Favorite TV specials
These are my favorite one-off TV programs, i.e. not episodic shows, but one-time specials. Thus, they needed their own list apart from the ones I made for favorite TV series' and mini-series'.
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- DirectorJoel GallenStarsEllen DeGeneresEllen DeGeneres performs her comedy-concert live on stage and taped for HBO.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsDawn FrenchJennifer SaundersThis is the final show played by female comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. It was performed on stage in front of a live audience. It contains re-enactments of some of their more popular skits, as well as some original material which was written solely for the farewell tour. Two of the more memorable farewell tour skits include 'The basket of memories' which reputedly holds the props used during the series, and Jennifer's self proclaimed elevation to the status of 'Comedy Goddess'.
- DirectorAdrian EdmondsonStarsPatrick BarlowBruce ByronSimon CallowA parody of the hit television show, Downton Abbey (2010), following the lives of the upper class and their servants.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsFred AstaireMickey RooneyKeenan WynnA mailman reveals the origin of Santa Claus.
- DirectorDavid WintersStarsAnn-MargretBenny BakerLucille BallAnn-Margret starts her journey to Hollywood from the countryside, traversing the Freeway until she gets to Hollywood. The first segment is titled "The Game Called Hollywood" which follows a young star-to-be (Ann-Margret) from nobody to star using a giant board game metaphor. Dean Martin joins Ann-Margret for a song medley sequence that is part country and part pop music. A comedy sequence has Larry Storch reporting on the two sides of the marriage of Dean Martin and Ann-Margret. Lucille Ball plays both herself and an autograph hound in a show business song and dance sequence. The finale finds Ann-Margret doing an on-location tribute to the USO with the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band.
- DirectorMarc BreauxStarsCarol BurnettLucille BallZero MostelA fabulous collection of sketches and songs. Zero Mostel performs If I Were a Rich Man from Fiddler on the Roof. The program was written by Nat Hiken (Sgt. Bilko, Car 54 Where Are You)
- DirectorLouis J. HorvitzStarsTina FeyAmy PoehlerJennifer LawrenceThe Hollywood Foreign Press Association's 71 annual event honoring excellence in film and television.
- DirectorHamish HamiltonStarsEllen DeGeneresAnne HathawayBarkhad AbdiThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences celebrates the previous year's (2013) achievements in film.
- DirectorRoger BeattyHarvey KormanStarsCarol BurnettHarvey KormanVicki LawrenceBased on characters from "The Carol Burnett Show," this was the film which led to the series "Mama's Family."
- DirectorGlenn CasaleGary HalvorsonStarsBarbara McCullohCathy RigbyPaul SchoefflerThe fabled children's story show from Broadway produced for television.
- DirectorWayne OrrPaul ReubensStarsPaul ReubensKevin CarlsonLaurence FishburnePee-Wee Herman throws a Christmas party at his playhouse with his friends and some celebrity guests.
- DirectorMarcus MortimerStarsVictoria WoodGeoffrey DurhamVictoria Wood's live stage show, recorded in 1991 in Southampton.
- DirectorMatthew DiamondBlake EdwardsGoro KobayashiStarsJulie AndrewsTony RobertsMichael NouriA woman pretending to be a man impersonating a woman.
- DirectorGeoff PosnerStarsVictoria WoodJulie WaltersCelia ImrieA spoof of ITV's magazine show This Morning, presented by Sally Cumbernauld (Wood) and Martin Crossthwaite (Preston), with sketches, adverts, an exercise ritual with Polly (Blake, an interview with Alan Rickman and the "four-times a day" soap opera, The Mall, with a special appearance from Mrs Overall.
- DirectorJeff MargolisHoward MorrisStarsBea ArthurWayland FlowersRock HudsonBeatrice Arthur stars in her first variety special showcasing her singing, acting and comedic talents with guests Rock Hudson, Melba Moore and Wayland Flowers.
- DirectorGeoff PosnerStarsVictoria WoodRoger BrierleyDuncan PrestonVictoria Wood presents a seasonal special featuring stand up comedy, monologues and sketches in her own inimitable style. In this one-off 50 minute programme, this well loved comedian treats the viewers at home to hilarious sketches taken from the hit live show at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1994.
- DirectorDavid G. HillierStarsVictoria WoodTony AdamsDave AllenVictoria Wood giving her observations on life and songs that reflect what it's like to be a in a relationship.
- DirectorGeoff PosnerStarsVictoria WoodGeoffrey DurhamRegarded as one of Victoria Wood's best ever concerts, this was recorded during her 1997 UK tour, where she played to over half a million people and appeared at The Royal Albert Hall for an unprecedented fifteen nights.
- DirectorJohn BirkinStarsVictoria WoodGeoffrey DurhamNicholas SkilbeckVictoria Wood seen performing live at her sold-out show in the Albert Hall using her usual anecdotal humour and amusing songs to cheer the huge audience.
- StarsVictoria WoodRichard SimmonsCarnie WilsonComedienne Victoria Wood explores the pressures put on many to lose weight, dieting techniques and meets several celebrities who have faced scrutiny in the media for their size, including Anne Diamond and Vanessa Feltz, who were criticised for putting on weight during their appearances on 'Celebrity Big Brother'.
- StarsJennifer SaundersJoanna LumleyJulia SawalhaJennifer Saunders hosts a party of Ab-Fab out-takes and behind-the-scenes footage.
- DirectorFenton BaileyRandy BarbatoStarsCarrie FisherEddie FisherHarry KarlHollywood icon Carrie Fisher tells her raw and intoxicating true story in this documentary based on her hit stage production. Touching on stardom, mental illness, addiction and more, the actress recounts her peaks and valleys with candor and humor.
- DirectorRob AshfordGlenn WeissStarsAllison WilliamsChristian BorleKelli O'HaraA live telecast of the beloved J. M. Barrie story.Favorite fairy-tale, favorite musical! Mary Martin's version is most special to me, but this one is great in its own right! And their's more apparent romance in this version between Peter and Wendy. It's BEAUTIFUL!
I love the fact that in these musicals, Peter is played by a girl too---fav lesbian relationship = Peter Pan and Wendy, hehe! <3 - DirectorVincent J. DonehueStarsMary MartinCyril RitchardLynn FontanneIn this magical tale about the boy who refuses to grow up, Peter Pan and his mischievous fairy sidekick Tinkerbell visit the nursery of Wendy, Michael, and John Darling.
- DirectorMarc BreauxGeorge SchlatterStarsDinah ShoreLucille BallDiana RossThis Dinah Shore special is actually more like "Laugh-In" with guests Lucille Ball and Diana Ross. Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, and Gary Owens are also on hand. Sketches include "The Story of the Singing Detective" featuring Dinah as the title role and Lucy as a songstress who murders with her voice; "The Fairy Godmother's Revenge," a spoof of fairy tales with Diana Ross as Snow White contending with dwarfs on strike at the gold mine and an angry Fairy Godmother (Lucy); and a sketch about how "The Whitebread Family" makes good in show business. Songs include: "Both Sides Now" (Dinah), "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In" (Diana), "The Windmills of Your Mind" (Dinah), and "Cryin' Time" (Dinah).
- DirectorJoel GallenTig NotaroStarsLaura DernPortia de RossiEllen DeGeneresComedian Ellen DeGeneres performs a live stand-up comedy set in Seattle.
- 2003– 1h 30mTV-MA6.9 (1.4K)TV EpisodeDirectorJoel GallenStarsRoseanne BarrJane LynchKatey SagalIt's Roseanne Barr's turn to step in to the celebrity hot seat for the latest installment of The Comedy Central Roast.
- DirectorMarc DanielsStarsLucille BallVivian VanceGale GordonAfter Indiana housewife Lucy Whittaker (Lucille Ball) calls the White House to discuss a housing project, she finds herself making preparations for the President to visit her home for dinner. Calamity and comedy follows as Lucy frantically prepares for the momentous event with the eager support of family, friends and neighbors. The special is capped with a surprise cameo appearance.
- DirectorJeff MargolisStarsJulie AndrewsCarol BurnettA video that celebrates Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett's friendship which has lasted for 44 years.
- DirectorSeanne FarmerKyra Elise GardnerStarsBette MidlerKathy NajimySarah Jessica Parker"In Search of the Sanderson Sisters" is a hilarious mockumentary presentation to benefit The New York Restoration Project, starring "Hocus Pocus's" Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
- DirectorClark JonesStarsCarol ChanningPearl BaileyA one night only performance by two theatrical legends.
- DirectorDon MischerStarsGoldie HawnLiza MinnelliRon Field
- DirectorColin ClewsStarsJudy GarlandLiza MinnelliLaurie Holloway
- DirectorJackie GleasonStarsJackie GleasonArt CarneyAudrey MeadowsRalph, Alice, Ed and Trixie are getting ready for the Kramden's 25th anniversary.
- DirectorMike HealeyStarsJames MasonShelley RohdeMargaret LockwoodRetrospective of the life and work of actor James Mason.
- DirectorKen WhittinghamStarsRay RomanoDick Van DykeMary Tyler MooreA reunion of the surviving cast members from the original 1961-1966 TV series finds Alan Brady wanting Rob and Sally to collaborate on a eulogy for him before he dies.
- DirectorScott L. MontoyaStarsJoan RiversMick ArcherStacey McMichaelIn her brand new live stand up special, the unstoppable entertainment icon goes to great lengths to insult everyone with her trademark wit.
- DirectorDan ChaykinStarsRosie O'DonnellRosie gives a stand-up performance about hating her teens, welcoming her fifth baby, and dealing with major health scares in her family. She discusses issues we all face with her signature humor and candor, and she also sheds light on the topic of heart disease in women. She wants to bring awareness to women that it is their number-one killer. Her acronym HEPPP alerts women to the symptoms of heart attack. Hot, Exhausted, Pain, Pale, Puke. Rosie warns of the importance of using these symptoms as signs to call 911 immediately.
- DirectorPhil RomanGeorge SingerStarsLorenzo MusicThom HugeGregg BergerGarfield, Jon, and Odie go to Jon's grandmother's house for Christmas, where Garfield finds a present for Grandma.
- DirectorPhil RomanGerard BaldwinBob NeslerStarsLorenzo MusicThom HugeGregg BergerJon falls for Garfield's veterinarian--who puts Garfield on a diet--and invites her to Thanksgiving dinner.
- DirectorDesi ArnazStarsCarol ChanningRichard DeaconJane DuloThe failed pilot for a series starring Carol Channing, which was created by Desi Arnaz, and used some of the same writers on such classic Desilu series as I Love Lucy (1951), _"The Lucy how" (1962)_; 'Bob Carroll Jr', and 'Madelyn Pugh'.
- DirectorSteve KemsleyStarsJoan Rivers
- DirectorTom TrbovichStarsPhyllis Diller
- DirectorAlasdair MacmillanStarsJoan RiversChris BarrieMichael BarrymoreOutrageous, shocking, controversial and wickedly funny, the 'acid queen of stand-up' Joan Rivers hosts an hour of typically racy and waspish humor.
- DirectorMarty CallnerStarsWhoopi GoldbergTwenty years before this video was produced, comedian Whoopi Goldberg took Broadway by storm in a one-woman show that established her as one of the wittiest, finest performers of her generation. The groundbreaking comic returns to the Great White Way in this HBO special that has her revisiting some of her earlier characters, such as the belly-aching druggie Fontaine, as well as new avatars such as Lurleen, a Southern belle facing menopause.
- DirectorRocco UrbisciStarsSean AltmanBarry CarlWhoopi GoldbergWhoopi Goldberg host a stand-up comedy special and invites up-and-coming comedians to perform.
- DirectorSteven J. SantosStarsWhoopi GoldbergBilly Idol
- DirectorDean WhitmoreStarsDick Van DykeMary Tyler MooreMelanie AlexanderAn enchanting variety special which reunites Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore in song and dance. Numbers include "On The Other Hand", "Life Is Like A Situation Comedy", "Food Medley", "Do You Love Me?".
- DirectorAbbi JacobsonStarsMae MartinThe non-binary comedian Mae Martin speaks of a world that has gone off the rails. Among other things, Mae Martin mentions a mythical encounter with a moose and the gender spectrum in the story "Beauty and the Beast".
- DirectorPaul RoutledgeBarbara WiltshireStarsCarey MulliganMayim BialikSarah HadlandThe cast reunite to look back over a decade of such fun, friendship, romance and everything that made millions of fans connect with this unique and very special sitcom.
- DirectorRussell NormanStarsJason AlexanderMorey AmsterdamJulie AndrewsFriends, family, and colleagues of Dick Van Dyke gather to pay tribute to his career and celebrate his life, and his wonderful gifts he's shared over the decades.
- DirectorTom TrbovichStarsLily TomlinEileen BrennanJames Coco