User Reviews

The family guy cut away was so long, I searched the weirdness

The cut away from Family Guy animated show lasted FOREVER so had to check!! Lol

There was a time when kids shows were made for children for the purpose of entertainment and only entertainment. This is one of them. Where other shows were all about teaching you moral lessons or the alphabet, this show just wanted to entertain and make you laugh.

Big Bill, Middle Mark and Baby Brett made up the Hudson Brothers. They were a musical act that enjoyed some moderate success with a prime time variety show played for laughs and then a year later moved it to Saturday mornings as a kids show. The format was pretty much the same with the exception of a lack of guest star. They'd play a musical number, there would be sketches, they'd sing another song and the ending with bad jokes before they all piled into the van and drove off.

It's an interesting little time capsule that brings back feelings of nostalgia. The entire series is out on DVD meaning it's possible to see it again or for the first time if you missed it when it first ran.

Same here. I gotta find an episode of this somewhere...

That's a lot of amazing information, "rcj5365"!

I think your memory has lumped all three series together, though. Mine had too, so I had to do a bit of digging to sort them out.

I just got the DVD box set of all 16 episodes of "Razzle Dazzle" (which includes some bonus material from the Hudson Brothers' prime-time summer variety show, which led to the Saturday morning series, "Razzle Dazzle", and "Bonkers"). This is what I learned from it, and from a bit of digging on my own:

The prime-time summer replacement variety series included the Hudsons, Ronny Graham, Stephanie Edwards, announcer Gary Owens, and guest stars like McLean Stevenson and Danny Thomas. None of the bonus material on the DVDs includes any mention of Katie McClure, so I can't determine if she was on the series or not. One segment from this series was included in an episode of "Razzle Dazzle", in the form of a film "projected" by Rod Hull (with the usual "help" from Emu). In it, Rod & Emu appear as guests on a talk show hosted by McLean Stevenson & his announcer Gary Owens. This series introduced the caricature logo of the Hudson Brothers.

"Razzle Dazzle" was made in Toronto, Canada, and featured Hudsons, plus Billy Van, Peter Cullen, Murray Langston, Freeman King (all formerly of "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour"), Avril Chown (of the original Canadian production of "Godspell", which had included Victor Garber, Gilda Radner, and many other future stars), Rod Hull & Emu, Scott Fisher (as Fabulous Freddie), and an uncredited Jack Duffy in various supporting roles. I'm still trying to find out who physically played "The Bear", although I know that Peter Cullen did the voice. This series used the same caricature logo, as the summer series did---which could be why it's often confused with the other series.

"Bonkers" was made in the UK, and syndicated to North America. It included the Hudsons, along with Bob Monkhouse and several other regular cast members. I haven't been able to screen any episodes, so I can't determine any other cast members, or whether it also used the caricature logo.

One more little correction...

Although "Tony Orlando & Dawn" used animated opening titles by John Wilson (the same animator who did titles & bumpers for "Sonny & Cher" and "Razzle Dazzle"), this series was produced by Saul Ilson & Ernest Chambers. I think, at that time, CBS was trying for a uniform look with the opening titles & bumpers for its variety shows, which could be why so many of them used John Wilson's animation.

Wilson also did animated music videos (including "Dark Lady", "Bad Bad Leroy Brown", "Brand New Key", and "Black & White") for "Sonny & Cher". But his most famous work was the opening titles for the movie "Grease". If you look really hard, you can find a VHS tape of his animated music videos, but it's now quite rare and very expensive.

1974...I was ten and I remember vividly laughing at Chuckie Margolis and falling over in delirious cackles as Emu the bird, after trying hard to learn to be a delicate artist with paint, splattered everything in sight (especially his "handler", Rod's FACE) with paint. That bird was our favorite, even though it was obvious to us young 'uns that it was a mere puppet. Hull had a talented hand, in that he could make that bird's expression of boredom or displeasure convincing, not unlike Jim Henson and his Muppets.

I was a music fan as well so the music helped keep my interest in the show. All of the regulars were hilarious and familiar through the short run of the show...I wish I could remember them all, so I shall keep a sharp eye out for a DVD compilation, if one exists or is in the making.

"Care for a chocolate-covered cricket, marinated in sauerkraut?" "NO THANKS...*snap-crack*...WE'RE TRYING TO CUT DOWN!"

It's so obvious that is the umpteenth example of North Americans doing a really poor version of a British or European classic. In this case, "The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show" (1974-1975) is clearly a weak, uninspired copy of the "The Goodies" classic sitcom from Britain which began in 1970.

It's great to see that the Hudson Brothers' efforts with their Razzle Dazzle show didn't go to waste. I remember that show, I was 10 then and looked forward to Saturday mornings. I was especially fond of Island of Pegi Pegi skits, I still quote this phrase to this day... and I've had some laughs (outlouds) from people my age, being present when I've said it... They may have not lasted more than 3 years, but I really wish they'd play it again, in reruns or TCM/AMC... somewhere! Comedy lasts forever, once funny - always funny!

Another part of the show that was great was the skit "Margolis", I knew a guy like that, nothing he said was ever true - we had "selective hearing" when he babbled on and on... all us teens knew better than to listen to him (hey you made the news Beauchemin)..Anyway, this skit reminded me of this weirdo, but funny??? Absolutely - turns out it was their own material (The Hudsons) - the only material allowed by the "brass" at the show written by Mark, Bill & Brett...DUH

It would be great to see them in action again (despite the years) ...as I've said "once funny - always funny!"

Nancy F - Ottawa Canada

Pretty funny to read the reviews State the same thing over and over which is exactly the reason why I'm here... Because of the cut away on family guy.! Hahahahahaha.

Yep. I'm here because I just watched the family guy episode that had a long flash back of this show lol I was born in 1980 so I've Neva heard of this show but I need to find it lol.

Sure I remember, I was about 8 when it aired, we loved it. Esp. the Emu, this was the best. Old 'Spaghetti legs' if I remember right, was his nickname. We used to argue as kids as to whether it was a Real bird or not, which goes to show you how long ago this was.

There was a fun skit parodying Buck Rogers stuff, 'Space Cadets SALUTE!' owowowowowowowowowowowowowow....Trust me, you hadda be there. It was goofy but harmless stuff.

One of these guys in the Hudson Bros wound up wirting a bunch of stuff for Aerosmith, I think it was Mark.

Anyways, dated kid stuff but not bad.

**1/2 outta ****

Whenever I Reminisce of these 3 brothers I'm always immediately transported through time starting from the special back in 1974 in which they were the hosts of The CBS Saturday Morning Preview Special then next when they were the stars of this, their own Saturday Morning TV Show of The 1974-75 season & beyond when they were heard on the radio & the amusement park ride of the Hymilaya Singing their #26 hit of 1975,Rendezvous.But Back to their show each week I enjoyed their shows opening introducing them as well as their other costars(including The Bear of was originally from The Andy Williams Show as well as later in between in The CBS TV movie,The Bear and I.And then later the public service TV ad of You wouldn't want Bears to Careless with fire in your home,so don't be careless with fire in there's.Next his main part of this show is in his feature of Sam Bear,Private Eye(He also ought to be credited on this site.)right up to when on to the show They sing We're gonna Razzle Dazzle you...set yourself down.I didn't care for neither Freddie nor The Super Guys.I did like Rod Hull & his Emu even though I could tell that he had a fake arm around the bird.These 2 made it on to The Johnny Carson Show in 1984.I liked the space cadets & the 1950's sequence including when they sang these songs Splish,splash I was taking a bath & Goodness,gracious great balls of fire.I Also liked the sequence of Chuckie loves Cindy. 5/15 is my birthday & this makes a good reminiscence for me to comment on for my birthday.it also really transports me again & again too through & through. Truthfully, Stephen "Steve" G. Baer a.k.a. "Ste" of Framingham,Ma. USA

In spring of 2006, Fake Radio Pioneer Perrynoid from The Cosmic Circus resurrected the phrase "Razzle Dazzle" w/permission from Mark Hudson. The Cosmic Circus is a fake radio show heard world wide on The Cosmic Circus dot com. The show is hosted by a vain mock jock named Perrynoid who invented broadcasting from the basement and created internet radio in 1990. He is the Godfather of Fake Radio and his my space account is: my space.com/the cosmic circus. The Hudson Brothers Show was one of Perrynoid's earliest musical influsences. Combining brilliant satire and parody with elegance and musical wonderment. Perrynoid appeared 13 times on this variety show as a child and was Kate Hudson's first "boyfriend".

This was one of those shows that stuck out in the 1970's. The Hudson's were pretty much promoted as a combination bubble gum act/Marx Brothers act. The brothers had a prime time summer variety series and it pretty much was decided to move the boys to Saturday mornings where their talents would be more in line with the audience they were trying to reach. However, this was a pretty good show. It was a combination of "Laugh In" and "American Bandstand". The brothers, Bill, Brett and Mark, showed off both their musical and comedic talents backed with a great ensemble cast. Also, this was one of the few shows that were on during that year that didn't try to be overly preachy and try to teach the kiddies how to be good little boys and girls. This is definite lost gem of the 1970's.

The show's theme song:

ITS TIME TO RAZZLE DAZZLE,TIME TO GET DOWN RAZZLE,DAZZLE--TIME TO BOOGIE Y'ALL RAZZLE DAZZLE-GET UP ON YOUR FEET AND RAZZLE DAZZLE!!!!

Blye and Bearde Productions,the same production company that was behind the scenes of the successful 1970's prime-time CBS variety series "The Sonny and Cher Show"(CBS,1970-1974) and also did the prime-time variety series "The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show"(also was on CBS from 1972-76) were the producers for this short-lived variety series that was part of CBS' Saturday Morning Schedule for three seasons from its premiere telecast on September 7,1974 until the final episode in repeated episodes on April 3,1977. However,only the first season of "The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show" of the 1974-75 season were original episodes,while seasons two and three were repeated episodes from the first season. However,this show premiered after another short-lived that followed it also premiered the same time this show did as well,"The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine"-which was also a live-action variety series featuring the Harlem Globetrotters along with one of the hottest child stars of the 1970's--Rodney Allen Rippy.

Getting back to The Hudson Brothers Show from the mid-1970's......

The Hudson Brothers debuted as a summer nightmare series that ran in prime-time on CBS-TV from July 31,1974-August 28,1974. On the strength of that series,the show quickly made the jump from prime time to the overall abyss of Saturday Mornings. The show however,was taped in Toronto,Canada(and was produced there as well)then was transferred with much of the cast to the Saturday morning schedule that was due to the believed appeal of variety shows that were made especially for children,and the Hudson Brothers show was just that. It had basically the same comic writers that wrote for "Sonny and Cher" not to mention the same comic "bumpers" Sonny and Cher did between light songs by the Hudson trio,who were related to each other not to mention some of the goofy sketches(for example,Rod Hull had a hand-puppet emu,which attacked any cast member that made fun of it). The show itself was very quick pace since "The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show" was a mixture of "Laugh-In" by way of "Sonny and Cher" with a mixture of the mischief that came from The Marx Brothers movies of the 1930's. Speaking of the cast members which consists of the brothers themselves from oldest to youngest--Bill,Mark,and Brett)along with Stephanie Edwards,Ronny Graham,and Katie McClure. Not to mention getting former "Laugh-In" regular Gary Owens as the announcer and MC duties as part of the cast. Several guest stars did appear on this show including one episode that featured Sonny Bono in a musical number with the trio and another featuring Don Rickles and the one and only Carol Burnett(in a rare Saturday Morning appearance).

But despite the quick pace of the show which became confusing sometimes ended its run on the Saturday Morning schedule for CBS on August 30,1975. Because of this the network switched the show from Saturday Mornings to Sunday Mornings from September 12,1976-April 3,1977 in repeated episodes from the first season. After April 3,1977,the show and the trio were never heard from again. However,as a bit of trivia,one of the brothers,the middle one Mark went on to become one of the songwriters for the heavy metal rock group Aerosmith. The show was replaced for the 1977-1978 season,by one of the biggest colossal failures ever in the history of Saturday Mornings-Skatebirds!

I watched this show when I was eleven and thought Bill Hudson was the cutest guy in the world. Obviously Goldie Hawn felt the same.

The skit about the Island of Pegi Pegi (spelling?) was my favorite. I remember the line "Ho Hum! Another boring day on the island of Pegi Pegi. I would give anything (well almost) to have a DVD of the entire episodes so my daughter could see it. The skits were funny and the show overall was very entertaining. Hey, if I can still remember one line from the show 34 years after the fact, that's saying something!

I have a feeling that my wish will come true. It seems as if these obscure shows are brought back years later and tend to have a cult following.

This show, through the eyes of a 9-year old was a hoot. From the off-bear characters such as Chuckie Margolis,an 8-year-old who lived in his parents' basement, to guest-stars such as Sonny Bono, to series regulars like Bob "DON'T CALL ME MONKEY" Monkhouse.