Another shows us Phil Donahue in a gloriously unglossy light. One, a Johnny Carson appearance, proves that his wry touch could make even the most vapid guest seem interesting. The best parts of the show are three clips played on those overhead screens. Somers’s relationship with her fans is so closely related to the small screen (25 hours this month on the Home Shopping Network!), even her live show must be boob-tubed. Somers – when not showing a constant barrage of TV Guide covers and giddy pinup poses. Two large screens project constant close-ups of Ms. Opening with a photomontage, they give us the television-on-stage vibe right away. The husband-and-wife team has produced a string of Carol Burnett specials and boasts 16 Emmys between them. The show, written and directed by Ken and Mitzie Welch, could itself be an extended QVC special. A certain level of honesty about the hard facts of her life – particularly her alcoholic father, a tendency for lying and bad checks, and a long-term relationship with a married man – has over time turned into a means of advertisement. Whether or not you choose to buy what she’s selling relies on your tolerance for stories that “overcome the odds.” For some, the threshold is high: On leaving the theater, many audience members were vocal in their praise for her “truth.” “She’s not asking for our pity,” admired one woman.
