Ethel Merman: Mutual Admiration Society

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 4:47pm

One of those things I've been meaning to put on YouTube. Once you hear it, you'll NEVER get it out of your head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbdSnVOc9ew

***FIRST TIME ON YOUTUBE***

Ethel Merman and Susan Watson (Bye Bye Birdie) sing "Mutual Admiration Society" from the September 1963 pilot of Ethel Merman's never-picked-up television series "Maggie Brown." Merman had sung the song in the musical Happy Hunting with Virginia Gibson

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 5:42pm

Hi Joey,

When I was a child (I was always interested in what the adults were talking about) was have you ever seen Ethel Merman on stage?
They would always say that you really have to hear and see her live to appreciate her.

Also, do you remember seeing Ethel on That Girl?

Diane

[D2]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 6:12pm

Thanks for that PJ. She sounds exactly the same as on the HAPPY HUNTING cast recording - not one inflection or vocal "yelp" is different. It's wonderful!!!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 6:46pm

Love it!

Thanks!

[nmartin]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 7:00pm

When I was 15, my dad took me to see Ethel Merman in concert. I have never forgotten it, and my ears are still ringing.

The Merman That Girl episode is priceless.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 7:10pm

There are 2 That Girl episodes, actually: "Pass the Potatoes, Ethel Merman" and "The Other Woman." I have them both on VHS somewhere, and the first one is on the That Girl DVD set.

[Corine2]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 7:18pm

Sadly, I never saw Merman perform but she went to school with my Grandma.
They were around the same age and sadly I was too young to see her on Broadway.
I would have loved to see her perform. I love the film "CALL ME MADAME"
I watch Val Fagan, the best Merman impersonator ever!

[Corine2]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 7:18pm

Sadly, I never saw Merman perform but she went to school with my Grandma.
They were around the same age and sadly I was too young to see her on Broadway.
I would have loved to see her perform. I love the film "CALL ME MADAME"

[Corine2]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 7:18pm

Sadly, I never saw Merman perform but she went to school with my Grandma.
They were around the same age and sadly I was too young to see her on Broadway.
I would have loved to see her perform. I love the film "CALL ME MADAME"
I watch Val Fagan, the best Merman impersonator ever!

[Corine2]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 7:18pm

Watch Val Fagan from FB RUDE AWAKENING to see an incredible Merman impersonator.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/20/08 at 7:47pm

Imagine the Merm today with the critics & the overamplification of shows. If she was overamplified, it would set off earthquakes & make all men sterile for a 100 miles.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 7:50am

dig that latin beat!

i want to go to Lobster Island.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 9:04am

I'd love to sit down with Merm and ask her what she thinks of Broadway today.

I'd especially love her thoughts on Laura Benanti, Donna Murphy and LaChanze.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 11:04am

Hello, Husk_Charmer? It's me, Ethel.



Laura Benanti--give that kid a F*CKin' flu shot.

Donna Murphy--tell that gal the Merm says she's got class--with a capital K!

LaChanze--tell that kid she needs a first name--or a last name! I mean, I was "The Merm" but I was also ETHEL!

Hmmm..."Ethel LaChanze"...it has a certain ring, no?

Bye now, Husk_Charmer!

LaMerm

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 11:22am

There was a time when, if 2 people were on a variety show, you had about a 50% chance of hearing either Together or Mutual Admiration Society.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 11:54am

Did Julia Andrews sing it with anybody?

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 1:08pm

wow. and look how slim the Merm is. was this show about living on a houseboat?

I swear some of the abandoned TV pilots look so much more promising that the crap we get now.

VH1 reality shows, I'm looking at you.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 1:42am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGsSAysEEug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmqIsI2TsvE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko3lY3SUfLw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m90jQZo9lqk

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 11:31am

Nobody sings it like Ethel. She could do a duet all by herself.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 12:01pm

True. Now that was a missed opportunity, wasn't it?