Carol Channing was a big sensation on Broadway, headlining, for example, in "Hello, Dolly" in 1964. This attracted the attention of Lucille Ball and ex-husband Desi Arnaz, who wanted to develop a sitcom for Channing.
However, the pilot for The Carol Channing Show comes across as too derivative of I Love Lucy and The Lucy Show, the latter of which was entering its fifth season in 1966, and employed the writing team from Lucy. The supporting cast included Richard Deacon (fresh from The Dick Van Dyke Show), character actress Jane Dulo, who had a recurring gig on Get Smart, and later was a regular on Sha Na Na, and ex-Mouseketeer Sherry Alberoni. Arnaz employed his ace musical director, Wilbur Hatch, as a "music supervisor".
The Lowe in Lowe-Arnaz Productions would be Channing's 3rd husband, Charles Lowe.
Now, let's see where this went off the rail.
Arnaz, of course, would finally make a sale of his own the next year with The Mothers-in-Law, and Deacon would turn up there in season 2. As for Carol, who passed away today at 97, and in whose memory this is dedicated, after scores of guest appearances, she'd finally land a series gig, albeit in a cartoon. She was cast as the voice of Grandmama in the 1992 remake of The Addams Family for ABC, and that series lasted two seasons.
No rating, out of respect.
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