Week of February 10: 70s Shirley MacLaine

By Sylvia Gurinsky

The news that Shirley MacLaine will join the cast of the British hit program "Downton Abbey" triggers reminicenses of MacLaine's television programs during the 1970s.

MacLaine had already made a series of successful movies, including "The Trouble With Harry" (her first), "Some Came Running," "The Apartment," "Irma La Douce" and "Sweet Charity" when she followed other film stars into television with "Shirley's World" in 1971:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anowGvAGMpU

Made by ABC, the show followed on the heels of ground-breaking single women shows such as "That Girl" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." It was also one of a number of network shows being produced overseas at the time - in this case by Sheldon Leonard, creator of "I Spy." MacLaine co-starred with British actor John Gregson, and the show was based in London:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh2szelL3mc&feature=related

But the show didn't work. MacLaine had problems with the mostly British crew, and "Shirley's World" often finished last in the ratings, way behind its competition, CBS' "Medical Center" and "The NBC Mystery Movie." The show was cancelled after 17 episodes.

MacLaine would have much better luck in a series of specials for CBS that showcased her singing and dancing talents. The shows - including "If They Could See Me Now," "Shirley MacLaine at the Lido" and "Every Little Movement" - featured guest stars and song standards. Here's Shirley with "Sweet Georgia Brown" from "Every Little Movement":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KG1Ex_xotk

"Shirley's World" is available on DVD in Great Britain, but not here. Alas, none of the musical specials - all either Emmy winners or nominated - have been released on DVD yet.

Here's hoping that will happen when MacLaine appears on "Downton Abbey." Series 3 will be shown as part of the PBS "Masterpiece" series in early 2013.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!