The Sonny and Cher Show

Sonny and Cher open the show with “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” with Sonny in a bold pink suit and Cher in a sheer, striped off-the-shoulder top designed to conceal her pregnancy. Their playful energy is on full display as Sonny hams it up, Cher tells him to “sell it,” and he fixes her hair mid-performance. In their opening banter, Sonny critiques Cher’s repetitive hand movements while singing—ironic given his own signature gestures—before jokingly attempting a “power gaze” learned from a seminar on success, which Cher easily resists. The “Three Fairy Drag Queens” sketch returns, featuring puppet versions of Sonny, Cher, McLean Stevenson, and Chaz Bono in a Punch and Judy spoof, along with a hilarious “kids-in-the-car” bit about Hannibal crossing the Alps. In this week’s “Sam Spade” skit, Sonny’s aging detective investigates a case in an opium-den-like setting, where Cher plays the sultry Shanghai Suzie in a fabulous wig, complete with a “monkey on her back” joke. Another recurring President Ford sketch lands, this time featuring Ford clumsily spilling coffee on Henry Kissinger. Cher’s solo performance of “How Long Has This Been Goin’ On” is visually stunning, with copper-toned attire, extravagant earrings, and an atmospheric sprinkle of rain, showcasing her expressive delivery. The concert medley, “Love Song” / “Hang On in There Baby,” lacks energy, with Sonny seeming particularly uninterested. The night’s big comedic set piece, “Gone with the Fat,” is a parody of Gone with the Wind, with McLean Stevenson as Rhett Butler, Cher as a raven-haired Scarlett, and Sonny as Ashley. The sketch hilariously revolves around characters using food-related phrases like “bread in the soup” or “a fine kettle of fish,” triggering exaggerated, gluttonous reactions from the cast. The show closes with “I Got You Babe,” where Sonny and Cher shake hands before delivering banter-filled lyrics, complete with a banana-penis joke and a quip about Cher’s weight. The episode blends sharp comedy, elaborate musical numbers, and the duo’s signature dynamic, with Cher’s solo standing out as the highlight.