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YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A STAR TO BE ON MY SHOW Original Album Longer Version

3,380 views · Published 13 January 2012 · 4:56 · Indexed 4 November 2026

Channel: daveinprogress3 · 2012 · Music

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This is the longer album version of the 1977 classic "You don't have to be a star (to be on my show), and as American culture permeated my youth in Australia, i wanted to pay tribute to some of the wonderful actors and actresses who played supporting roles in some of the most iconic tv comedies in the early to mid 1970's. Many of them went on to have their own shows, others sadly faded into obscurity, or had to resort to bit parts to stay afloat, but their legacy is intact,

As a teenager in the 1970's, comedies were so important, and programs like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Happy Days, MASH and The Carol Burnett Show were everyday joys, and glorious postcards from an era where clever writing, and sublime comic timing made these shows classics. I have included my favourites, which is far from exhaustive, and would have needed a track four times as long to properly and faithfully illustrate all the great tv sitcoms of the era. 

I am using this longer and original album version (about a minute longer than the single edition) Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr track, to show that the stars of these legendary series surrounded themselves with great players, and although many of them were not 'stars' when the series began, they soon became stars in their own right! People like Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Burnett had wonderful ensemble performers in their shows, and if they were humble enough to admit it, the old showbiz adage, you are only as good as the people around you, is especially true of these great tv comedies, where the leading actors were centre stage, but admirably and significantly enveloped by the other equally adept character actors and actresses who contributed to the success of their respective program.

Shows like Happy Days, Welcome Back Kotter and The Brady Bunch, may have begun with the adults taking the main roles, but forces of nature like Henry Winkler (The Fonz), John Travolta (Vinnie Barbarino) stole the thunder and forced the seasoned players like Tom Bosley and Ann B Davis (Brady Bunch) into the supporting categories. There is much to be said for being a supporting actor or actress - especially, if like Valerie Harper or Gavin McLeod or Ed Asner or Rue McClanahan you go on to have leading roles, it is a great journey to take. Others like Rhoda's father played by the late great Harold Gould or the equally glorious Nancy Walker (Rhoda's mother) were great supporting players and shone in any role - big or small. I had a warm fondness for Julie Kavner (Rhoda's sister), and Georgia Engel (Mary Tyler Moore), actresses whose careers went in very different directions, but faithfully served the leading ladies. 

I hope you enjoy the daveinprogress treatment of some of the finest supporting ensemble casts of shows in the 1970's and it brings back equally warm memories of sterling actors and actresses from their iconic series.

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