The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
The Porter Wagoner Show #100 with special guest country comedian Jim Nesbitt.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
Promo for Porter Wagoner Show #100 with special guest Jim Nesbitt. Spot opens with Nesbitt singing a few seconds of "Friendly Undertaker." The camera pulls out to reveal Porter, who says "That's Jim Nesbitt, and he's our special guest this week on the Porter Wagoner Show. Join us, right here on this channel."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
Introduction to Porter Wagoner show #100. Program opens with Wagoner and Wagonmasters Speck Rhodes, Don Warden, and George McCormick as well as Norma Jean onscreen singing "Howdy Neighbor Howdy." Over title card decorated with drawing of Wagoner, announcer Hairl Hensley introduces Wagoner and The Wagonmasters, show regulars Speck Rhodes and Norma Jean, and "your favorite songs and stars of the Grand Ole Opry!" Wearing garish rhinestone-studded, western-themed Nudie suit, Wagoner welcomes audience, then backed by The Wagonmasters, plays guitar and sings a duet with Speck on Grandpa Jones' trademark number "Mountain Dew." MS Buck Trent banjo solo. After the duet Porter says "Teddy and Doyle Wilburn ain't nuthin', boys."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
Porter introduces "a real funny guy," singing country comedian Jim Nesbitt. Nesbitt tells a weird anecdote (joke?) about being up for four days because he accidentally sprayed hair spray in his eyes and his lids stayed open. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Nesbitt plays guitar and sings the novelty number "Friendly Undertaker."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
Mack Magaha fiddles us out of the commercial break with a snappy little instrumental, joined by Buck and George and the rest of the boys.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
Porter introduces Pretty Miss Norma Jean. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Norma plays guitar and sings "Put Your Arms Around Her" from her 1964 LP "Let's Go All The Way." MS Don Warden's steel guitar solos. After the song, Porter plugs Norma's more recent LP "Please Don't Hurt Me."
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
Joined on vocals by George and Don and backed by The Wagonmasters, Porter plays guitar and sings his breakthrough 1955 hit "A Satisfied Mind." MS Don's slide solo.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
Wagoner gets caught a little by surprise as the commercial break ends, then introduces gap-toothed comedian Speck Rhodes, who makes call on old-time crank telephone wearing his trademark checkered suit with bow tie and bowler hat. Rhodes chats with fictional girlfriend/operator Sadie and corny old fashioned jokes ensue. Whatever Speck's been doing lately it sure hasn't been writing new jokes, because this is some of his weakest material ever.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
Norma Jean comes on and thanks Speck, then plugs the show's souvenir booklet #4, "The Porter Wagoner Show Hits The Road!", containing songs and stories and pictures. It can be yours for only fifty cents by mail. Nice graphic of an envelope addressed to Wagoner.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
Standing in front of a plain backdrop on which are projected white clouds, and accompanied by The Wagonmasters, Porter recites his latest single, "I Dreamed I Saw America On Her Knees." A somber song for a nation going though turbulent times. The number mentions people saying "God is dead," an apparent reference to the famous April 8, 1966 Time Magazine cover story that asked: "Is God Dead?" Nice shot on second chorus of Porter in profile with barely-lit Don and George in background.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
Coming out of the commercial break in mid-chuckle, Porter says Jim Nesbitt told him the next song has 58 verses but he can cut it down to 36 if they run short on time. Backed by The Wagonmasters, Nesbitt plays guitar and sings the latest in his annual series of topical social commentary songs, "Heck Of A Fix In '66." References lazy food stamp recipients, taxes, Medicare, politicians, and the moon landing. Bob Dylan he ain't.
The Porter Wagoner Show No. 100
Abrupt cut to Porter introducing Mack Magaha soling on his fiddle instrumental "Shufflin' Mack" until Porter has to wrap up the show. As the Wagonmasters play instrumental show outro and announcer signs off, Wagoner shakes hands with Nesbitt and Norma Jean, then waves goodbye as Magaha fiddles and dances us off the air. End title super reads: "Produced by Show Biz in cooperation with WSM-TV."