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Randy Hodgins and Steve McLellan’s lifelong love of comedy was kindled when they met more than 40 years ago in graduate school in Seattle. While managing family and professional work responsibilities, they hosted a one hour comedy radio program on Saturday mornings for 10 years on a small radio station in Olympia, WA and also co-authored two books on northwest popular culture – Seattle on Film (1995) and Wet and Wired (2000). Stuck at home during the early days of the pandemic with hundreds of comedy albums, cassettes and CD’s gathering dust on their shelves, they launched Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy in May 2020, a weekly mini-program featuring a different comedy icon, with biographical bits and a nice slice of the comedy that made them famous. From standup stars, to stellar sketch teams, to novelty music maestros -- they are all part of our Legends.
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Meet Stu Gilliam, a fine standup and character actor in this week's episode. From humble beginnings, Stu found his comedy groove in the military during the Korean War, entertaining his fellow soldiers with ventriloquism and quick one liners. After serving, Stu began a slow climb up the comedy ladder, catching a career break when Hugh Hefner began to book him in Playboy Clubs around the country. Those gigs led to many tv appearances, both as a standup and a sitcom actor, as well as some fun projects as a voice talent (Scooby Doo!) As always, look for extended cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows.
Tuesday Jun 28, 2022
Tuesday Jun 28, 2022
Reading Harold Ramis' resume is like reading a history of classic comedy from the 1970s to the 2000s. The National Lampoon Radio Hour, Animal House, Meatballs, Caddy Shack, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and SCTV -- Harold was a driving force in all of them as a writer, producer, actor, and/or director. He once said he liked to channel the wit of Groucho and the charm of Harpo and boy did he ever succeed. Plus he left us with one of the all time great safety tips (in the guise of Egon Spengler): "Don't cross the streams -- it would be bad." As always, look for extended cuts in the comments and thanks for sharing our shows. #HaroldRamis, #Ghostbusters,#SCTV
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
This time out we visit the birth of modern British satire with Beyond the Fringe. Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller, and Alan Bennett were University students who joined forces in 1960 to produce a stage revue that still is timely today. The Fringe is everything great about British satire -- irreverant, political, snarky, and even a bit silly at times. All four went on to distinguished careers (both inside and outside of comedy), but their early work truly stands the test of time (even if sometimes on one leg). As always find extra cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows. #Beyondthefringe, #britishcomedy, #satire.
Tuesday Jun 14, 2022
Tuesday Jun 14, 2022
Meet Yogi Yorgesson, the creation of Harry Stewart, who delighted audiences in the 1940s and 50s with parody songs delivered in a comically thick Scandinavian accent. A product of Tacoma, WA, Stewart developed his "Yogi" persona for a local radio station, then took it national when a series of holiday song parodies clicked with listeners. A long run of novelty tunes followed including the immortal "Who Hid The Halibut On The Poopdeck?" As always, find extended cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows.
Wednesday Jun 08, 2022
Wednesday Jun 08, 2022
Meet Charlie Callas, a rubber-faced wildman who was a ubiquitous figure on nightclub stages and tv talk and variety shows in the 1960s and 70s. Callas had a gift for punctuating his routines with wild sound effects which made him an audience favorite as well as a long-time opener for Frank Sinatra. He later became a frequent sitcom guest star -- and his voice graced many cartoons, including the classic "Pete's Dragon." As always find extra cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows!
Tuesday May 31, 2022
Tuesday May 31, 2022
Meet Paul Reubens -- better known as Pee-Wee Herman -- who came out of left field in the 1980s with a character for the ages. Paul was an improv player in Los Angeles when a failed audition for Saturday Night Live led him to create a stage show that was essentially an adult version of a kids tv show. There were cartoonish sets, wild supporting characters, and corny gags galore -- and presiding over it all was a man-child with an indescribable voice named Pee-Wee. That first success led to movies, tv, and Broadway (with a few bumps along the way). As always find extended cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows!
Tuesday May 24, 2022
Tuesday May 24, 2022
Meet Albert Brooks, one of the titans of the alternative comedy movement of the 1970s (and beyond). Whether you choose one of his Grammy winning comedy albums (Comedy Minus One, A Star is Bought), one of his classic motion pictures (Defending Your Life, Lost In America), or one of his voice acting gigs (Finding Nemo, The Simpsons), you will soon find that Brooks has a rare gift for making comedy that is smart, carefully crafted, and very funny. As always, look for extended cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows.
Tuesday May 17, 2022
Tuesday May 17, 2022
This time out go north to Canada with us to meet The Frantics, a great comedy troupe who blend sharp sketches with witty songs that have earned them a loyal following for over 40 years. From their birth in the fertile Toronto comedy scene circa 1979, to a long-running CBC radio show, to a late-career reunion that spawned from an old sketch gaining new fame on the Dr. Demento show -- the Frantics keep serving up great characters along with a catch phrase that will stick with you like a "boot to the head!" As always find extended cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows!
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
From the improv stage to a long run on SNL to a burgeoning movie career, Maya Rudolph has built a legendary career since first appearing on the scene in the 1990s. A gifted impressionist and musician, Maya's humor is sharp but playful and she is taking her talents to a new audience with her ongoing role as Judge Gen in the NBC hit fantasy/comedy series The Good Place. As always, find extended cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows!
Thursday May 05, 2022
Thursday May 05, 2022
This time out we enjoy some musical mayhem courtesy of Mickey Katz whose Yiddish-themed song parodies assaulted eardrums from the 1940s to the 1980s. A musical prodigy, Mickey got his show business start in amateur talent shows in his hometown of Cleveland and he served his country by playing in USO bands during WW2. While a short-lived pairing with another novelty master (Spike Jones) didn't take, Mickey soon built a formidable solo career by taking popular tunes and recasting the lyrics into enthusiastically delivered if sometimes incomprehesible yiddish. Fun fact: In addition to his solo career, Mickey also conducted the band at Beverly Hills Friars Club events for over 25 years! As always find extended cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows!