On this day in 1973: THE BOBBY DARIN SHOW debuted on NBC-TV.
This new variety series came in the wake of a seven-episode series that had aired the previous summer starring crooner Bobby Darin, known for hits like "Dream Lover", "Mack the Knife", and "Beyond the Sea". The show featured Darin playing various characters in skits with guest stars, including his popular Groucho Marx impersonation. He also performed duets with female guest stars, such as Nancy Sinatra, Connie Stevens, Cloris Leachman, Freda Payne, and Helen Reddy. Additionally, Darin created a character known as "The Godmother," a tough, comedic take on The Godfather.
The show also included recurring segments, such as city tributes where the cast sang and performed sketches about a specific city’s history. Geoff Edwards played multiple characters, including a comic drunk in the city tributes. A young fan-favorite, eight-year-old Charlene Wong, appeared in several episodes, singing or joking with Darin on stage. Each episode began with Darin singing an opening number, followed by a real fan letter that was delivered on a giant paperclip. Shows would conclude with a rendition of "Mack the Knife".
Sadly, Bobby Darin died later that year on December 20, 1973, at the age of 37, due to complications from a previous heart surgery. Reportedly he had failed to take antibiotics ahead of dental work and suffered a subsequent sepsis infection, damaging his artificial heart valves. 13 episodes were produced. Although released to DVD in 2014, the shows were heavily edited, with numerous songs removed due to music rights issues.
