Originally broadcast on December 14, 1971, Sounds of Christmas features Tony Award-winner Robert Goulet, opera singer Mary Costa, and the Mitchell Singing Boys choir. Goulet demonstrates his booming baritone on “Do You See What I See” and in a duet with Costa of “O Holy Night.” Costa shows off her soprano stylings on “Carol Of The Bells” and in a comedic medley with Bing. And the Cosby family sings a delightful rendition “Home For The Holidays.” The kids also get nice showcases, with Mary dancing the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and Harry (on guitar) accompanying Bing on “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire.”
This ambitious special, originally broadcast on December 10, 1972, uses a Christmas caroling motif to introduce inventive sequences of song and dance featuring guest stars Sally Struthers, David Hartman, and dancer Edward Villella. Hartman, who made his Broadway debut in the original production of Hello, Dolly in 1964, shows off his singing chops in a medley from Scrooge (1970). Struthers, then in her second season as Gloria on All In The Family, joins him for a musical take on The Gift Of The Magi. And Bing closes the show by leading the ensemble in a fireside rendition of “White Christmas.”
You’re pretty much guaranteed of a white Christmas in Sun Valley, Idaho, so Bing packs up the family for a holiday road trip with guests Michael Landon, Connie Stevens and John Byner. Landon croons John Denver’s “Season Suite: Winter,” harkening back to his brief career as pop singer in the early 1960s. Stevens sings Harry Nilsson’s “Remember (Christmas).” And comedian and impressionist Byner does a killer Crosby impression (among others). Landon even parodies his Western persona in “The Ballad of The Christmas Star.” (He had completed his 14-season run on Bonanza earlier in the year.) The show concludes with a medley of Christmas carols ending with…guess what?
With bridging segments set in Bing’s study, this inventive show offers fully staged musical sketches, featuring singer/actor Mac Davis, Karen Valentine (Room 222), Kathryn and the kids. The final segment continues the practice of the family teasing Bing about his insistence on singing “White Christmas” on every special. In just a few short years, the Crosby kids had graduated to fully fledged sketch performers, singing and dancing with confidence. But fair warning: they all look like they’ve aged five years since the last show!
Thirty-three years after they shared the screen in Holiday Inn (1942), Bing and Fred Astaire reunite for this special, originally broadcast on December 3, 1975. The premise: Seventy-six-year-old Astaire and Bing (age 72) are teaming up once again to record an album. The hour is devoted to them testing out tunes, from old favorites to contemporary pop hits. The teen choral group The Young Americans is also on hand to provide some youth appeal. And there’s a surprise appearance by an old friend of Bing’s who’s sure to bring back a memory or two.
The Crosby kids were well into their teens by 1976 and this special, broadcast on CBS on December 1, acknowledges that. Mary (age 17) seeks career advice from Tony Award nominee Bernadette Peters (who was then starring in the sitcom All’s Fair). Eighteen-year-old Harry dreams of a record deal. Future pro golfer Nathaniel (age 15) focuses on his golf game. And the kids take center stage for a Disco variation on “Jingle Bells.” There’s also a tribute to lyricist and songwriter Johnny Mercer, who died just days before the show was taped. But the highlight of this show is Jackie Gleason, who sings, dances and tells jokes like only The Great One can.
This bittersweet special was recorded in September of 1977 in England, where Bing and his family had just completed a tour that included a two-week run at the London Palladium. A few weeks later, on October 13, 1977, Bing suffered a heart attack and died on a golf course near Madrid, Spain. The family decided the show should go on, and Kathryn does a brief intro explaining how much Bing enjoyed doing it. Guests include actress/singer Twiggy, Oliver! (1968) star Ron Moody, and impressionist Stanley Baxter (who plays multiple roles, parodying characters on Upstairs, Downstairs). But the iconic moment from this program is Bing’s duet of “Peace On Earth/ Little Drummer Boy” with David Bowie, which has since become a holiday standard. “Until next time,” Bing says to the audience, as he sings “White Christmas” for the last time. Have tissues standing by