Jeri Jacquin
Coming to DVD this September is one of the most ground
breaking television shows that left an impact on my funny bone with Time Life’s
ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN: The Complete First Season.
Comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin hit the American
television airwaves in 1967 with a special called Laugh-In. Little could they have predicated that the show was so
successful that they would come back to television the next year!
Bringing in a combination of hippiness and slap stick comedy,
there were fast-paced one-liners and skits that were filled with sex and
politics and all led by Rowan and Martin. The series also became home to
regulars such as announcer Gary Owens who had one hand over his ear.
With a cute and very young Goldie Hawn to a “very
interesting but stupid” Arte Johnson (by the way I think I said that almost
every day growing up thanks to him), a high strung Jo Anne Worley, a very
English Richard Dawson, and the meek Henry Gibson.
Two of my all-time favorite characters on Laugh-In were and
are Ernestine the Telephone Operator and the young girl Edith Ann ‘who is only
five years old’ sitting in her large rocker telling tales of family life
finishing with ‘and that’s the truth’ followed by a raspberry.
That’s what made ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN absolutely
amazing to watch. The witty repartee between Rowan and Martin had the audience
convinced that the latter may not be the bright bulb of the duo. All of that
followed by a door backdrop called the ‘joke wall’ where 60’s music way play
and stopped by the opening of a door and the cast laughed at one another’s
jokes.
It all ended when Rowan would turn to Martin with ‘say
goodnight Dick’ and the reply ‘goodnight Dick’ ended the show.
Time Life is taking us there again with the first season
which means I get to reminisce all over again. The four-disc set has fourteen
completely re-mastered episodes which much of it never-before-seen. There are
hours of bonus material including the original pilot which I was thrilled to
see again and can’t believe I remembered it!
There is also interviews with creator George Schaltter and
guests including Harry Belefonte, Milton Berle, Johnny Carson, Cher , Tim Conway, Sammy Davis Jr., Sally Field and the
beloved and iconic Jerry Lewis.
Time Life continues to bring never before released anywhere
classic collections of television shows for fans to revisit and remember what
has made television so special. Time Life has released Mama’s Family, CPO Sharkey
and The Tonight Show and they now
reminds of us of a time when sex and politics were up for grabs with ROWAN
& MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN. For more of what Time Life has to offer fans of
classic television visit www.timelife.com.
ROWAN & MARTIN’s LAUGH-IN also brought to the forefront
those who would go on to do more amazing comedy such as the absolutely inspired
Flip Wilson who gets to be Adam living outside the Garden of Eden. How about
seeing Tim Conway and Cher as John Smith and
Pocahontas? Yes, that is unexpected and fantastic comedy of this series.
Anyone want to tip-toe through the tulips once again with
Tiny Tim and his ukulele or how about Ruth Buzzi’s spinster lady who just
couldn’t seem to cut a break on the bench or in love! Judy Carne is introduced
as the ‘sock it to me’ gal and Goldie Hawn shares with the world her memorable
giggle.
The set features Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Pamela Austin, Ken
Berry, Eileen Brennan, Ruth Buzzi, Judy Carne, Barbara Feldon, Henry Gibson,
Goldie Hawn, Larry Hovis, Arte Johnson, Gary Owens, and Jo Anne Worley. Also
included are the Classic Long-Running
Features Sock It To Me, Cocktail Party and the Joke Wall, First Appearance of Tyrone F. Horneigh,
and Sammy Davis Jr. Introduces ‘Here
Comes the Judge’.
A stellar list of guest stars include Don Adams, Kaye
Ballard, Harry Belafonte, Milton Berle, Joey Bishop, Sonny Bono, John Byner,
Johnny Carson, Cher, Tim Conway, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sally Field, Peter Lawford,
Jerry Lewis, Ed McMahon, Jill St. John, Dinah Shore, Tom Smothers Connie
Stevens, Larry Storch, John Wayne and so many more.
The best part is the Bonus Features with the Laugh-In Pilot, 25th Anniversary
Cast Reunion Highlights, New Interviews with
Creator and Executive Producer George Schaltter and my personal all time
favorite of the DVD’s the Laugh-In
Bloopers.
Rowan & Martin’s
Laugh-In was a television event that happened week after week. I’m not sure
my parents were too thrilled in the beginning with my wanting to join in the
comedy. Eventually it became their weekly guilty-pleasure until the show ended
in 1973.
What this variety show did was open the door for so much
talent to come through keeping comedy coming to our television screens. Time
Life brings it all to a new generation who now can share in what made us laugh
in the 60’s and 70’s because, quite honestly, it hasn’t changed much.
Pushing the boundaries of sex and politics mashed up with
comedy is what we need again today and ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN does just
that. This DVD couldn’t be released at a better time than now and I can’t wait
for more seasons to follow!
In the end – just say goodnight Dick!
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