I'm a TV Producer?!: The Mark Raisch Show

 Anyone who knows me knows that if I had the money I would buy a radio station.  Now I will have even more lofty goals and become a TV producer. Recently we spent a wonderful evening at the Ocala Hilton to enjoy the music of Mark Raisch. The guy is very entertaining in the spirit of the great singers of the past such as Bobby Darin or Dean Martin. 

Why no one picks up a guy like this and fashions a musical variety TV series around him is beyond me. Since everything old is new again eventually, I am using this edition of my blog to create such a series in my mind. Hope you enjoy the vision and perhaps enjoy the fun I had thinking of this new TV series "The Mark Raisch Show".

"The Mark Raisch Show" premiering December 14th 2013 on CBS produced by: Nostalgic Rambler Productions/Jeff Borger
Guest stars: Susan Boyle, Michael Buble',  The original cast of The Waltons, Lucie Arnaz, The Punchy Players

Mark opens the show with a rousing rendition of Bobby Darin songs

Mark welcomes the audience and viewers to his show, tells a little about himself and the fact that he hopes to bring great music and entertainment back to American television. He then says his producer has re-created several iconic sets from previous singers which will be used on his new weekly show. The first set is the 1960s living room set used by Dean Martin on his TV show.

Dean in his living room

Mark shows the audience the re-created Dean set and his first guest Michael Buble' joins him to talk about Dean and sing a duet of Dean's songs.

Buble'

Punchy Players

Next they both talk about what it would have been like to work with Dean. Through the magic of the Punchy Players, a clever fantasy segment is created with old footage from Dean's show used to incorporate Mark and Michael into the picture. 

The show continues with Mark talking about the upcoming CBS "I Love Lucy" color Christmas special. Lucie Arnaz talks to Mark about the show, they watch an excerpt and they both sing a duet of Christmas favorites.

Lucy Christmas

Mark says the last part of the show is going to be a tradition old fashioned Christmas. The original cast of the Waltons joins him on a re-created set of the Walton's living room. They reminisce a bit about the beloved show and read the gospel story of Christmas from the Bible (What? The Bible being read on network tv in 2013? Hey, it's my fantasy so why not do it the way I want it!?)

The Waltons reunited

Susan Boyle sings a solo on O Holy Night, then the entire cast join Mark and Susan for a sing a long of Christmas favorites.

 

Mark thanks the audience as the credits roll. The show is rated #1 for the week and the series is off to a great start. Upcoming shows will include guests such as Carol Burnett, Kathie Lee Gifford, Harry Connick Jr, and from the UK Matthew Long who will join Mark on a re-created Perry Como set to sing some Como favorites.

Perry's set featured these big letters, a music stand, stool, and rose in a vase

I hope you enjoyed this look at the Mark Raisch Show. While we wait for CBS to give us the go ahead, you might want to visit Mark's website and order a cd or two.

Here is a pic of me (left) with Mark (far right) along with Gene Martin and the other Daystar Radio announcers at the Ocala Hilton that night.