Funniest Comedy Duos (1996) (TV)

Special salutes great comedy duos, featuring clips from television and film.

Funniest Comedy Duos (1996) (TV)
Host: Jeff Foxworthy

Finding Lucy (2000) (TV)

She was a phenomenon, she was unshakable and she was the best. The unrivaled Queen of Comedy and as someone who was raised and has lived my entire life in Southern California, she was pretty much always there. Even today in the 20-twelve, channel 11 plays at least an hour every weekday and 2 hours EVERY Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Lucy and Los Angeles are forever, which reminds me of a funny story. I once had to visit a local emergency room back in May of 1994. Nothing serious, I survived but being broke and insurance-free it was necessary to go to a county hospital and I chose Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, a hospital funded by Los Angeles County, located in the Sylmar neighborhood of northern Los Angeles. Now let me set the scene; a large ER waiting room, roughly split in two with about 40 seats in each section. The chairs are arranged in rows but the two sections are facing each other and there is a single large TV over each section facing inward. In other words, each section watched the TV over the heads of the people they were facing. It's a weekday around 9 or 10ish and the place is PACKED. It's Los Angeles and a county hospital, it can be assumed it's never not packed. So anyway, as my wife and I sat patiently waiting and watching TV (both TVs were on different channels) it turns 10AM and the all too familiar "I Love Lucy" theme starts on our TV and almost the entire other side simultaneously stood up as if choreographed and turned around to watch the other TV with the Lucy. It was an amazing Lemming moment and living testimony to not only her greatness but also the undeniable impact Desi had on the rising tide of Latin immigrants whom had even then in the early 1950s brought their huddled masses to our shores. Long live Lucy & Desi!

This the fourth episode of the fifteenth season of the "American Masters" documentary series.

Finding Lucy (2000) (TV)

Cast: Edie Adams, William Asher, Fred Ball, Carol Burnett, Bob Carroll Jr., Madelyn Davis, Fran Drescher

7th Annual American Comedy Awards, The (1993) (TV)

Lots of faces, lots of fun. Now that George Carlin has passed I love seeing him anytime and he has a nice run here. Another favorite, is the late Richard Jeni. This was the year he won, "Funniest Male - Stand-Up Comedy" and his acceptance words are now precious.

The 7th Annual American Comedy Awards (1993) (TV)

Cast: Bea Arthur, Elizabeth Ashley, Mayim Bialik, George Carlin, Chevy Chase, Irwin Corey, Billy Crystal, Bob Einstein, Michael Fishman, Teri Garr, Whoopi Goldberg, John Goodman, Joseph Lawrence, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Laurie Metcalf, Jack Palance, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner, Roseanne, Jerry Seinfeld, Sinbad, Dick Smothers, Tom Smothers, Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Van Dyke, Richard Jeni

Norbert Smith, a Life (1989) (TV)

A spoof TV documentary film charting the life and career of the fictitious British actor Sir Norbert Smith with Harry Enfield in the title role. It was written by Harry Enfield and Geoffrey Perkins and directed by Geoff Posner and made by Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4.

The film is presented as if it were an edition of the ITV arts program "The South Bank Show", and features Melvyn Bragg, the presenter of the real show, playing himself as the interviewer visiting Sir Norbert at his home, and encouraging him to reminisce about his past career. The humor arises from the fact that although Sir Norbert is acclaimed as one of Britain’s “Knights of the Theatre”, in the mold of a Laurence Olivier or John Gielgud, actually none of his contemporaries has anything particularly good to say about him, and he appears to have had limited success in landing good film roles. Interviewed now in his old age, he is demented, and has confused memories about his past.

The main point of the film, however, is the parodying of various 20th century film genres, through interspersed clips that feature Enfield as Sir Norbert in a variety of film roles.

Norbert Smith, a Life (1989) (TV)

Cast: Harry Enfield, Melvyn Bragg, Renée Asherson, Simon Godley

Ed (2000–2004) (TV Series)

It went round and round and back again, watched every episode first-run and still can't remember how it ended. Nice ensemble cast, glib writing and committed acting made for a believable group of eccentrics who could very easily exist.

AVAILABLE EPISODES
Pilot 
Season 1, Episode 1
8 October 2000

The World of Possibility 
Season 1, Episode 2
15 October 2000

The Whole Truth 
Season 1, Episode 8
6 December 2000

Exceptions 
Season 1, Episode 17
28 March 2001

Mixed Signals 
Season 1, Episode 21
16 May 2001

Prom Night 
Season 1, Episode 22
23 May 2001

Last Chance 
Season 2, Episode 22
15 May 2002

May the Best Man Win 
Season 3, Episode 6
6 November 2002

Goodbye, Stuckeyville 
Season 4, Episode 7
5 November 2003

Just a Formality 
Season 4, Episode 10
10 December 2003

Hidden Agendas 
Season 4, Episode 14
16 January 2004

Ed (2000–2004) (TV Series)

Cast: Tom Cavanagh, Julie Bowen, Jana Marie Hupp, Josh Randall, Lesley Boone, Michael Ian Black, Rachel Cronin, Justin Long, Mike Starr, Daryl Mitchell

Life's Work (TV Series) 1996–1997

Standard story of a mom who goes back to work and the turmoil she leaves at home. Lisa Ann Walter was in the past an on-air personality for KFI-640 and now she's all personality for Abbott Elementary.

AVAILABLE EPISODES
Concert

Season 1, Episode 4
8 Oct 1996

Pregnancy

Season 1, Episode 8
12 Nov 1996

Life's Work (TV Series) 1996–1997

Cast: Lisa Ann Walter, Michael O'Keefe, Molly Hagan, Lightfield Lewis, Alexa Vega, Andrew Lowery, Larry Miller

Frasier: Signing Off (2004) (TV)

This is a Dateline special from May 11, 2004 hosted by Katie Couric with the cast and crew of the legendary show.

Frasier: Signing Off (2004) (TV)

Host: Katie Couric

The News Is the News (1983) TV Series

This VERY short run show was a "funny" attempt at reading the news ala SNL Newsbreak but in a half-hour format. Covering the news of the previous week, including that very day, June 15, 1983 (verified by showing the actual newspaper front pages) the hosts get whimsical in their trademark left-leaning way. It's forgivable and almost endearing to hear the anti-Ronnie hatred as this was a faraway time in a more naive universe. The written comedy is one thing but the actual headlines are also quite ludicrous. But forgivable. The early 80s were very weird.

The News Is the News (1983) TV Series

Cast: Karen Dale, Michael Davis, Simon Jones, Charlotte Moore, Michael Palin, Lynne Thigpen, Trey Wilson

Television's Comedy Classics (1996) (TV)

More of the same clip-mania, with 40 of the funniest comics of all-time performing their 40 funniest all-time routines. At least that's what is promised. What we get is another anthology show with some real tired sitcom footage interspersed with some mediocre, (or simply dated) stand-up comedy routines. Stand-up is best when given time to build a finish, clips taken out of context to hype the "funny" part are counter-productive. The best part of this show, you ask? The great, late Leslie Nielsen as your host. With many skits and goofy side-nonsense, he carries the show from the opening line, (... so the cowboy looks up at the proctologist and says,'Why not? Where else can you get 3 hamburgers for 99 cents?') and does all the narration. He was a genuinely funny guy, his mannerisms, his delivery, he had it all.

Television's Comedy Classics (1996) (TV)
Host: Leslie Nielsen

Really Big Show, A: Ed Sullivan's 50th Anniversary (1998) (TV)

The usual hodgepodge you get from any "clip" show. If any show had the ability to really exploit the milestone of a golden anniversary it was this show. But to pack it all into a tidy one hour slot doesn't satisfy anyone. Lots of short clips of a whole bunch of people is just frustrating. Ably hosted by the brothers Smothers.

A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan's 50th Anniversary (1998) (TV)

Hosts: Dick Smothers, Tom Smothers

TV's All Time Classic Comedy (1994) (TV)

Nothing new here, but just the same this is a comprehensive collection of funny bits from the previous three decades of sitcoms segregated by categories i.e. Sight Gags, Tirades, Pregnancy, etc. Presented to a live audience by an ever-mugging Martin Short, you'll see clips from "The Honeymooners" to "The Simpsons" to "Buffalo Bill" and beyond. The choice of shows was good but the clips were simply retreads, would have been nice if they had dipped into the vault for some things unseen. Lord knows there's infinite amounts that will never be seen. A lot of work went to this show and with access to the archives of the multiple networks it could and should have been better.

TV's All Time Classic Comedy (1994) (TV)

Host: Martin Short

Jailbirds (1991) TV Movie

The made-for-TV "Jailbirds" is a distaff comedy variation on "The Defiant Ones". Phylicia Rashad plays an important LA business executive, while Dyan Cannon portrays a trailer-trash babe from Louisiana. Both Rashad and Cannon are thrown into a dank Southern jail for crimes they didn't commit. While manacled together, the ladies escape, driving each other cuckoo as they elude their captors. Apparently, CBS had so little faith in "Jailbirds" that the network hardly bothered to advertise the film when it premiered May 16, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Jailbirds (1991) TV Movie

Cast: Phylicia Rashad, Dyan Cannon, Ahmad Rashad, T.E. Russell, Clyde Kusatsu

Adventures of Mark & Brian, The (TV Series) 1991–1992

Two Los Angeles disc jockeys adapt their radio antics and hi-jinx to a network television program with shocking results. Not really, but considering they're still on the radio 20 years later (same station, same city) and this show had to be cheap to produce, I guess what I'm trying to say is "Why isn't this show still on TV?" Did it get canceled for lack of viewers or did they get tired from the routine and schedule? If it was on today, I'd still be watching. Keep up the good work guys, LA loves ya'.


AVAILABLE EPISODES

Weightless

September 1991

Fatherhood

September 1991

Firefighters

October 1991

The Adventures of Mark & Brian (TV Series) 1991–1992

Cast: Mark Thompson, Brian Phelps

Carol Burnett Show, The: Let's Bump Up The Lights! (2004) (TV)

Carol and crew bring what appears to be a regular taping of her classic show to an unexpected halt and "bump up the lights" for an impromptu Q&A panel. Great fun for fans of the great lady.

The Carol Burnett Show: Let's Bump Up The Lights! (2004) (TV)

Cast: Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner

Road to Fame (1999) (TV)

If you never wanted to see or hear Jerry Springer sing, then DON'T watch this. His singing voice is terrible but this show was actually not too bad, if that's any recommendation. Loaded with clips, bloopers, outtakes and audition tapes it's possible you'll be surprised more than a few times. A notch up from mediocre, worth the watch if you're a fan of all things Hollywood.

Road to Fame (1999) (TV)

Host: Rick Sanchez

Doo Dah Parade, The (1990) (TV)

Conceived in 1978 by several friends, including Peter Apanel, Ted Wright, Charles "Skip" Finnell, among others, sitting in a bar called "Chromo's" (which no longer exists) in Pasadena, as an irreverent alternative to the traditional formality of the Rose Parade, which is also held in Pasadena. In 1978, January 1st fell on a Sunday, and the Rose Parade, which typically takes place on January 1, will not march on a Sunday. So they decided it would be fun to have an alternate parade on January 1 that year. Some of the early participants were Wright as first Grand Marshall, Snotty Scotty and the Hankies, The Lawn Mower Drill Team, The Briefcase Drill Team and General Hershey Bar, among many others. It was the first Pasadena Doo Dah Parade.

From November of 1990 this is the first televised broadcast of the notable parade. The historic, now defunct KCOP-13 displayed extraordinary balls and showed this live without any fancy delays or anything. Suffice it to say, no network big or small would ever do this in the present. This is expressionism and free-flowing creativity at it's American best. Everyone's favorite Richard Simmons and everyone's favorite for real Vicki Lawrence are the hosts, very obviously working sans script but bringing plenty of off the cuff funny. This is SO much fun and still holds up nicely after 20 years.

The Doo Dah Parade (1990) (TV)

Hosts: Richard Simmons, Vicki Lawrence Schultz

Saturday Night Live Goes Commercial - Volume II (1998) (TV)

Mostly excellent, personally would like to see more of the contemporary stuff and less of the too familiar 1st gen gang, especially since this is Volume II. Should have got that stuff out of the way with the first volume. Otherwise, fun to see some of these truly forgotten classics. If they were classics in '98, they've only become more so with time. Ably hosted by the great Will Ferrell via a fake behind the scenes look at the making of a SNL commercial. Forced but funny, like much of his work. This is Volume II, no notes available anywhere. Weird.

Saturday Night Live Goes Commercial - Volume II (1998) (TV)

Host: Will Ferrell

Counterfeit Contessa, The (1994) TV Movie

A case of mistaken identity goes too far in this made-for-television romantic comedy. Tea Leoni  stars as Gina Nardino, a young store clerk who pretends to be an Italian countess in order to impress a rich man of society. Her charade starts to fall apart though when his brother gets wise to her schemes. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi

The Counterfeit Contessa (1994) TV Movie

Cast: Téa Leoni, D.W. Moffett, David Beecroft, Karla Tamburrelli, Susan Walters, Molly Price, Nicole de Boer, Holland Taylor

Return of TV Censored Bloopers, The (1993) TV Series

More of the same with a slightly blue hue. Very slight. Actually quite corny. The usual array of celebrities, Tom Arnold is along for some special bloopers from his then-current sitcom, "Tom". Fun for the record.

The Return of TV Censored Bloopers (1993) TV Series

Host: Dick Clark

Tales from the Far Side (1994) (TV)

A series of "Far Side" short animated gags, such as a Frankenstein cow; an insect airline's in-flight movie; deers, hunters, and UFOs; wolf home-movies; egg horror flicks; and cowboys & aliens.

Tales from the Far Side (1994) (TV)

Cast: Kathleen Barr, Doug Parker, Lee Tockar, Dale Wilson