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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 Aug 17, 2021
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
Michael Flanders and Donald Swann were masters of playful musical comedy, blending Swann's melodies with Flanders' lyrics and monologues into witty revues that won appreciative audiences around the world. Less caustic than Tom Lehrer and more modern than Gilbert and Sullivan, Flanders and Swann wrote songs that were a gentle poke rather than a cudgel -- and they sure had a thing for songs about odd animals (Gnu, anyone?). As always, find extended cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows.
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Meet Totie Fields, a ubiquitous presence on 1960s and 70s variety, game, and talk shows -- as well as a Vegas headliner for over 20 years. A veteran of the Borscht Belt, Totie's warm and personal style connected with a wide swath of the public and her long struggle with illness -- while continuing to perform -- only endeared her even more to her fans. As always, find extra clips in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows!
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Meet Father Guido Sarducci, the comic creation of Don Novello, in this miniprogram. A chance find of a monsignor's outfit at a San Francisco Goodwill Store back in 1973 was the start of a legendary 50-year career playing Father Sarducci, a slyly hip correspondent for the Vatican. Find extended cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows.
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
Meet Redd Foxx, king of "Party Records" and star of "Sanford and Son" in this miniprogram. From humble beginnings telling dirty jokes to audiences in South Central LA, Redd took a flyer and recorded a comedy album. He was concerned recording his act might dilute ticket sales. Not to worry -- soon Redd was selling raunchy records by the truckload and entertaining sellout crowds in Las Vegas. His role as Fred Sanford brought Redd to a wider audience, but he never strayed far from his brand of in-your-face standup. As always, find extra cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows!
Wednesday Jul 21, 2021
Wednesday Jul 21, 2021
Meet Sarah Silverman, a comedian whose blunt yet playful commentary on life, love, politics and more has earned her worldwide fame. From an early spot as part of the cast of HBO's classic "Mr. Show" to several well-received solo specials, to a long-running bit pretending to have an affair with Matt Damon behind the back of (ok, actually completely in front of) then-boyfrieend Jimmy Kimmel -- Sarah has used her tart tongue to build a legendary career. As always, find extra cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows!
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Meet John Candy, Canadian superstar of tv and film in this miniprogram. From his start in Toronto's Second City troupe, to his long run as a mainstay on SCTV, to his many memorable movie roles, Candy truly earned his iconic status. As always find extra clips in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows!
Tuesday Jul 06, 2021
Tuesday Jul 06, 2021
Don Rickles turned a gift for putting hecklers in their place into a 60-plus year career as the nation's premier insult comic. From a fortuitous roasting of Frank Sinatra (fortuitous in that Frank laughed), Don went on to be a fixture in Las Vegas and in tv variety shows, sitcoms, and films from Casino to Toy Story! As always, find extra cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows.
Monday Jun 28, 2021
Monday Jun 28, 2021
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Meet Gilda Radner, comedy icon and America's sweetheart. From early days with Second City and the National Lampoon, to her groundbreaking work as part of the original SNL cast, to her humanitarian work for cancer patients, Gilda left a comedy legacy that endures -- and makes us laugh -- to this day. Find more clips in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows!
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Meet Hannah Gadsby, storyteller, actress, standup comedian, and breakout comedy star in this miniprogram. Born in Tasmania, Hannah mines her unique cultural and personal background, including her LGBTQ identity and her struggles with ADHD and autism, for award-winning comedy that is both raw and personal. As always, find extra cuts in the comments at laughtracksradio.com and thanks for sharing our shows!