The Magic of ABC starring David Copperfield, 1977

August 18, 2007 9:23 PM

How do you fit Fred "Rerun" Berry, Shaun Cassidy, Howard Cosell, Kate Jackson, Hal Linden, Penny Marhsall, Kristy McNichol, Donny & Marie, Parker Stevenson, Dick Van Patten, Adam Rich, Abe Vigoda, and Cindy Williams all into a single 48 minute TV show? It would take a magician like David Copperfield, in his first television special in 1977.
posted by The Deej (42 comments total)

Plus, there was somehow still room on the show for his enormous hair.
posted by The Deej at 9:25 PM on August 18, 2007

You forgot the Pillsbury Doughboy.
posted by allen.spaulding at 9:29 PM on August 18, 2007

Dang, allen, spoiler alert huh? You're giving it all away.

Also, Billy Crystal on the Soap promo.
posted by The Deej at 9:33 PM on August 18, 2007

I thought for sure this was going to be a post about the Battle of the Network Stars.
posted by Sailormom at 9:34 PM on August 18, 2007

Hooray for b-listers?
posted by Burhanistan at 9:42 PM on August 18, 2007

Would this be the appropriate thread to confess that as a kid Mackenzie Phillips did more for me that Valerie Bertinelli?
posted by sourwookie at 9:43 PM on August 18, 2007

That's the youngest I've ever seen Abe Vigoda. Which is weird because I've seen him in stuff older than this special.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 9:44 PM on August 18, 2007

When I was a kid and this came out, I remember my sisters going gaga over the fact Shaun Cassidy would make an appearance, and I was going gaga over Kristy MacNichol making an appearance, and we argued over which was more of a big deal. Now I cant stand watching thirty seconds of this without wincing. The 70s really sucked. I can't sit through an entire episode of "That 70s Show" for much the same reason.
posted by ZachsMind at 9:51 PM on August 18, 2007

Hell, I think I've seen all of those celebs in a single 30 second Zach Braff cutaway imaginary scene on Scrubs.
posted by jonson at 9:51 PM on August 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

Having thrown out my TV around 1975 or so, and not watching any again with any regularity for a good 10 years or so after that, I have to say that I have no earthly idea who all but a couple of these people are. Now, of course, I could be wrong, but I think this might be one of those cases where ignorance is indeed bliss.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:02 PM on August 18, 2007

f@m: yes, unless you're some sort of cultural anthropology student doing a thesis on 70s TV personas or something then don't be a clickin'
posted by Burhanistan at 10:04 PM on August 18, 2007

There's something about the 70s that is way more cringe-worthy than any other era. I especially chuckle at Copperfield introducing the commercials. Can you imagine him doing that now? Even better, imagine Criss Angel doing that.

(Monotone, dont-give-a-shit voice): "Now that I'm chained to this wall, a dozen ravens will be released to peck my eyes out. Can I escape in time? We'll find out in a minute. But first, let's see what's up with our friend Bob in this message from Enzyte, for natural male enhancement..."
posted by The Deej at 10:07 PM on August 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

"I used to be able to take great pleasure in not enjoying things"
posted by Burhanistan at 10:16 PM on August 18, 2007

Is there a natural law that says that magicians must give off a serial killer vibe?
posted by stavrogin at 10:27 PM on August 18, 2007

No, cannot click, I had to watch that the first time it came around - it was apparently required for sixth grade Horrible class. Or something. I have no idea why. But I do know that I am totally exempt from seeing it again on Youtube. Good lord, just when you think it's safe to go back on the computer. . .
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:28 PM on August 18, 2007

Claudia Schiffer was 7 years old when this aired.
posted by Poolio at 10:32 PM on August 18, 2007

I was five when that aired, making me younger, and therefore hotter than Claudia Schiffer.
posted by sourwookie at 10:36 PM on August 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

I miss TV like this. These shows bring me back to being a kid, laying on some yellow shag, drowsy but enjoying the chance to stay up a little later than usual. I know that everyone hates on the 70's, but it was a great time to be a kid.

Man, I'm never drowsy any more. It's work, work, work, clean up, sleep. There's never this lazy 'just a few minutes more' twilight. I just realized how much I miss it. I'm going to make some changes and try and bring it back. Thanks, Mefi!
posted by unixrat at 10:37 PM on August 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

I was only three, sourwookie. I win.
posted by Poolio at 10:37 PM on August 18, 2007

BTW, sourwookie... I'm with you on the Mackenzie Phillips thing.
posted by Poolio at 10:39 PM on August 18, 2007

Shaun Cassidy... *sigh*... My first crush.
posted by amyms at 10:47 PM on August 18, 2007

Dagnabbit Deej! This is something that I would totally post. Which makes me realize that something is seriously wrong with me.

I know, I know... most of you could've told me that already.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:06 PM on August 18, 2007

BTW, I used to love Chris Kattan's David Copperfield impression. Anybody remember that?
posted by miss lynnster at 11:07 PM on August 18, 2007

"Hooray for b-listers?"

They may be b-listers now, but they were a-listers then.

Abe Vigoda hasn't changed a bit.
posted by wsg at 11:47 PM on August 18, 2007

HAY GUYS I LOVE BLISTERS TOO I MEAN I REALLY LOVE THEM AT LEAST IM NOT AS GROSS AS THOSE FURIRES! YAY BLISTERS!
posted by sourwookie at 11:58 PM on August 18, 2007

Beat ya to it miss lynnster. But, dang, you out-post me about 10 to 1 as it is, let me have a little taste of FPP glory why dontcha. ;)
posted by The Deej at 12:02 AM on August 19, 2007

Couldn't find Chris Kattan, but there's this, which made me chuckle.
posted by The Deej at 12:04 AM on August 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

Oh dear. I realize I still have a crush on Kristy McNichol. My aged heart just gave a little skip when she appeared in the intro and my glands injected a little happy juice into my sclerosed arteries. If you're reading this, Kristy, it's not too late...
posted by Turtles all the way down at 6:56 AM on August 19, 2007

Dagnabbit Deej! This is something that I would totally post. Which makes me realize that something is seriously wrong with me.

Ya know... it took me all night to figure out what it must mean that I posted this.
posted by The Deej at 7:39 AM on August 19, 2007

Yer an incredible dag?
posted by h00py at 7:54 AM on August 19, 2007

God, ancient tv execs must cream their pants remembering when they could get away with an hour-long season promo like this, and have millions of people watching because there was nothing better on.
posted by mediareport at 7:58 AM on August 19, 2007

Yer an incredible dag?
posted by h00py

Dag:
1. dirty wool around sheeps bum.
2. An unfashionable person.
2b) term of endearment for an unfashionable person that tells corny joke.

Uhhh, of those choices, I guess I'll take 2b, please, but I was just thinking along the lines of "there's something wrong with me."
posted by The Deej at 8:18 AM on August 19, 2007

"Dagnabbit" is a phrase that my godfather used to say when he didn't want to curse "in front of a lady" (which he considered me to be from the age of about 2). He was from the south & wore overalls & liked to sit on a patio chair in his driveway watching neighborhood traffic all weekend. Since that memory makes me laugh, I channel him sometimes. So there ya go, dagnabbit.
posted by miss lynnster at 8:34 AM on August 19, 2007

My southern "papaw" used dagnabbit as well. He was also fond of "Awww pshaw!" But he never called me a dag.
posted by The Deej at 8:58 AM on August 19, 2007

"Dagnabbit" is a phrase that my godfather used to say when he didn't want to curse...

Yup, and also on the similar southern tip, there's "goll-dernit" and "gaht-dernit" and "gaht-dangit". And I believe WC Field's old favorite exclamation "Godfrey Daniel!" served a similar purpose.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:09 AM on August 19, 2007

THis is the best Metafilter link ever. Thanks for ruining my whole morning!
posted by adrober at 9:18 AM on August 19, 2007

Why'd they cut away from Donny Osmond spinning? =(
posted by carsonb at 9:28 AM on August 19, 2007

You can see in the related video list that many of the Copperfield specials are online. Subsequent ones are much better. Copperfield is a great showman, and to his credit has evolved with the times.

I won't bother linking to things you can easily see, but I do want to call your attention to "Walking Through the Great Wall." It shows what is best and worst about Copperfield's older stuff. In the "best" column, he has taken a relatively basic vanish / appearance illusion, and added his own touches to make it more visual, then re-cast it as walking through a solid. (Walking through a wall is nothing new, either, having been performed by Houdini, playing on his ability to escape from jail cells.) Placing it at the Great Wall makes it an Event. This is all marvelous showmanship and publicity, turning it into "news."

In the "worst" column: "They are even monitoring my heartrate!" and the guys with the parabolic dishes "following" Copperfield through the wall. This is right up there with the "radar" during the Statue of Liberty disappearance. Instead of adding to the effect, I think it detracts. Even at the time, my non-magician friends groaned at that part, and rather than adding to the mystery it made them dismissive of the whole thing. I suppose the point was to give the audience something to look at until the emergence, but the cheese factor of that part was pretty high.

When I get MY own TV special, I won't do such a thing! Whining aside, magicians and other entertainers owe a great debt of gratitude to Copperfield for his fresh approach to magic. Like Doug Henning before him, he so thoroughly changed the expectations of a "magic show" that it's hard to imagine what it was like before him.

Glad you enjoyed the post everyone. :)
posted by The Deej at 10:25 AM on August 19, 2007

Who is this "everyone", kemo sabe?
posted by Burhanistan at 10:37 AM on August 19, 2007

"you" who "enjoyed," Tonto.
posted by The Deej at 12:45 PM on August 19, 2007

I thought for sure this was going to be a post about the Battle of the Network Stars.
posted by Sailormom at 12:34 AM on August 19

And we can't forget Battle of the PBS Stars.
posted by juiceCake at 4:31 PM on August 19, 2007 [2 favorites]

Funny, juiceCake!
posted by The Deej at 8:17 AM on August 20, 2007