The Dolly Show No. 123
The Dolly Show No. 123
The Dolly Show #123 with special guest Mel Tillis.
The Dolly Show No. 123
Opening of The Dolly Show #123 with special guest Mel Tillis. To the strains of Dolly's record "Love Is Like A Butterfly" we fade up on plastic prop butterfly lit with pulsating pastel blue and violet lights. Camera pulls out to reveal butterfly as part of giant sparkly sign reading simply "Dolly." The sign rises into the rafters as lights come up on the set and Dolly Parton is lowered from the ceiling on a swing. To canned applause as voice-over announces her, Dolly steps off the red velvet swing in a tight-fitting glittery blue and red Nudie-style suit and sings "The Entertainer."
The Dolly Show No. 123
Dolly introduces the Country Music Association's 1976 Entertainer of the Year, Mel Tillis. Mel and Dolly trade anecdotes about their respective CMA awards. Canned laughter added after Mel's stuttering, even when he's not saying anything funny. Mel makes joke at his own expense about a "Mel Tillis Christmas Doll" that when you wind it up, says nothing. Mel starts to tell a traveling salesman joke, but a technician comes in and points to his watch, and Dolly says they have to go to a commercial right now. Dolly and Mel reprise opening song.
The Dolly Show No. 123
In a sequence shot on location at a Opryland's imitation old west bus depot, Dolly Parton sings "The Last Time I Saw Him." Dolly loads a briefcase into a Model T Ford replica as children wave goodbye at camera.
The Dolly Show No. 123
Dolly introduces Mel Tillis, who starts to tell the traveling salesman joke again, but gives up and sings "Good Woman Blues" from his "Love Revival" LP.
The Dolly Show No. 123
The interrupted traveling salesman bit continues, then Mel introduces Dolly Parton, who sings Neil Diamond's hit "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" from the podium of a set decorated like the aftermath of a gospel revival tent show.
The Dolly Show No. 123
Mel Tills returns and continues the salesman joke bit yet again before singing "I Order One For Me" from his "Love Revival" LP.
The Dolly Show No. 123
Dolly Parton rejoins Mel Tillis and the salesman bit continues yet again, then Dolly and Mel duet on "Don't Let Go." Dolly and Mel get a little lost at the end of the song, getting out of sync with the prerecorded backing track.
The Dolly Show No. 123
Mel finally finishes the traveling salesman bit by telling only the joke's punch line. As exaggerated canned laughter comes up, Mel yells "Cut!" and makes it stop. Then Dolly wraps the program by singing the standard closer "I Will Always Love You" as end credits roll.