Skip to Navigation
TV Video Library: Interviews and Video Clips – Archive of American Television
  • A program of the Television Academy Foundation

Capturing Television History, One Voice At A Time

Home › Shows

Andy Williams Show, The

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

About This Show

The Andy Williams Show was a TV variety series hosted by Andy Williams which ran from 1959 to 1971 (alternating during the summer of 1970 with the series Andy Williams Presents Ray Stevens). From 1959-1962 the program served as a summer replacement, but was picked up by NBC in 1962 as a recurring series through 1967. It was brought back again from 1969-1971, re-branded with a hipper, rock and roll format relative to its earlier classic crooner style The program also returned in syndication for a brief period in the Fall of 1976.

Along with the musical segment, the series had many comic sketches including The Flying Silverman Brothers, a giant snide talking bee, a suitcase that would walk. One recurring comedy sketch involved Williams' encounters with Cookie Bear, a tall bear who would beg for a cookie and frustrate Williams, to the point where Williams would shout:  "Not Now... Not Ever... NEVER!!" Williams is also credited with discovering the Osmond Brothers, who made a very successful debut performance on his show.

Who Talked About This Show

  • Pat Boone
  • Sam Denoff
  • Bob Finkel
  • Don Knotts
  • Marty Pasetta
  • Bill Persky
  • Mike Post
  • Grant Tinker
  • Ret Turner
  • Andy Williams
  • Jonathan Winters

Featured Content

Video clip: Opening segment of The Andy Williams Show (airdate: 9/9/1966)

Resources

DVD:  The Best of the Andy Williams Show

Andy Williams Show

YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
  • Highlights
  • All Interviewee clips on this show

Highlights

  • Andy Williams on the genesis of <i>The Andy Williams Show</i>Andy Williams on the genesis of The Andy Williams Show
    Clip begins at: 14:57, Duration: 03m 30s
  • Andy Williams on "Moon River" - his show's theme songAndy Williams on "Moon River" - his show's theme song
    Clip begins at: 21:23, Duration: 03m 44s
  • Sam Denoff on writing for Andy WilliamsSam Denoff on writing for Andy Williams
    Clip begins at: 08:45, Duration: 04m 30s
  • Bob Finkel on <i>The Andy Williams Show</i>Bob Finkel on The Andy Williams Show
    Clip begins at: 27:08, Duration: 02m 14s
  • Costume designer Ret Turner on his creative process; working on <i>The Andy Williams Show</i>Costume designer Ret Turner on his creative process; working on The Andy Williams Show
    Clip begins at: 00:22
  • Andy Williams on the origin of "Cookie Bear: on <i>The Andy Williams Show</i>Andy Williams on the origin of "Cookie Bear: on The Andy Williams Show
    Clip begins at: 04:04, Duration: 02m 43s

All Interviewee clips on this show

  • Pat Boone
    • Pat Boone on joking with Phil Harris on The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 02:03, Duration: 00m 42s
  • Sam Denoff
    • Sam Denoff on writing for Andy Williams
      Clip begins at: 08:45, Duration: 04m 30s
    • Sam Denoff on meeting the Osmond family and writing for The Andy Williams Show when Jonathan Winters was a guest
      Clip begins at: 17:39, Duration: 02m 57s
  • Bob Finkel
    • Bob Finkel on Tony Bennett appearing on The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 03:41, Duration: 02m 15s
    • Bob Finkel on The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 27:08, Duration: 02m 14s
    • Bob Finkel on The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 01:19, Duration: 04m 11s
    • Bob Finkel on leaving The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 11:41, Duration: 01m 13s
  • Don Knotts
    • Don Knotts on how he came to guest on The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 03:05, Duration: 00m 28s
  • Marty Pasetta
    • Marty Pasetta on directing The Andy Williams Show and Switched-On-Symphony
      Clip begins at: 21:13, Duration: 03m 18s
  • Bill Persky
    • Bill Persky on writing for The Andy Williams Show; on comedy writers
      Clip begins at: 04:16
  • Mike Post
    • Mike Post on his entry into television via The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 08:46, Duration: 01m 49s
    • Mike Post on working with his hero, Ray Charles, on conducting The Andy Williams Show  and how he came to pre-record the music for the show
      Clip begins at: 10:36, Duration: 06m 05s
    • Mike Post on his two seasons conducting the orchestra on The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 16:41, Duration: 03m 53s
    • Mike Post on what he learned working with various musical guests on The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 20:34, Duration: 02m 14s
  • Grant Tinker
    • Grant Tinker on representing The Andy Williams show while at Benton & Bowles
      Clip begins at: 17:36, Duration: 00m 45s
  • Ret Turner
    • Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 01:35, Duration: 03m 30s
    • Ret Turner on doing wardrobe for The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 15:37, Duration: 01m 30s
  • Andy Williams
    • Andy Williams on the genesis of The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 14:57, Duration: 03m 30s
    • Andy Williams on the discovery of The Osmonds and their guest appearances on his shows
      Clip begins at: 20:01, Duration: 04m 21s
    • Andy Williams on the origin of "Cookie Bear: on The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 04:04, Duration: 02m 43s
    • Andy Williams on "Moon River" - his show's theme song
      Clip begins at: 21:23, Duration: 03m 44s
  • Jonathan Winters
    • Jonathan Winters on working with Andy Williams on The Andy Williams Show
      Clip begins at: 14:25, Duration: 01m 49s
SHARE THIS PAGE Bookmark and Share
Tweet

From the Collection

  • Generic home Variety Shows  / Specials FTC

    For more MUSIC SHOWS & VARIETY SHOWS / SPECIALS show pages, visit the Archive's genre reference page.

Be the first to comment!

Post new comment

  • Home
  • Interviews
    • People
    • Shows
    • Topics
    • Professions
    • All Interviewees
    • Featured Playlists
  • About The Archive
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Search
Academy of American Television
  • Home
  • The Interviews
  • Advanced Search
  • Blog
  • License Our Clips
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transcripts
  • Copyright Policy
  • Emmys.com
  • Emmysfoundation.org
  • About The Archive
© 1995-2013 Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation All Rights Reserved Emmy and The Emmy Statuette are the trademark property of ATAS/NATAS
Site developed by FivePaths