Network: CTV Television Network
Broadcast Run: 1972 to 1974
Broadcast Medium: Television
The Canadian series that never was, the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour played on both CBS and CTV from 1972 through 1974. Its gestation was a one-hour Canadian produced special, The Sonny and Cher Nitty Gritty Comedy Hour, which CTV co-produced in 1970 with US producer Burt Rosen with a view to it going to series. A series it became, but produced at the CBS Studios in Los Angeles, and not with CTV, much to CTV’s chagrin.
Interestingly, although it did not qualify as Canadian content, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour was produced by two Canadians who were not associated with the original special. Allan Blye and Chris Bearde, who had cut their teeth producing television for the CBC, included fellow Canadians Ted Zeigler, Peter Cullen and Billy Van in the cast of the U.S series, which ran on CTV on Fridays at 7:30pm in 1972-73, and Sundays 7:30-8:30pm in year two. After Sonny and Cher divorced in 1974, they each had their own TV series before reuniting – for television only – on the Sonny and Cher Show on CBS and CTV in 1976-77, in Sundays at 8:00pm.
Written by Pip Wedge – July, 2002