Love Boat Follies: Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Ann Miller

A rarely seen clip, and perhaps Merman's final film performance, this is Ethel Merman, Ann Miller, Carol Channing and Della Reese performing, "I'm The Greatest Star" from Funny Girl on an episode of "The Love Boat," known as the Broadway Follies Episode.

[@BigBirdy100]

Holy Cow...my screen wasn't big enough for all that star power.

[@Mrphilharmonic]

SENSATIONAL!!!!! The old pros sure can teach this generation about PERFORMING!!!!

[@showtunestarpower]

Often, just to cheer myself up, I watch this golden bit of show business. Ann Miller, Carol Channing, Della Reece and the great ETHEL MERMAN in the same musical number! And, man, are they game! Thank you!

[@RafaelPReyes]

God, I have never felt so gay as when I watched this. This is FABULOUS. Thank you for posting it. I wish there was a sequel with all of them singing "I'm Still Here". And, as an aside, I miss the un-irony of the "The Love Boat".

[@MountTheodore72]

Classical dames in their natural habitat.

[@zyxw2024]

Read my comment posted a minute ago.

[@vcaus]

Carol Channing gives a hilarious account of making this Love Boat episode in her memoires. The producers made Ethel wear rubber bands, presumably under her wig, to lift her baggy chin. This gave her a permanent smile.

[@lizbethpinti9094]

I have no idea who is the greatest but Carol Channing cracks me up

[@Seabasstien]

Priceless! Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Ann Miller and Della Reese together in one musical number.

[@SaxonC]

LOL Ann Miller's hair looks like something that can withstand a category 5 hurricane! ;)

[@Triforce829]

Finally now they all all together singing in heaven...today Carol Channing has passed away at age 97...show em how to really wow the crowd Carol...you were the greatest star

[@TheWwgb]

Wonderful! They don't make them like Merman, Channing, Miller and Reese any more. Great, great ladies of show business :)

[@gforceeatingcorrect]

Who was the MAD QUEEN who came up with this Casting Extra-veganzaaaa !!!!!

[@BC-nj2uz]

Fabulous isn't it? I can still remember watching this every Saturday night at 8 and then Fantasy Island at 9.

[@robertsmith9309]

These were the Drag Stars of my day 5o+ years ago.

[@robertsmith9309]

J

[@PJChgo1]

For REAL, though!

[@alexflowers97]

Close enough jaja. It was actually, it was F hag Candy Spelling. 💅👠

[@maleficentdiva]

this is the diva episode of Love Boat! all of those divas on one boat! OMG I am surprised it didn't explode! LOL!

[@Wakkosgirl]

Man! You wanted star power back then? This was IT! Every woman in this clip is an icon. A TRUE icon, not one of these fly by night ones that no one remembers in 5 years.

[@victoriahazel989]

Fantastic! How did I ever miss this episode!!!

[@dianavictoriaaljadeff5302]

A tribute to Carol Channing and Della Reese who died in 2019 and 2018.Four great singers together.

[@kerryincolumbus]

LOL!!!! the ULTIMATE in CAMP!!! I've seen drag shows with less camp! But, it was amazing to see and hear all those great stars on one show, thanks for he awesome post!

[@LIBeachcub]

Wow! What a pleasant surprise to stumble upon this wonderful clip of Broadway powerhouses! Amazing! It's hard to find these days on prime time TV!

[@zyxw2024]

I met Ann Miller delivering a Leon Block suit she had purchased at Saks Fifth Avenue. A little tailoring was made. I worked in the SFA buying office that purchased Leon Block designs. Miller was staying at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Madison Avenue. 1977/78? She answered the door with only a bath towel wrapped on her torso & hips. I saw her DANCING legs, & she must have age 50's. Those legs!! 😊

[@RafaelPReyes]

Oh wow! Now that is a memory. :)

[@k8nairne]

Now this is CAMP SPECTACULAR

[@marcosvalenca]

What an interesting piece! Channing's wig kills me!

[@allancuseo7431]

Fabulous...All legends.

[@HurdyGurdyChallenge]

CLASH OF THE TITANS!! Yeah!

[@SwankyCub]

I CANNOT take the smile off of my face!

[@dianavictoriaaljadeff5302]

RIP DELLA REESE(1931-2017), ,Now only Carol Channing is still alive(1921)

[@The1baddman]

Ms Channing passed away this morning.

[@bplatt1069]

Never did I think I would get to see this again! I had the thrill of watching it on our family's Magnavox console when it aired those many years ago. Thank you, dynamicduonyc, for putting this on KZbin; you are helping to keep that fabulous era alive--we so need this kind of panache and style today!

[@maxwilson4748]

Thanks for posting. This was a lot of fun to watch.

[@hlywdplayer]

2:57 ..OMG It's Bobby as---Augusta Hott-- using a case of Aqua Net ..LOL !!! ...This show is a - "Drag" .... but . we love it , the Grand Dame's of Broadway , My mom saw Ethel way back when in "Annie get your Gun" and said this woman could belt out songs from the stage that rattled the roof , she has some powerful lungs ! I missed this episode back then, good to see this here , Thank you

[@SteveStalzle]

I saw her perform live once, i just remembered.

[@wolkowy1]

I used to love this show with all those legendery great ladies. Great! Thanks for uploading!

[@Mike6E]

Man, how great Ann Miller still looked at 60.

[@alexflowers97]

And to think that roughly 20 years later from this at 80 she did Mulholland Dr in the 2000s

[@CharlotteIssyvoo]

You said it! It's fabulous!

[@nswelles1]

I got to see Anne Miller at an outdoor screening in DC of one of her movies, on the occasion of the donation of her tap shoes to the Smithsonian.

[@AuntBarbara]

Oh how I miss that Love Boat

[@ItsAnOldCroneLife]

That just put a big smile on my face. I love Carol Channing!!! She's such a sweetie!

[@WIZZINGSHIRE]

i am not nor will i ever be gay and i love this.people today just dont know the true meaning of ENTERTAINMENT.

[@thatomohapi2586]

I LOVE ETHEL MERMAN !!!!!

[@etraig]

oh wow! what a thrill to see those 4 together.

[@peterannone4954]

This is so great. Pete.

[@kathyflorcruz552]

Carol Channing just passed away 2 days ago & I find this random Love Boat. Funny, that.😳

[@DENNISTHEMENACE48]

NOW THAT WAS TALENT GOD BLESS THEM ALL

[@PiersTazzanoot]

And this, boys and girls, is the definition of 'camp'. Love it!!!!

[@Wakkosgirl]

I know what you mean but that was the style in the 80's. Big shoulders, lots of glitter....and the older you were the more of everything they had!

[@DSBthevoice]

why isnt all the series on DVD i so loved this show as a child in jolly old england

[@rickscookingschool4496]

Good Lord - what fun THAT is!

[@justdolphy2814]

SOOOO GAY and I love it!! I mean - the 4 legendary divas singing a Streisand song. Does it get ANY better than that?!?!

[@lababoc]

Della Reese was a star herself once much before the TV show

[@napalmnacey]

Yes, Ethel, you are the greatest star. :)

[@Stevebaby123]

How is there not a drag camp musical about them making this musical episode?! Ryan Murphy...do it!

[@TylerActs86]

Ethel and Carol are the best!!!

[@madamerotten]

I didn't realize it back then, but now I'm beginning to understand that you're probably right.

[@djs2356]

That broke a line of Pixels on my monitor...not kidding!

[@XX-gy7ue]

TALENT TALENT TALENT TALENT

[@vino140]

Camp ecstasy!

[@bretty1975]

Hey, Thaks for putting this up. Is it just me or is della's lip sync totally out. Love it. Brett :-) xo

[@pineo81]

What season of Drag race was this? 🏁

[@ragemanchoo82]

That was Ann Miller who Molly Shannon parodied on SNL in the "Leg Up!" sketch, right?

[@indy264]

This when talent was really talent

[@kahlilnelson]

"HEY CAPTAIN STUBIN, HERE I AM!!!"

[@funkeekatt]

Why did you cut Cab Calloway and Van Johnson from the opening titles? :(

[@RadioFreeSpike]

OMG! If I ever need inspiration to be a drag queen, I'll look up this video again.

[@GroovyShelly]

"Hey Captain Stubing, here I am...!"

[@SkepticalChris]

Which gay man wrote up this absolutely fabulous episode?

[@ragemanchoo82]

Wasn't Molly Shannon doing Anne Miller the SNL sketch "Leg Up"?

[@koln1996]

My neighbor looks and sounds like Carol Channing!!! The only problem : Max is a guy!!!

[@TheLolbot3000]

I've died and gone to gay heaven

[@ragemanchoo82]

Whats with the speed editing here? They let you have at least 10 minutes for free.

[@jfkmadpad]

forgive my ignorance but who is Ms Reese?

[@tangobango9653]

WOW! All that Female Star Power on one show!! 🥴

[@michaelneel4828]

A Queens dream lol to all my gay brothers & sisters ;)

[@dunskie]

Right on! The comments by some here are truly moronic. I, and anyone else with an appreciation for greatness, agree with everything you said to hopefully straighten out that little punk.! LOL

[@hebneh]

I wonder how they all got along in real life during this production.

[@williamg.williams3861]

Met these 3ladys ann carol Eathel

[@ragemanchoo82]

Carol Channing performed with Pink Martini? :D I didnt know that

[@designcreatology]

@happylilsunbeam Thanks. I assume that was a good wow!

[@TheJackEbrown]

haha i work with lauren tewes. we work in a grocery store. shes in charge or gourmet cheese and wine.

[@designgreg]

Kristen Chenowith, Idina Menzel, Linda Eder

[@KeziaEMS]

Eu vi essa mulher nas visões da Raven

[@msscott73]

@Dirkdebruyne YEP ETHEL WAS PURE TALENT.

[@dietrichlee24]

This wasn't Merman's last film performace by a LONG shot LOL, she got much worse:-) god i love that woman!

[@14DaveHunter]

How many shades of red in the face, others feel watching this?

[@myfaeriegirl]

lololol...hahahahaha...lololololololol!

[@mrronnell1982]

Della better work!!

[@lonestar1]

The only one missing was our dear Judy

[@BestHBCU]

Pearl Bailey

[@JamesWitman]

I love this, but what was up with those dresses? lol

[@awwyeahme2]

@TheOwlBerlin i doubt it.many now days cant song of dance sad the good ones are gone....

[@ajb1776]

The only reason The Love Boat should have existed.

[@dennis0805]

Freak Show??? Get a life with perspective. I give LOVE BOAT kudos for recording some of the great talents all together. Imagine paying for a ticket to see these legends together and live - if we could: God rest the departed.

[@lafayettedad]

there aint nobody around to follow in their shoes....I mean, who would be up there from today's generation?

[@hortondlfn1994]

I don't get it...what makes it "gay"? I'm just seeing four legendary women singing together. Hmmmm....

[@oriethompson]

If we have to explain that to you..then you will never get it!!

[@kco728]

Captain Stubing approves. 3:54

[@Robert4770]

I think Pearl was gone already when this was filmed

[@Peter95111]

This is a gay mans fantasy. The only one missing is Judy! Hilarious.

[@dominickantonelli]

Pearl Bailey did play Isaac's mother in an early season episode, so I'm not sure why the part was recast with Della Reese in a later season.

[@carlof.cantaverojr.2606]

dominick antonelli she passed away before this was taped.

[@nondescript2892]

@@carlof.cantaverojr.2606 no she didn't..she died in 1990..this was early eighties

[@kcholt68]

A Movie Dearest blog featured video. See my profile for the link and playlists!

[@Queh]

the lulz boat follies

[@jamesvv]

I love all these woman but this was painful. Just like Gay films...just because its gay doesn't always mean its good!

[@ReddzVoice]

INDEED!

[@wesleyan97]

They shoot horses, don't they?

[@FergusMcDopey]

This is the campiest, GAYEST thing EVER!!!!!

[@beccafacebarker]

Sweet jumped up Jesus on a Vespa.