How sweet it is! While we hope you say that after every episode, this week it's mandatory as we feature Jackie Gleason who ruled over variety television in the 1950s and 60s, as well as inventing iconic characters and sketches that influence pop culture to this day. Originally an MC and nightclub comic, Gleason caught the eyes of network execs who tapped him to host a variety show called The Cavalcade of Stars. The show was later moved from New York to Miami Beach and renamed the Jackie Gleason show, recognizing the star power of the host. It was on that show that Jackie invented his most enduring character, loudmouth bus driver Ralph Kramden who anchored the "Honeymooners" sketches. Not just a comedian, Gleason was a master actor, able to play both comedy and dramatic roles and he earned an Oscar nomination for his role as pool legend Minnesota Fats in The Hustler. He also could do broad comedy as his long run as Sheriff Buford T Justice in the Smokey and the Bandit movies proved. And what about those Saturday nights alone with your lover -- well Jackie had you covered there as well with a string of highly successful "romantic music" albums. It all adds up to a unique and legendary career. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Gleason? In pop culture Jackie Gleason and Ralph Kramden are joined at the hip. Through sketches on the Jackie Gleason show and a standalone sitcom, The Honeymooners were must see television and inspired another iconic show -- the animated Flintstones. Here is the full bit where Ralph decides he just won't mambo. https://youtu.be/_-FhWB1POWQ?si=sinTj3YRAqY3hbw8 https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F_-FhWB1POWQ%3Fsi%3DsinTj3YRAqY3hbw8%26fbclid%3DIwAR2L_VDA63vrSFKlmv5aVI8jkGF6XwVwFyIiKQ7QXshpIX4htV3_ioM7FQY&h=AT1HFLfP_RGTKTwvrlqPLkfx-6cX7jSUCfxj73OsRwpnErI79zSvbq0_tqjZuENZCCYNFSK_A6ickxGwNPme0TWxgCJ0kDyz0HBjpcYXrqej_04wBdeB6yGnPD_G5-mWXGA5E13IUTPwrJ2uyjFk4w0&__tn__=R-R While Ralph Kramden is Jackie's best known character, he had many other gems including sophisticated playboy Reginald Van Gleason who was responsible for delivering his "How Sweet It Is" catchphrase. https://youtu.be/f-aR6IoiN-Q?si=7rfepLuKmvT5fxmI https://youtu.be/f-aR6IoiN-Q?si=7rfepLuKmvT5fxmI&fbclid=IwAR3mXB9Q3A-UcJfv9GQZ0YsVIpQ3yVUdBb7WJD2kBGcNrB0Ci1iEXXEDoUY When the part called for broad comedy Jackie could deliver, as in his long run as the blustering Sheriff Buford T. Justice in the Smokey and the Bandit franchise. https://youtu.be/TjLUPXLPvKo?si=naEK5z7M86ODk8nR https://youtu.be/TjLUPXLPvKo?si=naEK5z7M86ODk8nR&fbclid=IwAR3jjhbAzCJGVSnj5IXtRsZiuR60SK3QEMEVgaTG-EXEGsNTnPJcPjjIAtg

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Mar 26

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day -- and the 200th Episode of Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy https://www.facebook.com/laughtracksradio?__tn__=-%5DK -- than by turning the spotlight on Ardal O'Hanlon, a masterful Irish stand-up comic and television star. Launching into a late 1980s Dublin scene that didn't have much comedy, Ardal had a solution! With a couple of college mates he started a comedy club, then went on to win a "New Act of the Year" award at the Hackney Empire comedy competition in 1994. A long tv career followed with Ardal playing everything from a child-like priest to a superhero to a detective investigator in the recent "Death in Paradise". He has also dabbled in stage and voice acting, and he still finds time to work the standup stages of the UK. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Ardal? Ardal's big break came in 1995 when he was tapped for a key role in the British sitcom "Father Ted". Playing the child-like Father Dougal McGuire, Ardal was a fan favorite. https://youtu.be/bZ4XdqQrT20?si=0kaD5mCDc8XXOqaE https://youtu.be/bZ4XdqQrT20?si=0kaD5mCDc8XXOqaE&fbclid=IwAR38jSpAPGbs_g5-rEUua4MQt_nSTz8FgbCPXEOKF709iwKjRIre2-tBpX8 After his initial series "Father Ted" had concluded it's run, Ardal took a left turn for his next show -- starring as George Sunday -- a simple man who in reality is Thermoman from the planet Ultron. High concept? Yes. Very funny? Absolutely. https://youtu.be/ZimdnUvfs0I?si=dhAisyQ6MKg2cV0r https://youtu.be/ZimdnUvfs0I?si=dhAisyQ6MKg2cV0r&fbclid=IwAR2qu7N4AbZpN0FZSO-qrKpUgzlKQ8yk3ksclq6PmlqeEXy5bv1sA6FtyxI While he has become a television star with many series under his belt, Ardal continues to perform standup to the delight of fans. This is a fine bit from the BBC Comedy Roadshow a few years back. https://youtu.be/8LrY-Usdc54?si=-VM-Ib19rP0Q4TUf https://youtu.be/8LrY-Usdc54?si=-VM-Ib19rP0Q4TUf&fbclid=IwAR3dpcCoSp2F1kdFkdNTDJX7LMGPzZbciT4Ncb73yLNrTNGRjAql1BvIjfg  

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Mar 19

Might want to put on the asbestos underwear this week -- the modern king of roasting is in the house. Greg Giraldo might have started out as a corporate lawyer, but he soon found out that the stand up stage was his natural habitat. Possessed of a blazing wit and the ability to turn complex issues into sharp gags, Greg was a favorite on Comedy Central in its early days, becoming a fixture at their Celebrity Roasts. But, unlike the heavily sanitized Dean Martin versions folks were used to, the Comedy Central roasts were no holds barred. Similarly, he was a standout on the show Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, on which a panel of stand up comics shredded each other along with the day's news. As always, find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Greg Giraldo? Greg believed comedy was art -- but he knew it wasn't exactly the same as Shakespeare. This short bit from a documentary tells why. https://vimeo.com/11839333 https://vimeo.com/11839333?fbclid=IwAR1xNHEjTuDxgV9lwbhn-5LXjVaYhh6578jk4MlrU9QwHWiLM1qVeQ5OEns Greg was a first rate standup and this routine, taken from an early Comedy Central special, captures why audiences loved him and why fans today wonder what he would say about our current condition! https://youtu.be/YLz1XujQlBQ?si=X6K1xv5kIAp6LIRD https://youtu.be/YLz1XujQlBQ?si=X6K1xv5kIAp6LIRD&fbclid=IwAR1BEaTKiKoz7HaZIY7e3yoAVBW5UDtBZP6eGO10LNA4bYu7iNmtYIGiEW4 Greg pretty much owned the Comedy Central roasts and this video collects his finest work. When a joke goes too far -- and one almost always does -- in true roasting fashion Greg dishes it back to the audience and plows straight ahead. Warning -- this one is NSFW! https://youtu.be/0_TrrWWkMXU?si=R9YjlVPI4NsdZOEB https://youtu.be/0_TrrWWkMXU?si=R9YjlVPI4NsdZOEB&fbclid=IwAR2hRnmuA2Q_ORrH_cPzSR38wcQhZt1xMyJnbv_E4XL8rgi9XCbeQBKwp4w

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Mar 12

No need for the "7-second delay" button this week -- Brian Regan is in the house. A comic who has built a formidable audience with observational comedy that's sharp, but clean, Brian has released eight CDs and specials worth of material, beginning with 1997's Live. That early CD was a favorite of disc jockeys pressed to find clean comedy for their local version of "The 5:20 Funny" -- with Brian you could just hit play and be guaranteed on a great punchline and no FCC fines! In 2015 Brian was the star of Netflix's first truly live special and in recent years he has begun to branch out into character acting with a particularly juicy role in Peter Farrelly's dark comedy Loudermilk. But despite the occasional acting gig, Brian remains a creature of the standup stage and a favorite of people who love a sharp punchline, but without a side of F-bombs. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Brian? This 1999 clip shows Brian near the start of his career in front of a very enthusiastic crowd at the Just For Laughs comedy festival. Here he rewards them with some thoughts on Pop Tarts. https://youtu.be/r6GHPIwkXl0?si=at-Y7aBjXJujGndF https://youtu.be/r6GHPIwkXl0?si=at-Y7aBjXJujGndF&fbclid=IwAR0E7_2bafWrWlysO2dIvy8A0YjWoNWx9s2ujfNB-oCT3MQzNlrirrm7eTI Brian mines a lot of comedy gold from his childhood -- and particularly his widely shared distaste for the ritual humiliation of the spelling bee!https://youtu.be/CafPNEWnDhk?si=rVKEEShxKo1PDg8F https://youtu.be/CafPNEWnDhk?si=rVKEEShxKo1PDg8F&fbclid=IwAR2pSMCYTOVZRXAYHEKwDJ9er9lxeJmN7Ss5NGUGArqzjtxkK9qNjcNIPoE Brian has taken some first steps into character acting and his role in Peter Farrelly's dark comedy Loudermilk is a gem. https://youtu.be/iwsVPvjV0i8?si=X9_PfNddMmg8caUr https://youtu.be/iwsVPvjV0i8?si=X9_PfNddMmg8caUr&fbclid=IwAR2pSMCYTOVZRXAYHEKwDJ9er9lxeJmN7Ss5NGUGArqzjtxkK9qNjcNIPoE  

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Mar 05

Come back to the golden age of Vegas comics to meet Buddy Hackett who rode a quick wit, an amusing face, and an endless supply of profanity to become a major standup, film, and tv star from the 1950s through the early 2000s. Buddy had Bell's Palsy as a kid which gave him his distinctive look, but his comic persona and timing were all his. A favorite of talk show hosts, Buddy had the most guest appearances of all time on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, and was a welcome addition to motion picture comedies such as The Music Man, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and Scrooged -- and for the little ones, he voices Scuttle in The Little Mermaid. And the best trivia of all -- Buddy turned down a shot to join The Three Stooges! As always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Buddy? Buddy started out as a tummler in the Catskills, then a family friendly comic. But he gained his most fame in Las Vegas after he took off the muzzle and became famous for using naughty words in bulk!! This one is just a little bit blue. https://www.tiktok.com/@clown.../video/7245747231792336171 https://www.tiktok.com/@clown_jewels/video/7245747231792336171?fbclid=IwAR2ycGQAyrdlwQJc9kqphdciZhG9jiDxAr0BVMdtdfWrGaYFaTGtGhlWwGI Buddy was a wild man which is why he was such a fave on late night television. While he made the rounds, he was most at home on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show where he holds the record for most guest appearances ever. https://youtu.be/KAWvI5eZvC0?si=m8gsxGgrUk37f5Wm https://youtu.be/KAWvI5eZvC0?si=m8gsxGgrUk37f5Wm&fbclid=IwAR04gkIezvcpeI8vxjlA4NIS3eaxTzdAleovpKwBvCGR-f7DcqbG3PZ8FUA In 1978, Buddy teamed with Harvey Norman to star as Abbott and Costello in the tv biopic "Bud and Lou". Of course they had to do the classic "Who's on First" routine and they did a fine job indeed!https://youtu.be/5JRB5nOFutM?si=fES0zqrJ2D-fuHgL https://youtu.be/5JRB5nOFutM?si=fES0zqrJ2D-fuHgL&fbclid=IwAR0nLRxu57yExDrx7AX6bVmHxhF0xrtGp77413ZpxhjCZcQJCkRNUcdh7Iw

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Feb 27

If you like your comedy with wit, intelligence, and more than a fair amount of savage snark, you're likely already a fan of Ricky Gervais. From his early days as new wave rock artist (really) in London, Ricky moved on to the standup stage, then radio and television. His breakthrough came when he was cast in the BBC series The Office playing the manager of a paper distributor (the role taken in the US version by Steve Carrell). Later, he was in the hit series Extras, followed by a run as Dr. McPhee in the Night at the Museum films. From then on Ricky has blended standup tours with high quality comedy series, most recently After Life. And who can forget the verbal flamethrower he brought to the Golden Globes as a five time host? As always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Ricky Gervais? Ricky had a great role in Extras, another BBC gem that ran from 2005 to 2007. He played an actor who could only get roles as extras -- and here's his agent telling him why!https://youtu.be/2oIHXI7ZyOU?si=sDMzLZIGp8qD9iTU https://youtu.be/2oIHXI7ZyOU?si=sDMzLZIGp8qD9iTU&fbclid=IwAR3wV9R6reQGWSfQtojn-cgG2xucINFLNmtfxUV_Wbb-MwWL2U1Yt1wB1VA Ricky has hosted the Golden Globes five times, most recently in 2020. His opening monologues were worthy of an original, unexpurgated Friar's Club Roast! https://youtu.be/BvHXzP2SpLA?si=LnJjWLZxFSgMcEiO https://youtu.be/BvHXzP2SpLA?si=LnJjWLZxFSgMcEiO&fbclid=IwAR08AW2vIFPSB8CYGDj413DA08c2kK0jSL0jPPp5k2oXj73HDsWxmNQydfY Over his quarter century as a standup, Ricky has released 9 specials, most recently 2023's Armageddon which won a Golden Globe. https://youtu.be/sm9AG0TCQ9E?si=eMaVjTVOPRUuYQFX https://youtu.be/sm9AG0TCQ9E?si=eMaVjTVOPRUuYQFX&fbclid=IwAR0Fnc6fJBCJgy8oFXk2JnGo3Ic9lAobqQISbYpA3FMfyKH-BlESiLO2Mxw

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Feb 20

One of America's most beloved entertainers, Jimmy Durante specialized in gentle, often self-deprecating humor delivered with and unmistakable voice (and nose). From humble starts playing ragtime piano in a family musical act, to major success in films and on the radio with the novelty tune 'Inka-Dinka-Doo", to a long run as a favored guest on television variety and talk shows. By the time he died in 1980, Jimmy's career was well over 70 years long. And, of course, he is destined to live forever as the voice of the singing narrator in the animated classic "Frosty the Snowman." As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more "Schnozzola"? Jimmy was a sweet man, and he closed every show saying goodbye to "Mrs. Calabash, where ever you are". Mrs. Calabash was code for his first wife and the name came from a seaside diner they favored. Truly romantic stuff indeed! https://youtu.be/yp7r0j4XrO8?si=gFo5Ln2Ww52FFGAZ https://youtu.be/yp7r0j4XrO8?si=gFo5Ln2Ww52FFGAZ&fbclid=IwAR3YwstJeXnX1SBprFrr0KJ-kZ385e5QE0egVX9fnOfag_2ycif78JNH3lQ Jimmy's first big hit was a novelty song, "Inka-Dinka-Doo" which soon became his signature song. Here's a movie version with Jimmy selling it with all he's got! https://youtu.be/oV7XIw-eNUg?si=P8b0_2Q3cuW_bBAv https://youtu.be/oV7XIw-eNUg?si=P8b0_2Q3cuW_bBAv&fbclid=IwAR2KF-Eo86cbOSSXOEh2bkMRqHEsAWMEw_RjmdE85jw2LCe4UToSHfCbLGE Jimmy's high energy style and ability to adlib made him a perfect host for tv variety shows, such as the Hollywood Palace which he hosted 14 times. Here's a representative episode featuring The Turtles -- as Jimmy says, a bunch of "rocka-rocka's" Bonus! This show also features an early appearance by a clean-cut George Carlin! https://youtu.be/vddmf2tMNSg?si=mQMimb6B-4lZcDy6 https://youtu.be/vddmf2tMNSg?si=mQMimb6B-4lZcDy6&fbclid=IwAR1sP0nBgqXYzGtLEe5R8jsBLh_ntJud3d5Rct7jleVrk95hyXoDXhQmj00 Jimmy was over 50 years into his career when he took a role that defined him for a new generation -- that of the singing narrator in the animated classic "Frosty the Snowman". Come on, you know the words -- sing along!https://youtu.be/SDNcJL90Y9A?si=fNnKFKZ6UlmiYlZ2 https://youtu.be/SDNcJL90Y9A?si=fNnKFKZ6UlmiYlZ2&fbclid=IwAR2_9XujIqaUjVqOd9bJLE1CaYFPD2fLCvZpfkdrQyDR-4PhYznKqndR-Og  

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Feb 13

Meet Kyle Kinane, a comic who looks like everyman, but whose razor sharp humor has won him elite fans around the world. Since emerging as a star in the 2010s, Kyle has recorded six albums, been a globally touring workhorse, hosted podcasts, and was a voice actor as a drug-addicted, drug-sniffing police dog. You know, typical comedy stuff. Kyle's comedy is often built around the contradiction between how he looks (big beard, flannel shirt, gruff) and his style which is playful and self-deprecating. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Kyle? Kyle has a distinctive look and at a recent appearance in Australia he started by clearing up a few misconceptions! https://youtu.be/cvTS7uQ09ok?si=XOLtYgsFHZbSGbKW https://youtu.be/cvTS7uQ09ok?si=XOLtYgsFHZbSGbKW&fbclid=IwAR1qIDo9-OYl3HFmNCNqQOXyYKKP9pTGB1S1Ybxt4LiiARFapZGZt_NsmNQ Kyle's comedy often probes the contradictions we face in our everyday live. For instance, why is he a vegan who still wears leather?https://youtube.com/shorts/qj_RqAn9fFI?si=AqjemldJ-0FtRVNe https://youtube.com/shorts/qj_RqAn9fFI?si=AqjemldJ-0FtRVNe&fbclid=IwAR08KdzdtnE49LHXUOFArlYfGTCmxuNdXDfTtT06L1JZ2odioSOAiRrG66A Kyle's take on cryptocurrency is a great example of his style. Lead with some self-deprecation then close with a punchline you didn't quite see coming. https://youtu.be/cvTS7uQ09ok?si=XOLtYgsFHZbSGbKW&t=183 https://youtu.be/cvTS7uQ09ok?si=XOLtYgsFHZbSGbKW&t=183&fbclid=IwAR3gYF0LbfLKxThgAMJHrzsOO67UieIuEk5UF-njUipXoCllliK1admUkKg

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Feb 06

"It's 106 miles to Chicago. . ." You know the rest, especially if you are a fan of the Blues Brothers, the musical comedy invention of John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd and one of the breakout hits of the original Saturday Night Live, earning sold out concert tours, two feature films, platinum albums, and spinoffs and tributes that continue today. A serendipitous meeting of John Belushi with future blues star Curtis Salgado in Eugene during the filming of Animal House gave John the blues bug, as well as the moves. Danny Ackroyd was already a huge blues fan, even buying a blues bar to unwind in after SNL tapings. Put that together and you had some real combustible magic -- and a real boost for blues music and blues musicians at a time it was sorely needed. As Dan Ackroyd put it (in the persona of Elwood Blues) "We're on a mission from God." Mission accomplished! As always find full cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Blues Brothers? The Blues Brothers was a fun (and funny) movie -- and a very quotable one at that. See if you or your friends quoted any of these lines after the movie came out in 1980. https://youtu.be/TrxSM_Gxtqw?si=hJq1l2i9OKtyxFJl https://youtu.be/TrxSM_Gxtqw?si=hJq1l2i9OKtyxFJl&fbclid=IwAR16UqxCbXrNAxwLP08uYNzBRybFZZrcda5c9AaO4WlXQdI-rmL5s0CGPk8 The Blues Brothers specialized in excavating superb blues tunes from singers who weren't household words (unless your house had it's own Jake and Elwood). And Jake learned well from his teachers, including Curtis Salgado, that a little ad=libbed naughtiness in the middle of a song always brought a big reaction. Check out this version of Willie Mabon's "I Don't Know" from a 1978 Winterland concert. And man, what a band! https://youtu.be/eBcc7PvXAHg?si=c4K9JH8m8jMUsYHw https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FeBcc7PvXAHg%3Fsi%3Dc4K9JH8m8jMUsYHw%26fbclid%3DIwAR3i1pg8kNmZjQsC8p8vjffm24gylTcj-036p8eSovkh47jTsBLqmI8roPY&h=AT3SsE8xkdmWi2EfjJPv7lZImFCdDw9UX7iMChdTPpnhEYBoN8gS8jDtlbkLeL06Wvm7TJX4dxEdGv4XXtxG5qdbk5wWlmpnEX74ZGW27yWee-RH58Q0c3DS6niQgx7WRGfYpum8JoNOCeRC6R-5zmE&__tn__=R-R Blues Brothers 2000 paled in comparison to the original in critical reception and box office, but that isn't really fair given the task (replacing John Belushi). There are some great bits in here and the musical numbers are over the top. https://youtu.be/2eEpcETVV3s?si=dYwZrWy6qTq1kVf1 https://youtu.be/2eEpcETVV3s?si=dYwZrWy6qTq1kVf1&fbclid=IwAR1pumyaQ9gsJ5BMqDos_SGStkesb1_fUT3gOhKtXE9nlkzVd4awz4EHlEc  

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Jan 30

It may be 2024 but to us it's still the Al Franken decade! One of SNL's original staff writers (and occasional on-air talent), Al Franken first announced his "decade" on SNL way back in the 1970s, but since then he has gone on to a career in movies, tv, radio, standup comedy, and a stint as the United States Senator from the state of Minnesota. He also penned a number of wickedly funny books of political analysis and satire, winning a Grammy in 1996 for the audio version of "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot". He's also collected five Emmy award for his writing and today, Al hosts his own podcast. So what if Al's is now approaching 50 years?? We say, well played, Mr. Franken! Want more Al? As we said in the intro, Al once pronounced it "The Al Franken Decade" -- here's Al from SNL taking stock of progress. https://youtu.be/wyoaOZW7rTo?si=hvv619eODQxNbddE https://youtu.be/wyoaOZW7rTo?si=hvv619eODQxNbddE&fbclid=IwAR1hQomfjYJCEOvwXIbTLmCuiaqGB0zAKw1nsmbJ5S8OYRgKw-K54DtgT8M One of Al's best loved characters was his least political -- a very "new age" self help hosted named Stuart Smalley. He turned it into a book and a movie, but first it appeared as an SNL skit. https://youtu.be/HMRX-Wj2WOk?si=ZKVCg_sQLyob_kCL https://youtu.be/HMRX-Wj2WOk?si=ZKVCg_sQLyob_kCL&fbclid=IwAR0PRU0ZlkJZC9d5-G9jFzQrtwV-KXhRmyHzOGKWmPxD04V8jfo6T9SRI7I Al was on top of the comedy world back in 1996 after his very funny and very pointed book about Rush Limbaugh (and his ilk) scaled the NYT best seller chart. That year Al was also tapped to host the White House Correspondent's Dinner. Here are some more highlights. https://youtu.be/Cp4vZG-PqII?si=RahZsVsFktJyRzWa https://youtu.be/Cp4vZG-PqII?si=RahZsVsFktJyRzWa&fbclid=IwAR3WB5mWLDSjxGFDcK4rZW-O9LHimjyH-FntNIZ_Wz_9r1F2SS8dQw4XQ6s Al recently returned to the spotlight with a well-received guest hosting stint on The Daily Show and a sold out standup tour -- "The Only Former U.S. Senator on Tour Tour". Here's Al with a promo for that tour. https://youtu.be/daGrLOtkyE0?si=LfweOFzKTSeNo_9f https://youtu.be/daGrLOtkyE0?si=LfweOFzKTSeNo_9f&fbclid=IwAR2IhDqQ8XFzu6VsRjJ_hhR1cgWPRxEFnhfr7foql-ek86yecm7OtJ4Uk-0  

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Jan 23

Meet the "Jazz Comedian" Franklyn Ajaye who is a fine jazz clarinetist along with a stellar career as a standup comic and character actor. Franklyn started in the 1970s with a series of excellent stand-up albums and roles in a number of popular movies including the iconic "Car Wash" in which he played a lovable motormouth known as "The Fly". Eventually tiring of American political life, Franklyn decamped to Australia where he has become a favorite on stage and screen. And he still takes an occasional role in an American hit such as that of Maya Rudolph's dad in Bridesmaids, or as part of HBO's Deadwood. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Franklyn? Early in his career Franklyn made the rounds of tv talk shows and this clip from Merv Griffin is a good sample of his style. https://youtu.be/cog_NERLS6Y?si=QvxV4-U2QT052R6_ https://youtu.be/cog_NERLS6Y?si=QvxV4-U2QT052R6_&fbclid=IwAR3ATpwRtZROMtHEb3xYjj5V6JN4JZWo9XUjZBMlp-Wm3eGN9PAcQE1ncRo Franklyn cut three excellent standup albums in the 1970s, but he may be best remembered as Dee-Luxe Car Wash employee T.C. "The Fly" Elcott, in the classic 1976 comedy Car Wash. https://youtu.be/qE1u-W1uGz4?si=Fnyilj--PAgnjrCK https://youtu.be/qE1u-W1uGz4?si=Fnyilj--PAgnjrCK&fbclid=IwAR0EZwWI5igd4TCObUpmAw2Lozc7rz70er1HB23mpqTsQP8C58esUotweBg This is a fun piece from Franklyn's "Talking Vagabond Jazz" show about a bit of Star Trek lore loved by all pop culture aficionados. https://youtu.be/oM4bi3sU59w?si=ENw4W7TyLb5JyEVG https://youtu.be/oM4bi3sU59w?si=ENw4W7TyLb5JyEVG&fbclid=IwAR1rdc5c4h7hwfUgisazCDw4UKMlOkIDK-28wtXC1ZaMF4hUlFcL3iCGoOo Here's a rare special that follows Franklyn on tour in Australia in 1990, and also features a bit of his clarinet at the start. https://www.reddit.com/.../jazz_comedian_franklyn.../... https://www.reddit.com/r/stewartlee/comments/ypj0k0/jazz_comedian_franklyn_ajaye_on_tour_in_australia/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

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Jan 16

Huh-huh, huh-huh-huh. Yes, it's time to meet Beavis and Butt-head, the legendary creations of Mike Judge who went on to MTV stardom, movie hits, and several revivals by providing boneheaded stupidity and lots of it, with some rock and roll thrown in for good measure. Based on a composite of middle-school morons Judge knew, Beavis and Butt-head shocked pundits and reviewers with its crude humor, but audiences begged to differ. So get out the Winger albums -- it's time for B and B! As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more B&B? This is short but fun -- Butt-head provides his all purpose verdict on music, food, people, tv, etc. that suck. https://youtu.be/UcbXCMvpmWo?si=2_20aWuoG1cEaY5n https://youtu.be/UcbXCMvpmWo?si=2_20aWuoG1cEaY5n&fbclid=IwAR3x1v5M0-Oy1rDHZLLMrI9SPNu1kY7PoHWAo5hXHd1SE7_m6wlYRfRk3qo The clear breakout star of Beavis and Butt-head was "The Great Cornholio" who appeared when Beavis had too many stimulants (candy and caffeine in his case). Here's the transformation process in action.https://youtu.be/9oPTTfNuolc?si=PLWOAsUJCUECeeWl https://youtu.be/9oPTTfNuolc?si=PLWOAsUJCUECeeWl&fbclid=IwAR17w_3XHHNB5ADARGKlqE-5SyAsfrt1MW-Ipgkz4lA3IjHQF30kg4A0SgQ When Paramount rebooted Beavis and Butt-head for it's 30th Anniversary, as with most cartoons the characters were stuck in their original time frame. But not always as in this gem where a current-day B&B apply for a job with Amazon! https://youtu.be/7eU8ovtnzvw?si=FnkqxUdfoMEZctZG https://youtu.be/7eU8ovtnzvw?si=FnkqxUdfoMEZctZG&fbclid=IwAR06wV-L-cBY4xayQQPjr2Cw2Hsp6yaNGGwN1OGLV3_yRw29VopdL3Z52Ko

3m

Jan 09

Meet Bob Rivers, long-time Seattle morning disc jockey, Radio Hall of Fame inductee, and for our purposes most importantly the man behind Twisted Tunes! Over the course of a 40 year radio career Rivers wrote and produced hundreds of razor sharp parodies of popular hits. Part of Bob's genius was his ear for voice talent, so his AC/DC parodies really sounded like AC/DC and the Beatles bits sounded like the Beatles. After a "Twisted Christmas" album hit the charts, Bob began releasing more tunes and they grew to have their own life separate from the radio show. When he retired in 2014, he was recalled in the press as a morning host who didn't need to shock -- he just unleashed superior wit and musicianship to get his laughs. As alway, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Bob? Bob was a master of stylistic satire and his take on Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" is parody perfection. https://youtu.be/9hNkfvW64VU?si=V5ypF_XYpQr4a-80 https://youtu.be/9hNkfvW64VU?si=V5ypF_XYpQr4a-80 Bob once said he believed the OJ Simpson murder trial generated more Twisted Tunes than any other single event. This one, "OJ's Dirty Laundry" is a fine parody of Don Henley's then-big hit. https://youtu.be/As5swSslDVM?si=Mz8rc6IQf2JD9ocd https://youtu.be/As5swSslDVM?si=Mz8rc6IQf2JD9ocd Perhaps the most popular Twisted Tune was Bob's parody of Joan Osborne's "What if God was One of Us?". https://youtu.be/wwnXsdCbUYI?si=BRxPbvGkxdxPmO46 https://youtu.be/wwnXsdCbUYI?si=BRxPbvGkxdxPmO46 It doesn't happen often, but even in retirement Bob still pops out a Twisted Tune and the one he did for Covid showed he'd lost nothing off his fastball! https://youtu.be/RgAbsDKHaW0?si=5TkunrGaWZ5OUv5b

3m

Jan 03

It's Ebony and Ivory, baby, and we've got the Chairman of the Board to sing it for you today! Well, ok, we actually have Joe Piscopo with his superb Frank Sinatra impression that he frequently deployed on Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s. His SNL run also included one of the most cringe inducing (in a good way) SNL characters ever -- Doug Whiner. After a few missteps along the way after SNL (bodybuilding!), Joe developed a touring act that focuses on his musical impressions and has become a long running talk radio host in New York. As always find extended cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Joe? Joe Piscopo has the misfortune to join SNL just after the original cast and Lorne Michaels had all departed. Lucky for him, Eddie Murphy was also along for the ride and they were the only two kept the next year when they became breakout stars and were featured in what is often voted one of SNL's best sketches ever -- take it away Stevie Wonder and The Chairman of the Board. https://youtu.be/U3-2Z2rmG0w?si=OTAogohQXoxAqq1K https://youtu.be/U3-2Z2rmG0w?si=OTAogohQXoxAqq1K&fbclid=IwAR0wMpN0tHYyTC7Qx2p8bNrSD1VuZK5d52bByIfO3GkZwwhlHtFT3YNxSYg While his mimicry made him a star, Joe stood out in other sketches, none more so than as Doug Whiner, half of "The Whiners", a couple who meet every minor problem with a gale force blast of -- well, whining! https://youtu.be/xH8yt71CDNU?si=9N7fFa3SAD4vW7Dd https://youtu.be/xH8yt71CDNU?si=9N7fFa3SAD4vW7Dd&fbclid=IwAR0BRvH9lacOFuW21rSTDQSTxco4f7Dzk76tp9iVV6l_AgbSaAUyOlrM73A Joe had always reveled in his New Jersey background -- in later talk radio incarnation he was known as "Jersey Joe". So is it any surprise that the centerpiece of his 1985 comedy album and special titled New Jersey would be another favorite son. https://youtu.be/otfMyWmkWfY?si=WQQwWhZzmDwToUSh https://youtu.be/otfMyWmkWfY?si=WQQwWhZzmDwToUSh&fbclid=IwAR0JCvkwCQXergyKKjvlY6inN7vKz2_CgfN2-N7IVTJ7gik8ol32G3XPx6I Sorry for the rough picture quality, but we had to throw in a little bonus this week -- an extended cut of Joe as Sinatra absolutely wrecking rock songs including Under My Thumb. You'll never hear it the Rolling Stones way again. https://youtu.be/U3-2Z2rmG0w?si=MYrFx2hnvRZVg5Ai https://youtu.be/U3-2Z2rmG0w?si=MYrFx2hnvRZVg5Ai&fbclid=IwAR0KGt6sSYzxURI5QZ2cV6mr1qF5AiWw_csLKYJIdaGv2kdFYz5rJd-9IwU  

3m

Dec 26, 2023

Happy Holidays from Randy and Steve! Instead of a single artist this week, we're going to dip into a little holiday comedy that will bring a smile to your face. Allan Sherman? Check! Elmo and Patsy? Check! Adam Sandler? Check! Doc Mo She (???) Check!!! You get the picture. And you also get our thanks for letting us be part of your holidays this year. As always, find extra cuts in the comments (and these are gems) and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Holiday Humor? Jeff Foxworthy was a titan of standup comedy back in the 1990s and as all entertainers do, he adapted his shtick to the holidays and issued his version of the 12 Days of Christmas -- adding his "redneck" flavor to the proceedings. https://youtu.be/h8ISVIOgPJA?si=3yR6c1r-ARhM30UG https://youtu.be/h8ISVIOgPJA?si=3yR6c1r-ARhM30UG&fbclid=IwAR2cEy2c714S6Bj09EplmjFsk_yKmRsWqYf0_GBl6HUN6NDT7OMpxt1-gQ4 We love Allan Sherman here and one of his best parodies was his take on the 12 Days, featuring some of the cheesier gifts of the moment. https://youtu.be/DgrkqDJFQoo?si=P3dWLQc1XKLJil-T https://youtu.be/DgrkqDJFQoo?si=P3dWLQc1XKLJil-T&fbclid=IwAR21rVlRt7yUfT14HDDFH2tccxkVJb6TjDXQieGifbYWMmzbzVUz7wwXss0 Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis have created many fine comic characters, but none more beloved than those hosers from the Great White North, Bob and Doug McKenzie. Their take on 12 Days has a distinctly Canuck feel! https://youtu.be/c3aCw-RurOk?si=KQq8pBgYaZi0NDKW https://youtu.be/c3aCw-RurOk?si=KQq8pBgYaZi0NDKW&fbclid=IwAR14ue_sqqBykV-vHqqC_qUL-iitux6R7UP3nGO7ijrzbheTotE46EcscQU If there was an all-time Christmas novelty tune, Elmo and Patsy's "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" would surely be in the mix. A folk duo from Marin County, Elmo and Patsy cut this tune for fun, but it soon found its way onto radio playlists -- it was different, it was funny, and it was FCC clean! For DJs that was a Christmas miracle! https://youtu.be/MgIwLeASnkw?si=x1M2atIIojTp3VKl https://youtu.be/MgIwLeASnkw?si=x1M2atIIojTp3VKl&fbclid=IwAR2oxYqvgGGpWe51mdAoUqJhlXXRYq7omHoi7xJamYQslePTFZrMZNsQDoQ You don't usually associate Psychobilly/Roots wild man Mojo Nixon with Christmas tunes, but he weighed in with a naughty disc (Horny Holidays) back in 1992 and it had his great read on "Mr. Grinch"!https://youtu.be/A1YVehEGG6E?si=kFpqbEns4eQ0IQkJ https://youtu.be/A1YVehEGG6E?si=kFpqbEns4eQ0IQkJ&fbclid=IwAR2STEdHjQ-UjwQ1WFcVpxHopX0yWIsgo7C1QUZbcsbiX6oT4An6jNBkLJ0 The Christmas Jug Band is made up of some of the finest Marin County musicians and they come together once a year for a few fun and popular holiday concerts. They can handle the traditional holiday tunes -- and they can deliver this, a fun little ditty about Santa losing a prized possession!!https://youtu.be/D9zli5IC6qE?si=lWtM5I_OIDYjtD4- https://youtu.be/D9zli5IC6qE?si=lWtM5I_OIDYjtD4-&fbclid=IwAR2QTZyiy5C6LCMfU_SPnCghAp_C7-5J_BKD5h5X7YJvGSTSfKTWOr3QYto We always leave room for some Hanukkah humor, and it's getting easier to find each year as a new generation of Jewish humorists takes over. The absolute icon of the genre is Adam Sandler's Hanukkah Song and here it is in all its SNL glory. https://youtu.be/KX5Z-HpHH9g?si=_AwmyvJ0035RHGDK https://youtu.be/KX5Z-HpHH9g?si=_AwmyvJ0035RHGDK&fbclid=IwAR3g1Kj-XP-AId5gr1Lx822XLRYSlDD321RoRqe3Va15yKQ3l2DwKWfqZMo Tom Lehrer wrote some of the best satirical songs ever, but his initial career was brief. So it was a delight for fans when his box set contained a few new tunes, including "I'm Spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica"! https://youtu.be/R_3FjHEbdhc?si=uUUf3gGxy7XF6bIs https://youtu.be/R_3FjHEbdhc?si=uUUf3gGxy7XF6bIs&fbclid=IwAR3SJyvzzz_EJUEfT8dG01aTTWcWt_SUn-GDGpolrF6aHEIXZylT1jVx5yw Hanukkah Hip Hop? Of course we've got you covered! We saw a video of this years ago at a Dr. Demento lecture -- it's Doc Mo She, The Hanukkah Homeboy, letting you know what he's all about. https://youtu.be/Er8a7gOPe5Q?si=qNlRPZwWLLKIbtIj https://youtu.be/Er8a7gOPe5Q?si=qNlRPZwWLLKIbtIj&fbclid=IwAR1JNz8CHRFaC4IqXtH_EvfqCc7p9kPly72vwieuEo6YEn2BhcZvwvvEPJY

3m

Dec 19, 2023

Saturday Night Live has always had cringeworthy characters and none moreso than Pat Riley, the androgynous, uncomfortable, and very funny creation of Julia Sweeney, this week's legend. With deep improv roots, Julia was on SNL for four years in the early 1990s, but after life dealt her a bad hand with a cancer diagnosis, she pivoted to one-woman shows, including God Said Ha! (about her medical journey) which later had a movie version produced by Quentin Tarantino. Since then, Julia has continued with one-woman shows and juicy supporting roles including as Andy Bryant's micromanaging mother. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Julia? Julia's most famous character was the androgynous and cringe inducing Pat Riley who she created at the Groundlings Improv Company, then took to Saturday Night Live and the big screen. Here Pat interacts with another legend -- the great Catherine O'Hara -- and the results are comedy perfection. https://youtu.be/Y6PcTOKSP0A?si=5FABnp5ebnNCJBpi https://youtu.be/Y6PcTOKSP0A?si=5FABnp5ebnNCJBpi&fbclid=IwAR1WPm14j9oU7QguNfguyD0_bnyDvMLn1A66jBbYZOWbZ8Z6o1D3aklllfY Julia turned her greatest challenge -- a cancer diagnosis -- into her greatest triumph, the one-woman show God Said Ha! It's an intimate, tender, emotional, and very funny look at an often taboo topic. This snippet will give you a flavor, but the whole film is well worth your time.https://youtu.be/NcxWc6bpA-w?si=yvpfM5nKX7j7k9iG https://youtu.be/NcxWc6bpA-w?si=yvpfM5nKX7j7k9iG&fbclid=IwAR2oL5JoV9P7vs5Kkl1iWaL5mqG6dZt_nuYH_b0cVBrdWJpHfaKC05jFbeU In recent years Julia has continued with one-woman shows, but she has also taken some great character roles such as that of Aidy Bryant's nagging mom in the Hulu Original series Shrill.https://www.metacritic.com/.../season-1/episode-2-date/ https://www.metacritic.com/tv/shrill/season-1/episode-2-date/?fbclid=IwAR07wxwkfg3I-23K8jUsQmtAvqr0_076l9sOU3Wa7d1rpBXUPQm0aMDjyok      

3m

Dec 12, 2023

For five decades Don Knotts charmed the public from early work as an ensemble player on The Steve Allen Show to his long run as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show to more family-friendly Disney movies than you can count, Don turned his "nervous man" personal into comedy gold. Later in his career, Don found a niche in small, but juicy supporting roles on Three's Company and in movies such as Pleasantville -- and he also reunited with Andy Griffith for the Matlock series. As always find more clips below and thanks for watching our shows! Want more Don Knotts? Don's greatest triumph came when he was cast as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife, a lovable bumbler, in The Andy Griffith Show. Here is one of Don's all time great bits as Barney gets into an argument with Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle. https://youtu.be/A1D78Y60gvo?si=oiL3o2wJBbWfQrqP https://youtu.be/A1D78Y60gvo?si=oiL3o2wJBbWfQrqP In the 1960s Don starred in a run of family-friendly movies including The Incredible Mr. Limpet, The Love God, The Reluctant Astronaut, and our fave -- The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. Here are some highlights of Don in that film, playing the high strung Luther Heggs. https://youtu.be/fkSk-Zz9Bno?si=HHYinseQbbAZtUdn https://youtu.be/fkSk-Zz9Bno?si=HHYinseQbbAZtUdn In 1979 Don returned as a tv series regular playing the lovable landlord Ralph Furley on the comedy hit Three's Company. https://youtu.be/NEE05Egqjlo?si=3PwAyPNpQxq7IquY https://youtu.be/NEE05Egqjlo?si=3PwAyPNpQxq7IquY Late in his career, Don appeared in a number of juicy supporting tv and film roles including a mysterious and slightly sinister tv repairman in the comedy-drama Pleasantville.https://youtu.be/Mii7EcFsGho?si=T1UFxJ0hwBphv-3U

3m

Dec 06, 2023

Grab some confetti and settle in to meet Rip Taylor -- The King of Confetti! A flamboyant slinger of "rim shot" jokes, Rip initially punctuated his act with exaggerated crying when his gags bombed. Ed Sullivan was a fan (he booked him over 20 times) and dubbed Rip "The Crying Comedian". Much later when bombing on the Merv Griffin show, instead of crying Rip was moved to tear up his joke cards and toss them in the air like confetti. The audience went nuts and from then on it was confetti instead of crying -- and a career that saw long runs in Las Vegas, many game and talk show appearances, and supporting film roles including Indecent Proposal (a rare dramatic turn) and Wayne's World (a great comedic turn). As always find more clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Rip? The New York Times once described Rip as a cross between Captain Kangaroo and Liberace, wound up to warp factor 7. Pretty good description! https://youtu.be/50pFJU99wUw https://youtu.be/50pFJU99wUw?fbclid=IwAR3PcosoV_kDhxQ0RlrzqHaI7gtO46H-6-abBf-ZW1xpdHDAX--nwLoA2o4 Ed Sullivan gave Rip his big TV break and had him back over 20 times. Here's an early Rip performance sans mustache and with crying, not confetti, as the shtick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rm4g_ZGx-c https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D2rm4g_ZGx-c%26fbclid%3DIwAR2I9WId0jwTYDwNEFYBqxAm-xriDykIOj9Ep31yCk_pXCX0EO9Za4kIhW4&h=AT2OHtGxm3gJY5-z3pqX8kL2UPqul93qgqO1Cvnu3OsWcOCqMgaVii3SX4mwlpxZReoeihaO4X4F6nUeenAts6w0ZQ28WOio2Z9dxLg-AqzyqoWUiOetwgHzO34_0Yds8QcLTWmp8wqogNk99QCCVe8&__tn__=R-R Rip was over the top, so in 1978 when producing madman Chuck Barris had an idea for another show that would do for beauty pageants what the Gong Show he tapped Rip to be the host. So back from the glory days of shlock tv -- here's a bit of the $1.98 Beauty Show! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF7yrbl_X6E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF7yrbl_X6E&fbclid=IwAR08jCoDb79tLQzapsmtDRYfQ8TqeJjHCcE-2KtzoVBgAfT48VGi0p0FdzE

3m

Nov 28, 2023

He's Chevy Chase. . .and you're not! From early work with the National Lampoon Radio Hour to his time as the first anchor of SNL's Weekend Update, to a varied (and variable) movie career, Chevy Chase has blended snark and slapstick to the delight of fans. Films such as Fletch, National Lampoon's Vacation, and Caddyshack were box office hits while other projects such as a Fox late night show were bombs. And there were many stories of Chevy and his coworkers scrapping (sometimes literally) along the way. So fans were surprised when Chevy reemerged as Pierce Hawthorne in the NBC sitcom Community. That didn't end well either, but it was a welcome callback to the time when we all stayed up late waiting for the words "Live from New York, It's Saturday Night!" As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Chevy? Chevy's tenure at Saturday Night Live was stormy, but maybe that was inevitable as he became the breakout star of the first season with his pratfall filled opens and his Weekend Update anchor gig. Here's Chevy with one of his most notorious impressions -- that of perpetually clumsy President Gerald Ford. https://youtu.be/_bvxZgCryUE?si=nYQ8kyW-I4log8Nh https://youtu.be/_bvxZgCryUE?si=nYQ8kyW-I4log8Nh&fbclid=IwAR3LnwO74n407MIqS61hx02wSKm2e2fmWMznhOqFzlB2pYnQoDCwjp95NEY Chevy's first two films were rom-coms which confused his fans who were expecting sharper edged comedy. That came in 1980 courtesy of Caddyshack, a Lampoon production that included great work from Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, and Ted Knight. All together now -- Be The Ball! https://youtu.be/I3akC_INsFc?si=iY_iB8Msu6xrNUBk https://youtu.be/I3akC_INsFc?si=iY_iB8Msu6xrNUBk&fbclid=IwAR27TR6EXXaWNlFlvG1Y6hOyM_hRxuqWJxUGViVunw5BMQbbD1Y7gnfZU0Q Chevy pretty much fell off the radar in the early 2000s, so it was a surprise at the end of the decade when he was cast as older community college student Pierce Hawthorne in NBC's Community and gained a new generation of fans. https://youtu.be/srIhtTPUJ_g?si=DcgRiITlDt1j7Rzi https://youtu.be/srIhtTPUJ_g?si=DcgRiITlDt1j7Rzi&fbclid=IwAR1SR544REkZDEDvzlrx8ATmkPOBOuAqnzpkuYQPPdI_SUqCqQmQybCcpaE

3m

Nov 21, 2023

Meet Kate McKinnon, one of Saturday Night Live's greatest "most valuable players" in this miniprogram. From early work in a college sketch troupe, to a breakout role in The Big Gay Sketch Show, Kate next made the leap to Saturday Night Live where her versatility and mimicry made her a legend. At the same time, Kate began to establish herself in movie comedies including the all-female Ghostbusters reboot and this year's smash hit Barbie in which Kate plays -- you guessed it -- "Weird Barbie". As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Kate? Kate was a treat as Weird Barbie in 2023's smash Barbie movie. Here's a sample. https://youtu.be/66cMkxolaHM?si=y6mZX9IgwlJwASw3 https://youtu.be/66cMkxolaHM?si=y6mZX9IgwlJwASw3&fbclid=IwAR1FUACoWaRvKuaesOnxBBD_8NC9WU4WI_KI9sIT4GVCtxIgc1P7ViXk_og One of Kate's standout characters from SNL was Colleen Rafferty, a woman with unusual alien encounters! https://youtu.be/OuRnPvJe7C8?si=2o1PEDqMNN7ebHOM https://youtu.be/OuRnPvJe7C8?si=2o1PEDqMNN7ebHOM&fbclid=IwAR1Ho3AqQ_QiYmMfoYutAkDjeQgAMWilNVnwNLHOWosQWq3M6T0MbYYwy4w One of Kate's best SNL impressions was Trump advisor and "fake news" inventor Kellyanne Conway, here envisioned in a therapy session with husband George. https://youtu.be/0B96ZM3C-h4?si=rmFi9lvHGxANyC7g https://youtu.be/0B96ZM3C-h4?si=rmFi9lvHGxANyC7g&fbclid=IwAR1Y4ijNiS_NFDM_11ScnZnkim3pjelnob4Jocs4k4jbCqbRhHf91Kul9mI Kate's versatility allowed to play both female and male roles -- such as her take on Covid guru Dr. Anthony Fauci. https://youtu.be/IqgyBN0OIns?si=A4bw-XYnxjdaqOTm https://youtu.be/IqgyBN0OIns?si=A4bw-XYnxjdaqOTm&fbclid=IwAR1votaNHIgInAlku_L1JT8IZBGySTNZYTgdzMrlI2ZphXNHR8U00zELnD0 This one is delightful. Kate plays the Devil who it turns out invented podcasts. And who better as a guest on the Devil's own podcast than Alan Dershowitz! https://youtu.be/3c5neBXQwf8?si=WDS_X0KZYR2Phatt https://youtu.be/3c5neBXQwf8?si=WDS_X0KZYR2Phatt&fbclid=IwAR1kr8L-v4Uy2-0-2XDqeN4hz9HFV_WMGc8ZMWh1JOvOMA-bG9RE7gGn5y4 When Paul Feig recruited an all-female cast for a Ghostbusters reboot a few years ago, a key role went to Kate who played eccentric and slightly disturbing physics specialist Dr. Jillian Holtzman -- here recounting an unfortunate lab incident. https://youtu.be/X5FgreIMIQo?si=30YyVm-kU7cpAnZX https://youtu.be/X5FgreIMIQo?si=30YyVm-kU7cpAnZX&fbclid=IwAR3Wr-URSrGtt5OEyz880WtuHOrt9uD3D-TBjQUnwbEOv77uwKyBxU95k1k  

3m

Nov 14, 2023

Meet Morecambe and Wise -- that's Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise -- who formed one of Britain's most illustrious and best-loved double-acts of all time. From beginnings in post-WWII Great Britain the lads soon found a home first on radio, then with television series and specials that spanned 20 years. And, for many of those years, they produced Britain's most watched Christmas special -- a real tradition. Morecambe and Wise were versatile, with both men capable of song and dance as well as either the comic or straight man role. That versatility made them a huge influence on future British comics including Ben Elton and Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Not bad for a couple of song and dance men who just wanted to make people laugh. As always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Morecambe and Wise? Morecambe and Wise had oodles of chemistry -- perfect for two guys who could flex between the comic and straight man parts with ease. Here is some typical banter with Shakespeare the focus. https://youtu.be/WMXz2SCqtfg?si=rMO19GXNPcWZD__6 https://youtu.be/WMXz2SCqtfg?si=rMO19GXNPcWZD__6&fbclid=IwAR1cE5RdsIfx72s6_t5XJhwwFaQ5v1uofUv_zpna9cA6qMAeQmVMRikkELM As one of Britain's top variety shows, Morecambe and Wise were the place to be for pop stars including a man who was the biggest of all back in the early 1970s -- Tom Jones! -- who shows a bit of comedic flair himself. https://youtu.be/e66z6nnWKq0?si=Siv0_Hkb0kiPECpT https://youtu.be/e66z6nnWKq0?si=Siv0_Hkb0kiPECpT&fbclid=IwAR3mxIqDDHAyl5n9Lel4FTavQ0Fd-YDUD9AEcZHDB6ih2mRN60g0ZgMdQAU One of Morecambe and Wise's secrets was the quality of their scripts, mostly written by Eddie Braben who also was the pen behind David Frost and Ronnie Corbett. It allowed them to draw top-notch guest stars including Andre Previn, here helping the boys with a classical music bit (taken from the 1971 M&W Christmas Special). https://youtu.be/R7GeKLE0x3s?si=sBr-gYcqixGc1l8j https://youtu.be/R7GeKLE0x3s?si=sBr-gYcqixGc1l8j&fbclid=IwAR0p9u3MH0pIj40mdUOfqDg0SCPUtZbbb2ZGl9ztbawBmdttimiSsKdDhj0

3m

Nov 07, 2023

This week we sample some classic Halloween Humor from everyone ranging from Bo Diddley and Tom Lehrer to Joe Flaherty and Bobby "Boris" Pickett. While Christmas remains the big dog among holidays for comedy records, Halloween has a more than respectable showing, particularly in the 1940s and 60s, the heyday of novelty songs reaching the Billboard Top 40 charts. So if you aren't able to sneak enough candy from you child (or grandchild's) treat bag, enjoy these comedy confections (plus no calories). As always, find complete cuts below and thanks for listening and sharing our shows. Want more Halloween Humor? Jerry Seinfeld is a master at observing everyday life and his Halloween routine is a brilliant look inside a kid's mind on the one day a year when the manta is "get candy!" https://www.facebook.com/nationalcomedycenter/videos/360617858385857/?mibextid=zDhOQc https://www.facebook.com/nationalcomedycenter/videos/360617858385857/?__tn__=R-R If you lived on the East Coast, your faux Dracula tv host was Philly DJ John Zacherle -- known as the "Cool Ghoul" -- who scored a national hit with the tasty Dinner with Drac.https://youtu.be/vZa_kmCxflg?si=mMI9cAsU6mpcBVzx https://youtu.be/vZa_kmCxflg?si=mMI9cAsU6mpcBVzx&fbclid=IwAR3zTHhws5ZPtTQ65iQVescQ4_iWvWt9GKsi3ZBSjdSZmaWpmAFYO9BSlw4 Novelty song king Allan Sherman couldn't resist getting into the Dracula act with "My Son the Vampire." To be honest, it isn't his best, but man is he committed to a premise -- you will never hear the word "blood" the same way again! https://youtu.be/9B4HroAm78o?si=UY4V0JloLgSU6I-N https://youtu.be/9B4HroAm78o?si=UY4V0JloLgSU6I-N&fbclid=IwAR19Jvw--03p4xNxFabhBk7uGRCO604AC7h5C1DjcobfeoPY73MSR7Bd6YY' Tune into SCTV back in the early 1980s and you might see Joe Flaherty adopt the persona of Count Floyd, lame late night tv movie host. His movies -- usually 3D stinkers -- would often feature John Candy's "Dr. Tongue" in a key role. Case in point -- this epic Monster Chiller Horror Theater -- featuring Dr. Tongue's 3D House of Cats! https://youtu.be/SMQ8qSEVFo0?si=04oWeuTwAntHIfOt https://youtu.be/SMQ8qSEVFo0?si=04oWeuTwAntHIfOt&fbclid=IwAR1PhqAz-egLaANABcHap3ObZWOtJneABFcqJHRcRm28i8yjX_7OmNXQPuw A legend in satirical song, Tom Lehrer's career was brief but stellar. This clip, taken from a 1967 Danish tour, features one of Tom's most macabre melodies -- "I Hold Your Hand in Mine". https://youtu.be/I9C2v1oLXQo?si=GcqRYbpDWqC2MJ9y https://youtu.be/I9C2v1oLXQo?si=GcqRYbpDWqC2MJ9y&fbclid=IwAR3Kd4t-MzIg_Xujgd7RNV7R3iWKYXkEOCHpX8LRHQvkBxKhvVlVSfRVW40 1959 saw voice actor Bob McFadden unleash a truly odd character -- Dor -- which was the backwards spelling of his recording partner, poet Rod McKuen. https://youtu.be/boMW2kVgk34?si=jSZ6AqOzF-ARHYD0 https://youtu.be/boMW2kVgk34?si=jSZ6AqOzF-ARHYD0&fbclid=IwAR0OABomOg69docxxwHYSY5-1RpGahZ_WLCTUGeCFrBPFjs54GLmetJfxlA Lambert, Hendricks and Ross are legends of vocalese -- the blending of jazz, scat singing, and sound effects and nowhere did it come together better than in Halloween Spooks. https://youtu.be/7adiWXwPCqU?si=iLbaDsTAO6sAFQeZ https://youtu.be/7adiWXwPCqU?si=iLbaDsTAO6sAFQeZ&fbclid=IwAR2VzV9Iz7VHjTUCyG1TghRtVWIZoFYM2oNc6htNk5Z18F6emu4Ry5_qXY8 The 1950s and 60s being the era of dance crazes, it's no surprise that Halloween has seen its share. First up, Bo Diddley, adapting his signature style to "Bo Meets The Monster." https://youtu.be/nc6mcuQ-T0A?si=lIopmrH8VZw_oOIz https://youtu.be/nc6mcuQ-T0A?si=lIopmrH8VZw_oOIz&fbclid=IwAR3JxafmQDZfP-fBqvPzIl0CQc4eoBcSTdsQRaNgA4Z_086Ba6KyXTHmW20 Once you've seen Ted Cassidy's Lurch character you won't forget him -- but in case you need a reminder here is a long forgotten disc in which Ted teaches us to Do the Lurch. https://youtu.be/p8w4fOBJd_s?si=Am3zRV0X9a3y8FOD https://youtu.be/p8w4fOBJd_s?si=Am3zRV0X9a3y8FOD&fbclid=IwAR3rD7VKKememFe7n44ygj8M2Ft72XbzUfXW_U2uLI98HMvXnQLZsHoi93Y Could we forget the Big Daddy of Halloween hits -- Bobby "Boris" Pickett's Monster Mash? Nope and here it is in all its cheesy glory -- and it still brushes the Top singles charts on occasion! https://youtu.be/vNuVifA7DSU?si=scJz5lV0KXs6PblJ https://youtu.be/vNuVifA7DSU?si=scJz5lV0KXs6PblJ&fbclid=IwAR0CU4E2XBq2iUOVGB_bodc4AlJdXQlEt9DcvDPr5jiL6DuiOwFFu05pOgE

3m

Oct 31, 2023

Today we meet a man who is a true perspiration to both of us, the great Norm Crosby -- also known as the master of malaprop. Born out of the need for a shtick when he was a young comic, Norm's ability to mangle the language on command was a hit with audiences and led to a decades long career in comedy clubs, long runs in Las Vegas, and myriad appearances in film and on television. Norm was also a staple at the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (and the much naughtier Friar's Club version), a regular on the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, and an unlikely pitchman for beer. Not bad for a comic with Catskills material, but a gift for garbled gab that was top shelf all the way. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Norm? If you want a nice sample of what Norm was all about this clip from the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967 is a great place to start. It's a simple riff on US History, but filled with the malaprop comedy that made his career. https://youtu.be/gshTXgcyoq4?si=Z3ZkQqqSMO4JrSkl https://youtu.be/gshTXgcyoq4?si=Z3ZkQqqSMO4JrSkl&fbclid=IwAR0HqByg8YE3bHSQxlVSpc83tvdCQIxxGUHBYG-UO0S3vur_WPUy9y28rS4 Norm was a Vegas stalwart with headlining gigs of his own, plus a long run opening shows for the likes of Tom Jones. Here's Norm guesting on the mother of all Vegas gigs -- the Jerry Lewis Telethon (Norm appeared 27 times). https://youtu.be/KjImNhOSDac?si=Cpo3iQkVowynKAT_ https://youtu.be/KjImNhOSDac?si=Cpo3iQkVowynKAT_&fbclid=IwAR0SjShoVr9rGeIaNOJatUl82zMWR5QA2auC8LcuURhhsZ9veorFPyVVq3Q Later in his career Norm found a new audience through an unlikely source -- he became a tv pitchman, most notably for the then new Natural Light Beer. Nothing like dressing up a lousy beer with some classic comedy! https://youtu.be/teUfoBNYXrY?si=VPa6k9mjestTFyj3 https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FteUfoBNYXrY%3Fsi%3DVPa6k9mjestTFyj3%26fbclid%3DIwAR31lO8hJtC9vpXJEkpTAqpqmNUM-KvJK0YSML5aYxumOwquI1v7vw_cQvg&h=AT2fTg8V1Hcpg51Wt3GrtPNRjRVf7vTYRUrQdgbfuUvdf8js-kTehymA7YQNvG0w_wX_sr98GrXcZ5viF1reaWBqSFiyH7eewSOMi7KQJovC6W6ewDyCpYbnL6GkxybC0yNXRBsICdx2ri2E_L7sHuY&__tn__=R-R

3m

Oct 24, 2023

Meet Alan Arkin, a sly comic actor who turned his fine eye for characters into a legendary career that spanned 50 years and won him many awards, including an Oscar at age 72 for Little Miss Sunshine. From his beginnings as a folk singer, to a stint with the Second City Improv troupe, to an iconic role in Catch-22, to late-in-life triumphs on the big and small screens, Arkin always imbued his supporting characters with first-rate humanity. As always, find more clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Alan Arkin? Like many iconic comics before (and since), Alan spent time at the Second City Improv Troupe and was a big part of their classic early sketches. Here is Alan, as Noah, auditioning animals fo the ark. https://youtu.be/GaqaFcG0sy0?si=6R41wo-M_gDu0DEa https://youtu.be/GaqaFcG0sy0?si=6R41wo-M_gDu0DEa&fbclid=IwAR2w38jjSPL5A8dMcrnyldQaUzv-B7dQC8jOGTgVrQtI5aU23nSdiP2-PiQ Little Miss Sunshine was a surprise hit back in 2006 with it's oddball family road trip capturing the public imagination. A big part of that was Alan's portrayal of the grandfather and his interaction with Abigail Breslin who played the title character. https://youtu.be/10WeBvmN0C0?si=3uAPgM2sja5kdImz https://youtu.be/10WeBvmN0C0?si=3uAPgM2sja5kdImz&fbclid=IwAR2GpOYHdCE_RkoEEZQNpZ0DzgdBcecvJvyCyWOjlnv86aUIR1wB5Zi0WXY Joseph Heller's antiwar novel Catch 22 was a cultural touchstone, and Alan's portrayal of Captain John Yossarian was key to the success of the movie adaptation. Here is Yossarian discovering the meaning of Catch 22. https://youtu.be/oRIFdh0QG7A? https://youtu.be/oRIFdh0QG7A?si=to-DheLUTce7Awqi&fbclid=IwAR0n4sTF29FY1Pi_FEspiH1IW-rls-TN9chsFBlB0O8NGykb4kfyKI1qMP4 Alan's last major role was as Norm Newlander, longtime agent to acting coach Sandy Kominsky (played by Michael Douglas). Their scenes together were warm and witty, imbued with wisdom that comes with age. https://youtu.be/gUgxPOIkVFQ?si=TDsZYl6thZbbQKis https://youtu.be/gUgxPOIkVFQ?si=TDsZYl6thZbbQKis&fbclid=IwAR2VtVNAA0E3gC77dD5pJ7L1OF621ft1xHuq8bUyFbdDh3R6Qafe_TqQI94  

3m

Oct 17, 2023

No, "EGOT" isn't a Tolkein or Star Wars character. In fact, EGOT status is far more rare, with fewer than a dozen winners of the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, AND Tony Awards to date, including this week's legend, the very funny, very pointed, and very bawdy Whoopi Goldberg. From an early one-woman tribute to Moms Mabley, to movies including The Color Purple, Ghost, and Sister Act, to a long run on ABC's The View, Whoopi has been a ubiquitous part of pop culture for nearly 50 years -- and she shows no signs of slowing down! As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Whoopi? Since 2007, Whoopi has been part of the panel on ABC's daytime talk show The View. Her mouth has landed her in hot water a few times, but more often it lands on comedy gold. https://youtu.be/VRI5IMOCwnY?si=mzSde7lZU30_MewT https://youtu.be/VRI5IMOCwnY?si=mzSde7lZU30_MewT&fbclid=IwAR0fVZ8qQgjQqBckTKi8YIPGMAMNz5tnn-LIViXRNCMNnUuhflVBEUCpcRY Whoopi won her first Oscar playing a psychic in the hit movie Ghost. As an intermediary between Patrick Swayze and his still-alive girlfriend Demi Moore, Whoopi brought a perfect balance of sensitivity and sass to the role. https://youtu.be/oAb2_-uv41Y?si=Rr2tlkK1UtVMVdz5 https://youtu.be/oAb2_-uv41Y?si=Rr2tlkK1UtVMVdz5&fbclid=IwAR0Xj2WdeKYmymkTANEHU5Q4QqlMa4m4gSTQavIFZwSGxsdl8Y-19w4vjbg Whoopi had a great run of hit movies in the 80s and 90s, none more beloved than Sister Act, a fish out of water classic in which Whoopi's "lounge singer on the run" gets placed by the Witness Protection Program into a convent. Here's Whoopi "freestyling" a mealtime blessing. https://youtu.be/-5lFiIvUZ_c?si=cj9zw1-MD1P3Pfac https://youtu.be/-5lFiIvUZ_c?si=cj9zw1-MD1P3Pfac&fbclid=IwAR2z-n9VrdbshyBIxxIuynM3Sx_ImzMtcRpUUh3fa0YZzMLhoIvTAtvYfKo

3m

Oct 10, 2023

The Wayans family has been associated with film and television comedy since the 1980s and Keenan Ivory Wayans is the patriarch of that talented group. After almost graduating with an engineering degree, Keenan pivoted to Hollywood with his good friend Robert Townsend, starring in the superb satire about the life of black actors called "The Hollywood Shuffle". From then on Keenan would mix film triumphs ("I'm Gonna Get You Sucka'!) with groundbreaking tv work ("In Living Color"). His comedy is urban, raunchy, and very, very funny. In recent years, Keenan has worked more behind the camera, often featuring family members in his casts. Find more clips below as always, and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Keenan? Keenan has spent so much time as a sketch actor, director, and producer that it's easy to forget he is a fine standup as evidenced by this 1983 set on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. https://youtu.be/OU91m_TtTTw?si=3V7_Pk2gVqRS4x22 https://youtu.be/OU91m_TtTTw?si=3V7_Pk2gVqRS4x22&fbclid=IwAR3Nw1a8DQuuxtcqkteF88VuzCvJwz2fZBGdO9BMpu-FxlFomaM56BQgm2Y Keenan found a kindred spirit (and early comedy writing partner) in Robert Townsend and their work bore fruit in the form of the 1987 satirical gem "Hollywood Shuffle". Here's a sample, featuring their take on the "Black Acting School". https://youtu.be/HoqmCwp95Q8?si=b9aFZqJpCI09J59C https://youtu.be/HoqmCwp95Q8?si=b9aFZqJpCI09J59C&fbclid=IwAR2pB1fKVuGSAHRI_Y1-2BmAivh0oL0OjTl6PDKPDn5Mesi-Iq7HWKAb1mE In 1990 Keenan launched his signature show "In Living Color". Conceived of as an edgier SNL, with a multiracial cast, In Living Color launched the careers of Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx, as well as Keenan's siblings Marlon and Damon. This bit about a sketchy shopping service is one of the show's enduring classics. https://youtu.be/55aHvFD-I80?si=hbBGhkZTEHOQA5L-

3m

Oct 03, 2023

If you'd like some pie with your coffee we can't help, but if it's a pie in the face you crave let us introduce you to a modern master of that slapstick art -- Soupy Sales! After starting as a teen dance television show host in Cincinatti (ala Dick Clark), Soupy switched to hosting a children's show -- a gig that on-and-off would serve him for four decades. Soupy's show was goofy, including lots of interplay with a cast of puppet co-stars and yes, lots of pies in the face for Soupy and his guests. He also scored a minor dance hit in the 1960s with "The Mouse" and later in life worked in radio and on the nostalgia circuit. And as for those pies -- once Soupy estimated he had taken 25,000 cream pies to the face and judging by the video evidence that exists we aren't doubting it. Besides it we did -- yep, we'd deserve a pie in the face as well! Find more clips below and thank for sharing our shows! Want more Soupy? Soupy was so associated with taking a pie in the face he included a song about it on one of his many children's albums. https://youtu.be/4js5cKeAslw?si=nIL8OxnloChQuW3- https://youtu.be/4js5cKeAslw?si=nIL8OxnloChQuW3-&fbclid=IwAR1ot8UFe8mk-hQo8N9J8J5bszhPx562DyLpp6RT9C8DrJYe9rHBiFPcdvY Soupy worked with a menagerie of puppet characters and none was more beloved than Pookie, a lion who could pitch punchlines to Soupy with ease. https://youtu.be/kcb87xi8cVg?si=mjuJ_MgGfuRa8b1R https://youtu.be/kcb87xi8cVg?si=mjuJ_MgGfuRa8b1R&fbclid=IwAR2mlnebeYMlR7MCw9J9PpmNsNg6OnUsT7SizvGZISWxNdoI8G9vESGwZE0 In the 1960s, Top 40 radio still had space for novelty records and Soupy scored a hit in 1965 with "The Mouse". https://youtu.be/kP1_F9zEF7o?si=m_xgQtLx2hiXgcgP https://youtu.be/kP1_F9zEF7o?si=m_xgQtLx2hiXgcgP&fbclid=IwAR0hgIBHSFIlUMV8Nk_zVpRun_8C_NkSgVZ4SItWZ1oz6QfY_rxZZ1oq4YM

3m

Sep 26, 2023

Meet a longtime favorite from North of the Border -- Rick Mercer! Over a career now over 30 years, Rick has had a hand in creating some of Canada's best loved satirical shows, including This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Made in Canada, and The Rick Mercer Report. Rick's gifts at blending news, parody, sketch comedy, and "person in the street" interviews have earned him multiple Gemini Awards (the Canadian Emmy), membership in the Order of Canada, and a Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from The Governor General's Performing Arts Awards. Not bad, eh? As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Rick Mercer? Canadians love to poke fun at Americans and few have done it better than Rick, whose "Talking to Americans" bit from This Hour Has 22 Minutes finds him showing Americans to be a bit clueless -- using our own words for evidence. https://youtu.be/7ZE0TuKTpo4?si=YBr4h3PSjXFVfkrt https://youtu.be/7ZE0TuKTpo4?si=YBr4h3PSjXFVfkrt&fbclid=IwAR2cErvGCnm98M1MMf3M9yOCMMzBS-pbQIqhBj3vsnYnw1z_jjZ6DGXWmc4 A big part of Rick's enduring popularity are his rants -- short and pointed bits of satire (in the style of the Dennis Leary MTV commercials). https://youtu.be/225Mx6ya7SQ?si=CWLSM4MwMN6ny-pZ https://youtu.be/225Mx6ya7SQ?si=CWLSM4MwMN6ny-pZ&fbclid=IwAR21X4e-FFdSz3od8JumHnw7sR5byEQk0RV2CMLXnHiFfuGAUlWPg6Xby_w Rick Mercer is a master at interview work and when he is paired with a wildman such as long-time Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry it's comedy gold. The topic? Why men's suits, of course! https://youtu.be/EFPuMzza9hk?si=LCqBq0Kjc0XCDVs0 https://youtu.be/EFPuMzza9hk?si=LCqBq0Kjc0XCDVs0&fbclid=IwAR2tKJSB82DXjzPOaAawhsnVpZEcrXkVk51cFJhVNpB4MLk4TgVyWTlYOmQ  

3m

Sep 19, 2023

Meet Andy Kaufman whose performance-art style comedy had the power to amuse, mystify, and (sometimes) offend during a short but brilliant run in the 1970s and 80s. A master of oddball characters, Andy first gained national fame with a groundbreaking spot on SNL in 1975, then in 1978 he took on the role of Latka the foreign mechanic on the smash TV sitcom Taxi. But fans who bought a ticket for his live show found themselves in a spectacle of edgy crowd work including a long-running bit in which Andy would wrestle female audience members for the "Intergender Wrestling Championship of the World." Was it all a put on? With Andy, who ever knew exactly where the line was drawn? As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Andy? Andy's breakout tv role was as Latka, a foreign mechanic, on Taxi. To take advantage of his range of characters, writers gave Latka multiple personality syndrome. But they all came from Latka, whose indecipherable accent was a staple at office water coolers during the show's run. https://youtu.be/NRKxPrFXbO0?si=ov1HyZXabHbyMfk_  Anyone who watched SNL in its early years remembers groundbreaking sketches and appearances and Andy's 1975 spot sure qualifies! https://youtu.be/Yxp23Gkvn9g?si=k-0shn_WLRLR4OJq Andy had a thing for pro wrestling, eventually sparking a feud with Jerry "The King" Lawler that landed in David Letterman's lap in 1982. Was it all a fake? Andy never broke character! https://youtu.be/FL9PGJslS6A?si=Xxjc_YVHni8bxoGD https://youtu.be/FL9PGJslS6A?si=Xxjc_YVHni8bxoGD&fbclid=IwAR1IAkphfD8AVY8hm8_ITJ3wUOMiR8p7gEqsfOSZlGHo8bcpI21oUdrVuTQ    

3m

Sep 12, 2023

Bill Dana is best known for his Jose Jimenez character which charmed television audiences in the 1950s and 60s but there was so much more. A gifted comedy writer, Dana created some classic comedy bits including Don Adams "Would You Believe?" routine from Get Smart and the superb All in the Family episode where Archie Bunker had Sammy Davis, Jr. as a guest in his house. Dana was also a civil rights advocate (he retired the Jose character because of its stereotypes) and a comedy historian, co-founding the American Comedy Archives at his alma mater, Emerson College. Find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Bill Dana? Back when a comedy routine could break into the radio Top 40, Bill struck comedy gold in 1961 when he released "The Astronaut" a Jose Jimenez bit that capitalized on the space race and raced up to number 19 on the Billboard charts. https://youtu.be/8YXKL86H6kU?si=AwogyYmDqOXeOSwF https://youtu.be/8YXKL86H6kU?si=AwogyYmDqOXeOSwF&fbclid=IwAR07p963PRMwcOBhAF_oYT1CRpgXqsekLuAZYksTp24k_lGszW62QIflrOQ Bill Dana became known to a wider audience as part of Steve Allen's superb comedy troupe, first as a writer, then as an actor. He created the Jose Jimenez character specifically for the show and his banter with Steve was an instant crowd favorite. https://youtu.be/9DMQJtKaXtM?si=y0iQJtKO24ZtK6JW https://youtu.be/9DMQJtKaXtM?si=y0iQJtKO24ZtK6JW&fbclid=IwAR2z8toCng0iqjyC0X9xpYkrAigAIPzlXx9FH2Dxp15JqWDQ2Ry-RsrfGc0 Back when a comedy routine could break into the radio Top 40, Bill struck comedy gold in 1961 when he released "The Astronaut" a Jose Jimenez bit that capitalized on the space race and raced up to number 19 on the Billboard charts. https://youtu.be/8YXKL86H6kU?si=AwogyYmDqOXeOSwF https://youtu.be/8YXKL86H6kU?si=AwogyYmDqOXeOSwF&fbclid=IwAR07p963PRMwcOBhAF_oYT1CRpgXqsekLuAZYksTp24k_lGszW62QIflrOQ

3m

Sep 05, 2023