The Sonny and Cher Show

The show opens with a comedic twist as Tommy Smothers joins Cher onstage for “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” mimicking Sonny’s mannerisms, from his hand-on-hip stance to fussing with Cher’s hair. Cher immediately calls him out, noting he’s “not short enough” to be Sonny, before Sonny emerges in a robe, furious that Tommy locked him in his dressing room. Their banter sets the stage for a lively episode. In “The Sunshine Girls” skit, Cher and Debbie Reynolds play a bitter, aging vaudeville duo reluctantly reuniting for a TV special, bickering over their past before performing a hilariously bad musical number, “If I Give Up My Saxophone, Will You Come Back to Me?”. The Smothers Brothers segment brings Sonny into their sibling dynamic, as the self-proclaimed third brother, “Sonny Smothers.” A debate erupts when Dick Smothers earnestly sings Barry Manilow’s “I Write the Songs,” only for Tommy and Sonny to challenge the lyrics’ accuracy, culminating in a perfect blend of absurdity and satire. Cher delivers a stunning solo of “The Way of Love,” elegantly staged with pampas grass and a dramatic blue ensemble. The “Battle of the Sexes” sketch sees Sonny playing the doting husband preparing a romantic night, only to be blindsided by Cher inviting her boss (Reynolds) over for drinks—leading to hilarious misunderstandings, flirtation, and Cher ultimately getting fired. Their concert medley of “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” and “My World Is Empty Without You” is sultry and dynamic, with Cher in a hot pink fringed wrap. The night’s big set piece, “The Bozo Awards,” skewers the excesses of award shows, with Sonny and Cher as over-the-top hosts awarding ridiculous categories like “Dumbest Chit-Chat” and “Most Arrogant Musical Number.” Debbie Reynolds steals the segment as a parody of Zsa Zsa Gabor, while a streaker (Billy Van) unexpectedly runs across the stage, prompting Sonny to quip about “showing off his manly-hood” in a nod to the infamous 1974 Oscars streaking incident—where Cher’s iconic crane laugh had echoed through the audience. The show closes with “I Got You Babe,” where Sonny jokingly welcomes Cher to his show, prompting an epic eye-roll. With sharp satire, top-tier musical moments, and fantastic guest performances, this episode is a standout blend of comedy and variety magic.