Last November Sammy Davis Jr. typed his new TV series as "one variety show that's really going to be different all the way." Somewhere between the type and the tape, someone tripped. Last week's premiere (NBC, Friday night) was the familiar mixture of songs, patter and guest stars.
There was the mandatory Frank Sinatra Joke, an orgy of network self-promotion (walk-ons by NBC stars), a tiresome, ten-minute flamenco ballet. As for the much-ballyhooed TV debut of Sammy's big drawing card, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burtonwell, television has rarely seen such a bust....
To continue reading:
or
Log-In