The Lawrence Welk Show: 1985 Christmas Reunion Special/1970 New Year's Party

"Wunnerful, Wunnerful." To some, maybe. But we've always felt that Lawrence Welk was one of the most uncharismatic personalities to ever hit the small screen. Still, Mr. Bubbly does have a large and devoted following. In both shows, the gang's all there: Champagne Lady Norma Zimmer, the Lennon Sisters, Jim Turner, Kathy Sullivan, accordionist Guy Ralna, and the ever-present Geritol sign. The Christmas program is the better of the two, because it will have seasonal appeal, as Lawrence and Co. do nice-sounding renditions of all of the major Christmas carols. The second program, to its credit, features a history of the dance, with demonstrations of everything from ballroom dancing to the watusi. While this is basically TV fodder, the thematic approach of this title, and the fact that it is no longer licensed for television, will undoubtedly make it a popular seasonal video. Recommended. (See INTRODUCTION TO HEMINGWAY'S FICTION for availability.)