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27-486: Deney Terrio hosted the series until September 1985, when he was replaced by Adrian Zmed . The series was technically created by Merv Griffin , but his agent Murray Schwartz actually conceived the idea of a pilot which piggybacked on a special Merv Griffin Show salute to the movie Thank God It's Friday , which would feature top disco dancers from eight cities competing for a title. Casablanca Records had already paid for

54-553: A joke referencing an encounter with Terrio, prompting his father to inquire as to why he was with Terrio in the first place. Terrio was referred to in the Steve Martin movie Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), in which Martin's character, a con man and hustler named Freddy Benson, poses as a disabled veteran as part of a plan to extract money from a rich woman. In order to induce her pity, Benson claims that he lost use of his legs after he found his girlfriend having sex with Terrio. In

81-473: A large talent agency, and agrees to find Tommy a movie role. Meanwhile, following his father's advice, he transforms busboy Guido Bevaloqua into a singer named "Caesare" and assuages a jealous Tommy when he sees Vinnie grooming Caesare instead of joining him on tour. Later, Vinnie arranges a tryout for Caesare at a small club. In the dressing room, Tommy's advice to Caesare to smoke to calm his nerves sickens Caesare. On stage, he nervously runs off before finishing

108-416: A recording studio, while working at his family's restaurant. After fighting with the mobster who owns the studio, he later tells his mother he lacks the necessary looks and charisma to be a singer. Inspired by observing his friend Tomaso DeLorusso charismatically playing saxophone at a New Jersey nightclub, Vinnie convinces him that he is destined to be a headline act. Over the next few months, he molds him into

135-418: A red light. To prevent the misdemeanor from being publicized, Vinnie gives the officer concert tickets and threatens to drop Caesare as an act. When Vinnie hands Brenda a report, revealing that Ellen, her best reporter, has had similar relationships prior to her fling with Caesare, Brenda warns that Ellen's dismissal will upset Caesare. However, Vinnie claims that because he will be on tour, Teen Scene can cover

162-522: A rift, the pilot was produced and ended up being sold. Another long-time Griffin staffer, Paul Abeyta, produced the show's first two seasons which were written by Tony Garofalo. Later seasons were produced by Paul Gilbert. Each week, four dancing couples competed for a weekly cash prize of $ 1,000; Each couple performed their dance routine for 90–120 seconds and the celebrity judges scored them anywhere between 70 and 100 points, based on 4 categories: originality, showmanship, style, and technique. The couple with

189-440: A singer under the name "Tommy Dee" and produces a record with him. In order to promote Tommy by starting a record company, he reluctantly asks his father Frank for a $ 10,000 loan, criticizing him for selfishly abandoning his family for money and women. Vinnie presses Tommy's records, and eventually Tommy successfully performs his debut single "Here Is My Love" on disc jockey Walt Bennett's show. Afterward, Walt pretends Tommy's song

216-442: Is mediocre until Vinnie bribes him into putting Tommy’s record in rotation. Later, Vinnie convinces Teen Scene magazine editor Brenda Roberts to feature Tommy on the magazine's upcoming cover. Sometime later, Tommy performs his follow-up single "Sweet Little Lover" on the television show National Bandstand , ignoring the rehearsed choreography and spontaneously interacting with the female audience. While celebrating his new success at

243-448: Is performing his debut single "Baby", ripping his clothing, but once more security is added, he successfully finishes his performance. Instead of allowing Caesare to tour, Vinnie places him in seclusion to increase his mystique. After five months, a restless Caesare borrows Gino's car to spend a romantic evening with Teen Scene reporter Ellen Fields. While he is returning, a cop gives him a ticket for driving while intoxicated and running

270-432: Is unmotivated until his mother finally inspires him to return to the restaurant. Months later, he invites Brenda to witness him perform, but she declines. One night, Brenda encounters him on stage performing his own self-written composition "I Believe It Can Be Done", approvingly nodding at him. Marcucci approached producer Gene Kirkwood with the idea for the film. In the original script, the singers were more sympathetic and

297-448: The US$ 11.3 million case was later dismissed. In 2015, Terrio sued the toy company Hasbro in a federal court for creating an animated gecko and toy figurine named Vinnie Terrio, alleging that his publicity rights were violated by the gecko and figurine. In February 2016, Terrio and Hasbro settled his claims out of court. In the stand-up comedy special Eddie Murphy Raw (1987), Murphy makes

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324-536: The television musical variety series Dance Fever from 1979 to 1987. Raised in Titusville, Florida , Terrio achieved fame as the dance coach and choreographer for John Travolta in the movie Saturday Night Fever (1977). During his heyday with Dance Fever , he appeared in a number of films, including The Idolmaker (1980), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), A Night in Heaven (1983) and Knights of

351-474: The City (1986), and guest starred on popular television series of the time, including The Love Boat . Throughout the 1990s, he toured nightclubs, performing with Motion and judging dance contests. Terrio has appeared on several VH1 specials and co-hosted the 2004 PBS special Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion , which featured many popular disco artists from the 1970s and actress Karen Lynn Gorney . During

378-531: The Sunday prior to the show, director Dick Carson suggested that, since they already had the dancers for the Thank God It's Friday salute, they should select the top four couples from that show and have them compete on the pilot with celebrities as judges. He was quoted as saying "Nobody's ever going to see this thing anyway." Within a couple days, Sherman Hemsley , Barbi Benton , and Herve Villechaize were secured as

405-473: The family restaurant, Vinnie becomes intoxicated, berates a clumsy waiter, and complains that Tommy will not follow his advice to study acting, frightening an overly concerned Brenda. Sometime later, Vinnie gives his father a check to repay part of the loan, who warns him to remain humble and protect his investment while simultaneously advising him to draw up a contract with Tommy and recruit more clients. Later, Vinnie meets with Phil Delano, an agent from I.A.A.,

432-630: The final episode of season 1 of Modern Family , Claire tells Phil he looks like Deney Terrio. Jay incorrectly replies that Terrio was a 1970s disco dancer from Ohio. Terrio was also referenced in season 2 of Black Dynamite when he teamed up with funk-soul musician James Brown to compete against Black Dynamite and Cream Corn. The Idolmaker The Idolmaker is a 1980 American musical drama directed by Taylor Hackford in his feature directorial debut, written by Edward di Lorenzo , and starring Ray Sharkey , Peter Gallagher , Paul Land , Tovah Feldshuh and Joe Pantoliano . Loosely based on

459-407: The first song. As Caesare vomits in the alley, Vinnie reassures him that he will not let him down. Afterwards, Vinnie creatively markets Caesare by splashing his photograph across town. As both continue rehearsals, an abandoned Tommy expresses a desire to obtain the part in a television series that Vinnie denied him and threatens to fire him. At Caesare's next concert, girls attack him on stage while he

486-473: The first two years was Freeman King ; in September 1980 he was replaced by Charlie O'Donnell , who was the announcer on another Griffin show, Wheel of Fortune . During Terrio's tenure as host, the show's theme was performed by a musical team called Triple "S" Connection. Deney Terrio Denis George Mahan (born June 15, 1950), better known as Deney Terrio , is an American choreographer and hosted

513-402: The highest average total score were the winners and advanced into the next round of competition. In the event of a tie, one set of celebrity scores was dropped in an effort to decide a winner; every fifth week was a semi-final show where those winning couples from the last four weeks competed for $ 5,000. At the end of a 25-week competition, the five semi-final winners all came back to face off in

540-497: The inspiration for the character of Guido/Caesare, Forte claimed the film made him look like "a totally manufactured singer, a mere pretty face without any singing ability or acting talent." He went on to say they settled out of court, requiring he, his wife, and family receive apologies in The Hollywood Reporter and Variety , and Marcucci's 7.5% ownership of the film passed to Forte. In 2014, Variety reported that

567-452: The judges. After the Thursday night Griffin/ Thank God It's Friday special was taped, show staffers Larry Strawther and Paul Gilbert were dispatched to lure the top four finishers to participate in the next night's pilot production, but to keep it a secret. That didn't happen, but despite some acrimony among the dancers, not helped by a one-night stand between a couple of dancers that caused

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594-471: The life of rock promoter/producer Bob Marcucci , whose discoveries included Frankie Avalon and Fabian and who served as a technical advisor for the production, the film marked the screen debuts of both Gallagher and Land. In the Bronx in 1959, waiter and aspiring singer-songwriter Vincent "Vinnie" Vacarri is informed by his best friend and piano accompanist, Gino "G.G." Pilato, of their upcoming time slot at

621-409: The producer less so. The film features an original music score by Jeff Barry and choreography by Deney Terrio . On August 27, 2013, Shout! Factory released The Idolmaker on Blu-ray. Fabian Forte filed a $ 64 million lawsuit against the film, alleging defamation and invasion of privacy. Forte, a teen idol of the late 1950s and early 1960s, had been managed by Bob Marcucci. Having served as

648-484: The set, so a pilot could be produced at a significant reduction. Merv's vision was to have frequent Griffin guest Deney Terrio as the host, and to have celebrities dancing with professional disco dancers. (In a sense, it was very similar to Dancing with the Stars .) But pilot show producer Ernest Chambers had no success convincing the stars who were approached to consent to the format. They were afraid they would look bad. On

675-518: The show's annual Grand Prix Finals for cash and prizes worth over $ 25,000 which included two brand new cars (one for each member of the winning dance team). In September 1984, the grand prize package was raised to $ 50,000. Each week except for the year-end Grand Prix Finals, the show also featured a segment in which some of the top disco, pop, or R&B artists of the day would perform their latest hit. Diane Day and Janet Jones appeared as Motion, Terrio's regular backup dancers. The show's announcer for

702-574: The show, Terrio and Gorney danced to Tavares ’ live performance of " More Than a Woman ", as Gorney had with Travolta in Saturday Night Fever . Terrio hosted his own disco radio show, Saturday Night Dance Party , on the Sirius Satellite Radio network, and is a choreographer and competitor at regional Dancing with the Stars competitions. In 1991, Terrio sued Merv Griffin , the producer of Dance Fever , for sexual harassment ;

729-518: The story exclusively. The tour begins in Memphis, Tennessee, but in the theater, Brenda criticizes Vinnie for being manipulative and reminds him she will cover his acts without special favors. After winning over the Memphis audience with his Elvis-inspired song "However Dark the Night", Caesare opts to switch management and signs with Phil Delano, with Gino following him. Returning to his old neighborhood, Vinnie

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