This
imaginative anthology was a collection of short comedy playlets, starring all
sorts of big names, and dealing with the all-important subject of love. Love was
seen from all sides, young and old, rich and poor, unmarried, just married, long
married, and multi-married. Generally three or four playlets were presented on
each episode, interspersed with short comic "blackouts" by a repertory company
of six or seven young performers. In 1972, a tasteful "Lovemate of the Week"
centerfold was also added, featuring a different girl each week.
A short list
of those appearing in Love, American Style reads like a Who’s Who of
Hollywood: Phyllis Diller, Nanette Fabray, Tammy Grimes, Ann Sothern, Paul Ford,
Pat Paulsen, Milton Berle, Sonny & Cher, the Lemon Sisters, George Gobel,
Dorothy Lamour, Wally Cox, Tony Randall, Paul Lynde, Burt Reynolds, Harry
Morgan, Rich Little, Ozzie & Harriet, Tiny Tim (as a suspected vampire), Sid
Caesar, Imogene Coca, Jacqueline Susann, and Martha Raye. Ronnie Howard and
Anson Williams appeared in a skit entitled "Love and the Happy Days," which
served as the pilot for the hit series, Happy Days.
The first
telecast, on September 29, 1969, was typical of the show's format. Act I, "Love
and a Couple of Couples": Michael Callan is a suitor about to propose when his
ex-wife turns up, spies the ring, tries it on – and can't get it off. Act II,
"Love and the Hustler": Flip Wilson is pool shark "Big Red," who undertakes to
instruct a young lady in the fine points of the game. Act III, "Love and the
Pill": Bob Cummings and Jane Wyatt are parents worried about their daughter's
plans to embark on a "swinger's tour" of Europe with her boyfriend.
Love,
American Style
reruns were
seen in ABC daytime from June 1971 to May 1974.
An updated
series of romantic vignettes, titled New Love, American Style, was
produced for ABC's weekday daytime lineup more than a decade later, running from
December 1985 to August 1986.
