Seeing Stars: Part Four

Some of you are probably like, "Part FOUR? Where the hell are parts one through three?!" I assure you that they do exist. They were just posted four years ago! Ha ha! The Variety Club tributes were televised in the 1980s and whenever I've watched one it's been so compelling I've felt the need to post about it. But I haven't seen one since the prior offerings until recently. (If you're of a mind, you can click these names to see the posts on Clint Eastwood, Lucille Ball and Dame Joan Collins.) Today's is all about Mr. Burt Reynolds. He was honored in 1981 and as a result was treated to an all-star tribute culminating in a hospital wing being named in his honor. 

These affairs took place on a cavernous sound stage with multiple levels and foliage galore. Apart from featured speakers and performers, you never knew who in the world was going to be spotted at a table, merely attending without participating. That's much of the fun; spotting the stars. 

No less than Mr. Jack Lemmon was called upon to introduce the honoree and he spoke admiringly and affectionately of the actor.

In comes Burt, greeted by a plethora of guests. To the right is Sammy Davis Jr's wife Altovise. He's embracing M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit.

Reynolds can be a bit of a polarizing figure. I'm firmly in the camp that adores him, though he has his detractors. But whatever one's opinion may be, there is no denying that he had a circle of friends who were utterly devoted to him and to whom he was always generous and caring. Many of those people are on hand here and their love for him is palpable. (The lady next to him here is his rarely-seen sister Nancy.)

One of the things I liked about Burt was his complete respect for the movie stars of the '30s and '40s. He was mesmerized by them and had a genuine affection for them, along with appreciation for their work. Anyway, the show begins with a number written especially for the occasion by one of our national treasures...

Miss Dolly Parton, at the time filming The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) with Reynolds, put together a catchy ditty for the occasion. The lyrics of this song couldn't be more needed than this very day! If you are a fan of Miss Parton (and if you aren't, please seek help), you really ought to watch her here. I needed to view this show more than once and I'm still tapping my foot to her song.

The filming of Whorehouse was actually not a very pleasant experience for either star, but they did get along well with one another and established considerable chemistry. (Rich Little can be spotted at the table behind her.)

Typical of Reynolds, each person who performs at the event gets a standing ovation from him. Seen in the lower part of the pic are his parents. Throughout the night, star after star make it a point to acknowledge them and include them in the celebration.

Burt Sr. and Fern were simple, hardworking people thrust into an unusual limelight on this occasion. I think you can really see a lot of Burt in his mother's face.

Then comes frequent costar and close pal Dom DeLuise. He engages in a little skit about Burt's morning routine waking up in his elaborate bedroom (and ends it with a hilarious sight gag.)

As he nears the climax of his routine, we see Hugh O'Brian and Pat McCormick in the crowd.

A reed-thin Jerry Reed, Reynolds' costar from Smokey and the Bandit (1977) pops in to sing that movie's theme song. Check the pockets on those jeans...!

Prior to Stroker Ace (1983) and to their 1988 marriage, we find Loni Anderson introducing some castmates of Burt's. (Seen behind her are TV legend Art Linkletter and Keenan Wynn.)

Veteran actor Pat O'Brien (who'd played Anderson's elderly boyfriend on an old episode of WKRP in Cincinnati!) was in The End (1978) with Burt, playing his father. Myrna Loy was his mother in that as well.

Levar Burton is seated just behind Jim Nabors, who offers a tribute to Reynolds. Nabors was in Whorehouse with Burt and would proceed to roles in Stroker Ace (1983) and Cannonball Run II (1984.)

Reynolds' favorite song, at least at the time, is revealed to be "You Needed Me" by the pristine songbird Anne Murray (who nonetheless sometimes came off as an emotional automaton and who was hysterically parodied by Andrea Martin on SCTV!)

I didn't know a damned soul among the plentiful onlookers here! LOL Murray's spot on rendition of her hit song ends in a way that completely blew my mind.

This is director Hal Needham, a close pal of Reynolds'. Seen behind him are Angie Dickinson, Earl Holliman, Charles Nelson Reilly and Miss Julie Harris!

There to sing "Me and Bobby McGee is that song's co-writer and Reynolds' costar from Semi-Tough (1977) Kris Kristofferson.

About the last person I would anticipate being there and the last person I would expect to be beaming during this song is one Anthony Hopkins!

The aforementioned Reilly stands up to reflect on the tremendous good that Reynolds was doing in the world of live theatre, with several student actors from his then three year-old program proceeding to Broadway, television and the movies.

A quartet of costars from Sharky's Machine (1981) is led off by Charles Durning, each one paying the actor personal tribute.

Bernie Casey, who would later reunite with Reynolds in Rent-A-Cop (1987.)

Henry Silva, who I hope had a certain place he always stored those glasses...!

And finally Brian Keith, who relayed the tale of how young upstarts Clint Eastwood and Reynolds were unceremoniously dumped prior to becoming worldwide stars.

Another original song (cowritten by Sammy Cahn and Jack Lemmon) is delivered by Miss Madeline Kahn, who knocks it out of the park in her loony fashion. Kahn costarred with Reynolds in At Long Last Love (1976.)

As in the case of Parton, if you're a Kahn fan, you owe it to yourself to check her out here.

Just after her number is finished, Burt gets a big surprise that I won't spoil.

Finally, Monty Hall steps out to reveal that an Atlanta hospital (Georgia is where Reynolds was born) will be the home of the "Burt Reynolds Heart Center for Underprivileged and Handicapped Children."

Announcing that Reynolds will now take the floor to respond to the tribute is non other than the great veteran actor James Stewart. Like everyone else there, Stewart is effusive in his praise.

Always pithy and self-deprecating (even amidst his customary swagger), Reynolds takes the floor. There is still one big surprise, though with, again, I will not spoil. But I must say it was a jaw-dropper. There is a YouTuber who made a whole video about the moment, calling it one of TV's saddest moments ever. I found it more touching than sad, but I do have to confess that during the telecast, I was choked up by one thing or another several times. Next on Lifetime Movie Network, the premiere of "I Cried on the Treadmill!" Ha ha!!!

I'm going to wind this up with some additional shots of various attendees of note. These aren't called "Seeing Stars" posts for no reason. On the right are longtime married couple Jayne Meadows and Steve Allen. Behind Lemmon's head, wearing a beret for some reason, is his longtime wife Felicia Farr. Hard to get a good shot of her.

Shown here in the back is Eileen Brennan. In the foreground are Dolly (Read) Martin of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) and her husband Dick Martin.

Famed Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda.

TV cops from different worlds: Erik Estrada of CHiPs and Michael Conrad of Hill St. Blues.

Genie Francis of General Hospital, prior to her stab at prime-time TV.

Here's a better look at Loretta Swit.

And here's a closer look at Miss Angie Dickinson and Earl Holliman, former costars on Police Woman.

Here we find Linda Evans with then-beau George Santo Pietro. (He would later marry Vanna White and produce two children before their divorce after a dozen years.) No one could guess that Evans would soon enough be playing Francis' mother in the TV miniseries Bare Essence! Behind Francis is veteran games show host Tom Kennedy.

Here is another shot of Evans, near the beginning of her run on Dynasty.

Charlie's Angels' Cheryl Ladd.

Behind this gentleman is Miss America 1976 Tawny Godin, who became a Los Angeles news anchor and occasional actress.

And, lastly, Jill Ireland and Charles Bronson, who were frequently in attendance at these functions. Needless to say, I recommend watching this program. You can do so by clicking here. This particular link also includes the original 1981 TV commercials. Let me tell you. Many of them are as entertaining as the show! Ads were SO much more enjoyable then. Not a prescription or a Medicare announcement to be found.

:::: BONUS PICS ::::

Lest you think I'm kidding, I give you a pre-Magnum P.I. Tom Selleck in a great commercial for Chaz cologne.

If you've been loitering in The Underworld the past few weeks, you know that I've somehow become deluged with shower pics! Ha ha! But who better than vintage Tommy to keep the flow going...?

Very soon after this, Selleck would go from a working actor to a super-hot television STAR. That's it for now, possums. I'll be back asap with more shenanigans.