Series regulars or semi-regulars in 'The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour' from 1970-1982:
- Cher Bono (1971-1977)
- Sonny Bono (1971-1977)
- Ted Zeigler (1971-1977)
- Freeman King (1971-1974)
- Murray Langston (1971-1974)
- Peter Cullen (1971-1974)
- Clark Carr (1971-1972)
- Tom Solari (1971-1972)
- Steve Martin (1972-1975)
- Chastity Bono (1973-1977)
- Billy Van (1973-1976)
- Bob Einstein (1973-1974)
- Teri Garr (1973-1974)
- Shileds & Yarnell (1976-1977)
- Gailard Sartain (1976)
- Jack Harrell (1976)
1970-1982 Episode Guide for 'The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour':
(Episodes with dates prior to 1970 aired as reruns.)
Season 1, episode 1
D: Art Fisher
With Jimmy Durante.
CBS premieres a summer variety series starring Sonny and Cher (Bono). With the emphasis on comedy, the series features a regular company composed of Tom Solari, Chuck Carr, Ted Zeigler, Murray Langston and Freeman King.
Season 1, episode 2
D: Art Fisher
With Ken Berry.
Highlights are a Gilbert & Sullivan-style spoof of the Pentagon papers; Cher solos "It Had to Be You"; Sonny and Cher duet "I Believe in Music" and "Put Your Hand in the Hand".
Season 1, episode 3
D: Art Fisher
With Glen Campbell, Gideon and Power.
Season 1, episode 4
D: Art Fisher
With Merv Griffin.
Highlights: Griffin helps out at an international table tennis tournament; Cher offers a medley of "band" songs.
Season 1, episode 5
D: Art Fisher
With Phyllis Diller, Merv Griffin, Fanny.
Season 1, episode 6
D: Art Fisher
With The Grass Roots.
Season 1, episode 7
With Harvey Korman, Glenn Ford, Carroll O'Connor, Robert Merrill.
The debut of a variety series featuring regulars Ted Zeigler, Peter Cullen, Murray Langston, Freeman King, Tom Solari and Clark Carr. Highlighted on tonight's edition is an operatic spoof of O'Connor's top-rated series, All in the Family, with Merrill as Archie Bunker.
Season 1, episode 8
With Tony Curtis, Dinah Shore, Glen Campbell, Carol Burnett, George Burns.
Highlights feature Curtis in a spoof of the "new look" in TV private eyes, Dinah soloing "The Song Is Love" and joining Sonny and Cher for "Joy to the World". Cher solos "Come Rain or Come Shine".
Season 1, episode 9
With Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Jimmy Durante.
Carroll O'Connor sings "Remembering You", the closing theme (music by Roger Kellaway) to All in the Family to which O'Connor has written lyrics. Other highlights feature O'Connor as a presidential assistant delivering a comic lecture on economics and Cher singing "Big Yellow Taxi".
Season 1, episode 10
With Kate Smith.
Smith sings "If You Walked Into My Life" and joins the cast in comedy. Cher solos "How Long Has This Been Going On". Sonny encounters an ecology-minded gas station.
Season 1, episode 11
With Lorne Greene, Chad Everett.
Comedy highlights include Greene attempting a Shakespearean rendition interrupted by Sonny; Everett and Greene as singing thugs during Sonny's stay in jail; Cher in the "vamp" segment as Scarlett O'Hara, Greta Garbo and Queen Alexandra. Cher solos "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good" and is joined by Sonny for "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Suspicious Mind".
Season 1, episode 12
With Tony Randall, The Honey Cone.
Highlights: Randall portrays an egomaniacal student leader, Frederich Von Rotten, in "The Student Blintz". In the vamp segment, Cher playes Lady Chatterly, Sadie Thompson and Maid Marian; The Honey Cone rock group sings "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show"; Cher solos "The Way of Love"; the hosts sing "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" and "You Are My Sunshine".
Season 1, episode 13
With Mike Connors, Jean Stapleton.
The guest stars join Sonny and Cher in spoofs of daytime television serials and election campaigns. Cher solos "Body and Soul" and duets "People Gotta Be Free" with Sonny.
Season 1, episode 14
With Burt Reynolds.
Tonight's edition spotlights the people and events that make the headlines. Cher solos "Am I Blue" and teams with Sonny for "Bad Moon Rising" and "The Letter". The highlight skit features Burt as Wild Bill Hickok and Cher as Calamity Jane. In the vamp segment, Burt is the snake in the Garden of Eden.
Season 1, episode 15
With Art Carney.
Carney gives his impression of President Nixon in an edition spoofing politics and the evolution of the Army from World War II to "Today's Army Wants to Join You". Cher solos "Ain't Misbehavin'" and joins Sonny for "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" and "You've Got a Friend".
Season 1, episode 16
With Ken Berry, Ralph Edwards.
Berry portrays Erik the Red in the world's first country-and-western Viking opera; Cher solos "As Time Goes By" and plays Salome, Marie Antoinette and Sadie Thompson. Ralph "This Is Your Life" Edwards plans to surprise Sonny but suffers a setback; later, Ken, Sonny and Cher look into the future to see how they will appear in 50 years.
Season 1, episode 17
With Sandy Duncan, Burt Reynolds.
Duncan displays her versatility as she sings and dances in a five-minute "super" commercial. Also highlighting the hour is a Roaring '20s opera, "The Gypsy Doodle", in which a gypsy king comes to a gypsy camp to choose a wife. His choice is between two adopted sisters -- one cute and sweet (Sandy), the other a siren (Cher). Cher joins Sonny for "Got to Get You Into My Life", "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" and "My World Is Empty Without You".
Season 1, episode 18
With George Burns, David Clayton-Thomas.
Burns plays King Ferdinand of Spain, a 1920s movie director, and Cyrano's surrogate suitor Christian in skits with Cher. Burns sings "Lily of the Valley"; David solos "Magnificent Sanctuary Band"; Cher solos "You Made Me Love You". The hosts sing "The Beat Goes On", "Two of Us" and "We Can Work It Out".
Season 1, episode 19
With Merv Griffin, Georgina Rizk (Miss Universe).
Highlights: a Russian opera spoof with Merv and Sonny vying for Cher. Sonny plays a musical tribute to daughter Chastity with "For Once in My Life"; Cher solos "The Way of Love" and delivers "Brand New Key" using special animation effects.
September 15, 1972: Show 20
Season 2, episode 1
With The Jackson 5, Ronald Reagan, Larry Storch, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Howard Keel.
Musical-comedy series begins a second season with the husband-wife singing team. Regulars returning are Ted Zeigler, Peter Cullen, Freeman King, Murray Langston and Steve Martin. Tonight, Keel joins Sonny and Cher in an opera spoof, "Return to Son of Commercialis Americanus. . . Revisited". In a new season of the Vamps segment, Cher plays Cleopatra, Siam's Miss Anna and Sadie Thompson, with Sonny as Marc Antony and the King of Siam, Storch as Julius Caesar, and Hyde-White as Sir Francis Winchester.
Season 2, episode 2
With Jerry Lewis, The Supremes, Bobby Sherman.
Jerry joins the hosts in sketches spoofing world chess play, the Three Musketeers, a political candidate plagued by a computer and stories behind the headlines. The Supremes sing "Your Wonderful Sweet, Sweet Love".
Season 2, episode 3
With Chad Everett, Bobby Sherman.
In an opera spoof, Cher plays Lady Godiva, Sherman the peasant leader and Everett the evil Earl of Wessex. In another episode dealing with the strange Cliff House, Sonny tries to lure the new governess to his quarters. Sherman sings "Marchin' to the Music"; Sonny and Cher sing "Happy Together" and "Simple Song of Freedom".
Season 2, episode 4
With Tony Curtis, Barbara McNair.
In a skit, Tony reprises the character of Det. Fat, who is called upon to protect Gangster Big from an unknown assailant. In the Vamp portion, Cher plays Scheherazade, Lady Macbeth and Sadie Thompson. Miss McNair sings "I Believe in Music" and "Without a Song".
Season 2, episode 5
With Jimmy Durante, Gilbert O'Sullivan.
Cher plays pilgrim Priscilla Mullins and Martha Washington in skits. "Candy Man" is brought to life via an animated sequence by John Wilson.
Season 2, episode 6
With Robert Goulet, The Temptations.
In the highlight skit, Goulet plays Capt. Gorgeous in "Aloha Foreign Legion". Goulet sings "A House Is Not a Home". Cher sings "Can't Help Lovin' That Man".
Season 2, episode 7
With William Conrad, Rick Springfield, Van Johnson.
Conrad, as a private eye, comes to Sonny's Pizza in search of a criminal. Songs include "He Ain't Heavy", "From Me to You" and "Never Been to Spain".
Season 2, episode 8
With Lorne Greene, The Williams Brothers.
Cher plays the lovely Mona Lisa who begs Leonardo, played by Lorne Greene, to paint her portrait; Cher also plays Cinderella, who is wooed by two princes, Sonny and Greene. Song highlights include "The Man I Love", "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice" and "Ease Your Pain".
Season 2, episode 9
With Bobby Darin.
Bobby offers his latest recording, "Sail Away", and lends his acting talent to the spoof, "Rah Rah Robin Hood". In the spoof the evil King has been removed and in his place is the friendly Richard the Lion-Hearted. Sonny plays Richard and Cher plays Maid Marian. Songs include "Willow Weep for Me".
Season 2, episode 10
With Ken Berry, The New Seekers.
In the featured production, Ken, Sonny and Cher spoof "Broadway in Its Heyday". The New Seekers sing "Come Softly to Me".
Season 2, episode 11
With Jim Brown, Bobby Vinton.
Ex-pro football star Brown joins Sonny and Cher in a salute to football which demonstrates a unique system for planning game strategy, a sure-fire way for women to unglue husbands from the TV set, and illustrates what might happen if women integrate football. The opera spoof is "Way Down Upon the Mississippi Mud", with Vinton playing Dandy Bobby Dupral and Cher as Melinda Sue. Cher sings "Here's That Rainy Day" and, with Sonny, "Bad Moon Rising".
Season 2, episode 12
With Andy Griffith.
The cast spoofs a popular TV show, "Gidget Loves Ernie". Cher's vamps include Helen Gurley Brown, "Forever Amber" and Sadie Thompson. The cast also salutes those who make headlines in the news. Griffith sings "Somebody Bigger Than You or Me".
Season 2, episode 13
With William Conrad.
Conrad guests in a Christmas show and plays Santa in a skit. Sonny and Cher, in a holiday setting, sing Yuletide favorites.
Season 2, episode 14
With Jean Stapleton, Lyle Waggoner.
The Bono Awards are presented: "The most embarrassing couple on the Newlywed Game"; "The show best liked by the President"; "The longest running TV show in history"; "The worst deal made on Let's Make a Deal". Cher plays superstar Gloria Majestic, Sonny is her leading man Norman Klieglight, and Miss Stapleton is her biggest fan, Jean Terrific, in a musical-comedy spoof. Cher sings "Love Song", joins Sonny for "Love Grows" and "I Can See Clearly Now".
Season 2, episode 15
With Mark Spitz.
In the "vamp" portion, Spitz plays a new wolf breaking into the fable business, with Cher as Little Red Riding Hood and Sonny as the old wolf moving on to a new story. The show also takes a satirical look at the people and events making headlines, with subjects including space exploration, integration, sports, diets and politics. Musical highlights include Cher's rendition of "You've Got a Friend" and Sonny and Cher offer "All I Really Want to Do" and "I Can See Clearly Now".
Season 2, episode 16
With Mike Connors.
In a comedy skit, Connors lectures on a new rapid transit system. The cast performs in a musical about the White House. In a villains skit, Connors and Sonny play a gambling boss and Gestapo captain.
Season 2, episode 17
With Merv Griffin, Larry Storch, The Mike Curb Congregation.
Storch plays a French con man whose mark is gullible Sonny. Griffin, Sonny, Cher and Storch satirize people in the news. The cast spoofs "The Godfather" and Griffin sings "Happy to Know You".
Season 2, episode 18
With Jim Nabors.
In a spoof on operas, Jim plays a witch doctor, Sonny is a Canadian Mountie and Cher is Princess Running Home. In the vamp segment, Cher portrays Tokyo Rose, Mary Poppins and Klondike Annie.
Season 2, episode 19
With Joe Namath, Hugh Hefner, The 1972 Playboy Playmates.
Joe, with the Playmates, describes some attributes of each month of the year; Joe visits Sonny's Pizza, upsetting business and Sonny's love life, and joins the hosts in a musical and comedy production number. The cast portrays a happy-go-lucky TV news team, Cher sings "My Funny Valentine", and Sonny and Cher sing "Jambalaya".
Season 2, episode 20
With Danny Thomas, Kerry Ann Wells (Miss Universe of 1972), The Lettermen.
The cast spoofs Hope-Crosby movies in "Road to Sirocco". Danny plays a French manservant to Cher and joins Sonny's stooging for Cher's version of Lucretia Borgia, Sadie Thompson and the Bride of Frankenstein. Sonny bumbles about in a bit with Miss Universe and Cher caps the hour with a rendition of "How Long Has This Been Going On?".
Season 2, episode 21
With Don Adams.
In the musical comedy skit, "Hollywood Hospital", Adams plays Dr. Spectacular, assisted by Cher's Dr. Gorgeous, in which the two perform surgery on Sonny, who wants to be a handsome singer. The trio also poke fun at health foods, White House events and high food bills. Cher mimics charcters from "Lost Horizon" and solos "Never Been to Spain".
Season 2, episode 22
With John Byner.
In skits, Byner plays hip disc jockey Ralph Martini, a theatrical manager pushing a young singer, and a priest attempting to protect Cher from the devil. Cher sings "What's It All About, Alfie?" and teams with Sonny on "Personality" and "Crocodile Rock".
Season 2, episode 23
With Tennessee Ernie Ford, John Nasmyth (Former P.O.W. Air Force Captain).
In skits, Ford plays a flim-flam man who comes to Sonny's Pizza with promises to turn his drab business into a success. The cast takes part in a Japanese story set to Irish music, and Ford also sings "Printer's Alley Stars". Cher caps the evening with "Am I Blue".
Season 2, episode 24
With Lyle Waggoner, William Conrad, Chad Everett, Carol Burnett, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Jean Stapleton, Rolf Harris.
The Third Annual Bono TV Awards are presented. In the vamp segment, Cher is seen as Anna interviewing for a job with the King of Siam and as Sadie Thompson corrupting a travelogue maker.
September 12, 1973: Show 44 - Season Premiere
Season 3, episode 1
D: Art Fisher
With Chuck Connors, Howard Cosell, Amanda Jones.
The third season starts with new segments: "Lady Luck", in which Cher, as Fate, deals strange hands to the players; "Dirty Linen", with Cher and a guest discussing world situations; "Leading Couples", satirizing popular show business teams. Tonight the guests and the show's regulars spoof life on a desert island, romances between company employees, life in ancient Greece, the White House, a Japanese space shot, strip teasers, football heroes and the All Volunteer Army.
Season 3, episode 2
With Danny Thomas, Telly Savalas.
In skits, Danny plays the Count of L.A. and a complaining diner; Telly is the waiter.
Season 3, episode 3
With Dick Clark, Chuck Berry, Edd Byrnes, Jerry Lee Lewis, Frankie Valli, Bobby Vinton, The Four Seasons.
The Bonos and their guests recreate the rock 'n' roll years of the '60s. Highlights are Cher's "Bang, Bang", Jerry's "Great Balls of Fire", Chuck's "Reelin' and Rockin'", and "Walk Like a Man" by the Four Seasons. Skits and blackouts focus on Batman, Sunset Strip, Hell's Angels, and Sonny and Cher's wedding night.
Season 3, episode 4
With Truman Capote, John Davidson.
In skits, Capote plays Lord Nelson, the G-man who shot Dillinger, and "Leadfinger"; Davidson is the man in a nude centerfold.
Season 3, episode 5
With Jack Palance, Ed McMahon.
Songs include "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" and "Honky Tonk Woman".
Season 3, episode 6
With Dennis Weaver.
Season 3, episode 7
With Jim Nabors, Lassie.
Songs include "Everything Is Beautiful" and "Delta Dawn". Nabors performs "Green, Green Grass of Home".
Season 3, episode 8
With Jerry Lewis.
A salute to Halloween.
Season 3, episode 9
With Billie Jean King, Andy Griffith, Bob Guccione, The Penthouse Pets.
Songs include "Yesterday", "Sweet Gypsy Rose" and "Rockin' Down the Highway".
Season 3, episode 10
With Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge.
Songs include "Sweet Gypsy Rose", "That'll Be the Day", "All My Love and All My Kissin'" and "You're Nobody 'Til Someone Loves You".
Season 3, episode 11
With Paul Anka, Peter Noone, Little Richard, Wolfman Jack.
Season 3, episode 12
With Vincent Price, The Temptations.
Season 3, episode 13
With William Conrad.
Season 3, episode 14
With Tennessee Ernie Ford, Lyle Waggoner.
Season 3, episode 15
With Dr. Joyce Brothers, Jack Palance, Ted Neely, O.J. Simpson.
Football superstar O.J. Simpson and singer-actor Ted Neely ("Jesus Christ Superstar") are the guests. O.J. and Teddy join in the "Super Bowl Follies", a series of blackouts about gridiron antics; and in the laundromat, Cher heads the offense in a verbal drive against football and its fans. Jack Palance and Dr. Joyce Brothers make cameo appearances. Songs include, "Another's Lifetime" (Ted), "Holly Holy" (Cher) and "Top of the World" (Sonny & Cher).
Season 3, episode 16
With Danny Thomas, Ken Berry, George Foreman.
Songs include "Heartbeat"; Cher solos "Dark Lady"; Cher sings with daughter Chastity at the end of the program.
Season 3, episode 17
With Robert Goulet, Carol Lawrence, Marji Wallace (Miss World), Lexie Brockway (Miss World-USA).
Season 3, episode 18
With Sally Struthers, The Jackson Five, Tennessee Ernie Ford.
The Jackson Five perform "Dancin' Machine".
Season 3, episode 19
With Jim Nabors, Danny Thomas, Larry Csonka.
Season 3, episode 20
With Ricardo Montalban, Jeanette Nolan, The DeFranco Family.
The DeFranco Family sing "Abracadabra", and there is an animated version of Cher's "Dark Lady".
Season 3, episode 21
With Joe Namath, The Righteous Brothers.
The Righteous Brothers do a medley; Cher sings "Brother Louie". The closing number is "This Time We Almost Made It".
Season 3, episode 22
With Joel Grey.
A vamp sketch with Cher as Scheherazade, Joel as the Caliph, and Sonny as the executioner; a doctor (Grey), doing research work in the tropics, encounters Sadie Thompson (Cher); Grey plays a dancer who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for Broadway stardom. Music includes Cher singing "All In Love Is Fair" and, with Sonny, "Sunshine" and "Mockingbird".
Season 3, episode 23
With Merv Griffin, Ricardo Montalban, Jim Nabors, Jeanette Nolan, Sally Struthers.
A laundromat sketch with LaVerne giving her views on the movie "The Exorcist." Music includes Sonny and Cher singing "Let Me Be There" and, in a tribute to the late Jim Croce, an animated version of "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown". (Last show of the series.)