''Make Your Own Kind of Music'' was an American summer replacement

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...

starring

The Carpenters The Carpenters (officially known as Carpenters) were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen (1950–1983) and Richard Carpenter (born 1946). They produced a distinct, soft, musical style, combining Karen's contr ...

that aired on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

between July 6, 1971, and September 7, 1971. It was a replacement for "The Don Knotts Show," in the Tuesday evening time slot from 8-9 p.m. (Eastern), and was produced by Stan Harris for Tomka Productions. The Carpenters were joined by Al Hirt,

Mark Lindsay Mark Lindsay (born March 9, 1942) is an American musician, best known as the lead singer of Paul Revere & the Raiders. Early life Lindsay was born in Eugene, Oregon, and was the second of eight children of George and Esther Ellis Lindsay. The ...

, the Doodletown Pipers, and comedy team Tom Patchett and

Jay Tarses Michael Jay Tarses (born July 3, 1939) is an American screenwriter, producer, actor. He created and produced ''The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd'' and ''The Slap Maxwell Story'', co-created ''Buffalo Bill'' (with Tom Patchett), and was an exec ...

. Guest stars that appeared during the eight-episode series included

Herb Alpert Herb Alpert (born March 31, 1935) is an American trumpeter who led the band Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in the 1960s. During the same decade, he co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss. Alpert has recorded 28 albums that have landed on the ...

Jose Feliciano Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods. *Jose ben Abin *Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galilean ...

Dusty Springfield Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien (16 April 1939 – 2 March 1999), known professionally as Dusty Springfield, was an English singer. With her distinctive mezzo-soprano sound, she was a popular singer of blue-eyed soul, pop and dram ...

, and Helen Reddy. The show's title was taken from the song recorded by Mama Cass, and was sung at the beginning and end of each broadcast by the show regulars. A key concept of the series involved the alphabet. In the first week, Herb Alpert introduced the show, standing next to a big letter "A." During each week's show, the cast would work its way through the alphabet, ending the program with the letter "Z." Author

Merle Miller Merle Dale Miller (May 17, 1919 – June 10, 1986) was an American writer, novelist, and author who is perhaps best remembered for his best-selling biography of Harry S. Truman, and as a pioneer in the gay rights movement. Miller came out ...

, guest critic for ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

,'' was not fond of the concept: : the show is burdened, is very nearly sunk, by a "gimmick." Each number is introduced by the labored use of a letter of the alphabet. Twenty-six cringes a week. Did they have in mind a ''Sesame Street'' for adults? Possibly. But no adult over the age of 8 will be either enlightened or amused. The series ended when the fall television season premiered.

Videos from the series released on DVD

(They Long to Be) Close to You "(They Long to Be) Close to You" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The best-known version is that recorded by American duo the Carpenters for their second studio album '' Close to You'' (1970) and produced by Jack Daugherty. Rel ...

" – '' Gold: Greatest Hits'' (2002), letter "Y" for "You" :Air date: July 20, 1971 *"

Rainy Days and Mondays "Rainy Days and Mondays" is a 1971 song by the Carpenters, with instrumental backing by L.A. session musicians from the Wrecking Crew, that went to number 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move by Carole King ...

" – '' Interpretations'' (1995), letter "K" for "Karen" :Air date: August 17, 1971 *"

Reason to Believe "Reason to Believe" is a song written, composed, and first recorded by American folk singer Tim Hardin in 1965. It has since been recorded by artists including Bobby Darin in 1966, Karen Dalton also in 1966, Glen Campbell in 1968, the Nitty Gritty ...

" – ''Interpretations'' (1995), letter "K" for "Karen" :Air date: September 7, 1971 *"

We've Only Just Begun "We've Only Just Begun" is a single by the Carpenters, written by Roger Nichols (music) and Paul Williams (lyrics). It was ranked at No. 414 on ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time." Song information The so ...

" – ''Interpretations'' (1995), letter "Y" for "You" :Air date: September 7, 1971 *" Bless the Beasts and Children" – ''Interpretations'' (1995), letter "F" for "Film (Music)" :Air date: August 31, 1971 *"(A Place To) Hideaway" – '' Close to You: Remembering The Carpenters'' (1997), letter "K" for "Karen" :Air date: August 10, 1971

References

External links

* {{The Carpenters The Carpenters 1970s American television series Television series by Universal Television