The Music Scene (TV series)

The Music Scene
James Brown performing on the program, 1969
Genre	Music chart Variety show
Written by	Carl Gottlieb Tony Hendra David Steinberg Richard Schaal Stan Jacobson
Directed by	Stan Harris
Starring	David Steinberg Chris Bokeno Larry Hankin Paul Reid Roman Christopher Ross Lily Tomlin
Theme music composer	Patrick Williams
Composer(s)	Patrick Williams
Country of origin	USA
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	17
Production
Producer(s)	Ken Fritz Stan Harris
Location(s)	ABC Television Center in Hollywood
Running time	45 min.
Production company(s)	Harris/Fritz Productions, in association with ABC
Release
Original network	ABC
Original release	September 22, 1969 – January 12, 1970

The Music Scene is a television series aired by ABC as part of its Fall 1969 lineup, in the Monday, 7:30 to 8:15 timeslot, primarily featuring rock and pop music.

The show had many hosts, with comedian David Steinberg the most frequently-appearing one (Lily Tomlin as well.) Many huge names of the era, including James Brown, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Three Dog Night, Tom Jones on the initial program and Janis Joplin, Bobby Sherman, The Miracles, Sly & the Family Stone, Isaac Hayes, Stevie Wonder, Bo Diddley and Mama Cass Elliot, (who co-hosted as well as performed) among many others, appearing on subsequent shows.

Existing promos initially used to sell this show to ABC affiliates featured the improvisational group The Committee, which featured actor Howard Hesseman (then using the name Don Sturdy), as well as the Rolling Stones. The promos implied that the Stones would be appearing with some regularity on the program. However by the time The Music Scene went on the air, the Committee was nowhere to be seen and the Stones never appeared on the show.