The Lola Falana Show

The four ABC specials from 1976 collected here feature the song, dance, and comedy of Lola Falana, once the highest paid female entertainer in Las Vegas. A long-legged beauty with a dazzling smile, she combined show-stopping numbers in fantastical frocks with skits that ranged from humorous to poignant (some written by Alan Thicke). In the pilot, Falana tells the audience about herself, noting that she was best known for her work in nightclubs and on Broadway (she had also become a star of Italian cinema in the late 1960s). Guests include Hal Linden, Muhammad Ali, Billy Dee Williams, Gabe Kaplan, Redd Foxx, Dick Van Dyke, Art Carney, and Dennis Weaver. Clearly intended to give her ratings a boost, Dinah Shore and Bill Cosby made unannounced appearances in the second special. The shows' sketches take on racial prejudice, self-esteem, motherhood, and cultural touchstones like The Godfather, while musical selections include “You're All I Need,” “Stormy Weather,” “Ain't No Mountain High Enough,” and several other R&B and disco numbers. In one of the more delightful bits, Falana and Foxx sing “I Got You Babe” while dressed as Sonny and Cher, after which the real-life couple show up to set them straight. DVD extras on this double-disc set include a biography, photo gallery, and chatty new commentary on the third special from author/producer Nelson George, who compares Falana to her mentor Sammy Davis Jr. and to contemporary superstars like Beyoncé Knowles. A nostalgic blast from the disco-era past, this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)