Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve

Gene Wilder

Meet Leo Bloom, The Waco Kid, Willy Wonka, Dr. "Fronk-un-steen" and so many more when you meet this week's Legend -- actor, writer, and director Gene Wilder. From a serendipitous meeting with Mel Brooks, Gene would build an astounding career with characters that always balanced the comedy with some human heart. Gene made just 37 movies over the course of his career, but for people born in the 1950s he was seemingly ubiquitous. Gene ended his most active years with a series of films with fellow Legend Richard Pryor, and he went into semi-retirement after the tragic death of his wife Gilda Radner. But occasionally, Gene would pop up on television in small but juicy role such as his guest spot on Will and Grace which earned him an Emmy for best guest actor in a comedy series. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

Want more Wilder?

Gene was essential to Mel Brooks' raunchiest and most provocative movie -- Blazing Saddles. Here's the full clip of Gene's Waco Kid explaining the facts to Cleavon Little's Sheriff Bart. https://youtu.be/hYTQ7__NNDI?si=qlE_g3kh6KHxZJoM

Gene's breakout film role was as nervous accountant Leo Bloom in The Producers. Paired with Zero Mostel, the duo made a irresistible comedy movie team. https://youtu.be/QgJBvEMOpWQ?si=zccr3lJNF65XnTXW

Young Frankenstein is the pinnacle of Gene's work with Mel Brooks -- it's elegant, even touching in places -- yet filled with the clever and often naughty comedy expected from the duo. https://youtu.be/2p5AG0Tqh3A?si=nSahuc1C_0Po-U6G

Gene made a series of highly successful films with Richard Pryor including Stir Crazy in which their wildly different personalities come in handy when they are sent up the river for a robbery they didn't commit!https://youtu.be/oyU6En9HN8E?si=1M4iLuToIAhjsxmr

Brother Dave Gardner

Come on brothers and sisters, let it all hang out. So sayeth Brother Dave Gardner who built a huge following in the 1950s and early 60s by telling long and sly stories, often in the mode of a Southern preacher -- but a hip one. Originally a musician, Dave brought a jazz cadence to his work. He also was a devotee of the demon weed, and a 1960s marijuana bust sharply curtailed his career. He remained a favorite on campuses and in clubs before a sharp turn into conspiracy theories, coupled with a Lenny Bruce-like shift into dispensing such theories from the stage sent him to the sidelines. But look at any used record store and you'll still find Brother Dave albums from his glory years, a pretty good indicator of how many he sold back in the day. Find extra cuts below and, as always, thanks for sharing our shows!

 

Want more Brother Dave?

 

Dave's signature bit was called The Motorcycle Story. He reworked it and retold it for his entire career, but here's the original incarnation. https://youtu.be/f-PtWvQuIdk?si=LWvajJG9Y9LlGoIt

 

Dave's stories were a wild mix of beatnik slang, southern asides, and flights of imagination. Here's one of his best and most popular, his reworking of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. https://youtu.be/QpZPqAwXWZ4?si=tKd8zOHfWlYhuEX9

 

Brother Dave was mostly known as a storyteller, but he could deliver a punchline as well, especially when it came to contrasting southern and northern folks. https://youtu.be/hAGgupJv0Wk?si=r2_xPQ98q0pWFACV

 

Here's a little something extra. Dave was fond of telling his audience to just "let it all hang out". Around the same time The Hombres took that phrase and a great beat to the top of the Billboard charts, reputedly inspired by Dave's bit. Here it is in all it's one hit wonder glory!https://youtu.be/kRIr1PPz2uM?si=LSiEwuBgeWh6_zL_

Bobby Bittman

"How are ya?" To fans of SCTV that can mean only one thing -- Bobby Bittman is in the house. The creation of Eugene Levy, Bobby is the epitome of a certain era of comic -- very loud, very full of himself, and very Vegas. Whether as a guest on the Sammy Maudlin show, his own special, or on other shows within the SCTV universe, a Bittman appearance would guarantee lame jokes, false sincerity, and a lot of shtick. Levy played the character throughout SCTV's six seasons and a few years after that show wrapped created a faux-documentary for Cinemax called The Enigma of Bobby Bittman. So take yourself back to the era when Johnny still ruled late night tv and the Vegas shtick masters still roamed the strip and prepare yourself for the comedy magic of Bobby Bittman. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

Want more Bittman?

Bobby always greeted fans with his catch phrase -- well, it was really just "How are ya?" but delivered in a way you could feel the bombast on it's way. This time out Bobby cuts a library PSA though he appears to have little familiarity with the services they provide. https://youtu.be/PDHiHIKIOFs?si=GLlLaE96kbfDYnaJ

Bobby's main hang on SCTV was on the Sammy Maudlin show, a parody of celebrity "love fest" talk shows. This is worth every minute of its run time -- it's the Sammy Maudlin 23rd anniversary special. You're welcome!https://youtu.be/eqsGIMHNNcI?si=UzDwgd9S-gv_ZKy3

Bobby (as played by Eugene Levy) had an ego that knew no bounds. The same could be said for John Candy's Orson Welles. Put them together in a show called The Mirthmakers and allow them to over-intellectualize about comedy and the result is SCTV magic. https://youtu.be/xA_xROmH-oc?si=d4ObQEELAhQKx3C4

Unlike SNL, SCTV often built entire shows around extended movie parodies and one of the best was Maudlin's Eleven, a razor sharp parody of the Rat Pack movie Ocean's Eleven. Painfully on point, and Bobby Bittman is right in the middle of it all. https://youtu.be/qbd25kYIiuQ?si=I5Ga1PRROENolfbt

Jackie Gleason

How sweet it is! While we hope you say that after every episode, this week it's mandatory as we feature Jackie Gleason who ruled over variety television in the 1950s and 60s, as well as inventing iconic characters and sketches that influence pop culture to this day. Originally an MC and nightclub comic, Gleason caught the eyes of network execs who tapped him to host a variety show called The Cavalcade of Stars. The show was later moved from New York to Miami Beach and renamed the Jackie Gleason show, recognizing the star power of the host. It was on that show that Jackie invented his most enduring character, loudmouth bus driver Ralph Kramden who anchored the "Honeymooners" sketches. Not just a comedian, Gleason was a master actor, able to play both comedy and dramatic roles and he earned an Oscar nomination for his role as pool legend Minnesota Fats in The Hustler. He also could do broad comedy as his long run as Sheriff Buford T Justice in the Smokey and the Bandit movies proved. And what about those Saturday nights alone with your lover -- well Jackie had you covered there as well with a string of highly successful "romantic music" albums. It all adds up to a unique and legendary career. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows.

Want more Gleason?

In pop culture Jackie Gleason and Ralph Kramden are joined at the hip. Through sketches on the Jackie Gleason show and a standalone sitcom, The Honeymooners were must see television and inspired another iconic show -- the animated Flintstones. Here is the full bit where Ralph decides he just won't mambo. https://youtu.be/_-FhWB1POWQ?si=sinTj3YRAqY3hbw8

While Ralph Kramden is Jackie's best known character, he had many other gems including sophisticated playboy Reginald Van Gleason who was responsible for delivering his "How Sweet It Is" catchphrase. https://youtu.be/f-aR6IoiN-Q?si=7rfepLuKmvT5fxmI

When the part called for broad comedy Jackie could deliver, as in his long run as the blustering Sheriff Buford T. Justice in the Smokey and the Bandit franchise. https://youtu.be/TjLUPXLPvKo?si=naEK5z7M86ODk8nR

Ardal O'Hanlon

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day -- and the 200th Episode of Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy -- than by turning the spotlight on Ardal O'Hanlon, a masterful Irish stand-up comic and television star. Launching into a late 1980s Dublin scene that didn't have much comedy, Ardal had a solution! With a couple of college mates he started a comedy club, then went on to win a "New Act of the Year" award at the Hackney Empire comedy competition in 1994. A long tv career followed with Ardal playing everything from a child-like priest to a superhero to a detective investigator in the recent "Death in Paradise". He has also dabbled in stage and voice acting, and he still finds time to work the standup stages of the UK. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

Want more Ardal?

Ardal's big break came in 1995 when he was tapped for a key role in the British sitcom "Father Ted". Playing the child-like Father Dougal McGuire, Ardal was a fan favorite. https://youtu.be/bZ4XdqQrT20?si=0kaD5mCDc8XXOqaE

After his initial series "Father Ted" had concluded it's run, Ardal took a left turn for his next show -- starring as George Sunday -- a simple man who in reality is Thermoman from the planet Ultron. High concept? Yes. Very funny? Absolutely. https://youtu.be/ZimdnUvfs0I?si=dhAisyQ6MKg2cV0r

While he has become a television star with many series under his belt, Ardal continues to perform standup to the delight of fans. This is a fine bit from the BBC Comedy Roadshow a few years back. https://youtu.be/8LrY-Usdc54?si=-VM-Ib19rP0Q4TUf

 

Greg Giraldo

Might want to put on the asbestos underwear this week -- the modern king of roasting is in the house. Greg Giraldo might have started out as a corporate lawyer, but he soon found out that the stand up stage was his natural habitat. Possessed of a blazing wit and the ability to turn complex issues into sharp gags, Greg was a favorite on Comedy Central in its early days, becoming a fixture at their Celebrity Roasts. But, unlike the heavily sanitized Dean Martin versions folks were used to, the Comedy Central roasts were no holds barred. Similarly, he was a standout on the show Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, on which a panel of stand up comics shredded each other along with the day's news. As always, find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows!

Want more Greg Giraldo?

Greg believed comedy was art -- but he knew it wasn't exactly the same as Shakespeare. This short bit from a documentary tells why. https://vimeo.com/11839333

Greg was a first rate standup and this routine, taken from an early Comedy Central special, captures why audiences loved him and why fans today wonder what he would say about our current condition! https://youtu.be/YLz1XujQlBQ?si=X6K1xv5kIAp6LIRD

Greg pretty much owned the Comedy Central roasts and this video collects his finest work. When a joke goes too far -- and one almost always does -- in true roasting fashion Greg dishes it back to the audience and plows straight ahead. Warning -- this one is NSFW! https://youtu.be/0_TrrWWkMXU?si=R9YjlVPI4NsdZOEB

Brian Regan

No need for the "7-second delay" button this week -- Brian Regan is in the house. A comic who has built a formidable audience with observational comedy that's sharp, but clean, Brian has released eight CDs and specials worth of material, beginning with 1997's Live. That early CD was a favorite of disc jockeys pressed to find clean comedy for their local version of "The 5:20 Funny" -- with Brian you could just hit play and be guaranteed on a great punchline and no FCC fines! In 2015 Brian was the star of Netflix's first truly live special and in recent years he has begun to branch out into character acting with a particularly juicy role in Peter Farrelly's dark comedy Loudermilk. But despite the occasional acting gig, Brian remains a creature of the standup stage and a favorite of people who love a sharp punchline, but without a side of F-bombs. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

Want more Brian?

This 1999 clip shows Brian near the start of his career in front of a very enthusiastic crowd at the Just For Laughs comedy festival. Here he rewards them with some thoughts on Pop Tarts. https://youtu.be/r6GHPIwkXl0?si=at-Y7aBjXJujGndF

Brian mines a lot of comedy gold from his childhood -- and particularly his widely shared distaste for the ritual humiliation of the spelling bee!https://youtu.be/CafPNEWnDhk?si=rVKEEShxKo1PDg8F

Brian has taken some first steps into character acting and his role in Peter Farrelly's dark comedy Loudermilk is a gem. https://youtu.be/iwsVPvjV0i8?si=X9_PfNddMmg8caUr

 

Buddy Hackett

Come back to the golden age of Vegas comics to meet Buddy Hackett who rode a quick wit, an amusing face, and an endless supply of profanity to become a major standup, film, and tv star from the 1950s through the early 2000s. Buddy had Bell's Palsy as a kid which gave him his distinctive look, but his comic persona and timing were all his. A favorite of talk show hosts, Buddy had the most guest appearances of all time on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, and was a welcome addition to motion picture comedies such as The Music Man, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and Scrooged -- and for the little ones, he voices Scuttle in The Little Mermaid. And the best trivia of all -- Buddy turned down a shot to join The Three Stooges! As always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows!

Want more Buddy?

Buddy started out as a tummler in the Catskills, then a family friendly comic. But he gained his most fame in Las Vegas after he took off the muzzle and became famous for using naughty words in bulk!! This one is just a little bit blue. https://www.tiktok.com/@clown.../video/7245747231792336171

Buddy was a wild man which is why he was such a fave on late night television. While he made the rounds, he was most at home on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show where he holds the record for most guest appearances ever. https://youtu.be/KAWvI5eZvC0?si=m8gsxGgrUk37f5Wm

In 1978, Buddy teamed with Harvey Norman to star as Abbott and Costello in the tv biopic "Bud and Lou". Of course they had to do the classic "Who's on First" routine and they did a fine job indeed!https://youtu.be/5JRB5nOFutM?si=fES0zqrJ2D-fuHgL

Ricky Gervais

If you like your comedy with wit, intelligence, and more than a fair amount of savage snark, you're likely already a fan of Ricky Gervais. From his early days as new wave rock artist (really) in London, Ricky moved on to the standup stage, then radio and television. His breakthrough came when he was cast in the BBC series The Office playing the manager of a paper distributor (the role taken in the US version by Steve Carrell). Later, he was in the hit series Extras, followed by a run as Dr. McPhee in the Night at the Museum films. From then on Ricky has blended standup tours with high quality comedy series, most recently After Life. And who can forget the verbal flamethrower he brought to the Golden Globes as a five time host? As always find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows!

Want more Ricky Gervais?

Ricky had a great role in Extras, another BBC gem that ran from 2005 to 2007. He played an actor who could only get roles as extras -- and here's his agent telling him why!https://youtu.be/2oIHXI7ZyOU?si=sDMzLZIGp8qD9iTU

Ricky has hosted the Golden Globes five times, most recently in 2020. His opening monologues were worthy of an original, unexpurgated Friar's Club Roast! https://youtu.be/BvHXzP2SpLA?si=LnJjWLZxFSgMcEiO

Over his quarter century as a standup, Ricky has released 9 specials, most recently 2023's Armageddon which won a Golden Globe. https://youtu.be/sm9AG0TCQ9E?si=eMaVjTVOPRUuYQFX

Jimmy Durante

One of America's most beloved entertainers, Jimmy Durante specialized in gentle, often self-deprecating humor delivered with and unmistakable voice (and nose). From humble starts playing ragtime piano in a family musical act, to major success in films and on the radio with the novelty tune 'Inka-Dinka-Doo", to a long run as a favored guest on television variety and talk shows. By the time he died in 1980, Jimmy's career was well over 70 years long. And, of course, he is destined to live forever as the voice of the singing narrator in the animated classic "Frosty the Snowman." As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

Want more "Schnozzola"?

Jimmy was a sweet man, and he closed every show saying goodbye to "Mrs. Calabash, where ever you are". Mrs. Calabash was code for his first wife and the name came from a seaside diner they favored. Truly romantic stuff indeed! https://youtu.be/yp7r0j4XrO8?si=gFo5Ln2Ww52FFGAZ

Jimmy's first big hit was a novelty song, "Inka-Dinka-Doo" which soon became his signature song. Here's a movie version with Jimmy selling it with all he's got! https://youtu.be/oV7XIw-eNUg?si=P8b0_2Q3cuW_bBAv

Jimmy's high energy style and ability to adlib made him a perfect host for tv variety shows, such as the Hollywood Palace which he hosted 14 times. Here's a representative episode featuring The Turtles -- as Jimmy says, a bunch of "rocka-rocka's" Bonus! This show also features an early appearance by a clean-cut George Carlin! https://youtu.be/vddmf2tMNSg?si=mQMimb6B-4lZcDy6

Jimmy was over 50 years into his career when he took a role that defined him for a new generation -- that of the singing narrator in the animated classic "Frosty the Snowman". Come on, you know the words -- sing along!https://youtu.be/SDNcJL90Y9A?si=fNnKFKZ6UlmiYlZ2