Diana plays Snow White [!], who is worried about the seven dwarfs, who have gone on strike at the gold mine. The dwarfs’ picket line is behind a wall so only their protest signs can be seen. One of the signs says “Abe Lastfogel for Mayor.” Abe Lastfogel was the long-time president and agent of the William Morris Talent Agency. When he died in 1984 he had worked for the agency for 72 years. Unsurprisingly, he was Dinah Shore's agent. His last name was used for an in-joke during a 1948 episode of Lucy’s radio show“My Favorite Husband”. Other picket signs say: Dick Martin plays Little Boy Blue using a New Orleans drawl and Dan Rowan is a rhyming Little Tommy Tucker. For help with the strike, Snow White calls upon her Fairy Godmother (Lucy), and she magically appears. Lucy is wearing a pink Glinda-like dress and chomping on a cigar. She is a grouchy Fairy Godmother, annoyed about being woken from her five decade trance. “Like Hep” aired at the height of the Vietnam War and the attendant peace movement. To avoid the draft, some men would claim psychological exemption due to hom*osexual or transsexual behavior. This idea was mined for comedy through the character Klinger (Jamie Farr) on TV's “M*A*S*H” (1972). That's Lucy's cue to go flying overhead (on very visible wires) as Mary Poppins, singing “A Spoonful of Sugar.” Once again, Lucy's singing voice is probably dubbed by Carole Cook. Dinah comes in and out as several fairy tale damsels: Little Miss Muffet looking for her tuffet; a girl named Candy looking for a guru; and Little Bo-Peep looking for her sheep. Trying to make the mean Fairy Godmother smile, Bo-Peep and Snow White sing a song that mashes up all the fairy tales into one and (at the end) even includes suggestions of Dracula! As Mary Poppins (“the Fairy Godmother's crazy stuntman sister”) flies in to save the day, she collides mid-air with Ye Olde Flying Nun. The TV series “The Flying Nun” starring Sally Field ran from 1966 to 1970 on ABC. The mean Fairy Godmother finally gives in to the dwarfs' demands. [General rejoicing.] Jim (James) Arness played Marshal Matt Dillon from 1955 to 1975 on the TV series “Gunsmoke.” Greek-AmericanSpiro Agnew was the recently elected Vice-President of the United States under Richard Nixon. In a break from the silliness, Dinah sings “The Windmills of Your Mind” by Michel Legrand and Alan and Marilyn Bergman for the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair wining the Academy Award for Best Song. A sketch about the country bumpkin Whitebread Family starts with a down-home song from Mandy (Lucy), Randy (Dinah) and Sandy (Diana). A rich stranger rolls up (in a Rolls), and offers to put them in “the show business.” In a montage sequence, the three girls each take ballet lessons. The sight of Lucy at the barre is immediately reminiscent of “The Ballet” (ILL S1;E19), where Lucy Ricardo was put through her paces by Madam Lamond (Mary Wickes). In the next montage, the girls take music lessons. All the while, the trio's brother (Dan Rowan) is trying out his frog impressions while holding a plate of apple pie with an American flag stuck in it. [No. Really.] Flash forward to “a little more than four months later,”the Whitebreads are in Las Vegas doing their act, which begins with “There's No Business Like Show Business” by Irving Berlin. On a huge Ziegfeld-like staircase (the same from earlier in the show), flanked by glittering showgirls and boys, the now formally dressed Whitebreads sing...the same old country bumpkin song the sketch started with! The image of Lucy poised at the top of a high staircase immediately brings to mind when“Lucy Gets Into Pictures” (ILL S4;E18). In a serious segment, Dinah sings “Cryin' Time,” first written by Buck Owens in 1964. It won a 1967 Grammy Award for Ray Charles. After Dinah blows her trademark “Mwah!” goodnight smooch to the audience, Lucy, Diana and Dinah sing an uptempo ‘hep’ version of “Dinah” written in 1925 by Harry Akst, Sammy Lewis, and Joe Young. It was the song that inspired Shore's stage name (she was born Fannye Rose) and it became her signature song. The credits roll. [Finally!] "Like Hep" was rerun on NBC several years later, an unusual occurrence as specials were rarely rerun. For the rerun, several moments were edited out: Missing from the end of the "Dinah" number as it was originally run: Dinah interrupts the singing to announce "be sure to tune in next week for the return of 'Bonanza'” (the 9pm Sunday time slot the special was run in) followed by a shot of the Smothers Brothers saying "Darn it" followed by a shot of Lorne Green chuckling. "The Smothers Brothers Hour" was the first show CBS programmed opposite "Bonanza" that actually made a dent in "Bonanza's” ratings. Lucy wears a mod black and white dress by Robert Carlton, who had designed the costumes for Dinah’s weekly variety series.Less than two years later, the costume would appear on “Laugh-In”, which aired opposite “Here’s Lucy” at the time. It was worn by Lily Tomlin on the January 18, 1971 episode when she played Lula in the show’s co*cktail party sequence. [credit to The Lucy Lounge for spotting this dress redux!]April 13, 1969
Ross is credited by the announcer as Dinah's “Extra Added Attraction Guest”.
Tom and Dick Smothers only appeared at the very end of the final credits, in a one shot gag. The gag was not included in the rebroadcast.
Dinah: “It's not easy to change clothes that fast on television thanks to all the new restrictions on sex and violence. Senator Pastore – eat your heart out!”
Boss: “You do a great Minnie Pearl, but how's your Judy Garland?”Diana: (singing) “Somewheeeeeeeeere...”Boss: “Work on it.”
Fairy Godmother: (to Little Boy Blue): “Are those your real clothes or are you just trying to stay out of the Army?”
Little Boy Blue (about the Fairy Godmother): “I hear she's been bugged ever since her twin sister did the stunts in 'Mary Poppins'.”
Bo-Peep and Snow White: “That's our fairy bippity-boppity-zippidy-bang-bang-chitty-chitty-doo-dah tale!”
Dinah: “They lived happily ever after. The dwarfs grew up and became Jim Arness. The Fairy Godmother turned into an aardvark and ate Philadelphia. And as you well know, the giant chicken and the giant rabbit ran off to Athens together and became Spiro and Agnew.”
This Date in Lucy History – April 13
“Lucy Wants A Career” (LDCH) – April 13, 1959
See Also
#George Burns | papermoonloveslucy#Mel Blanc | papermoonloveslucyWild And Exciting by Earth & Fire#The Honeymooners | papermoonloveslucy