SYNOPSIS
Country-and-Western music star
Barbara Mandrell hosted this variety series with the help of her talented
younger sisters, Louise and Irlene.
All
three sang and played musical instruments: Barbara the banjo, steel guitar,
piano, and saxophone; Louise, the banjo and fiddle; and Irlene the drums. They
engaged in a certain amount of tongue-in-cheek sibling rivalry, and throughout each
telecast
there was byplay among the sisters, including comedy sketches describing
their relationship over the years. Barbara was usually portrayed as the serious, pushy
sister, and Irlene was the sexy, vain one.
The
main emphasis of the show was on music, however, with such well-known country
stars such as Dolly Parton, Marty Robbins, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Kenny Rogers, and Charley Pride
making appearances. A group of life-sized Krofft puppets called Truck
Shackley & the Texas Critters - five musicians and a dog - served
as the resident band. The series was produced by Sid and Marty Krofft.
Midway
through the second season, series star Barbara Mandrell announced that the show would
cease production in early 1982. The weekly grind was more work than she had anticipated
and, it in conjunction with her busy concert
schedule, left her on the verge of exhaustion. Health problems, not ratings
problems,
cancelled this series.
