Where the Action Is

"Where the Action Is or (WTAI) was a music-based variety show which aired on television in the United States during the 1960s. It was carried by the ABC network and aired each weekday afternoon. Created by Dick Clark as a spin-off of American Bandstand, Where the Action Is premiered on June 27, 1965.

The show's theme song, "Action", became a hit single for Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, peaking on the charts (#13) in September 1965. Most of the telecasts, all of which were produced in black-and-white, were taped at various locales in Southern California. The theme song was written by Steve Venet and Tommy Boyce who would later write songs for The Monkees.


The program had its own stable of performers, most notably Paul Revere & the Raiders, who served as the de facto house band. When the group departed the show in 1966, they were replaced by The Robbs. Other regular performers on Action included the dance troupe Pete Manifee and the Action Kids. Individual episodes featured a wide range of guest performers, as detailed below.

The weekday program was cancelled on March 31, 1967, with the network giving its local affiliates the time slot. However, members of the program's mainstay band Paul Revere and the Raiders (with lead vocalist Mark Lindsay) hosted very similar follow-up shows; both Revere and Lindsay hosted Happening '68, a Saturday afternoon follow-up to American Bandstand, and a weekday version of the same show, It's Happening, from 1968 to 1969. Both shows were produced by Dick Clark's production company for ABC."

Source: Wikipedia

Theme Song Lyrics

Title: "Action"

Composed By: Tommy Boyce & Steve Venet

Performed By: Freddy 'Boom Boom' Cannon

Oh, baby come on, let me take you where the action is.
Oh, baby come on, let me take you where the action is.
Oh, baby come on, let me take you where the action is.
It's so neat to meet ya baby where the action is.

In every little town cross the U.S.A.
There's a spot where the people tangle everyday
Just leave your problems and get away
Come down and listen to the guitars play.

Dance, dance dance when you hear that beat
Dance, dance dance get up off of your seat
Dance, dance dance let your back bone slip
Let's go to the place on the Sunset Strip
Oh, baby come on, let me take you where the action is.
Oh, baby come on, let me take you where the action is.
Oh, baby come on, let me take you where the action is.
It's so neat to meet ya baby where the action is.

Episode guides and videos - Online Video Guide

Fire Marshal Bill . . . In Living Color

Jim Carrey portrayed a fire marshal with a manic grin and scarred face whose safety advisories usually include demonstrating (on himself) the very disaster he's warning against. (Interestingly enough, every sketch illustrates a timeline of readily-visible damage on Bill from previous episodes). Usually, the warnings are against ridiculous situations that would never come to par. Catchphrases included "Lemme show ya something!!" and "It can be very, very DTUHHH-DTUHHH...DEADLY!" He was the only major character to be frequently used in all five seasons.

Source: Wikipedia


Some Fire Marshal Bill trivia . . .

The "Fire Marshal Bill" character (albeit with no lines) appeared in the background of one of the closing scenes in the Jim Carrey movie, Liar Liar.

About Jim Carrey and In Living Color . . .

Soon after starting his career as a stand up comedian in 1979, he began working at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. He caught the eye of comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who immediately signed him to open his tour performances. Carrey developed a close friendship with comedian Damon Wayans leading to landing a role in the television comedy hit, In Living Color which originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990 to May 19, 1994.

The American sketch comedy television series was created, written and starred brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans, taped before a live studio audience.

Click here for full episodes and information
on the television series In Living Color.

Click here for Jim Carrey's official website.