Say Goodnight, Gracie Say Goodnight, Gracie Say Goodnight Gracie is a one-man play by Rupert Holmes. Adapted from the reminiscences of George Burns, the multimedia presentation traces the comedian-raconteur's life from his childhood on the Lower East Side of Manhattan to his early career in vaudeville to his momentous meeting and subsequent personal and professional relationships with wife Gracie Allen. After 27 previews, the Broadway production, directed by John Tillinger, opened on October 10, 2002, at the Helen Hayes Theatre, where it ran for 364 performances. It is the third-longest-running solo show in Broadway history. Frank Gorshin starred as Burns, and Didi Conn
Variety show being produced were of remarkably poor quality (see, for instance, the infamous "Pink Lady and Jeff"), hastening the format's demise. Since "Pink Lady", only a few traditional variety shows have been attempted by major networks: these include "Dolly" (starring Dolly Parton), which ran for 23 episodes on the ABC during the 1987–'88 season; a revival of "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" from 1988 to 1989; a revival of "The Carol Burnett Show", which was broadcast by CBS for nine episodes in 1991; and the first incarnation of "The Wayne Brady Show", which was telecast by ABC in August 2001. By