The Sonny and Cher Show

Sonny and Cher kick off the show with “Take Life a Little Easier,” playfully mocking each other’s gestures before Sonny unexpectedly walks offstage, leaving Cher momentarily stunned. In their opening banter, Sonny pitches a Sonny & Cher movie, envisioning himself played by Robert Redford or Paul Newman, while Cher quips that Gaby Hayes would be a better fit. The beloved “Battle of the Sexes” sketch returns, flipping gender roles as Cher comes home from work demanding dinner while Sonny and his friends lament their nagging wives. The concert segment features a stunning duet of “United We Stand / Without You,” with Cher in a floral dress and yellow flowers in her hair, as she and Sonny share a knowing laugh at the start. “Sonnytone News” includes Don Knotts as a squinting newscaster, a debate on Republicans vs. Democrats, and a pitch for “Chastity’s Tricycles,” where Chaz Bono effortlessly delivers his lines and laughs at his mustachioed dad riding a tricycle. A darkly comedic bridge sketch follows, where Don Knotts fakes a suicide attempt just to convince Cher to take him home. Cher’s solo, “Solitaire,” is a visual and vocal highlight, with her silhouette emerging from a striking black-and-white set, and her haunting delivery of the song’s melancholy lyrics. The “Prisoner” sketch debuts, with Sonny playing an inmate tormented by Cher’s seemingly clueless, yet flirtatious, girlfriend, who visits him weekly to recount her extravagant spending of his stolen money, ending with Sonny’s exasperated “I’m gonna kill her when I get outta here.” The “Chastity Bono Broadcasting System (CBBS)” segment parodies TV favorites, featuring Don Knotts as “Koquack,” Sonny as Geppetto, and Cher as a mischievous Pinocchio giving her father splinters. The show closes with “I Got You Babe,” where Chaz, now too big to be held by Sonny, stands between his parents as they sing. With its mix of sharp comedy, heartwarming moments, and standout musical performances, this episode delivers classic Sonny & Cher charm.