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I realize that I’m showing my age here, but I’ve always missed the fast-paced hit-and-run sketch comedy of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In from the late 1960s/early 1970s. The sketch shows since then (Saturday Night Live, MADtv, etc.) went their own way for a different kind of audience. Now maybe Laugh-in wouldn’t work in today’s world. Certainly, the humor would be a little different, but I would think the whirlwind format would actually work in today’s ever-faster environment.
I was under age 10 when the show premiered so I’m pretty sure that most of the jokes went right over my head. But it was so colorful and so fast-paced, I was mesmerized.
Some of of the most famous lines, quips and quotes:
“Blow in his ear and he’ll follow you anywhere!“
“Look that up in your Funk and Wagnall’s.”
“It’s time for the quickies…” (I certainly never got this one at age 10)
“…And that’s the truth. plutthhhhh (raspberry)” (Where many of us first met the great Lily Tomlin)
“This week’s winner of the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award is…”
“…by Henry Gibson” (In the beginning of the show it was simply “A Poem by Henry Gibson” followed by a sweet thought quickly deteriorating into nuclear holocaust or sexual deviation. Eventually, Gibson actually titled his poems. I used to wander around the schoolyard aping these little ditties)
“…and Now Take It Away Goldie…” (usually said by Dan Rowan, at which time Goldie Hawn would do or say something she could barely get through without giggling)
“You bet your Sweet Bippie…”
“Beautiful Downtown Burbank”
and probably the most repeated one: “Sock It To Me” (most famously said by Presidential candidate, Richard M. Nixon)
Fast and furioius skits were a major part of the show. Running gags between skits provided transition and adjusted pace so that viewers could catch their collective breath. Arte Johnson and Ruth Buzzi were wonderful together.
My favorite recurring skit involved the Farkel Family. Frank and Fanny Farkel were the proud parents of Sparkle Farkel, Flicker Farkel, and the twins Simon and Gar Farkel. While Frank and Fanny had dark hair and good eyesight, every child had red hair and eyeglasses, and looked just like their “good friend and trusted neighbor” Fred Berfel. Occasionally, guest stars were added to the list of children introduced each week, all wearing red wigs, eyeglasses and sporting way too many freckles.
There are compilation DVDs now available of the best of these old shows. They’re a nice trip down Memory Lane.
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