Captain & Tennille: The Christmas Show

- It was 1976 and the Captain & Tennille were ruling the pop music charts. Shortly after their 1975 debut Love Will Keep Us Together went straight to #1 and was awarded the Grammy Award for record of theyear, this hot pop couple was given their own weekly TV variety show. The show only lasted one season andthis was their only Christmas show. Not seen for three decades, this fun and musical blast-fro
It was 1976 and the Captain & Tennille were ruling the pop music charts. Shortly after their 1975 debut “Love Will Keep Us Together” went straight to #1 and was awarded the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, this hot pop couple was given their own weekly TV variety show. Their only televised Christmas special, this fun and musical blast-from-Christmas-past is great entertainment the whole family can enjoy and is not to be missed! Guest stars include Don Knotts and Tom Bosley (Happy Days) along with musical guests The Pointer Sisters and Toni’s sisters, Louisa, Melissa and Jane. Songs include Little Saint Nick, Jingle Bells, Wedding Song (There Is Love,) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, How Can I Be Sure, O Holy Night and others!Captain and Tennille was a pop duo phenomenon in the mid and late 1970’s that hit the top of the pop charts repeatedly with songs like the 1975 Grammy Record of the Year “Love Will Keep Us Together”. Captain and Tennille also had their own weekly television variety show in 1976 and this Christmas Show showcases Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille in everything from the romantic and simply staged ballad “Wedding Song (There is Love)” to the outrageously costumed, heavily choreographed, intricately arranged favorite “Jingle Bells” and the very stylized, dreamy rendition of “How Can I Be Sure. ” Guest stars Tom Bosley (Happy Days) and Don Knotts offer a healthy dose of comic relief while the Pointer Sisters and Tennille Sisters provide an added layer of musical richness and depth to the Captain and Tennille performances. Especially notable are the Pointer Sisters’ Count Basie Medley, the Tennille Sisters’ harmonically complex performance of the Beach Boys’ “Little Saint Nick,” and Daryl’s piano performance of the “March of the Wooden Soldiers” from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet. Overdubbing and finger-dubbing was the norm in 1970’s television variety shows and it can be quite obvious at times, but otherwise the music and performances hold up surprisingly well to the passage of multiple decades. Sit back, reflect, and reminisce about the past with this classic television performance. Sound options include stereo, the original mono, digital 5. 0 surround, and optional 2007 commentary by Toni Tennille and Daryl Dragon. –Tami Horiuchi

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3 Responses to “Captain & Tennille: The Christmas Show”

1. Shatzi Crabtree on February 27th, 2010 10:08 am

   I am going only on what my mother-in-law told me, as it was a gift to her. She loved it and said the quality was fine. I saw a little of it, and the kitchiness was A+! Like 70s variety shows? The Captain and Tennille? Buy this and enjoy it.
   Rating: 5 / 5

2. Mary Jo Brunette on February 27th, 2010 11:22 am

   I have been a C&T fan since 1975 when first hearing LWKUT on the radio. I remember seeing this show originally air in December of 1976, and it so impressed me that when I re-watched this DVD all over again, all the past memories of watching Toni sing to her six year old niece, Caroline as she request a parakeet for Christmas, and her with her sisters singing “Little Saint Nick” and “Oh, Holy Night” at the end, it all brought chills. Nothing of today can beat the “cleanliness” of the variety specials of the 1970s. The commentary tracks are a lovely added touch. Hearing how Toni is touched by her rendition of “OH, HOLY NIGHT,” the tender truths in her voice caused me to cry happily along with her when she spoke of how the song ‘got to her. ‘ It’s those old special memories of Christmas that we cling to in our psyche, and I’m certain it is also the sentimental value of Christmas that caused Toni’s happy tears. This DVD is most definitely worth your money. When I first viewed it in 1976 I never thought I’d ever see it again. I never thought the video recorder. . the ENORMOUS contraptions we had in our schools in the 70’s that covered up half of a large room, I never figured they’d one day transpire into common everyday-in-home items that most all Americans own. My fave parts are the bits when she sings with her sisters, and of course Caroline getting cozy on Toni’s lap, where Toni sings a special Christmas carol to her. (I remember being a bit envious of Caroline, wishing I was her niece, although I was WAY too big to be sitting on anyone’s lap, I remember thinking how neat it would be to have Toni for my aunt. ) Even though the “Wedding Song” isn’t a Christmas song, it made a lovely added touch to the special. Like God says in the Good Book, without love we are nothing, and without love we have no need for Christmas. . . thus, it was an appropriate number. I highly recommend this, and all the DVDS (Songbook, Hawaii, New Orleans, as well as their 1976 three box DVD set) to be added to any C&T fan’s music and DVD libraries. It is all excellent. I’m ecstatic they’ve at last released these truly entertaining musical sensations! -Mary Jo Brunette
   Rating: 5 / 5

3. David T. Glotz on February 27th, 2010 1:26 pm

   I had never seen The Captain and Tennille when they were on in the 76-77 television season which was my loss. I got the Ultimate collection which was terrific so I bought the Christmas special which was colorful and lots of fun. It is hard to imagine such Talent going into a show these days in 2007! If you like fun and talented entertainers I highly recommend this DVD.

   Rating: 5 / 5

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