Telly... Who Loves Ya, Baby? (1976 TV Special) User Reviews

Telly Savalas really struts his stuff in this hilariously horrible hour long vintage 70's TV special

[Woodyanders · 10/10 · 1 July 2006]

Telly Savalas was at the height of his 70's "Kojak" TV show fame when he decided to do this uproariously awful hour long television special where Telly tries (and fails) to show off his questionable talents as a super-slick and smooth (i.e. disgustingly smug and smarmy) Vegas-style entertainer. The opening number alone is a gloriously ghastly marvel to behold: Telly, looking mighty snazzy in a spiffy tux, heartily belts out a groovy ditty called -- what else? -- "Who Loves Ya, Baby?" while a bunch of sexy, scantly clad young ladies dance and cavort around him. Meanwhile, a big old sign which reads "Telly" blindingly glows behind him the whole time. The delectably dreadful cheesiness continues with everyone's favorite genie Barbara Eden, looking positively smashing in a sparkly scarlet sequin outfit, performing a ridiculous medley of songs in which the lovely Ms. Eden barely manages to carry a tune. Cloris Leachman's equally awful "I'm An Actress" routine is likewise pretty embarrassing and thus very entertaining for all the wrong reasons. Only Diahann Carroll retains her poise and dignity, proving she can sing with commendably accomplished grace and gusto. Other so-called highlights include several groan-inducing comedy sketches (Telly and Diahann's skit on being poor as a kid is truly terrible), Telly visiting a racetrack and expounding on the greatness of the horse races, and Telly concluding matters on a horrendously mawkish off-key note by serenading his three beloved daughters with the sickeningly sappy song "The Men in My Little Girl's Life." Overall, this astoundingly abominable atrocity rates highly as a truly choice chunk of vintage 70's TV special star ego-stroking at its most shamelessly hammy and hence quite hugely enjoyable.