AM America 1975

[tomservo56954]

I am happy to report that due to public outcry, Los Angeles TV station KTLA returned Stephanie as co-host of their Rose Parade coverage, alongside Bob Eubanks,

(and no, I don't know if they made whoopie afterwards)

[jamalgj9]

Amazing. A theme song on a TV news/talk show that doesn't sound like banging empty garbage cans with a stick.

[schizoidali]

I love that the host feels compelled to translate "ring" as "call" in order to not lose the fleeting imbecilic American audience she already has.

[MsPaute]

PLEASE ABC!!! UP THE ENTIRE SHOW! I DON'T CARE IF IS IT IN YOUR WEBSITE.

[Betik12]

Wow!! They are sooooo sweet!! <3

[uszoninyc]

Wow! What a treat. Yes, this is such a time capsule, and, to cap it with the Pythons 

[airdriver]

This clip is a historical time capsule in more ways than one. It was broadcast only five days before the fall of Saigon which bought the Viet-Nam War to an end. American forces had stopped taking an active role in the fighting in 1973 but when Saigon was taken, the war was definitely over. If you have any clips of the network news coverage of that, please post it.

[MartialRulerMaster]

Eric is so damnably pretty...*sighs*

[terrypos]

Over the years, many broadcast groups have tried to purchase the rights to this music from ABC. They won't sell or even negotiate its use. They have a classic show theme and they know it! Bill Goldstein is a legend!

[johnnyjohnson]

What was up with Terry pushing Stephanie at 8:16? That was going a little too far.

[johnnyjohnson]

Stephanie should have left the hat on at 3:55 . She looked so cute with it! :)

[sparkle11231]

ah Peter Jennings.....may he R.I.P.

[ira1ish]

The first man chosen to host this series was Bob Kennedy of WLS-TV Channel 7 in Chicago. Stephanie Edwards had co-hosted his "Kennedy and Co." show on Channel 7. Kennedy cotracted cancer a few months before the premiere of AM America and died before the show ever came on the air. Bill Beutell was a New York anchorman pulled in at the last minute.

[wmbrown6]

@ira1ish - And "Kennedy & Co." was the program that, after several changes in hosts and show titles, finally morphed into "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

[sjdomenica]

I was 16 years old when Am America Premiered..I would listen to this Theme song every morning,,,It was great....it stuck in my head to this day....35 years later,,,,Thanks to the writer....I would tune in every morning at 7:00am before school just to listen to it...

[timmmahhhh]

WOW, what an amazing piece of video, WOW WOW WOW !!! So much history here - pre GMA, Pythons promoting HOLY GRAIL! THANK YOU!!!

[1974Flyingsub]

Are there any other remaining recordings of this program? Are they available for purchace? "THE THEME MUSIC IS OUTSTANDING... IT'S UNFORTUNATE THEME'S LIKE THIS ONE ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE"!!!

MY CONGRADULATIONS TO MR.GOLDSTEIN FOR AN OUTSTANDING AND "ENDURING PEICE OF WORK"!!! THANK YOU SIR!!!

Dan Gross / Saint Louis, Mo. (seaveiw51@yahoo.com)

[1972KennyEugene]

Hard to believe that Eric Idle years later did the voice of Wreck-Gar in Transformers: The Movie.

[metaguru]

this is an amazing video!!!

the freedom the pythons were allowed is unimaginable now

and they were largely unknown at the time in america

and also the film clip (shown in its entirety) was in letterbox

[ShutUpYouMong]

The body language on that woman! It's like she's trying to block them out the picture!

[tenofivelips]

Hello Bill. HAHAHA

[mimsy1]

I find it interesting that this interview was on April 25 1975 - I was born the next day!

Great clip! And I love the Pythons!

[altfactor]

"AM America" only lasted about ten months.

In late October of 1975, ABC News replaced it with "Good Morning America", which was far more successful.

Note the logo: "AM" in blue, "MERICA" in red. On black-and-white sets, it looked like the title of the show was "America".

Maybe the show was jinxed and maybe it all began with that logo!

Thankfully, Peter Jennings' career rebounded and he became a very successful news anchor in the 1980's and 1990's.

[ART1975CZ]

September 9, 1975

I am 34 Now

Thank You for this Video !

[terrypos]

Bill Goldstein in the composer of this, and MANY more memorable TV themes. Google William Goldstein and get his web address. You can purchase this composition and others. I did.

[1974Flyingsub]

" MANY THANKS TO THE COMPOSER OF THE THEME TO A.M. AMERICA....... THIS IS ONE GREAT PIECE OF WORK! "

Respectfully,

Dan Gross / Saint Louis, Mo.

[1974Flyingsub]

" THOSE WERE THE DAY'S"!

Thank YOU...

St.Louis, Missouri

[joebradio]

I find it interesting that this is the only example of AM America anywhere on YouTube..

[giles422]

Stephanie is kind of scary

[wmbrown6]

Which one - Powers in "Die, Die, My Darling," or Edwards on "AM America"?

B.T.W. - the V/O on the station I.D. promo for "Eyewitness News" was Carl Caruso, a longtime announcer who worked at many places prior to joining ABC in 1962.

[giles422]

Edwards.

[clarkewi]

Such a different world. And not so long ago.

[cottagechskitty]

Actually, as far as I know, only Graham had any sort of substance abuse problems. They were just that eccentric :)

[fretfirestarter]

so laid back,hey movie time at 4:30.the intro lasted longer than 2 seconds and they didn't have to move at the speed of sound at every turn.i miss america 1975.

[fruticetum]

Oh, man. Me, too. 1975 was the greatest year. I was 16. Memories, songs, etc are so intense at that age. You remember them all your life.

[freekicking85]

monty python on the fall of saigon... interesting...

[jerseydevs2000]

When the lights come up on the set, it already feels like a Monty Python sketch. Of course, the Pythons seemingly did one fake news or commentary programme every episode.

The lads must have taken a few drugs in the mid-'70s... the Terrys really manhandled Stephanie Edwards there at the end.

[tbilisijeff]

Interesting opener - I don't remember America being so depopulated in 1975 - only one person getting off the bus, empty streets surrounding the diner, only two children by the door to the school...

[benskelly]

LOL. So true. I remember it being a rather hectic time, but evidently it was all golden sunrise and empty streets of apocalypse. This is a hysterical trip back in time.

[ajaugenti]

Peter Jennings was funny @ 5:17 when he had said thank you Stephaine, I've laughed out loud when Eric, Terry J, Terry G, and Graham had all said thank you for Peter Jennings. ^_^

[4844521]

What a lovely theme song. Well, at least that was good!

[eyeontv]

At the time, this was the most researched show in TV history, so of course it was a flop! The set looks like something left over from Match Game.

[ukendcx2000]

wow, that open and that set bring back memories. times surely have changed.

[SubmarinerAndroid]

She looks just like an inflatable sex doll.

[ukendcx2000]

yes she does, rofl

[fossefan]

So where was John Cleese?

[wmbrown6]

Working on "Fawlty Towers," I presume. He took no part (other than co-writing some sketches) in the fourth and final "Python" series (of six episodes) that was produced in 1974.

[torkerbmx]

monty python sukks

[666IsoldeBaden666]

not

[fromthesidelines]

Yep, the same, 'lindsays'....

[fromthesidelines]

Stephanie EDWARDS, 'Lindsays'...

[LindsaysHope]

Is that Stefanie Powers from Hart to Hart or another Stefanie Powers?

[wmbrown6]

If you're talking about the "Die, Die, My Darling" promo, this is indeed the same Stefanie Powers as co-starred in "Hart to Hart" . . . and also, was star of the short-lived "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E."

[badskroy71]

5 days before Vietnam ended!

[deltapunk21]

You mean 5 days before the betrayel of the RVN was complete right?

[badskroy71]

Yeah I did mean the fall of Saigon.

[heine71]

Stephanie Powers and Stephanie Edwards in the same YouTube video!

[hmbpnz]

This is incredible. Thank you very much for sharing this! Fascinating!

[fromthesidelines]

"...but generally we were allowed a loose rein..Terry G made a rude drawing of a man with a slobbering tongue and staring, lust-filled eyes and held it across Stephanie's head as she signed off and, as the credits rolled, they actually exhorted us to wreck the studio. No-one seemed to feel it was incongrous that we should be a part of a programme which included the latest bulletins on the end of America's longest war, or serious interviews about Reagan's chances [on becoming president] in 1976."

[Drchainsaw77]

Given that Monty Python built their entire career on incongruity, I find it strange that anyone would notice such a thing at the time; only in hindsight does the producers' timing seem sharply ironic.

[fromthesidelines]

Excerpt from Michael Palin's diary:

Friday, April 25th, New York

"At 7:00 the show began, hosted by a lady named Stephanie something or other, an attractive redhead, with a cool head-of-school like assurance, but she was playing along well with us. Eric kept holding up cards on which he'd scribbled things like 'Norman Mailer- Ring Your Mother'. Once or twice before an item of serious news- e.g. the fall of Saigon- Stephanie would ask us to refrain from being TOO silly...."

[GBCTwo]

Listening to the diaries on audio book. Brief mention of the appearance.

[tvgator1]

Stephanie Edwards was (and still is) Beautiful! But she was totally worked over in this. Classic stuff though...

[Julius121081]

It goes to show you that a woman like the female anchor can let the show go out of control and have a good time

[Julius121081]

I would love to see the entire broadcast. Does anyone have it?

[videonut33]

"AMerica" helped pave the way for "Good Morning America" which is very cool for morning TV.

[BethGoth15]

Mike and Graham are SEXY! So...what'd you think Gray pissed or not?

[ILuvPaulMcCartney666]

aaaaah :D:D:D awesome! michael, and eric, and terry, and graham, and terry, oh, holy shit, i cant explain. great, thaaaanks for uploading, it's awesome. *die die die*. AAAAa. :D:D:D with love, bbc! :D:D:D:d

[masterble]

Wow! I was looking for it for so long (because of Pythons of course), and it has been on youtube for 11 months? Lol, strange. Silly me. Ok, finally I'll watch it, thanks for uploading :)

[mplsmn]

OMG!!! What a dreadful program to have watched back then...or even now as a clip! Is it just me or does Peter look extremely pissed at the Python boys clowning around?

[mbhfromla]

Holy Crap....Stephanie Edwards who used to the Rose Parade and Lucky Ads here in LA. Geez, what a shameful show, thank goodness it was cancelled!

[utubeuser1971aok]

I was waiting for a kenny's america's shoe store commercial to be shown!

[K0CBS]

Hum, is this the 70's version on "The Daily Buzz?"

This is bad! Even for the 70's!

[HCShannon]

Well, they had these guys, The Daily Buzz has Barney!

[tvlondon]

It's The Price is Right!

[loiuse44]

wow, you guys are news buffs huh? lay off the pythons, it's one of the fews chances they got to mess around on national television!

[newsboyarizona]

Still, it's funny. "And now a word from Kellogg's Project 19!!!!" Too funny.

[BKsILL1]

yo they were smoking weed!

[burbank]

This is a great video. The theme music is great. I thought it was funny how the guys trashed the set at the end of the show. That would not happen today!

[fromthesidelines]

"A.M. AMERICA" was ABC's first attempt to compete with "THE TODAY SHOW" from 7-9am(et). It began in January 1975, and lasted until the following November. This is from the April 25th edition, featuring some of the cast from "MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS", which was just becoming popular in the U.S. on public TV stations. In fact, ABC tried to "stitch" several segments from their last [1974] season into two 90 minute late night specials in 1975, which prompted the Pythons to sue the network.....

[tomservo56954]

@fromthesidelines One of the issues involved censorship...even though the Python specials aired at 11:30 PM ET, the network still bleeped out the phrase "naughty bits".

[sammyreed]

I know her better as the host of two 15-minute educational shows of the 80's: "Math Wise" and "In Other Words". At least I THINK that's her, anyway. And yes, I could've sworn I recognized her as a celebrity on a "Match Game" clip that was posted on YouTube. I don't know if it's still here or not.

[sammyreed]

I found a "Match Game" clip with her. You only see her a few seconds, starting at 1:10, in one of those oddball moments "Match Game" was known for.

watch?v=iMUnDIIp6a0

[wmbrown6]

The film "Die, Die My Darling" which was mentioned as being on that day's "4:30 Movie": By 1986, the New York area rights to this film went to WOR-TV.

[micmac99]

OMG this is GOLD. Python and Jennings!!! On the SAME show!!! I vaguely remember AM America as a kindergardener in 1970 something and know it was the forerunner to GMA.

[gli7utubeo]

That put me in a great mood for my colonoscopy tommorrow morning!

Just what I needed. Thanks a million.

[sjdomenica]

I just found this this morning! Wow i have been looking for this since the show changed its name to Good Morning America. I loved this opening as a teenager.

[sirbil]

How'd you happen to find this clip? I wrote the theme music at the opening of the clip.....and that piece of music launched my career......Thanks for posting!

[airdriver]

Good job! The melody brings back a lot of memories.

[mikeschr]

@sirbil

I've remembered that music all these years - it was so striking and memorable. This is the first time I've heard it since AM America aired. I enjoyed hearing it again - thanks to the poster, and thanks for the wonderful composition, Bill.

[maineman]

Peter Jennings looks embarrased to be apart of that sillyness.

[Jasonian77]

You try transitioning from their brand of humor to an update on the fall of Saigon.

[byrd56]

I think Peter was just as embarassed to be doing news in the morning when he had been an evening news anchor on ABC less than a decade before, but he held out the hope that he'd get his old job back, which he would within the decade after this ill-fated morning news stint.

[USAGiant]

What a joke. The offical end of Vietnam war as fall of Sagion was occuring and yet the cast of Monty Python were the co-hosts.

They should have been reschduled. Those who think this 'childish' only need to watch the Today show,'GMA' & other morning newsshows on a slow news day. Actually this would become the norm for today's morning shows in USA.

[HCShannon]

Yes, childish, look at Eric Idle's outfit! That is totally the emphasis of the word!

[airdriver]

He was demoted in the late 60's because he mentioned on the air that "Anchor's Away" was the marine corps hymn.

[reprobacious]

HAHA, are you serious? Oh well, Semper Fi-- Go Navy! :-)

BTW, not to nitpick but it's actually "Anchors Aweigh".

[airdriver]

Y'know, the spelling did look rong.

[reprobacious]

Ha, good one, you misspelled rawng.

[airdriver]

I most sertanly did

[freewaydan]

Don't forget that Jennings pronounced lieutenant as "leftenant" and he mangled with the pronuncing of "Appomattox.

[airdriver]

I always wondered why Canadians and British pronounced lieutenant as "leftenant"

[tomservo56954]

@byrd56 Jennings was simply felt to be not seasoned enough for the job in the 1960's. Many considered him just a pretty boy, chosen only for his youthful good looks, to appeal to the younger audience ABC successfully attracted, even as it remained in third place overall.

[hotelchaotica]

oh man jonesy!!

(& eric should be on sesame street in that outfit)

[tracyisbest]

Gee, I can't understand why the Today Show ate this thing for breakfast? LOL!

ABC better regroup and go get that guy from Lucas Tanner if they hope to put a dent in the Today Show juggernaut.

[Tuberboy104]

Back in April 1975, was WABC TV Ch 7 singing on and off the air by using the same US Navy SSB as is shown here on Youtube in Video from 1983? And if so would you happen to have a clip of WABC TV from 1975 signing on the air showing this US Navy SSB in its entirety.

The end of the 1983 video to the WABC TV National Anthem was cut off.

[wmbrown6]

Actually, the SSB shown in 1983 was from the Marine Corps. The U.S. Navy SSB used by WABC as of 1975 was the same as used by WJZ-TV in Baltimore in 1981. I'm hoping to see a 1975 WABC sign-off or -on myself, but I doubt one would exist at this point.

[mstewart61]

I loved Stephanie Edwards she was quite a lady. Too bad she did not last very long on the show. She was the Lucky supermarket woman. The theme music was off the chain. Do you have any more AMAmerica clips???

[Jasonian77]

Stephanie Edwards also made a couple of appearances on Match Game in the 1970s. I agree, she's quite a lady.

[mstewart61]

Also, she had a part in a short lived sitcom in the early 70's with John Davidson and Sally Field called A Girl with Something Extra. Also, she was a co-host of a late 70's talk Everyday with John Bennett Perry, Matthew Perry's father, and that was the setup for Hour Magazine with Gary Collins.

[sky1beam]

Stephanie Edwards still does the rose parade on KTLA to this day

[micmac99]

I remember her from the Lucky supermarket commercials in California back in the 80's, but didn't know she did this show (the Captain and/or cartoons was usually on in my house at that hour at that time). I remember the CBS Morning news with Hughes Rudd BEFORE Captain Kangaroo came on.

[micmac99]

um look at wikipedia, she was replaced this year with Michaela Pereira

[tomservo56954]

@sky1beam No, she was relieved of that duty a year or two ago.

[pulseox]

I love how this soft,happy-go-lucky music is playing in the background while the Monty Python guys are destroying the set,and physically harassing the anchorwoman.

[mrtee83]

"19"? When did they stop making that cereal?

[thelatebrianjones]

19 was to the Kellogg's Variety Pack what the dark chocolate bars are in the Hershey's Minitaures- always got tossed out when the more desirable cereals gotten eaten

[HCShannon]

They still make it!

[micmac99]

I think they still sell it to this day. I used to eat that s*** as a kid and it was nasty.

[altfactor]

@mrtee83 Product 19 is still in stores.

[BadGurl404]

"A.M. America". The show that paved the way for "Good Morning America".

[wmbrown6]

During this period Roger Grimsby had two different co-anchors on "Eyewitness News," Tom Ellis at 6 and Bill Bonds at 11. Bill Beutel rejoined Grimsby in late 1975 after "AMA" was replaced by "GMA."

[FirstNews8]

btw, I am not the one who deleted it before.

[FirstNews8]

no prob. Hope you all enjoy

[MontyPythonManiac93]

Yeah this got deleted b4 :( buts its back on da tube! thanx firstnews

Ps. palin looks cute in it 2! lol <3

[ISB]

hey, this vid again, great! hopefully it won't get deleted this time.

[FirstNews8]

Does anyone have this theme? I would die to have it, it is friggin awesome.

[airdriver]

Is there any way to put together a video of the newsbroadcasts showing the Peter Jennings news updates? This broadcast happened less than a week before Saigon fell and the viet-Nam war ended. I found those fascinating.

[airdriver]

Also, I found the clips with Peter Jennings fascinating seeing as how he was talking about Viet-Nam. Five days after this show was broadcast, Saigon fell and the war was finally over.

It would be great if a video could be put together showing the coverage of Saigon's fall.

[HCShannon]

The fall of Saigon and Monty Python's antics don't really go together!

[airdriver]

This video made me laugh. Not just because of Monty Python but the opening theme to AM America. when I was in the 6th grade my father used to have this on every morning before driving me and my siblings to school every day that year. The music and video took me back.

[wmbrown6]

Looks almost like a limited animation version of the "swirling 7" used as of 1970, for the I.D. in the opening seconds.