OK, Edna is really Barry Humphries, but I will refer to him as her, since Edna is his, I mean, her, magnum opus. After enjoying the Dame from her British series and various talk show appearances in the Colonies, I was ecstatic about the possibility that she might cross the pond and grace American television with her wit, charm, wit, and, of course, beauty. Alas, it was not to be.
The pilot show went over well, and featured fellow mega-stars Cher, Bea Arthur, Jack Palance, Larry Hagman, Doc Severison & of course Madge Allsop. The Dame asks The Ultimate Diva, Cher, if men had been a disappointment to her. "On the odd night," was her hilarious reply. The humor was of that nature, always risqué, fresh and delightful. Poor Mel Gibson was unable to penetrate the Dame's lower atrium, however, and is comically bereft, begging at the security camera for an audience with the Dame.
A second episode (though actually filmed third) aired soon thereafter, featured the divine Kim Basinger, with whom the Dame flirts spookily, Chevy Chase, whom the Dame catapults off her couch and a dizzyingly funny Robin Williams, among others. George Hamilton begs rescue from the tanning bed he has known all too well all his life. Ringo Starr twirls his baton in the Dame's vestibule as guest band leader.
The final episode to air had Sean Young, whose problems with actor James Woods are indelicately probed, Burt Reynolds who takes the Dame's flirting well, and Robin Leach, who is summarily ejected by the Dame. Muscial guest Barry Manilow sings "I'll Be Seeing You" and duos with Edna in "Can't Smile Without You".
These shows were the best thing on television in their time, and should have heralded an era of Ednamania that a true mega-star like Herself deserves. Even stars that were not present added to the aura of Edna. She recalls having seen "Little Julia Roberts" at the Mega-stars Anonymous meeting with a wry "What was she doing there? I mean that in a nice way." Sadly, the mania was in Hollywood, and the decision was made to end this glorious reign.
The pilot show went over well, and featured fellow mega-stars Cher, Bea Arthur, Jack Palance, Larry Hagman, Doc Severison & of course Madge Allsop. The Dame asks The Ultimate Diva, Cher, if men had been a disappointment to her. "On the odd night," was her hilarious reply. The humor was of that nature, always risqué, fresh and delightful. Poor Mel Gibson was unable to penetrate the Dame's lower atrium, however, and is comically bereft, begging at the security camera for an audience with the Dame.
A second episode (though actually filmed third) aired soon thereafter, featured the divine Kim Basinger, with whom the Dame flirts spookily, Chevy Chase, whom the Dame catapults off her couch and a dizzyingly funny Robin Williams, among others. George Hamilton begs rescue from the tanning bed he has known all too well all his life. Ringo Starr twirls his baton in the Dame's vestibule as guest band leader.
The final episode to air had Sean Young, whose problems with actor James Woods are indelicately probed, Burt Reynolds who takes the Dame's flirting well, and Robin Leach, who is summarily ejected by the Dame. Muscial guest Barry Manilow sings "I'll Be Seeing You" and duos with Edna in "Can't Smile Without You".
These shows were the best thing on television in their time, and should have heralded an era of Ednamania that a true mega-star like Herself deserves. Even stars that were not present added to the aura of Edna. She recalls having seen "Little Julia Roberts" at the Mega-stars Anonymous meeting with a wry "What was she doing there? I mean that in a nice way." Sadly, the mania was in Hollywood, and the decision was made to end this glorious reign.