1971 Variety Hour That Turned a Husband-and-Wife Singing Duo Into TV's Biggest Comedy Act Debuted 55 Years Ago Today

Fifty-five years ago today, a summer replacement show slipped onto CBS with low expectations and turned two nightclub performers into one of the biggest acts on television.

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour debuted on Aug. 1, 1971, and within months it went from seasonal fill-in to a prime-time staple that ran for four years.

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By 1971, the 1960s hits that made Sonny Bono and Cher famous had cooled, and the married duo was working the club circuit. CBS programming chief Fred Silverman was impressed enough to hand them a summer variety slot. The formula was simple and it clicked: glittering musical numbers, Bob Mackie gowns and Cher needling her husband in the opening monologue while he played the lovable fall guy.

From Summer Fill-In to Prime-Time Hit

Each episode opened with “The Beat Goes On” and closed with the couple singing “I Got You Babe” to each other. The mix of music and married-couple bickering was an instant ratings hit, and CBS quickly moved the show into its regular lineup. It became a launching pad, too.

Steve Martin wrote for the show early in his career, and the couple’s young child, now Chaz Bono, appeared on camera during its run. Guest stars ranged from Carol Burnett to the Jackson 5.

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How It All Ended

The act could not survive the marriage. Sonny and Cher split, and the show ended in 1974 as their divorce played out, with Cher accusing Bono of “involuntary servitude” in the proceedings. Cher walked away with a Golden Globe for the series and a solo career that never slowed down. The bickering was for the cameras, but the comeback it powered was real.

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