What Might've Been: Mel & Susan Together (1978)

 Country singer Mel Tillis and actress Susan Anton, who'd have a brief fling on the country charts in the early 80's, seemed like an unlikely combo to host a variety show, but that's what happened in the spring-summer of 1978, when ABC and the Osmond Brothers put them together in a half-hour series, Mel & Susan Together, which lasted a month.

Tillis, whose stuttering disappeared when he sang, appeared to also learn how to control it when acting in sketches, taking his cues from Jimmy Stewart. Part of the reason the show failed was because at the time Anton was known mostly for commercials (Muriel cigars, Serta mattresses), and Tillis rarely stepped outside of his comfort zone in country music. Another instance would be when he was on the panel for a country-centric episode of The Hollywood Squares.

No complete episodes are available, just some sample skits, including this one, in which Mel & Susan are cops. Mel's a desk sergeant, and Susan a clueless officer who busts Donny & Marie Osmond for selling merchandise at one of their concerts......

As noted, this came from the Osmond family's studio, and its failure marked the beginning of the end for the Osmonds on ABC, as Donny & Marie's show, rechristened The Osmond Family Show, would meet its end less than a year later.

No rating. Back then on Saturday nights, with my folks at the bowling alley, I was more of a CHiPs guy, or my brother would prefer old movies on the cable.