The success of NBC's Real People, from Laugh-In creator George Schlatter, prompted ABC to come up with a similar series.
What producer Alan Landsburg (In Search Of.....) gave them was a hybrid that was equal parts magazine and variety show, though with no musical guests most of the time. That's Incredible! was a spring replacement series that launched in March 1980, and would run for five seasons total (1980-4).
Former NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton (Vikings, Giants) teamed with actors John Davidson & Cathy Lee Crosby to host the series, which featured human interest stories, and some unique talents. In the former category, we present a nice little feature piece on a 5 year old golfing prodigy who'd made his television debut a couple of years earlier, and today is one of the world's best known golfers, five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods.
Landsburg would sell a short-lived sitcom to ABC, Baby Makes FIve, three years later, but had better success at NBC (Gimme a Break!) & CBS (Kate & Allie). That's Incredible! was revived for a brief run in 1988 under the title, Incredible Sunday. Davidson, who was in his 3rd & final season hosting Hollywood Squares, returned to co-host.
Rating: A-.
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