Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve

Jack Benny

An icon of 20th Century American humor, Jack Benny started as a violinist who would use comedy to save himself from bombing. He ended up as a legendary comedian who used the violin as one part of an indelible comic character. Vain, stingy, and eternally 39, Jack became a hit in the 1930s on the then-new medium of radio. He turned that into a stellar movie and television career -- earning himself three stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame -- one each for movies, radio, and television. Benny was also part of Hollywood's comedy old guard with friends ranging from Bob Hope and Johnny Carson to Benny's long-time best bud George Burns. Benny is often cited as the Jedi master of comic timing -- he could bring down the house with just a glance, a shrug, or a perfectly timed "Well!" As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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This is short but worth seeing the visuals as Jack is called out on his age in a delightfully backhanded way. https://youtu.be/qCCzO-9pWls?si=RIi6-QPXUqS4J074

Jack's radio show was fun for some of the byplay between Jack and Announcer Don Wilson. This "marathon" of Benny radio shows has a nice example at the start -- then stick around for more!https://youtu.be/qCCzO-9pWls?si=RIi6-QPXUqS4J074

Jack and Johnny Carson were good friends, dating back to when Johnny was the new kid in town. This bit from Jack's tv show is great fun. https://youtu.be/mUd1-_91YTk?si=3Ob1JIItYTInlxjO

Jack received a rare honor when he was cast in his very own Looney Tunes cartoon. Here's a taste, featuring some of Jack's regular co-stars. https://youtu.be/xB6TSameuYQ?si=XUz2xQuUgOuXrQVS

Hasan Minaj

Meet Hasan Minaj, one of the brightest young comedians out there -- and a man who almost became the new host of The Daily Show. Born in Davis, CA to immigrant parents, Hasan caught the comedy bug in college, commuting to San Francisco to perform. His style of sharp eyed comedy and his youthful appeal eventually caught the eye of Jon Stewart and Hasan was the last Daily Show correspondent hired by Stewart during his first run as host. Eventually Hasan left and started his own show, the award-winning "The Patriot Act" on Netflix, which won numerous awards including a Peabody. A kerfuffle over whether some of his comedy stories were embellished apparently cost him the chance to become Daily Show host after Trevor Noah departed, but Hasan continues with a busy standup career. As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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Hasan came to most of our attentions as a Daily Show correspondent (and almost host). Here's a clip package of some of Hasan's best from that show. https://youtu.be/3-0-81q-fGo?si=JISd8ym5R-Z5Wsia

Hasan won a Peabody award for his show "The Patriot Act" on Netflix, mixing comedy with sharp takes on the issues of the day, plus a little playful crowd work. https://youtu.be/J7dqGhOPVcY?si=uoD_T1Yby9hS5mLA

Hasan continues to put out first rate stand up specials. Here's a bit from his most recent -- "Off with His Head!" https://youtu.be/15fiVq9jj8Y?si=xWmWih4ie61ypGna

Howard Hesseman

Say hello to Howard Hesseman, who cut his teeth on satirical improv comedy as a founding member of San Francisco's

"The Committee" back in the 1960s, then became a mainstay of television and film for the next 50 plus years. Most of us know Howard from his role as Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati, but there is so much more to his career. Later roles included a starring role in ABC's Head of the Class and even a few appearances in Johnny Fever mode in a syndicated reboot of WKRP. Find extra clips below and, as always, we thank you for sharing our shows!

 

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Howard will be forever linked with the character of Dr. Johnny Fever, the too hip for words counterculture DJ at WKRP in Cincinnati. Here are some highlights from Dr. Johnny. https://youtu.be/dTFHueUAnKs?si=zNoy7-WNny-WQPQW

 

Howard's first big gig was a founding member of The Committee, a seminal San Francisco improv comedy group. Here's a fun tape from 1968 (and the description notes that Howard was performing under an alias because of draft issues). https://youtu.be/H8AyOtfMYf8?si=CZr-hd4N5C5n2SqE

 

Howard's second major sitcom was Head of the Class in which he played a sharp (and somewhat sardonic) history teacher for a group of gifted students. https://youtu.be/khsDEgcgS9E?si=PesFTw5fKYycLwmE

Bobcat Goldthwait

Might want to put on the headphones for this one -- Bob "Bobcat" Goldthwait has a set of pipes (at least in the old days) that is indescribable. A perfect fit for the MTV era, Bobcat's comedy was edgy (to say the least) and he became a favorite of other edgy artists (Kurt Cobain was a big fan). Bobcat was a regular at Comic Relief fundraisers and he carved out a niche as a supporting actor in flicks such as Police Academy 2. Bobcat also was behind "The Citizen Kane of alcoholic clown movies" -- Shakes the Clown. But eventually Bobcat found himself trapped by his comic persona and that voice and he consciously sought out more behind the scenes work (including directing the Jimmy Kimmel Live show in the early 2000s). And in recent years, the comic now know as Bob Goldthwait has poked a little fun at the change -- a 2020 special is called "You Don't Look The Same Either." As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows.

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Time to test your speakers -- here's Bobcat in full flight at one of the Comic Relief benefit shows. As one commenter noted -- he's a real life Tasmanian Devil. https://youtu.be/O0qAfWWQJ5w?si=mT9EFIhW60N_5wnj

Bobcat was a natural for gonzo comedies and his role as Zed in the Police Academy films was a fan fave. https://youtu.be/GbURJaV_iYQ?si=QMduQa7fbzti-DSl

A bomb that has turned into a cult classic, Shakes the Clown imagines an all clown world with Bobcat as the titular character trying to beat a frame up for murder. https://youtu.be/Du71B7kEHvY?si=Cil0KZrScl3jVE-5

In his recent standup, Bob Goldthwait drops the "Bobcat" and has fun at the expense of his old image. https://youtu.be/XX2NzMnIsOg?si=EFaIdb4MfJRA8kLA

Art Carney

A beloved actor and part of the greatest television comedies ever, Art Carney will forever be identified as Ed Norton, blue collar pal of Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) in The Honeymooners. First a radio star, Art started working with Jackie in the early 1950s on The Cavalcade of Stars where the Honeymooners began as a series of sketches. Those sketches earned Art five Emmy awards and an enduring legion of fans. But Art was much more than Norton -- he racked up an impressive number of leading and supporting roles on tv and in movies including that of Harry Coombes in the sweet film Harry and Tonto about a cross country trip by a man and his cat. The Academy agreed with Art winning an Oscar for the role! As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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The Honeymooners is a seminal bit of early television magic -- here's the full bit where Art's Ed Norton teaches a little golf to Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden. https://youtu.be/QNauilZRzHk?si=j7amLMQNP7NFWefw

Art was a favorite of Johnny Carson and he always managed to bring a little comic anarchy along for his guest spots. https://youtu.be/aUelHDAh1kk?si=CHj_4LZj9xPrS-Ax

Art won an Oscar for Harry and Tonto -- and it also made Art a cat person! https://youtu.be/jxInBUR2zLU?si=CXn7bSFqU4B8oXku

Red Skelton

Say hello to Red Skelton, a favorite of comedy fans for five decades. Red considered himself more of a clown than a comedian and his routines were filled with colorful characters and sight gags. A solid draw in movies back in the 1940s, Red took the leap to television when that medium arrived and he was a smash. Red was also famous for "working clean" which made him a family favorite both on screen (large and small) and on stage. Red also had a side career as a painter, specializing in -- what else -- portraits of clowns. And, in a sweet honor, Red's hometown of Vincennes, Indiana has the Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy. Not bad for a clown!! As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows.

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Red's skits often had a bit of mime and this one -- the Doughnut Dunkers -- was a routine he revisited throughout his career. https://youtu.be/F4NcL3U6LHU?si=MnySSB2ZG50IVZur

Red had many famous characters including boxer Cauliflower McPugg who may have stayed in the game a little too long. https://youtu.be/ID9B2i_BvFY?si=vMzQ1_yxNZt-_vj0

Red went way back with Johnny Carson and his visits to the Tonight Show were always fun! https://youtu.be/jnZwa6w0rcI?si=736Xaz3BwehKgLD9

Louie Anderson

Meet Louie Anderson, who started off writing punchlines for Henny Youngman, the King of one-liners, and ends with an Emmy-winning career that spanned television, movie roles, and best selling books. Louie had a self-deprecating style that endeared him to audiences and he was fearlessly honest about the myriad childhood issues that informed his comedy. When he passed in 2022 tributes from fellow comics were voluminous, including Dennis Miller who once said that Louie was "one of lightest on his feet comedians I know. There are very few guys I'm going to leave my dressing room early to watch." As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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Louie got a big break when he killed in his first Tonight Show appearance back in 1984. https://youtu.be/2bRe1CeGe7g?si=Ea1HfaQ-1ll9ks8l

Louie scored a short but important "cult classic" role as Maurice, a fast food jockey who dreams of bigger things. https://youtu.be/CEnp84dgNfs?si=FoWxrUci8UIwV0Dh

Louie conquered many forms of filmed entertainment -- including the animated kind -- with Life with Louie which explored childhood issues with a big dose of humor. https://youtu.be/4IseTA__0lY?si=1TF5cJYUduMLD6de

Louie had a late career triumph in Baskets, a hit FX show that featured Louie -- in drag -- as mother to twin brother played by Zach Galifinakis. He won an Emmy for the portrayal and it's well-deserved -- Louie is great! https://youtu.be/ap4iSflYAhg?si=J7DS0EQ6AYvX1Xkm

Drew Carey

Say hello to the King of Cleveland, the Lord of TV improvisation, and Potentate of the Price is Right game show -- Drew Carey. A regular guy, Drew's enduring and broad appeal has made him a fixture on television since the late 1980s when he competed on Star Search. His Tonight Show debut in 1991 won Johnny Carson's approval and earned Drew the fabled invite to join the guests on the couch. From there Drew became a reliable guest on talk shows and helmed cable specials, then in 1995 launched the Drew Carey Show sitcom, a smash which also featured one of his future improv co-stars Ryan Stiles. Speaking of improv, that was Drew's next conquest, hosting the American version of Whose Line is it Anyway which led to his next star turn, as the replacement for Bob Barker on the Price is Right game show. All the while, Drew has never lost the everyman touch, in whichever medium he chooses! As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows.

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A successful first appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show has launched many a comedy career, and when Drew got his turn at bat in 1991 he knocked it out of the park. https://youtu.be/k6Bt-q_pRh8?si=AdWSqigtOcxJW5nR

The Drew Carey show was a hit sitcom and like other hits it had a memorable supporting cast. Here's a nice set of highlights from the show. https://youtu.be/5VN1A5yab5o?si=Ok7fGP_71Ss5Xdza

Drew was the host and sometimes participant for the wildly successful improv game show Whose Line is it Anyway? Drew's back and forth with the Improv players was always sharp. https://youtu.be/2vUb8tVZoW0?si=wvk5QW4Zd6YS5hFS

Second City 1960s

There are legends and then there are LEGENDS -- and Chicago's Second City comedy troupe is the second kind. This episode we focus on Second City in the 1960s - before they became known as a talent pool for SNL and SCTV! After morphing from the Compass Players improv troupe, Second City became known for finely tuned sketches -- often deriving absurd and hilarious results from a normal setting (or vice versa). And the name itself -- The Second City -- had its own comedy meaning, having been pulled from a series of unflattering articles about Chicago in the New Yorker in 1952. The impact of Second City on the comedy world has been immense with players from Robert Klein to Joan Rivers to Harold Ramis to John and Jim Belushi to Bill and Brian Doyle-Murray gracing the stage over time. So, if you are ever in Chicago, make a pilgrimage to 1616 North Wells Street where the Second City awaits, busy at work training the next generation of sketch comedy stars! As always, find extended cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows.

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An early classic from Second City asked the question "What would happen if the University of Chicago had a football team? Ask no longer!https://vimeo.com/195830483?fl=pl&fe=sh

Fred Willard and Robert Klein are two of our favorite comics -- and they both worked the boards at Second City early in their careers. This bit features both men in a parody of Ripley's Believe It or Not! https://youtu.be/MAB4ZIgL6j0?si=rVahywZ8OBrtpTa7&t=1115

It's always fun to go back in time and listen to future comedy stars honing their craft. This fine collection gathers sketches from throughout the years (and thanks for the time stamps!). Dip in anywhere and laughter will follow! https://youtu.be/MAB4ZIgL6j0?si=cgNkZeeM4Hk4Qqkk

Hee Haw

When Hee Haw first debuted in 1969 many saw it as a cornpone knockoff of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and while the show did indeed trade in cornpone comedy it also carved out it's own niche, running in syndication until 1993. Hosted by country music Hall of Famers Buck Owens and Roy Clark, the show mixed regular features with bits involving special guests -- usually another top country musician. For much of urban America Hee Haw served as a gateway to country music and the show retains a devoted following through DVD releases and streaming. As always, find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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Hosts Buck Owens and Roy Clark were spotlighted in Pickin' and Grinnin' which saw groaner jokes alternate with blazing guitar and banjo licks. https://youtu.be/2m7FifTu39I?si=mBcHZrEqinUtV4K6

Hee Haw drew the best in country comedy -- and in this case the country is Canada. Don Harron reprised his popular Charlie Farquharson character from Canadian television -- bringing you all the updates from Radio KORN.https://youtu.be/8XiOJQIEDC4?si=0TCNIjXDAQkNy0f5

One of Hee Haw's recurring bits was The Cornfield -- an homage to Laugh-In's Joke Wall. Performers would pop up alone or in small jokes and deliver a rim-shot worthy joke. https://youtu.be/pQH6Py7YmYI?si=bDVMehmKH8VDs-Il&t=419