The Cher Show

Cher opens with a stunning rendition of “Stars,” her voice perfectly suited to the introspective Janis Ian ballad, followed by a lively take on “Keep the Customer Satisfied.” Wearing an orange cut-out dress, she dramatically moves across the stage, bringing an emotional contrast between the two songs. In her monologue, she jokes about her love for Halloween and reminisces about childhood trick-or-treating traditions. The Smothers Brothers join her in a comedic skit where Cher, as a flirtatious Mae West-type character, visits two prisoners (Dick and Tommy Smothers) who compete for her affection, leading to a series of hilariously botched romantic encounters in the dark. Ted Knight plays an overly eager man at a Big Daddy Foundation office, throwing a tantrum until he’s paired with a tall, glamorous model instead of a father figure. Later, Knight performs “I’m in Love with Barbara Walters,” a tongue-in-cheek ode to the television journalist. Cher’s Saturday Night segment features her new dog, Tiger, and a hilarious rant about her failed date at an overpriced French restaurant. In “Life with Laverne,” Ted Knight appears as his egotistical anchorman persona, Ted Baxter, looking for an apartment for his mystery lady friend. Laverne, unimpressed with his snobbery, attempts to seduce him with a bizarre drink mix of Galliano and Diet Rite. Cher then delivers an ethereal version of “If You Could Read My Mind” against a backdrop of pastel flowers, wearing a white gown and a dramatic pear-laden headdress. Steve Martin makes an early-career guest appearance, performing an eccentric stand-up routine in bunny ears, where he awkwardly navigates social interactions, financial bragging, and party etiquette. Gailard Sartain’s slapstick skit about a malfunctioning coffee machine takes a turn when Martin arrives to assist—only to steal the coffee for himself. The Smothers Brothers return to pitch a variety show starring Howard Cosell to Cher’s skeptical TV executive character, leading to yet another hilarious rejection. The finale, “Big Time Crime,” is a lively musical number with Cher and the Smothers Brothers dressed as vintage gangsters, cigars in hand, performing a song about criminal life interwoven with comedic sketches. Tommy Smothers portrays a suspect subjected to a relentless interrogation by Knight and Dick Smothers, but the scene devolves into chaos as the cast repeatedly breaks character. Cher closes the show alongside her guests, except for Tommy, who continues to mug for the camera until the credits roll.