
Directing
Tony Charmoli
Born 1921-06-11
Tony Charmoli (June 11, 1921 – August 7, 2020) was an American dancer, choreographer, and director. He began dancing on Broadway in such shows as Make Mine Manhattan but soon began choreographing for television with Stop the Music in 1949. Charmoli then choreographed dance sequences for the popular Your Hit Parade, winning his first Emmy Award in 1955. He went on to direct and choreograph for some of the biggest stars including Dinah Shore, Lily Tomlin, Danny Kaye, Julie Andrews, Cyd Charisse, Shirley MacLaine, Mitzi Gaynor, and others. On Broadway, Tony choreographed Ankles Aweigh and Woman of the Year with Lauren Bacall. More recently, Charmoli focused his talents on directing for television, where he directed such programs as the famous 1977 production of The Nutcracker starring Mikhail Baryshnikov, which was nominated for two Emmys (neither nomination was for Charmoli, however). He directed and choreographed nearly all of Mitzi Gaynor's television specials in the 1970s as well as two of Shirley MacLaine's. He also worked many times with Sid and Marty Krofft, directing all seventeen episodes of Lidsville and The Bugaloos, respectively, as well as their TV special Fol-de-Rol. He directed the first two years of Star Search, and several years of Circus of the Stars, as well as John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together, winning the Directors Guild Award. Charmoli also directed several Bob Hope specials, more than twenty televised beauty pageants, and the short-lived summer replacement series The Keane Brothers Show. He was the recipient of three Emmy Awards, plus eight other Emmy nominations. Description above from the Wikipedia article Tony Charmoli, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Acting credits
5.9A deliciously scandalous portrait of unsung Hollywood legend Scotty Bowers, whose bestselling memoir chronicled his decades spent as sexual procurer to the stars.
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
2018
NRThe ultimate collection of song and dance performances from Gaynor's classic network television specials - unseen for three decades - MITZI GAYNOR: RAZZLE DAZZLE! THE SPECIAL YEARS is a new documentary that celebrates a landmark career through new interviews with Mitzi and many others that worked with her. A reflective and entertaining glimpse into the television variety show at its zenith, taking viewers on a nostalgic trip through Gaynor's TV years.
Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years
2008
Behind the camera
2.0Mitzi Gaynor in a song and dance hour with an all-male, star-studded ensemble featuring her main guests Michael Landon (Little House on the Prairie) and Jack Albertson (Chico and the Man), plus 28 celebrities as her "Million Dollar Chorus." Songs performed include: "I Got the Music in Me," "The Most Beautiful Guy in the World," and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life."
Mitzi & 100 Guys
1975
7.1In this beloved holiday classic, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and all the Muppets join the singer for a heart-warming Christmas celebration, with traditional carols as well as lesser-known holiday songs.
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
1979
6.0Mitzi Gaynor and guests Ted Knight (Mary Tyler Moore Show), Jerry Orbach (Chicago), Suzanne Pleshette (Bob Newhart Show) and Jane Withers in music, dance and comedy vignettes celebrating housewives. Songs include "Married," "I Can Cook, Too," and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life." The cast also attend a party performing "The Little Things We Do Together" from Stephen Sondheim's Company.
Mitzi... A Tribute to the American Housewife
1974
6.5America's sweetheart Doris Day offers songs and sketches with some of her famous friends in this smash hit television special from 1975. John Denver and Day sing a few entertaining duets, and funnyman Tim Conway joins in on a couple of skits. Then, Rich Little impersonates some of Day's legendary co-stars, including Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Jack Lemmon. Songs include selections from Love Me or Leave Me, Teacher's Pet, Calamity Jane and more.
Doris Day Today
1975
8.6The Nutcracker is Mikhail Baryshnikov's breathtaking and critically acclaimed Emmy-nominated production. This spectacular performance is danced by the magnificent team of Baryshnikov, one of the greatest classical dancers of the century, and Gelsey Kirkland, both showcased at the peak of their careers, with members of the American Ballet Theatre.
The Nutcracker
1977
NRIn this program, Julie Andrews and Rudolf Nureyev explain what dancing is and introduce different styles of dance to their young audience.
Julie Andrews' Invitation to the Dance with Rudolf Nureyev
1980
6.5After taking her successful Broadway show to Las Vegas, Lily Tomlin is faced with a tough decision: soften her act for mass appeal, or keep her material the way she originally intended?
Lily: Sold Out
1981
NRMusical Special featuring Shirley MacLaine in her tribute to chorus dancers, colloquially known as "gypsies." Produced by Cy Coleman and Fred Ebb, the special uses a self-referential show business plot in which the star rehearses for her television special about the life of a dancer. MacLaine performed a wide range of songs including "Lucy's Back in Town," during which Lucille Ball made a "surprise" appearance. The program won Outstanding Special: Comedy-Variety or Music at that year's Emmys as well as awards for writing (Ebb), music composition (Coleman), and choreography (Tony Charmoli).
Shirley MacLaine: Gypsy in My Soul
1976
10.0Made-for-TV musical inspired by the real-life travels of a celebrated 1800s female newspaper columnist.
Around the World with Nellie Bly
1960
NRTelevision played a key role in the legendary Liberace career making him a household word to millions and the medium's first matinee idol. "Leapin' Lizards, It's Liberace!" video taped in 1978 was his first major television special from Las Vegas. "Leapin' Lizards, It's Liberace!" gives us a spoofed view of a typical day in the life of Mr.Showmanship, before he was off to "work" at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel in his mirrored Rolls Royce. There is a view of the magnificent Liberace Las Vegas Villa, from bedroom to piano motif swimming pool. After arriving at the Hilton showroom, guest star Debbie Reynolds, Liberace's favorite movie star and performer, joins him on stage for a salute to the Broadway musical, "Annie," complete with Sandy the Dog.
Leapin' Lizards, It's Liberace!
1978
Bob Hope's guests are Carol Lawrence, Tony Bennett, Jill St. John and Shirley Eaton. The pop music scene and marriage in the US and Britain is spoofed in song and sketches.
Bob Hope Comedy Special
1967
9.0Musical Special designed to showcase the minimal talents of Raquel Welch. Highlights include: a scene featuring Welch and Mickey Rooney, portraying a cab driver with seemingly magical abilities; a scene featuring Welch in a subway station performing a medley and dance sequence; a scene wherein Welch attempts to sing “Money Makes the World Go Round”; Raquel performing a version of “We Are Family” in a martial arts training class; Rooney and Welch performing “Heaven on Earth”; Welch performing “Don’t Rain on My Parade” while escaping from a straitjacket; Welch performing “A Quiet Thing”; and Welch and Rooney performing “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.”
From Raquel with Love
1980
NRIn this musical salute to Spring, Mitzi Gaynor is joined by country music star Roy Clark (Hee Haw), actor Wayne Rogers (MASH) and the US Olympic Gymnastics Team for a colorful tribute in song, dance and comedy sketches to the earth's season of renewal. Songs include "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing," "Isn't it Romantic," and "Yankee Doodle Dandy."
Mitzi... Zings Into Spring
1977
NRMitzi Gaynor welcomes her guests Carl Reiner (Dick Van Dyke Show), Ken Berry (Mayberry R.F.D.) and Tony-winner Linda Hopkins to an hour, blending animation and live action, celebrating the era of flappers, speakeasies and great jazz. Songs include "Everything Old is New Again," "The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)," "Runnin' Wild," and "The Charleston."
Mitzi... Roarin' in the 20s
1976
NRJoin Liberace in his hot air balloon as he touches down at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada and jumps on stage for a Valentine's Day concert like no other! There's also a tour of the Liberace Museum, his private home and the Queen Mary where Sandy Duncan and Lola Falana join him in song, dance and laughter.
Liberace: A Valentine Special
1979
6.0The host and his family travel back in time to an early 19th century Christmas in England.
The John Davidson Christmas Special
1977
7.0A tribute to American musical theater, featuring scenes from "Show Boat", "South Pacific," "Sweet Charity," "Finian's Rainbow," and "Lady in the Dark", among others. There is also discussion of the various creative aspects of the plays.
Musical Comedy Tonight II
1981
9.0When Madame Eau Charme, a social-climbing witch, fails to receive an invitation to the Governor's Ball, the most prestigious event of the season, she becomes angered and plots a dreadful revenge against the Governor. She brings a scarecrow (named Feathertop) to life and sets him on a quest to break the heart of Julie Balfour, the Governor's beloved daughter.
Feathertop
1961
6.5A speculative look forward at the United States' next 200 years.
The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?
1977
NRA filmed version of Sid and Marty Krofft's 1968 live puppet show, set at a medieval fair. The special was a pilot for a weekly series.
Fol-de-Rol
1972
NRMitzi Gaynor and her guests Gavin MacLeod (The Love Boat), John McCook (The Young and the Restless), and musician Benny Goodman explore trends of the 1970's ranging from Jazz and Disco to Soap Operas and King Tut-mania. Songs include "Satin Doll," "I'm Hip" (with Goodman), "Nice Work if You Can Get it," and "Can't Smile Without You."
Mitzi... What's Hot, What's Not
1978