Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve

Talk about political comedians and people are sure to mention Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, George Carlin and the like, but don't forget Will Rogers who blended sharp political points with homespun humor to become a huge star in the 1920s and 30s. From his beginnings as a vaudeville rope trick artist, Will developed patter that made his audience both laugh and think. When the Great Depression impoverished much of America he became a much more pointed commentator, especially about the inequality of rich and poor. In 1935 a tragic plane crash claimed Will's life, but his legacy lives on with a Broadway musical about his life, a one-man show starring James Whitmore as Will, and as the namesake for Route 66 -- The Will Rogers Highway -- proclaimed by Congress after his death. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Will Rogers? Will's most famous line is "I never met a man I didn't like" and that became the title for a Tony Award-winning musical about his life. Here's the title song. https://youtu.be/UnyHX7LqIGM?si=Ub0gnCX_0nD1xYYZ Will's weekly broadcasts were required listening in American households and Will was a master of the craft including this talk, recorded during the Depression. https://youtu.be/kyfvamwM4Yo?si=HliLiu6zp6yzUXJz After the Great Depression impoverished much of the country Will became more overtly political, endorsing FDR in 1932 -- but not without a sharp line or two.https://youtu.be/sKxaqK2ggcA?si=Qmp4sUCRX4hS7M1e

Each generation has their favorite SNL cast member and for those who started watching in the 1990s it wouldn't be surprising if Chris Farley topped their list. Chris' ability to match physical shtick with over the top characters was uncanny, whether Chris was doing a Chippendale's strip off with Patrick Swayze, extolling the superiority of Da' Bears, or ranting as Matt Foley, the world's most unlikely motivational speaker. A promising movie career (Tommy Boy, Black Sheep) had just begun when Chris followed his idol John Belushi (almost to the letter) and succumbed to an overdose at the age of 33. The death struck his cast members hard and they mourn him to this day with Adam Sandler providing a suitably goofy but thoughtful song about Chris when Adam hosted SNL in 2019. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. And just make sure you don't end up living in a van down by the river! Want more Chris Farley? Chris' most enduring character is Matt Foley, a highly unlikely motivational speaker with a great payoff line about his living situation. https://youtu.be/Xv2VIEY9-A8?si=WkmITF4d-mXk3RUQ Chris had a promising start in the movies and his debut pairing with David Spade in Tommy Boy is a gem. https://youtu.be/S2XvxDaIwCw?si=Flg7OXRuxMDWBy-H Adam Sandler has a way with songs, and his tribute to Chris Farley from SNL in 1989 is one of his best -- funny and touching. https://youtu.be/25IOsvWPQGQ?si=OHOd0Y3WfwJN33Xd

One of the titans of early tv sitcoms, as well as a massively successful producer, singer, and philanthropist, Danny Thomas earned his stripes as a radio comedian (especially on The Bickersons) in the 1940s, then hosted his own radio variety show, then in the early 1950s jumped to television and began his classic show "Make Room for Daddy". After that, while Danny would continue to make tv and stage appearances (including a 1970's reboot called Make Room for Granddaddy), he also conquered the tv production world with shows including The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mod Squad, and That Girl (starring real-life daughter Marlo Thomas). Closest to Danny's heart, though, was the word he did to establish the world-famous St. Jude Children's Medical Center, the result of a promise a young and struggling Danny made to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of lost causes. As always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Danny Thomas? A signature theme song was a must for early tv stars -- think of The Honeymooners -- and Danny Thomas was no exception with this fine jazz version of the Irish classic Danny Boy. https://youtu.be/rAMrzvqU2RQ?si=RutT59t7anfOh3_J To get a feel for Danny's comedy style, here's a great full episode of Make Room for Daddy from season six, back before tv discovered the world was in color. https://youtu.be/sJjFeM9ZvbU?si=lGXBgUiHE9RvTDI_ Late in his career Danny would take the occasional guest spot, as he did in Happy Days in 1978. https://youtu.be/qWxNS202fV4?si=vZaFGX990ROP5vF0 As with may 1960s(ish) era tv stars, Danny was happy to be a pitchman when needed and this is a great example -- a Maxwell House Coffee ad. Sorry for the video quality, but enjoy the "Brady Bunch house" vibes of the set.https://youtu.be/sJjFeM9ZvbU?si=lGXBgUiHE9RvTDI_

A chance meeting in 1950s Orange County, California led Bill Skiles and Pete Henderson to create a comedy team that lasted all the way until 2010. Henderson was a singer and pianist who played the straight man, and Skiles was a sound effects madman who could punctuate (and puncture) anything Pete was trying to say or sing. The boys got their start at Disneyland as a song and dance team, then got their first Vegas break in 1960 at the Golden Nugget. Serving as regular openers for musicians such as Andy Williams and The Carpenters, Skiles and Henderson worked clean, making them regulars on tv variety and talk shows in the 1960s and 70s. In their later years they worked the showroom and corporate circuit, including stints in Branson, Missouri. As Pete Henderson described their act, "it was ad-libbing, very visual, and Bill was like something someone had left running." As always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Skiles and Henderson? Many stars got their show business start at Disneyland -- Steve Martin worked in the magic store for example -- and Skiles and Henderson were no exception, being hired as a song and dance team back in 1958https://youtu.be/6R7HahXz1Bw?si=AA2L6v1AEur_3zFD. kiles and Henderson were all over TV variety shows in the 70s and 80s -- here's what those spots looked like. https://youtu.be/eiF8CIqPiWo?si=drwm2pi3vvUDB7Bv Bill Skiles was a sound effects master but he also was a superb impressionist including this bit which places John Wayne on the Mayflower.https://youtu.be/izjURzLAqKU?si=1UQPb-sFH8tLVAGp

Time for some country comedy today, courtesy of the legendary Sheb Wooley who was a fine actor and songwriter as well as comic performer. Sheb started out as a rodeo rider, as well as a guitar and fiddle man. When injuries from the rodeo kept him out of the military in WWII, Sheb pivoted to music scoring his first his with a bona-fide rock and roll novelty classic, The Purple People Eater. From there Sheb kept racking up the hits, using the name Ben Colder when contractual issues kept him from issuing new material. He also was a solid western actor with key roles in Rawhide and High Noon and Sheb's theme song for the long-running show Hee Haw became an ear worm in the 1970s (and beyond). So with his singing, songwriting, and acting all winning awards you can say Sheb was a rural renaissance man. As always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Sheb? One bit of Sheb trivia -- he was responsible for recording a scream that was subsequently used in many movies over the years. Known as the Wilhelm scream, Sheb laid it to tape back in 1951. https://youtu.be/rksd5v43zxI?si=ZiKwMhgjmzNQoLMj Sheb's first hit was a rock and roll novelty classic -- The Purple People Eater. Here's Sheb performing the song on The Ed Sullivan Show back in 1958.https://youtu.be/67tKNEsJjTI?si=flFb593sqlzYaWwO When legal issues prevented Sheb from releasing songs under his own name it was no problem -- Sheb simply morphed into Ben Colder -- a parody of a frequently inebriated country songwriter -- who would lampoon the country hits of the day. Sheb continued to release songs under both names for the rest of his career. https://youtu.be/NVGtxbN2yGs?si=7Ah1rXPiCxd0qKeE If you have ever had the theme to the television show Hee Haw stuck in your brain you have Sheb to thank or curse. Besides being a frequent guest, Sheb composed the theme way back in 1969. https://youtu.be/KBEreTkQbds?si=RTvcGJfy6VZom0mr

Take a cigar, a tumbler of scotch, a twinkle in the eye. and some salty opinions and you get Ron White, a stand-up star for nearly 40 years and one of the original "Blue Collar" comedians who mounted one of the most successful comedy tours ever back in the early 2000s. Ron's most famous catch phrase is "you can't fix stupid" which fit right in with Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a redneck," Bill Engvall's "Here's your sign" and Larry the Cable Guy's "Get R Done" delighting the audience and turning a 26 show tour into six years of shows. Since Blue Collar, Ron has continued as a top standup draw and occasional guest star in television comedies. in 2020, he announced, then abandoned plans to retire from the road, a relief to fans who like their southern-style comedy with a bit of edge. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Ron? Ron's right on this point. https://youtu.be/UQv7Tr8HbGE?si=9LCrjh0_m1IfF69V People who haven't seen clips of early Ron White are surprised to see a long-haired wild man in place of the nattily attired gentleman who appears today. https://youtu.be/uOQHwiiI9nU?si=66f2T7EXTd3JN9Ow Ron has the ability to connect with every person who just wants to get a beer on a hot day. Case in point. https://youtu.be/ClQuI8ds_dg?si=0ZgAlK-sVmqQOj0R Ron's most recent Netflix special finds him in fine form, tumbler and cigar still in hand (though more for props now). https://youtu.be/68hvA_vR-0Q?si=rn8KY4Ssk-EVCKe-

In the 1940s and 50s Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were on top of the comedy world with a smash act that dominated nightclubs, the silver screen, and that new-fangled television thing. The premise was simple -- Dean was a crooner and straight man who tried to keep the show going according to plan, while Jerry was an overactive man-child who would mug shamelessly, croon off key, walk around in the crowd, and generally cause chaos. The crowds loved it, but as you can imagine those were two large talents (and in Jerry's case ego) to contain in one act. They split after a decade with both going on to solo success but never quite recapturing the magic they had as a duo. Thanks to Frank Sinatra they reconciled though they never re-teamed -- but there is a lot of video that captures Dean and Jerry in action during their heyday. As always, find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Dean and Jerry? Dean and Jerry got their big nightclub break at Atlantic City's famed 500 Club. The picture quality on this one is poor, but it's fascinating -- an episode of the Today Show from 1956 featuring a number of stars from the club including Martin & Lewis who appear about 40 minutes in. https://youtu.be/x-2BHMfa5do?si=flVl7TyFSC4EPkUU Martin & Lewis were mainstays of early television with numerous guest shot on the top shows of the day along with their own series. This bit from Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater is from 1949. https://youtu.be/u7O3I0uww3U?si=PiWtq_-Qhfixq-Ap Jerry and Dean were big screen sensations, eventually making 16 features. 1953's The Caddy is one of their best -- dip in anywhere to get a taste of the boys in action. https://youtu.be/qrlbr4ziDL0?si=iwQBxX8lc2z_w5sp After splitting up Martin and Lewis famously didn't speak for 20 years, but that changed at the 1976 Jerry Lewis MDA telethon, courtesy of the Chairman of the Board. https://youtu.be/RRq2ed1fK2k?si=hj1l5xCFC_JCHoT0

This time out we have a real treat from across the pond. Neil Innes may not be the most recognizable name in comedy, but without him the Monty Python movies would be much the poorer (and we wouldn't have a Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band at all). Coming up as part of the British satire boom of the early 1960s, Neil was an artist and musician with a flair for the absurd. That certainly came to the fore in the Bonzos, where Neil often sang lead and wrote their biggest hit. He soon crossed paths with the Pythons who used his music in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (among others), and he later collaborated with Eric Idle on the faux-Beatles parody, The Rutles. An all-around good bloke, Neil remained a well-loved fixture in British comedy, including Bonzos and Rutles reunions, for the rest of his life. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Neil? Neil was a key member of the dada-influenced rockers The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. He wrote and sang lead on their biggest hit -- I'm The Urban Spaceman. https://youtu.be/olGXtohOs7c?si=C-yLWjWHi27hxE_u Monty Python and the Holy Grail is beloved by fans and the clever tunes by Neil are part of the reason why. Here Neil foretells the fate of his boss, the very very brave Sir Robin. https://youtu.be/ACajzIlzvH0?si=ZdJZ8X2TpQzpP1M George Harrison was a great patron of the Pythons and was always ready to take a piss out of his old band. This clip from Eric Idle's Rutland Weekend Television finds George in fine voice singing . . .what?https://youtu.be/zJFLiW10ZrE?si=MOI5msq9MPQUaHHp

One of the most popular comics of the 2000s, Amy Schumer is gifted with a tart tongue, superb timing, and a willingness to put TMI out there in search of a laugh. Amy also has turned her comedy into television and movie gold with an Emmy winning tv show ("Inside Amy Schumer"), cable specials, and juicy roles in films such as "Trainwreck." Her memoir -- "The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo" was a New York Times bestseller and more recently she made her Broadway debut in "Meteor Shower", (written by Steve Martin) and nabbing a Tony nomination in the process. How do you follow that up? By having a kid of course -- and performing a Netflix standup special in a very pregnant condition! As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Amy? Here's a big slice of early Amy from a Comedy Central special. It's always fun to see a comic on the cusp of becoming a huge star. https://youtu.be/HlJbSzNwR9I?si=rscd_S9PFJlHcBZL Amy's sketch show "Inside Amy Schumer" won two Emmy's and a Peabody award over it's five year run and a lot of the comedy still bites hard!https://youtu.be/m7NKKh8ocVA?si=s4TzVxFYwfGBjO5T Amy had a starring role in the Judd Apatow film "Trainwreck" and her chemistry with Bill Hader was perfect. https://fb.watch/wocx6k-zvo/ Amy uses every bit of her life for material and when she became pregnant -- check out this Netflix special to see how she deals with it. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1257604364890190

When we say today's comic is a real scream, we mean it! For most of us, our first introduction to Sam Kinison was his scream, often played as part of a radio station's "5:20 Funny". But there was so much more to Sam -- a bad boy who conquered the world of standup comedy (and music videos) for a few years back in the 1980s. Originally starting as a pentecostal preacher -- no doubt where he acquired his lung power -- Sam set down his bible and picked up a standup microphone as part of the Texas Outlaw Comics (which also included fellow Legend Bill Hicks). Rodney Dangerfield dug his act and gave him a slot on his 1985 HBO Young Comedian's Special. From there Sam rocketed into the comedy stratosphere with best selling albums, guest roles in movies and tv shows, and even a hit song (a remake of Wild Thing). Along with the fame came struggles with addiction but he appeared to have tamed his demons when a tragic car accident claimed him in 1992. But Sam's scream lives on anywhere there is someone who has just about had it with their current situation! As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Kinison? Sam's scream was his trademark and one of the first times he showed it off to a wide audience was on David Letterman in 1985. https://youtu.be/m_VURr6jnWQ?si=9Lo2yVqmgp6e-bFG Sam's breakout routine came on Rodney Dangerfield's 1985 Young Comedians' Special on HBO. Here's the part that made Sam a star -- edgy humor at its peak. https://youtu.be/K44DriPrLUk?si=RMdVcvDLAfI3HsfX Sam was a hit with the hard rock crowd and the video for his 1990 remake of The Troggs' Wild Thing featured a slew of cameos from hard rockers including Aerosmith and Billy Idol. https://youtu.be/0DbDI32y9tU?si=pt_Acjzu3_af8btN

In the 1950s Leslie Nielsen was best known as a dramatic actor in movies and on television. But in 1980, that was about to change. Leslie took a role in a new comedy movie that was looking for a solid, deadpan type to be in the center of "joke-a-minute" action. That movie was Airplane! and it launched Leslie on a comedic career that would include the Police Squad tv show and the Naked Gun movie franchise. Along the way, Leslie became a master at poking fun at his own image, hosting Saturday Night Live and being a frequent guest on game shows and talk shows. While his later movies didn't reach the artistic or commercial heights of his early comedy career it didn't matter -- his Legend was secure. And nobody gets to call him Shirley. Find extra cuts below and, as always, thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Leslie Nielsen? Back when there were watercoolers, this bit got used a lot by office wits. https://youtu.be/ixljWVyPby0?si=fveuiJdk9qiwAShe While Airplane! made Leslie a comedy star, the Naked Gun movies made him a box office titan. Here Leslie engages in a little old fashioned bribery with a source. https://youtu.be/uxviBxaSjyc?si=VvtVvpiiFP0_DAv9 In 1989 Leslie was tapped to host Saturday Night Live and, of course, they built on his ability to say the most outrageous things in a smooth and relaxed style. https://youtu.be/ooPJQZZ1ZCE?si=z1fcUZVRyQKktOJp Leslie was a regular in talk shows in the 1990s including Conan O'Brien's where Leslie demonstrated his favorite prank. https://youtu.be/k1ztkOcJrNE?si=fklwI-QQC1ByzOcY

When Chelsea Handler exploded onto the standup scene in 1994 her bracingly honest style was an instant hit with fans, launching a career as a standup comic and a talk show host that is still going 30 years later. Chelsea has always embraced her flaws -- her best selling memoir is "Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea" after all. But her candor also brought that out in her talk show guests starting with the long running Chelsea Lately on the E! Network. A recent guest hosting stint on The Daily Show was a success as was her most recent Netflix standup special "Revolution". Mix in some fearless observations about the current world scene and you have a comic who was made for these times! As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Chelsea? Chelsea's approach to standup was apparent from the start -- just talk about highly inappropriate things in a playful and snarky manner. Here's Chelsea in 2004 doing just that. https://youtu.be/yp7ep5PO7uo?si=a1KCS_kTl6eR3a-W As part of the search to replace Trevor Noah, Chelsea guest hosted The Daily Show for a week. This little bit of banter with the audience during a break is fun. https://youtu.be/GEmTUdTkRDU?si=oC_XrRrryY2ot2XD Chelsea remains a top draw on the standup circuit and her recent Netflix special "Revolution" finds her in top form. https://youtu.be/9vo7nJmKOSc?si=YgD48RejY2o3tKrv

Well it isn't St. Patrick's Day, but we still have the luck of the Irish with us because today's Legend is Brian Doyle-Murray. The older brother of Bill Murray, Brian has carved our a fine for career for himself with work at Second City, The National Lampoon Radio Hour, Saturday Night Live, and a slew of classic comedy flicks including Caddyshack, Wayne's World, and Groundhog Day. He even voices a great character (The Flying Dutchman) on Spongebob SquarePants. Brian -- like his brother Bill -- is also an avid golfer, co-hosting a Murray Brother golf tourney, and being part owner of two Caddyshack Restaurants, one in Illinois and one in Florida. And to all of that we say "well played"! As always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Brian Doyle-Murray? Brian joined SNL when the show was at a low ebb, but he still had some fine moments as in the SNL Newsbreak segment with Mary Gross. https://youtu.be/EyK5v_YmQrk?si=SRvrxFkWaoJBrr3U Caddyshack is one of the great movie comedies of the 80s and Brian has a fine turn as caddy boss Lou Loomis. https://fb.watch/vPd2A27BwW/ Brian had a juicy role in Groundhog Day as Buster Green, the master of the groundhog ceremony in Punxsutawny PA! https://youtu.be/dWLA3OavSgM?si=6iQJ0JU6a6SvMD-M In recent years Brian has become an sought after voice actor including a stint on SpongeBob SquarePants as The Flying Dutchman. https://youtu.be/lOdh2zKhufA?si=WJHU-96FBPOfe_tU

Without these guys, there may well not have been Monty Python or Firesign Theatre yet to much of the world they are just a distant (and very funny) memory. Who are these titans? It's the Goon Show which tickled British comedy fans during the 1950s with comedy that was smart, surreal, and sometimes just plain silly. The core Goons -- Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, and Harry Secombe worked off scripts penned by Milligan, playing a variety of off the wall characters. The voice work was superb and the structure of the shows is best described as avant-garde and four dimensional. Secombe and Milligan went on to successful entertainment careers and Sellers became an international movie star. But it all started with some guys who wouldn't play by traditional comedy rules -- and aren't we glad they wouldn't. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Goons? If you have time, crack open your favorite beverage and enjoy a complete Goon Show, this one from 1955.https://youtu.be/VuVFFNvyUT8?si=Rci_cSflpvqo7lrI Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers provided some of the favorite character voices for the Goons and this clip from 1954 shows their chemistry. https://youtu.be/clX7FInbQ58?si=xPNBPwV5ZZkyyTh6 While the Goon Show ended it run in 1960, the Goons did reunite for one final blowout for the BBC's 50th anniversary in 1972. It delighted their fans and probably mystified everyone else -- perfection!https://youtu.be/XF745ywyvVY?si=8JxivMO8DSBOielA

An absolute titan of 20th century comedy, Carl Reiner also was one of the most beloved writers/actors/producers/directors that Hollywood has ever produced beginning with his work on Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, then creating The Dick Van Dyke Show, then directing Steve Martin in The Jerk and George Burns in Oh God! And, oh yeah, he also created The 2000 Year Old Man routine with his best friend Mel Brooks. It was a simply amazing comedy career and, as always, you can find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Carl Reiner? With The Dick Van Dyke show, Carl created one of the greatest sitcoms of all time and he got in on the acting fun playing the egotistical boss Alan Brady. Here's some Alan's best. https://youtu.be/bHUfCA9EcE4?si=CJin7dTU-Ab5aG28 With Mel Brooks, Carl created one of the greatest two man bits ever, the 2000 Year Old Man. Carl supplied the questions, Mel supplied the answers, and comedy gold was spun. https://youtu.be/XOTKDgrdvdg?si=coNPQPn1iEYfteoA Later in life, Carl was seen as a wise elder to comedy writers and performers so it's no surprise that Jerry Seinfeld featured him on his great show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. https://youtu.be/grUEiFY1XUg?si=hbEv6LReCj1OcLkj

One of the brightest stars in comedy today, Andy Samberg started out just wanting to make some funny experimental films with his buddies. When some of those films reached Lorne Michaels he recognized the talent behind the movies and signed Andy (and his Lonely Island comedy mates) up as SNL writers, also adding Andy to the cast. A couple of years later Andy (teaming with Chris Parnell) unleashed a great video sketch -- Lazy Sunday - and a new SNL megastar was born. After SNL, Andy had a long run as Jake Peralta in the Fox sitcom Brooklyn 99, and he has continued to mix sketch comedy, tv guest roles, movies, and comedy albums to the delight of fans. Most recently, Andy "stars" in a comic book series (Holy Roller) in which he plays a bowling ball wielding Jewish superhero. And he has been tapped to play another Jewish superhero -- Doug Emhoff -- on SNL as the election nears. As always, find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Andy? Andy's first huge breakout bit on SNL was in a digital short called Lazy Sunday, which also featured Chris Parnell. Who knew that cupcakes and Narnia were so dope?https://youtu.be/sRhTeaa_B98?si=hO9l2RIpNKkjNPKx The Lonely Island was on fire when they released their first CD "Incredibad" in 2009, featuring this on the water, off the wall hip hop gem featuring T-Pain.https://youtu.be/k8F3UE9qFsg?si=r05EEFt5l-6LaXzW After leaving SNL, Andy scored a great role as Jake Peralta, a wiseass cop in a precinct full of oddballs. Brooklyn 99, which just wrapped up a decade long run, also earned Andy a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Jake.https://youtu.be/ygPBddnvhwY?si=EbXVW2_pSawrfoOn Andy has returned to SNL to play Doug Emhoff who in Andy's words is seeking to be "First Gentlemensch". It's great, as is this entire cold open for the first episode in season 50(!)https://youtu.be/pg4Z1M_GjhQ?si=3Yp1-_tRU0ORXzOm

Fans of classic Vegas lounge comics rejoice, one of your idols awaits this week and we guarantee a "slap-happy" time. We refer, of course, to Slappy White -- a legendary standup who opened for (among others) Dean Martin and Dinah Washington as well as headlining the big rooms himself. A veteran of the "chitlin' circuit" Slappy also became a frequent guest star in 1970s movies and tv shows with a particularly juicy role as Melvin White (Slappy's real name) on Sanford and Sons (courtesy of Redd Foxx, another chitlin' circuit graduate). Later in his career, Slappy teamed up with Steve Rossi when Marty Allen bowed out of that team, but he eventually returned to solo standup as well as frequent appearances on Friar's Club and Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Slappy? Here's Slappy with a fun bit from Redd Foxx's variety show -- dig the hair!https://youtu.be/e0NSxAhgMqk?si=Q3sZ3CyyROU2qfEy Slappy became friends with Redd Foxx when they both toured as comics with the Billy Eckstine band and that friendship was repaid with a key role in Sanford and Son, with Slappy playing Melvin White (his real name), a pal of Fred's. https://youtu.be/SjFcpNsC3hQ?si=4c8V_S4KX4OtBgCQ Like the Love Boat, the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts became a "must do" show for celebs on their way up and (mostly) on their way down. The "roasting" bits could be lame in the hands of regular actors, but in the hands of a pro like Slappy they came to life. Here's a time capsule for you -- Slappy's bit starts at 25 minutes in. https://youtu.be/BJrOzV5UrTQ?si=UpA9HusPYkRIm2un

This week we meet an architect of 1960s British Satire and a titan of 20th century media, Sir David Frost. From humble beginnings, David found his true course in college where he edited the school paper, edited the literary magazine, and for our purposes most importantly joined the Cambridge Footlights Society where he dove head first into the evolving British comedy scene. A genial presenter, David's first big break came as host of That Was The Week That Was, and he followed it up with more clever series including the Frost Report. Drawing on a writing and acting staff that included (among others) Roald Dahl, The Two Ronnies, and much of the Monty Python Troupe, Frost's shows were literate, topical, and very funny. Over time, David leaned into his interviewing skills (looking at you Dick Nixon) more than comedy, but his place in the comedy firmament is secure! As always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Frost? This clip is over 60 years old -- it's a great bit from That Was the Week that Was back in 1963 -- a consumer guide to religion -- and in true British comedy fashion David and crew take the piss out of everyone! https://youtu.be/tRZWyfERiCc?si=-iX3n5lUM0wEKr-n David followed TW3 with The Frost Report, another brilliant series. Here's a sample episode looking at "trends". https://youtu.be/dnD1WP5wt4s?si=hu2aVAVkkJk6j-oc David specialized in satire, but he also could be silly as in this appearance by the Beatles on his show. He persuaded the lads to play a shaggy version of his theme and they oblige!https://youtu.be/bVI7UWa5K3E?si=NFRMvcDR-oPNKDBB

The 50th (!) anniversary of Saturday Night Live has spawned a "biopic" focused on the debut show and the original cast. A fond look back is certainly deserved for Garrett Morris who battled stereotypes (think Chico Escuela and "Beisbol has been bery-bery good to me") to become part of television history. A fine actor and singer, Garrett was initially hired as part of the writing staff, then added to the cast after Lorne Michaels saw his work in Cooley High. After SNL, Garrett didn't enjoy the starring movie and tv roles of some of his colleagues, but he carved out a fine career in supporting roles and he periodically makes live appearance telling jokes and showing off his vocal chops. Garrett is a member of the Television Academy Hall of Fame, but he will be forever in our minds shouting the headlines over Chevy Chase's shoulder in the bit "News for the Hearing Impaired." As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Garrett Morris? Garrett didn't get too many solo sketches tossed his way at SNL so he made the most of them, including this bit on the White Guilt Relief Fund. https://youtu.be/JxAoPcZZatY?si=oVegkbGFXtu1-OwL When Steve Harvey welcomed Garrett to Celebrity Family Feud it was time for the master to toss a little playful crap at the student. https://youtu.be/g-H-09zdweY?si=DrihXb1pOJXFgduV Garrett remains a playful presence on screen and in the occasional live show -- telling jokes and singing. Here's a clip from the Catalina Jazz and Blues Club in 2017. https://youtu.be/f8fturBS6xM?si=mBDopchmLgv3zu-N

Meet Margaret Cho who emerged in the 1990s from a difficult childhood in San Francico to become a quadruple threat: stand-up comedian; actress; musician; and activist. In 1994 Margaret became the first Asian American to have her own TV sitcom (All American Girl) and after that was cancelled, she endured a period of drug and alcohol addiction before resurfacing with comedy that was far more pointed and personal. Margaret has also staged a burlesque style revue (The Sensuous Woman) and been a reliable guest star on television shows including HBO hits The Flight Attendant and Hacks. A prolific creator, she has recorded nine comedy albums and hosts two successful podcasts, along with a number of well-received books. As always, find more clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Cho? One of Margaret's earliest major appearances was as part of the Just For Laughs comedy festival. Here's a sample. https://youtu.be/34lLm_gFTEY?si=7ZMcmn0MSio-6Y0j After some rough years following cancellation of her sitcom, Margaret remerged with an act that had much more edge, including the well-received special "The Notorious C.H.O". https://youtu.be/2EkMNnNnYFI?si=G2_4GIzWtLb94eaC Margaret continues to be a draw on the stand-up circuit with a routine that is playful and pointed. https://youtu.be/pyTZ_LGU7QI?si=Nq461hjl0VJh7fb7