The Magic Of ABC

Originally Published February 1st, 2004

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Usually, network fall preview specials are simply a collection of promo spots for new programs, along with recaps of returning shows, news, sports and movies. Most of the time one of the network's famous faces will host the special. But in 1977, ABC decided to do something a little different: a magic show and fall preview special all in one, hosted by none other than David Copperfield, who would have a slew of television specials in the decades that followed.

On Wednesday, September 7th, 1977, from 8-9PM, ABC aired a fall preview special entitled The Magic Of ABC, hosted by young magician David Copperfield and designed to introduce the new fall season on ABC. The majority of the special was composed of magic tricks performed by Copperfield, although each night of ABC's line-up was announced and new shows were previewed.

Supposedly, at the time, Copperfield was such a television fan, he could hum the theme song to any series that had been broadcast during the previous decade [1]. Fourteen ABC stars showed up to help out Copperfield: Cindy Williams, Penny Marshall, Donnie & Marie Osmond, Dick Van Patten, Abe Vigoda, Kate Jackson, Fred Berry, Hal Linden, Kristy McNichol, Adam Rich, Shaun Cassidy, Howard Cosell and Parker Stevenson. The special was co-sponsored by Pillsbury and Burger King.

A continuing gag in the special was Copperfield's attempts to levitate the television upon which preview for new fall shows were displayed. He could always get something to happen -- the picture would move up or the antennae would grow -- but he could never quite manage to get the television itself to get off the ground.

From the very beginning, viewers were made aware that The Magic of ABC wasn't going to be like other fall preview specials. It started with Hal Linden of Barney Miller fame descending from the ceiling in a box. The excitement really commenced when Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams, from Laverne & Shirley, took the stage. Between bouts of flirting, the girls and Copperfield set about re-enacting a scene from Psycho, with a twist: Penny Marshall donned a wig to play Mother Bates while Cindy Williams, as Marion Crane, mimed taking a shower (an actual door and frame separated the two).

View the Soap Fall Preview

After a cut-out of Hitchcock was rolled out, the twist was revealed. When Penny went to attack Cindy she discovered that it was Copperfield who was in the shower. Both the girls disappeared and the Tuesday Night line-up was previewed: returning favorites Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley and Three's Company followed by new -- and controversial -- Soap, with Family at 10PM.

The next guest was Marie Osmond who, after introducing ABC's Friday line-up, turned the tables on a classic magic trick. Rather than playing the pretty assistant who gets sawed in half by the magician, Marie prepared to cut Copperfield in half. Not content with the little handsaw she was given, she used a chainsaw to cut the box in half. Surprisingly, it was her brother, Donnie Osmond, who appeared, not Copperfield. Donnie then sang his new single, accompanied by a half dozen female dancers clad in shimmering gold outfits.

Next, Dick Van Patten and Adam Rich from Eight Is Enough came out to help Copperfield with a trick. Adam crawled inside a large box, which was then placed inside an even larger box. But it was Kate Jackson, from Charlie's Angels, who popped out of the box. She insisted she had been at home only moments before and had no idea how she came to be on the stage with Copperfield.

The three then proceeded to preview Wednesday line-up: Eight Is Enough followed by a two-hour Charlie's Angels made-for-TV movie entitled "Angels In Paradise," which would introduce a new angel, Kris Munroe, played by Cheryl Ladd. Baretta would occupy the 10-11PM timeslot. Jackson went back in the box and out came Adam Rich.

View a Scene from "The Magic of ABC"

Hal Linden returned to introduce the Thursday line-up, starting with Welcome Back, Kotter then What's Happening!, then Barney Miller, followed by a pair of new shows, a sitcom called Carter Country and The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour.

After that, Copperfield took on the persona of Copperfield, Private Magician, charged with determining why the mysterious Mr. Big was following Kristy McNichol (of Family fame) and trying steal her rare Maltese Canary. Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson, from The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, came to see Copperfield and show off their Maltese Egg and a Maltese Lemon, respectively. Finally, Mr. Big (played by Fred Berry from What's Happening!), showed up looking for the various Maltese items. But Copperfield had hid them all: the Maltese Canary was inside the egg which was itself inside the lemon.

The Sunday Night line-up was then announced: The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries followed by The Six Million Dollar Man and then the Sunday Night Movie.

Abe Vigoda came out to introduce the Saturday line-up, which started with his own show, Fish, then Operation Petticoat, a new series starring John Astin, Starsky and Hutch, and another new series, The Love Boat. Next, Howard Cosell, the famed sportscaster with such an amazing way with words, introduced ABC's Monday line-up: a new sitcom called The San Padro Beach Bums followed by NFL Monday Night Football.

"The Magic of ABC" closed with a massive finale, a dozen or so dancers on a backdrop full of neon signs. Copperfield was dressed as a navy man, complete with white hat. The finale was without vocals, only dancing and music, and went on forever. It was mostly centered around Copperfield, but there were plenty of other dancers from time to time. A little more magic was tossed in, too, with Copperfield moving around a woman levitating in midair.

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Last Updated June 26th, 2008