Yesterday evening PBS ran "Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America" and featured celebrity smart alecks, including Larry David, W.C. Fields, Redd Foxx, Paul Lynde, Groucho Marx, Eddie Murphy, Joan Rivers, Chris Rock and Phil Silvers.
Some of the clips were pretty hilarious alright, and I was surprised at how much W.C. Fields' black-and-white sketches pushed the envelope, considering his Silver Screen audience. What struck me is how consistently miserable a lot of these guys were/are in their personal lives - they made their money off of witty wisecracks and making the American public laugh, but at home they were and are some of the most frustrated, selfish and insecure souls you'd not want to live with. Strange, huh?
A couple weeks ago, PBS ran a special on Carol Burnett (my favorite Comedienne of all time) and I blogged previously on the "Pioneers of Television" that they ran on Johnny Carson and other c*l*a*s*s*i*c comics. Just curious who has a favorite c*l*a*s*s*i*c and contemporary comic and what ingredients endear you to them the most or make you guffaw the loudest, and if you want to list your least favorite and why, feel free to name him or her, too.
Comments
Woolsey, I just read your blog on WC Fields. I'm not as familiar with him but what I have seen is good stuff. I like slapstick, but sometimes have to be in the mood for it; The Three Stooges is especially great to watch late at night when I'm tired.
I'm no fan of his, either.
Karl: You actually got to see Carol Burnett in real time...Lucky! I have some of her specials on DVD but I wish they'd bring her show back somewhere in re-run form.
tvking, I think Jackie Gleason was mentioned in Sunday's series among the smart alecks...another great couple duo were George and Gracie. I still love the fact that Burns was willing to play straight man to her.
ssimonds1, TVLand airs his show from time to time.
Good blog. I remember Carol Burnett from when I was reeeallly young. We watched her show whenever it was on. I liked Abbot and Costello too, and believe it or not, some of Lucille Ball, although I guess technically she wasn't a comedian, per se. Today, I'd have to say Cosby and Tim Allen. Cosby's bit about Noah was classic, and I remember some of Tim's standup before he got his own show. It just left me rolling! I never did "get" the Marx brothers or the Stooges, though. And Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, et al, just aren't funny at all, as near as I can tell. Robin Williams was okay in Mork and Mindy (Or maybe I was just really young, then.), but he hasn't done much for me since. So, anyway...
historyseeker22