Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve

Simon Pegg

Born in Shakespeare's home of Stratford-upon-Avon, Simon Pegg found his fame first as a standup comic, then as a self-described "nerd" starring in the great British science-fiction sitcom "Spaced". From there he has acted with zombies (Shaun of the Dead), marathoners (Run Fatboy Run), Klingons (in the Star Trek reboot), and Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible). Simon also has become a voice actor of some repute with roles in the Ice Age movies and The Chronicles of Narnia. Not bad for a guy who playfully calls himself a "geek"! As always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows.

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Simon's first role was in Spaced and he leaned into his "geeky" image for all it was worth.https://youtu.be/egieZjmoCV0?si=1IQ32r2SU_7gnuH2

Simon is a superb standup comic and this 1995 set was part of what led executives to cast him in Spaced. https://youtu.be/MtFNpXlwUU4?si=Qf4BMVejuC5ybKbS

Run Fatboy Run showed a softer but still very funny side of Simon as he tries to reform his slothful ways. The bit we excerpt starts about 15 min in. https://youtu.be/W_LB7Sn_HY0?si=JsliTTW2eMy086Tn

Simon Pegg has become a favorite talk show guest, especially on James Corden's show, and it's no wonder with stories like these where Simon recounts his goth youth. https://youtu.be/oPfxkQ9xscw?si=MneV_t0XcA4_jJTV

 

Jack Carter

Cue the rim-shot, because Jack Carter is in the house. Best known as the purveyor of rapid fire jokes in the best Vegas tradition, Jack was also a fine singer, dancer, and actor with numerous stage and screen credits to his name. Early on he claimed a bit of television history as an early host of both the Texaco Star Theater and the Cavalcade of Stars. Those gigs earned him his own show on NBC which was the lead in to Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca's Your Show of Shows. A tireless performer, Jack was a mainstay at the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts and on game shows (Password, The Match Game), as well as continuing with stand up appearances well in to his 80s. A comedy historian once referred to Jack's style as 'slick, fast, and furious" -- an apt description and one worthy of a 21 rim shot salute! As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows.

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This is a treat -- Jack's full routine on the Ed Sullivan Show from back in the days when television was in glorious black and white. This is a good intro to Jack's style. https://dai.ly/x2w04mb

With a rapid fire style, it's no wonder that Jack was a favorite at the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts -- here he ostensibly roasts Monty Hall, but it's the other panelists who take most of the fire, https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1kx411e7aK/

Jack was a television pioneer and for a while his own variety show was the lead in to Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca's legendary "Your Show of Shows". At a school reunion Jack was called on for some memories those times and he sure delivered. https://youtu.be/DqIbXfTF708?si=Oprzg0A0MBN-D6ke

Judy Tenuta

Meet one of the most charmingly eccentric of our Legends, Judy Tenuta. From a start at Chicago's Second City, Judy created an immediate sensation with her unusual style -- sort of a Far Side cartoon brought to life. In the era of early MTV, that style proved to be perfection and soon Judy could be regularly seen on the small screen. A 1986 Letterman appearance and 1987 HBO special turbocharged her career and she won the American Music Award for best female comic in 1987. Through multiple albums and books, Judy dove into her persona as the "love goddess", wearing an accordion and slinging pointed and sometimes salty jokes. And she was part of "Weird Al" Yankovic's cast for his offbeat kid's show -- you can't get more Legendary that that! As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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Judy was fearless as a performer -- and sometimes it took audiences a while to catch on -- check out how the response builds to her style during her first Letterman appearance in 1986. https://youtu.be/BEqznn2kEcg?

Judy sometimes played a psychic and perhaps she was judging by this clip from the American Comedy Awards back in 1990. It's way ahead of its time!https://youtu.be/R9IigIWiqis?si=SIAJADhu8RVHWfi7

"Weird Al" Yankovic mounted a hilarious (and unfortunately short-lived") Saturday morning kids show (that was really for adults) in 1997 -- and of course Judy was there!https://youtu.be/vdaXddNyP2Q?si=uqrRzCbB47QFOk2w

What happens when two niche comedy legends meet? This clip of Judy on the Space Ghost Coast to Coast shows the results! https://youtu.be/b2XzUq3uf8s?si=OPbrzulMJJJ5zItu

 

Cedric the Entertainer

Sometimes pointed, but always playful, Cedric the Entertainer first came to attention as host of BET's Def Comic Jam and Comic View programs. But it was in Spike Lee's classic "Kings of Comedy" that Cedric really got to own the stage, charming audiences with routines that mixed observational humor with some nice pokes at race relations. Cedric reached new heights as the salty Eddie the Barber in the Barbershop movie franchise and he now mixes acting (both comedic and dramatic) with his comedy career. As always, find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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Eddie broke out to the nation in Spike Lee's hilarious Kings of Comedy. Here's a fun routine on why white America supports the space shuttle (and why it won't work out). https://youtu.be/fiTC8GfBFSE?

Cedric's iconic role is bound to be that of Eddie in the Barbershop movies. Eddie is sweet and salty, and some of his opinions are just a tad controversial. Here's a fun package of some of Eddie's best. https://youtu.be/zMuRN7w3Wsc?si=KwrUVTJGLDV64VEa

Cedric remains a top standup draw some thirty years after his start and it's no wonder -- his recent Netflix special shows him still full of playful charm. https://youtu.be/Qmz5U2Txi9E?si=x2AVEY70Rov3I9L5

George Gobel

Meet "Lonesome" George Gobel who turned a gift for low-key stories and funny songs into a comedy career that lasted over 40 years. George was a pioneer of television comedy, starring in his own show beginning in 1954 and winning an Emmy in the process. George's playful meandering (plus completely clean material) made him a favorite on variety and talk shows, and he became a welcome guest star on sitcoms during the 60s and 70s. Later George could often be seen working the game show circuit and he became a regular on Hollywood Squares. For a guy who's nickname was "Lonesome" he sure seemed to have a lot of friends. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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George was there in the early days of television and a feature of his show was a monologue, often reference his TV wife -- "Spooky old Alice." https://youtu.be/BJoOKG-laZU?si=uMgkVa-DDw9CJyd0

Here's a real time capsule for you. Set the wayback machine for 1969, set the location for Burbank, and settle yourself in for a bit of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show with George -- PLUS Bob Hope and Dean Martin. https://youtu.be/hLIZPOvQQrE?si=tE-2CeQUMvRbv-Tu

George was an influence on other comedians who mixed music and comedy -- especially Victor Borge and Tommy Smothers (who cited George as his motivation when he got into comedy). Here's George on the Smothers Brothers' show in 1968.https://youtu.be/G_jSnpw5RIQ?si=i5cCYl4_ZXB2wIVn

Buck Henry

His name may not be as recognizable as other modern comedy titans, but whether for screenwriting (The Graduate, Catch 22?) or tv series creation (Get Smart) or sketch comedy genius (SNL's first five time host), Buck Henry has his fingerprints all over American comedy. Buck's comedy was literate, topical, and often just a little naughty -- a perfect fit for comedy fan's tired of comedy's old-school "joke machines". And for those who like a bit of trivia, Buck got his NY theater start as the faux spokesperson for a (fictional) group advocating for clothing naked animals. Who can't get behind that? Buck remained active well into his 80s, and Tina Fey brought him to a new generation when she cast him as Liz Lemon's dad on 30 Rock. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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Buck's first notable gig was as Clifford Prout, the "spokesperson" of the Society for Indecency to Naked Animals (a creation of prankster Alan Abel). Judging by this British newsreel, Buck succeeded in making the narrator have to guess just how much of a put on it all was. https://youtu.be/qMHPe576mCY?si=QYcdns9d4v38NsFm

Early on Saturday Night Live almost always came up with a word or phrase that you couldn't believe they got away with. Here's a case in point from 1980.https://youtu.be/C6XF4RxU7xQ?si=b65ejxQFQokE4Y0O

Buck got (and gave) a big boost for SNL when it debuted in 1975 and it was repaid when Tina Fey cast him as Liz Lemon's dad in 30 rock. Here's Buck and the fam meeting Liz's boss (Alec Baldwin). https://youtu.be/9_SBzb_mQOQ?si=urqBSBXJX1vP6Cai

Dick Gregory

A groundbreaking comic from the 1950s who blended standup skill with sly racial and social commentary, Dick Gregory went on to a career that mixed writing, performing, and social activism for 5 decades. As was common in the 50s, Dick's gift for comedy was discovered by his army buddies. Hugh Hefner gave him his first big career break, filling in for Professor Irwin Corey at the Playboy Club (a gesture that Dick never forgot to acknowledge). From there Dick played top clubs, becoming increasingly political in his approach. In 1968 he ran for President on a "peace" platform, and he became a frequent sight at all manner of movement events, from anti-apartheid to feminism to Native American rights. Dick also became known for his strong commitment to vegetarianism and animal welfare. As always, find extended cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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Dick Gregory always credited Hugh Hefner for booking him into the Playboy Club at a time when black comics found it hard to get a gig. Here's Dick telling the story at a Hefner roast. https://youtu.be/M5vYNrtGmsk?si=N9gQufZe3fHfjQUg

Playing the Hungry I club in San Francisco was a right of passage for topical comics (Mort Sahl! The Smothers Brothers!) so it's no surprise that Dick Gregory was a frequent feature there. https://youtu.be/tg7Pnre__a8?si=ZP1nnGpybxB5SNdB

Dick managed to get booked on the top talk shows of the day without compromising his topical material. Here's a bit from the Merv Griffin Show taped during the Watts riots in 1965.https://youtu.be/xRJRMQZ9p84?si=ivyyLfDS36xqMCMo

Mel Blanc

What voice occupies the most space in your brain? For those of us it's Mel Blanc -- the man of a thousand voices -- who gave voice to dozens of characters in the classic Looney Tunes (and many others). Bugs Bunny? Check! Daffy Duck? Check! Foghorn Leghorn? Check! And after Looney Tunes ended their initial run Mel simply shifted gears, working for other animators and founding his own advertising business. When he died, Warner Brothers paid tribute with a touching poster showing all the major Looney Tunes characters standing behind a lone microphone, heads bowed, with the caption "Speechless". As always find extra clips in the comments and thanks for sharing our shows!

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Mel did so many character voices it's hard to keep track -- so we thank some intrepid YouTubers for doing some supercuts to help us along!https://youtube.com/shorts/Ret4usxxKTE?si=FmUpvhai1dOEF86n

Mel branched out in the 1950s by recording novelty songs in character voice. Daffy's Rhapsody is peak Mel.https://youtu.be/qxjU8JJEuSM?si=K0c2W3ebKDDkNwB3

Late in his career Mel made an unexpected and welcome cameo as the father of Bob and Doug McKenzie in Strange Brew. Here's Mel with the hosers. https://youtu.be/tonXBiPY93s?si=Mc0-YXllM6Jfvl0T

Almost Live!

Pacific Northwest comedy fans will know this Legend, and others will be happy for the introduction. Almost Live! is a relic from an age when a local tv station could afford to produce its own comedy show, often besting the network offerings in terms of laughs per minute. Originating on Seattle's KING TV in the 1980s, Almost Live! originated as a talk show with comedy bits, but soon morphed into a half hour sketch show aired just before Saturday Night Live. The cast and the writing were superb, and the local flavor given to the sketches led to "water cooler" recaps throughout the next week. Eventually the show fell victim to budget cuts imposed by new out-of-state station owners, but it's a measure of Almost Live's impact that several partial reboots have been tried (with some success), there's a big YouTube library of shows and sketches, and a fun podcast tracks down the cast today. As always find extra clips in the comments, thanks for sharing our shows, and if you are driving in Ballard, keep your speed to 7 MPH.

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Part of Almost Live's charm is they could get all manner of local celebrities to get in on the fun. The Lame List featured top Seattle metal musicians proclaiming their opinion on current events. https://youtu.be/hGpBnB-jYa8?si=O9jxm7xo06IR4dPF

John Keister presided over Almost Live and his monologues and news parodies dipped deep in the well of Northwest Lore -- as in the case when WSU became a dry campus. https://youtu.be/NkaYaxRF2Dc?si=gLnbvxpS6DHvBhtF

Almost Live managed a tone of affectionate irreverence about all things Seattle -- especially the neighborhoods. Case in point -- The Ballard Driving Academy. https://youtu.be/nyz6mkvlEgA?si=8-_BQgHu8hDVU8v8

Like any good sketch troupe, Almost Live! cast members had their niches, and Pat Cashman excelled as a master of characters -- especially those commercial pitchman. Match that talent with the fact that an exotic rug store in Seattle's Pioneer Square was always "going out of business" and you get comedy gold. https://youtu.be/erCFOteg_t4?si=W2_HrYZQIEmrLxa9

Ask Dr. Science!

OK, fans of public radio, it's time to put on your thinking cap because science class is here! Don't worry -- it's not that kind of science class because here at Laugh Tracks Legends we take our science clues from Ask Dr. Science, the creation of Dan Coffey and Duck's Breath Mystery Theater. Heard on more than 150 public radio stations in its heyday, the routine never varied. Asked a listener question by his assistant Rodney (the great Merle Kessler), Dr. Science would embark on the most tangential of explanations. Eventually the radio show spun off several books and a short-lived tv version. Why did we love him -- perhaps it's because "he knows more than you do!" Learn more about the show and it's inspirations this episode and as always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows.

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Part of the magic of Dr. Science was the vibe established by the theme, the bouncy announcer, and the interplay between Dr. Science and his assistant Rodney. Here's a full episode -- and many more are on YouTube. https://youtu.be/C4if77OAii8?si=m01rw-4Nlz7ovwau

Dr. Science scored a short-lived Fox TV series in 1987, featuring all five members of Duck's Breath. The final episode -- The National Science Test -- is classic. https://youtu.be/2YebJ6lzKpY?si=ayLSM_pjoPsWz3J7

We like to say "all comedy is derivative" and Dr. Science owes at least some of his mojo to Bob and Ray who featured a segment called Ask Mr. Science back in the 1950s. https://youtu.be/J96h5viahAA?si=dl6DY0WJlAT8r0FR