| America Goes Bananaz | |
|---|---|
 Michael Young hosting the show. | |
| Also known as | Columbus Goes Bananaz |
| Genre | Variety show |
| Created by | Burt Dubrow |
| Developed by |
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| Presented by |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 50 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Burt Dubrow |
| Production locations | |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production company | Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network |
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| Release | December 1, 1977 (1977-12-01) – 1980 (1980) |
America Goes Bananaz is an American teen-orientedvariety show presented byMichael Young and Randy Hamilton. It premiered locally onQUBE's C-1 channel in 1977, with the titleColumbus Goes Bananaz. The series was renamedAmerica Goes Bananaz in preparation for a move to then-upcoming youth-oriented national networkNickelodeon; all episodes aired from January 19, 1979, onward used this title.[1][2]
Early episodes of the show were broadcast live from theWestland Mall inColumbus, Ohio.[3] Some episodes incorporated the QUBE system'sinteractivity, having viewers decide which events they would like to see.[4] The series' interactive element was discontinued as the show went national, and episodes were taped in advance from 1979 until the show ended. Notable guest stars includedArnold Schwarzenegger,[5]Chuck Jones,Todd Rundgren,[5] theSanford-Townsend Band,[5]Andy Kaufman,[6] andBob Zmuda.[6]
The format ofAmerica Goes Bananaz was modeled after the structure ofThe Mike Douglas Show, which producer Burt Dubrow worked on.[7] The concept was adjusted for a slightly younger audience, and the program was billed as having been "designed for the American adolescent."[8] Recurring segments onAmerica Goes Bananaz included a karate feature hosted byJay T. Will,[2] audience polls,[9] andadvice columns allowing viewers to send the host requests for guidance.[10] Discussions focusing on mature subjects, such as drugs and birth control, were also regularly shown in an effort to interest and educate a teenage target audience.[11] Guest speaker John Steinberg, a "consumergadfly" notifying viewers of negative purchases like "record album rip-offs," often appeared.[10]
According to an interview withPhiladelphia Daily News, original host Michael Young first learned ofColumbus Goes Bananaz while in his lawyer's office in 1977. He had reportedly just discovered that he was being sued for a play he had co-produced withHerschel Bernardi.[12] Over the telephone, Young's agent informed him that Warner-Amex was holding auditions for a talk show host. Due to his lack of offers at the time, Young decided to try out for the job.[13] Among others auditioning to be the show's host wasTony Dow, whose well-known role asWally Cleaver onLeave It to Beaver initially made Young believe that Dow would be chosen.[14] According to Young, Dow ultimately stated that Young deserved the role.[14]
Michael Young was selected and hosted the show for two years, until he moved toABC'sKids Are People Too in 1979.[15] After Young's departure, actor Randy Hamilton was picked to take over as host.[16] Episodes with Hamilton were taped from January until September 1979.[17] In an event Randy Hamilton termed "an unusual coincidence", Hamilton was chosen as the new host ofKids Are People Too in 1981, after Michael Young quit. Hamilton was selected based on clips of his time as theBananaz host, provided to ABC by producer Burt Dubrow.[16]
At the time of the program's debut, the preschool-orientedPinwheel was the flagship property of QUBE's C-3 channel. When the C-3 channel was expanded and renamed Nickelodeon in 1979,Bananaz was broadcast on Nickelodeon as part of an initiative to create programming for all child age groups.Bananaz was integral to the formation of Nickelodeon, described byThe Times as part of the channel's "nucleus" in 1980.[18]
Lew Anderson, portrayer ofClarabell the Clown onHowdy Doody from 1954 to 1960, appeared in character as Clarabell on a 1978 episode. He broke a 25-year tradition by removing his face paint for teenagers in the audience who had watchedHowdy Doody reruns as children. After the episode aired, Anderson stated that he "wouldn't have done it" if the audience had been young children as opposed to teenagers.[19]
In 1980,Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment and program creator Burt Dubrow received an "Excellence in Entertainment" award from theNational Cable & Telecommunications Association forAmerica Goes Bananaz.[20] Later the same year, the series received theACE Award for "Best Entertainment Program".[21]
| Year | Presenter | Award/Category | Nominee | Status | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | NCTA Awards | Excellence in Entertainment | Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment | Won | [20] |
| ACE Awards | Best Entertainment Program | Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment Burt Dubrow | Won | [21] |
