BARDOT MISTER SUN

In 1967, French TV broadcasted Le Bardot Show. The collection of video-clips made an incredible impression on the French public. It seemed like an early music video. At the time of Bardot's television special she and Serge Gainsbourg, the notorious French singer, were lovers and he wrote many songs especially for her.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Bardot
• Style
• 1967
• Jetset

[wmbrown6]

In New York, where "Special Bardot" aired on WNBC-TV, Bardot snagged about 44% of the audience - while "Justice Black and the Bill of Rights" as aired on WCBS-TV only could get 9%. (But then, in New York at the 10 P.M. hour, 7 VHF and 3 UHF stations were on the air; in some areas, the ratings figures were more lopsided.)

[wmbrown6]

(PART 4) It was estimated in one book that the NBC airing of "Special Bardot" (the other title for this show) was 75% of the viewing audience in the 10 P.M. timeslot - and a paltry 7% for the Justice Black interview.

[wmbrown6]

(PART 3) What may be without question, though, is that even with all that, viewers would have doubtless preferred Bardot to a CBS News special that aired opposite her, on which Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black discussed the Bill of Rights with correspondents Eric Sevareid and Martin Agronsky.

[wmbrown6]

(PART 2) Moreover, by the time NBC aired this show (as sponsored by Burlington Industries), Gainsbourg had left Bardot for British actress Jane Birkin - with whom he was midway through the recording of "Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus" (which transformed Ms. Birkin into an international superstar) at the time. In fairness, though, it could be argued that Elvis on his "comeback special" would have been a tough act for anyone to follow, let alone 'B.B.'

[wmbrown6]

However, when NBC aired the show on Dec. 3, 1968 at 10 P.M. (EST), right after Elvis Presley's much-vaunted "comeback special," the reception was not nearly as positive (indeed, it was more mixed); viewers in America considered La Bardot's show a disappointment and letdown - especially given the massive positive impression Elvis left on viewers (42% of the total audience for the week) and critics alike.