FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: DOLLY (1976-1977)

DOLLY (1976-1977) – This half-hour series was launched after singer Dolly Parton’s years of success as a supporting performer on Porter Wagoner’s show. Dolly featured Ms. Parton and usually one celebrity guest performing songs. The series ran for 26 episodes. Dolly’s hit Love is Like a Butterfly was the opening theme and at the end of each show she would perform a little bit of I Will Always Love You.

Below are the episodes, but the order could vary since the program was syndicated, meaning TV stations could play them in whatever order they chose.

EPISODE ONE – For some reason, kiddie show host Bob Keeshan – Captain Kangaroo himself – was the guest in this episode. He and Dolly sang Three Little Fishes together. Keeshan soloed on Thank Heaven for Little Girls (I wish I was kidding but I’m not.) and Sleepyhead. 

Dolly sang Joy to the World, How Much is That Doggie in the Window, My Tennessee Mountain Home, Coat of Many Colors and Abadaba Honeymoon.

EPISODE TWO – Canadian singer Anne Murray and Dolly’s younger brother Randy Parton were this episode’s guests. Dolly, Anne and Randy sang All I Can Do and Drift Away together. Anne Murray alone sang Blue Finger Lou and Golden Oldie. Randy alone sang Tennessee Born.

Dolly performed Let Me Be There and The Battle of New Orleans.     

EPISODE THREE – Kenny Rogers sang with Dolly for the first of what would turn out to be many, many times in this episode. The duo sang He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands, Spanish Eyes, Brown Eyed Handsome Man and Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain. Kenny soloed on Love Lifted Me and The World Needs a Melody.

Dolly did Joshua, Knock Three Times and – I swear to God – Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. I’d have practically killed to see Bob Keeshan sing this, with or without Dolly. 

EPISODE FOUR – Ronnie Milsap was Parton’s guest. The pair sang Rollin’ in My Sweet Baby’s Arms and I Believe in Music. Ronnie soloed on Pure Love and A Legend in My Time.

Dolly soloed on The Night Life, Me and Little Andy and – apparently in case anyone thought they just imagined it the first time – Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.   

EPISODE FIVE – Black pop trio The Hues Corporation joined Dolly for a performance of Today I Started Loving You Again. The Hues Corporation sang Rock the Boat and I’ll Take a Melody.

Dolly sang Thank God I’m a Country Girl, Down on Music Row, Blues Stay Away from My Door, Song Sung Blue and My Blue Tears.

EPISODE SIX – Setting the stage for their future collaborations, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt were Dolly’s guests. The three sang Silver Threads and Golden Needles, Applejack, The Sweetest Gift and Bury Me Beneath the Willow Tree. Emmylou soloed on My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy. Linda sang I Can’t Help It.

Dolly performed Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?

EPISODE SEVEN – Tennessee Ernie Ford was the guest. He and Dolly sang I Believe. Ernie soloed on Sixteen Tons and I’ve Been to Georgia on a Fast Train.

Dolly alone did Jolene, Sunshine on My Shoulders, Walking in the Sunshine, The Twelfth of Never and – just to mess with our heads again – the Tiny Tim hit Tiptoe Through the Tulips. 

EPISODE EIGHT – This time Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. are welcomed by Dolly. They all sing Take These Chains from My Heart. Marilyn and Billy perform I Hope We Get to Love in Time and You Can Change My Heart.

Dolly does Proud Mary, Rhinestone Cowgirl and You.

EPISODE NINE – Jim Stafford is Dolly’s guest. The pair sing Spiders and Snakes. Jim soloes on Jasper Dan and The Nickle Pickin’ Song.

Dolly performed Hey, Lucky Lady!, Queen of the Silver Dollar, Yesterday, Help Me Make It Through the Night, Bridge Over Troubled Water and For the Good Times.

EPISODE TEN – Guest ANSON F*CKING WILLIAMS! I hope Donny Most demanded equal time. He and Dolly sang Mack the Knife. Potsie did Everybody Needs a Rainbow and In the Middle of the Night. 

Parton soloed on Love Will Keep Us Together, Early Morning Breeze, Everything Old is New Again and The Bargain Store.

EPISODE ELEVEN – Guest Lynn Anderson. She and Dolly sang That’ll Be the Day, Takin’ Care of Business and Dumb Blonde. Lynn soloed on Sweet Talkin’ Man and Cry.

Dolly did Swanee, Gettin’ Happy and We Used To.

EPISODE TWELVE – Poet and singer-songwriter Rod McKuen visited with Dolly. The pair performed China Grove (I’m NOT kidding.), Feelings, All I Can Do and Every Loner Has to Go Alone. Rod alone sang A Boy Named Charlie Brown and The World I Used to Know.

Dolly sang My Funny Valentine.

EPISODE THIRTEEN – Guests K.C. and the Sunshine Band. They and Dolly did That’s the Way I Like It and Cryin’ Time. K.C. and the band performed Get Down Tonight and Shake Your Booty.

Dolly sang Flowers on the Wall, He Would Know and In the Ghetto.

EPISODE FOURTEEN – Bobby Goldsboro was the guest. He and Dolly performed The Door is Always Open, Proud Mary and Let it Be Me. Always a sadist, Goldsboro did Watching Scotty Grow and Butterflies. 

Dolly soloed on A Little at a Time and The Carroll County Accident.

EPISODE FIFTEEN – Then-host of Wheel of Fortune Chuck Woolery himself was the guest. He and Dolly sang Hello Dolly, Help Me Make It Through the Night and Thank God I’m a Country Girl/ Boy. The Chuckster went solo on Growing Up the Country Way and Little Green Apples. 

Dolly sang Burning Love and Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay.

EPISODE SIXTEEN – The gospel, soul and R&B group the Staple Singers joined Dolly. She and they did The Seeker. The Staple Singers themselves performed Let’s Do It Again and Love Me, Love Me, Love Me. 

Dolly soloed on Gypsy Fever, The House of the Rising Sun and Love with Me.

EPISODE SEVENTEEN – Pure Prairie League were the guests. Along with Dolly they sang Bye, Bye Love. PPL did Two Lane Highway and Dance.

Dolly sang Afternoon Delight with the show’s backup singers and soloed on Slippin’ Away and Down from Dover.

EPISODE EIGHTEEN – Guests were John Hartford and LaCosta Tucker (Tanya’s sister). All three sang When Will I Be Loved and Gentle on My Mind. John Hartford did Skippin’ in the Mississippi Dew. LaCosta performed Shenandoah, Old Man River, Dixie Land and The Battle Hymn of the Republic. 

Dolly soloed on Circle Game and How Great Thou Art.

EPISODE NINETEEN – Tom T. Hall was the guest. He and Dolly sang Sneaky Snake and I Love. Hall alone did I Care plus Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine. 

Dolly performed Coat of Many Colors and Cracker Jack. 

EPISODE TWENTY – Guest Ray Stevens. He and Dolly did Happy, Happy Birthday Baby and Searchin‘. Ray sang Get Crazy with Me and Sir Thanks-a-Lot. Hey, why not The Streak?

Dolly sang Great Balls of Fire, Lyin’ Eyes and City of New Orleans.

EPISODE TWENTY-ONE – Dolly was joined by her brothers Randy and Floyd Parton, plus her sisters Stella, Rachel, Willadeene, Cassie and Freida. Her Mom and Dad Avie Lee Parton and Robert Lee Parton were there, as well. For all I know a dog named I Beg Your Parton showed up, too. Various mathematical combinations of Partons sang Old Black Kettle, I’m Not That Good with Goodbye, Down, Brand New Key, Morning, In the Pines, In the Sweet By & By and Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. (I’m kidding!) 

EPISODE TWENTY-TWO – Actress Karen Black visited Dolly. The pair did Me and Bobby McGee. Karen performed Satin Sheets and Did You Ever Wonder.

Dolly soloed on Gettin’ Happy, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and What Ain’t to be Just Might Happen.

EPISODE TWENTY-THREE – Mel Tillis stuttered and stammered his way through this episode. He and Dolly sang The Entertainer and Don’t Let Go. Tillis did Good Woman Blues and I Order One for Me.

Dolly performed The Last Time I Saw Him and Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show.

EPISODE TWENTY-FOUR – Guests the Fifth Dimension. Dolly and they sang Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight? The Fifth Dimension did Workin’ on a Groovy Thing and If That’s the Way You Want It.   

Dolly sang Promised Land, We’ll Sing in the Sunshine and With Pen in Hand.

EPISODE TWENTY-FIVE – Guest Freddy Fender. He paired with Dolly for Before the Next Teardrop Falls. Solo, he performed Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.

Dolly sang Your Love Has Lifted Me, Mr. Bojangles, Lovin’ Cajun Style, Dixie Land and Battle Hymn of the Republic.

EPISODE TWENTY-SIX – For the show’s grand finale, Dolly welcomed … Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius? Okay. The three sang Looking Back to See. Jim Ed and Helen did I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You and Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye.

Dolly performed Loves Me Like a Rock, The Way We Were, Midnight Train to Georgia and Bubblin’ Over.

Always shrewd, Parton wanted out of her contract despite Dolly‘s high ratings. She complained that she was required to do too many songs that did not fit her style. I agree! Who the hell was the producer? Chuck Barris? Anyway, it’s a shame we didn’t get to see Dolly with guests like Howard Cosell or Cher or the Sex Pistols. 

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