ABC & ITC needed more than "A Spoonful of Sugar" from Julie Andrews to keep her 1972 variety show on the air.
Andrews, still in demand off "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins", had signed a 5 year deal, but The Julie Andrews Hour lasted just one season.
ABC's biggest mistake was placing the show initially at 10 pm (ET), opposite Cannon on CBS. After a Thanksgiving eve salute to Walt Disney, ABC began alternating Andrews' time slot, so that it could bump the Wednesday edition of the Movie of The Week to 9:30 when needed.
However, after the calendar turned over to 1973, Andrews was moved to Saturdays, where producer Nick Vanoff previously held court with The Hollywood Palace. CBS' opposition included The Mary Tyler Moore Show & The Bob Newhart Show. Ballgame over. Andrews would fill out her contract with movies for ITC honcho Lord Lew Grade.
Following is the Christmas show. Joining Julie and semi-regulars Rich Little (ex-The Kopykats) and Alice Ghostley (ex-Bewitched) are Mama Cass Elliott, Jimmy Stewart, Sergio Franchi, Dan Dailey (ex-The Governor & JJ), and Carl Reiner, who takes his turn at singing, leaving us to wonder why he didn't do it more often.
Comes complete with commercials, including an Ivory liquid spot with Durward Kirby (ex-The Garry Moore Show, Candid Camera). Mind the video quality at the end. The skit with Little (as Jack Benny) playing Scrooge is a hoot.
Rating: A.
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