''Sha Na Na'' is a syndicated television variety series that ran from 1977 to 1981 for a total of 97 episodes, hosted by the popular rock & roll/comedy group of the same name. The show was produced by

Pierre Cossette Pierre Maurice Joseph Cossette (December 15, 1923 – September 11, 2009) was a television executive producer and Broadway producer. Cossette produced the first television broadcast of the Grammy Awards in 1971. Cossette was inducted into Cana ...

and originally distributed by the

Lexington Broadcast Services Company The Lexington Broadcast Services Company (first known as Lexington Broadcast Services and later known as LBS Communications) was a television production and syndication company formed on November 15, 1976, by advertising pioneer Henry Siegel, wh ...

. Each episode ran for 22 minutes. The show featured the group performing hits from the 1950s and 1960s along with comedy skits along the show's nostalgic theme but with a contemporary twist, with performances from that era's well-known acts as well as popular acts of the 1970s. Among the supporting cast members featured in the series were:

Jane Dulo Jane Dulo (October 13, 1917 – May 22, 1994) was an American actress and comedian. Dulo was born Berniece Dewlow, the elder daughter of Lawrence and Nettie Dewlow, she began her career at the age of ten performing in vaudeville. Her father was ...

Pamela Myers Pamela Myers (born July 15, 1947, Hamilton, Ohio) is an American actress who made her Broadway debut as Marta in Stephen Sondheim's musical ''Company'', in which she introduced the song "Another Hundred People". She was nominated for a 1971 Tony ...

Avery Schreiber Avery Lawrence Schreiber (April 9, 1935 – January 7, 2002) was an American actor and comedian. He was a veteran of stage, television, and movies who came to prominence in the 1960s in a comedy duo with Jack Burns. He acted in an array of roles ...

Kenneth Mars Kenneth Mars (April 4, 1935 – February 12, 2011) was an American actor. He appeared in two Mel Brooks films: as the deranged Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind in '' The Producers'' (1967) and Police Inspector Hans Wilhelm Friedrich Kemp in ''Young ...

and Phil Roth (Season 1);

June Gable June Gable (born June Golub) is an American character actress, perhaps best known for her role as Joey's agent Estelle Leonard in the NBC sitcom ''Friends''. She also played a Nurse in the delivery room in season 1 episode 23 “The One With The B ...

and

Soupy Sales Milton Supman (January 8, 1926 – October 22, 2009), known professionally as Soupy Sales, was an American comedian, actor, radio-television personality, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television serie ...

(Seasons 2 to 4);

Michael Sklar Michael Joel Sklar (July 12, 1944 – March 5, 1984) was an American actor, writer, songwriter, and fashion retailer. He was best known as a Warhol superstar, starring in multiple films by Warhol and Paul Morrissey before his death. Sklar died o ...

(Season 2); and Karen Hartman (Season 4).

Cast

The members of Sha Na Na during the TV series were Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (Lead vocals, backing vocals), Lennie Baker (Saxophone, lead vocals, backing vocals), Johnny Contardo (Lead vocals, backing vocals), Denny Greene (Lead vocals, backing vocals), Danny "Dirty Dan" McBride (Electric guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals) (left after third season), Jocko Marcellino (Lead vocals, backing vocals, drums), Dave "Chico" Ryan (Lead vocals, backing vocals, bass guitar), "Screamin'" Scott Simon (Piano, lead vocals, backing vocals), Scott "Santini" Powell (Lead vocals, backing vocals), Donald "Donny" York (Lead vocals, backing vocals). Every member was featured with a solo vocal spot during the course of the series. Each was introduced only by his nickname or his first name in a voice-over by Myers at the beginning of each show.

Quotes

During the shows' opening after the cast and guests are mentioned Myers kicks off the show by saying "And now, here they are, all greased up and ready to sing their brains out, Sha Na Na!" while

Jon "Bowzer" Bauman Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (born September 14, 1947) is an American singer, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na, and game show host. Bauman's Sha Na Na character, "Bowzer", was a greaser in a muscle shirt. Biography and career Bauman was ...

would close out each show by saying "Good night, and grease for peace!" with Sha Na Na singing "

Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" is a popular song that was a hit during the mid-1950s. It was written by Calvin Carter and James "Pookie" Hudson in 1951, and was first recorded by The Spaniels in 1953. It has also been released by some artists ...

" as their closing theme song. Myers would announce as a disclaimer, "This show has been previously recorded," which was appended sarcastically, "so it could be destroyed in time!" and later shows would be appended with in an equally snarky tone, "Why? I dunno!"

References

External links

* 1977 American television series debuts 1981 American television series endings 1970s American variety television series 1980s American variety television series Television series by Fremantle (company) {{US-nonfiction-tv-prog-stub

Cast

Quotes

See also

References

External links