This time out we salute Craig Robinson, who might well have ended up as your high school music teacher had not the comedy bug bit him hard while in college at Illinois State University. Along with hitting the books, Craig also hit the boards at Second City and doing stand up, eventually moving to Los Angeles where he caught the eye of Jimmy Kimmel's show. As these things do, one thing led to another and Craig has carved out a fine career with guest shots in movies and on tv, a role in the hit sitcom The Office, and more. He also is a fine musician and maintains a couple of musical projects where the music is sweet soul and the comedy is sharp and a little risqué. With that combo we think Craig will be entertaining us for years to come. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Craig Robinson? Craig's comedy songs usually have a nice romantic intro, then turn a different direction for the payoff as in this clip from the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in 2008. https://youtu.be/I7BMAWwsMBs?si=CvLfOcPrLhD6ztrg Craig gained mass attention when he took on the role of warehouse foreman Darryl Philbin in The Office. Here are some of his best bits. https://youtu.be/XrHeFFYhd1A?si=jx5UMoY0pobFe2i4 Craig Robinson is a great musical comedian, sometimes with his own band "Nasty Delicious" and sometimes with fellow comic Jerry Minor as in this sensitive ballad. https://youtu.be/pS3WQ-tqntA?si=aEN_ICdKmur1fL2e

An icon of 20th Century American humor, Jack Benny started as a violinist who would use comedy to save himself from bombing. He ended up as a legendary comedian who used the violin as one part of an indelible comic character. Vain, stingy, and eternally 39, Jack became a hit in the 1930s on the then-new medium of radio. He turned that into a stellar movie and television career -- earning himself three stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame -- one each for movies, radio, and television. Benny was also part of Hollywood's comedy old guard with friends ranging from Bob Hope and Johnny Carson to Benny's long-time best bud George Burns. Benny is often cited as the Jedi master of comic timing -- he could bring down the house with just a glance, a shrug, or a perfectly timed "Well!" As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Jack Benny This is short but worth seeing the visuals as Jack is called out on his age in a delightfully backhanded way. https://youtu.be/qCCzO-9pWls?si=RIi6-QPXUqS4J074 Jack's radio show was fun for some of the byplay between Jack and Announcer Don Wilson. This "marathon" of Benny radio shows has a nice example at the start -- then stick around for more!https://youtu.be/qCCzO-9pWls?si=RIi6-QPXUqS4J074 Jack and Johnny Carson were good friends, dating back to when Johnny was the new kid in town. This bit from Jack's tv show is great fun. https://youtu.be/mUd1-_91YTk?si=3Ob1JIItYTInlxjO Jack received a rare honor when he was cast in his very own Looney Tunes cartoon. Here's a taste, featuring some of Jack's regular co-stars. https://youtu.be/xB6TSameuYQ?si=XUz2xQuUgOuXrQVS

Meet Hasan Minaj, one of the brightest young comedians out there -- and a man who almost became the new host of The Daily Show. Born in Davis, CA to immigrant parents, Hasan caught the comedy bug in college, commuting to San Francisco to perform. His style of sharp eyed comedy and his youthful appeal eventually caught the eye of Jon Stewart and Hasan was the last Daily Show correspondent hired by Stewart during his first run as host. Eventually Hasan left and started his own show, the award-winning "The Patriot Act" on Netflix, which won numerous awards including a Peabody. A kerfuffle over whether some of his comedy stories were embellished apparently cost him the chance to become Daily Show host after Trevor Noah departed, but Hasan continues with a busy standup career. As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Hasan Minaj? Hasan came to most of our attentions as a Daily Show correspondent (and almost host). Here's a clip package of some of Hasan's best from that show. https://youtu.be/3-0-81q-fGo?si=JISd8ym5R-Z5Wsia Hasan won a Peabody award for his show "The Patriot Act" on Netflix, mixing comedy with sharp takes on the issues of the day, plus a little playful crowd work. https://youtu.be/J7dqGhOPVcY?si=uoD_T1Yby9hS5mLA Hasan continues to put out first rate stand up specials. Here's a bit from his most recent -- "Off with His Head!" https://youtu.be/15fiVq9jj8Y?si=xWmWih4ie61ypGna

Say hello to Howard Hesseman, who cut his teeth on satirical improv comedy as a founding member of San Francisco's "The Committee" back in the 1960s, then became a mainstay of television and film for the next 50 plus years. Most of us know Howard from his role as Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati, but there is so much more to his career. Later roles included a starring role in ABC's Head of the Class and even a few appearances in Johnny Fever mode in a syndicated reboot of WKRP. Find extra clips below and, as always, we thank you for sharing our shows!   Want more Howard Hesseman?   Howard will be forever linked with the character of Dr. Johnny Fever, the too hip for words counterculture DJ at WKRP in Cincinnati. Here are some highlights from Dr. Johnny. https://youtu.be/dTFHueUAnKs?si=zNoy7-WNny-WQPQW   Howard's first big gig was a founding member of The Committee, a seminal San Francisco improv comedy group. Here's a fun tape from 1968 (and the description notes that Howard was performing under an alias because of draft issues). https://youtu.be/H8AyOtfMYf8?si=CZr-hd4N5C5n2SqE   Howard's second major sitcom was Head of the Class in which he played a sharp (and somewhat sardonic) history teacher for a group of gifted students. https://youtu.be/khsDEgcgS9E?si=PesFTw5fKYycLwmE

Might want to put on the headphones for this one -- Bob "Bobcat" Goldthwait has a set of pipes (at least in the old days) that is indescribable. A perfect fit for the MTV era, Bobcat's comedy was edgy (to say the least) and he became a favorite of other edgy artists (Kurt Cobain was a big fan). Bobcat was a regular at Comic Relief fundraisers and he carved out a niche as a supporting actor in flicks such as Police Academy 2. Bobcat also was behind "The Citizen Kane of alcoholic clown movies" -- Shakes the Clown. But eventually Bobcat found himself trapped by his comic persona and that voice and he consciously sought out more behind the scenes work (including directing the Jimmy Kimmel Live show in the early 2000s). And in recent years, the comic now know as Bob Goldthwait has poked a little fun at the change -- a 2020 special is called "You Don't Look The Same Either." As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Bobcat? Time to test your speakers -- here's Bobcat in full flight at one of the Comic Relief benefit shows. As one commenter noted -- he's a real life Tasmanian Devil. https://youtu.be/O0qAfWWQJ5w?si=mT9EFIhW60N_5wnj Bobcat was a natural for gonzo comedies and his role as Zed in the Police Academy films was a fan fave. https://youtu.be/GbURJaV_iYQ?si=QMduQa7fbzti-DSl A bomb that has turned into a cult classic, Shakes the Clown imagines an all clown world with Bobcat as the titular character trying to beat a frame up for murder. https://youtu.be/Du71B7kEHvY?si=Cil0KZrScl3jVE-5 In his recent standup, Bob Goldthwait drops the "Bobcat" and has fun at the expense of his old image. https://youtu.be/XX2NzMnIsOg?si=EFaIdb4MfJRA8kLA

A beloved actor and part of the greatest television comedies ever, Art Carney will forever be identified as Ed Norton, blue collar pal of Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) in The Honeymooners. First a radio star, Art started working with Jackie in the early 1950s on The Cavalcade of Stars where the Honeymooners began as a series of sketches. Those sketches earned Art five Emmy awards and an enduring legion of fans. But Art was much more than Norton -- he racked up an impressive number of leading and supporting roles on tv and in movies including that of Harry Coombes in the sweet film Harry and Tonto about a cross country trip by a man and his cat. The Academy agreed with Art winning an Oscar for the role! As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Art Carney? The Honeymooners is a seminal bit of early television magic -- here's the full bit where Art's Ed Norton teaches a little golf to Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden. https://youtu.be/QNauilZRzHk?si=j7amLMQNP7NFWefw Art was a favorite of Johnny Carson and he always managed to bring a little comic anarchy along for his guest spots. https://youtu.be/aUelHDAh1kk?si=CHj_4LZj9xPrS-Ax Art won an Oscar for Harry and Tonto -- and it also made Art a cat person! https://youtu.be/jxInBUR2zLU?si=CXn7bSFqU4B8oXku

Say hello to Red Skelton, a favorite of comedy fans for five decades. Red considered himself more of a clown than a comedian and his routines were filled with colorful characters and sight gags. A solid draw in movies back in the 1940s, Red took the leap to television when that medium arrived and he was a smash. Red was also famous for "working clean" which made him a family favorite both on screen (large and small) and on stage. Red also had a side career as a painter, specializing in -- what else -- portraits of clowns. And, in a sweet honor, Red's hometown of Vincennes, Indiana has the Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy. Not bad for a clown!! As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Red Skelton? Red's skits often had a bit of mime and this one -- the Doughnut Dunkers -- was a routine he revisited throughout his career. https://youtu.be/F4NcL3U6LHU?si=MnySSB2ZG50IVZur Red had many famous characters including boxer Cauliflower McPugg who may have stayed in the game a little too long. https://youtu.be/ID9B2i_BvFY?si=vMzQ1_yxNZt-_vj0 Red went way back with Johnny Carson and his visits to the Tonight Show were always fun! https://youtu.be/jnZwa6w0rcI?si=736Xaz3BwehKgLD9

Meet Louie Anderson, who started off writing punchlines for Henny Youngman, the King of one-liners, and ends with an Emmy-winning career that spanned television, movie roles, and best selling books. Louie had a self-deprecating style that endeared him to audiences and he was fearlessly honest about the myriad childhood issues that informed his comedy. When he passed in 2022 tributes from fellow comics were voluminous, including Dennis Miller who once said that Louie was "one of lightest on his feet comedians I know. There are very few guys I'm going to leave my dressing room early to watch." As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Louie? Louie got a big break when he killed in his first Tonight Show appearance back in 1984. https://youtu.be/2bRe1CeGe7g?si=Ea1HfaQ-1ll9ks8l Louie scored a short but important "cult classic" role as Maurice, a fast food jockey who dreams of bigger things. https://youtu.be/CEnp84dgNfs?si=FoWxrUci8UIwV0Dh Louie conquered many forms of filmed entertainment -- including the animated kind -- with Life with Louie which explored childhood issues with a big dose of humor. https://youtu.be/4IseTA__0lY?si=1TF5cJYUduMLD6de Louie had a late career triumph in Baskets, a hit FX show that featured Louie -- in drag -- as mother to twin brother played by Zach Galifinakis. He won an Emmy for the portrayal and it's well-deserved -- Louie is great! https://youtu.be/ap4iSflYAhg?si=J7DS0EQ6AYvX1Xkm

Say hello to the King of Cleveland, the Lord of TV improvisation, and Potentate of the Price is Right game show -- Drew Carey. A regular guy, Drew's enduring and broad appeal has made him a fixture on television since the late 1980s when he competed on Star Search. His Tonight Show debut in 1991 won Johnny Carson's approval and earned Drew the fabled invite to join the guests on the couch. From there Drew became a reliable guest on talk shows and helmed cable specials, then in 1995 launched the Drew Carey Show sitcom, a smash which also featured one of his future improv co-stars Ryan Stiles. Speaking of improv, that was Drew's next conquest, hosting the American version of Whose Line is it Anyway which led to his next star turn, as the replacement for Bob Barker on the Price is Right game show. All the while, Drew has never lost the everyman touch, in whichever medium he chooses! As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Drew? A successful first appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show has launched many a comedy career, and when Drew got his turn at bat in 1991 he knocked it out of the park. https://youtu.be/k6Bt-q_pRh8?si=AdWSqigtOcxJW5nR The Drew Carey show was a hit sitcom and like other hits it had a memorable supporting cast. Here's a nice set of highlights from the show. https://youtu.be/5VN1A5yab5o?si=Ok7fGP_71Ss5Xdza Drew was the host and sometimes participant for the wildly successful improv game show Whose Line is it Anyway? Drew's back and forth with the Improv players was always sharp. https://youtu.be/2vUb8tVZoW0?si=wvk5QW4Zd6YS5hFS

There are legends and then there are LEGENDS -- and Chicago's Second City comedy troupe is the second kind. This episode we focus on Second City in the 1960s - before they became known as a talent pool for SNL and SCTV! After morphing from the Compass Players improv troupe, Second City became known for finely tuned sketches -- often deriving absurd and hilarious results from a normal setting (or vice versa). And the name itself -- The Second City -- had its own comedy meaning, having been pulled from a series of unflattering articles about Chicago in the New Yorker in 1952. The impact of Second City on the comedy world has been immense with players from Robert Klein to Joan Rivers to Harold Ramis to John and Jim Belushi to Bill and Brian Doyle-Murray gracing the stage over time. So, if you are ever in Chicago, make a pilgrimage to 1616 North Wells Street where the Second City awaits, busy at work training the next generation of sketch comedy stars! As always, find extended cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Second City? An early classic from Second City asked the question "What would happen if the University of Chicago had a football team? Ask no longer!https://vimeo.com/195830483?fl=pl&fe=sh Fred Willard and Robert Klein are two of our favorite comics -- and they both worked the boards at Second City early in their careers. This bit features both men in a parody of Ripley's Believe It or Not! https://youtu.be/MAB4ZIgL6j0?si=rVahywZ8OBrtpTa7&t=1115 It's always fun to go back in time and listen to future comedy stars honing their craft. This fine collection gathers sketches from throughout the years (and thanks for the time stamps!). Dip in anywhere and laughter will follow! https://youtu.be/MAB4ZIgL6j0?si=cgNkZeeM4Hk4Qqkk

When Hee Haw first debuted in 1969 many saw it as a cornpone knockoff of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and while the show did indeed trade in cornpone comedy it also carved out it's own niche, running in syndication until 1993. Hosted by country music Hall of Famers Buck Owens and Roy Clark, the show mixed regular features with bits involving special guests -- usually another top country musician. For much of urban America Hee Haw served as a gateway to country music and the show retains a devoted following through DVD releases and streaming. As always, find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Hee Haw? Hosts Buck Owens and Roy Clark were spotlighted in Pickin' and Grinnin' which saw groaner jokes alternate with blazing guitar and banjo licks. https://youtu.be/2m7FifTu39I?si=mBcHZrEqinUtV4K6 Hee Haw drew the best in country comedy -- and in this case the country is Canada. Don Harron reprised his popular Charlie Farquharson character from Canadian television -- bringing you all the updates from Radio KORN.https://youtu.be/8XiOJQIEDC4?si=0TCNIjXDAQkNy0f5 One of Hee Haw's recurring bits was The Cornfield -- an homage to Laugh-In's Joke Wall. Performers would pop up alone or in small jokes and deliver a rim-shot worthy joke. https://youtu.be/pQH6Py7YmYI?si=bDVMehmKH8VDs-Il&t=419  

One of the most popular film and tv comics ever (with some novelty tunes tossed in for good measure), Danny Kaye delighted audiences with his wordplay whether remembering if "the vessel with the pestle has the brew that it true," speeding through the names of dozens of Russian composers, or engaging is some good natured "faux-Swedish" dialogue on the Muppet Show. Danny was also a humanitarian, serving as the first goodwill ambassador for the United Nations' children's charity UNICEF. Danny was also a part owner of a famed Seattle recording studio (Kaye-Smith) and an initial investor in the Seattle Mariners. We would report what he did in his spare time, but it appears he didn't have any! As always find extended cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows!  Want more Danny Kaye? Any child of the 50s knows this bit of wordplay magic. The vessel with the pestle. . .https://youtu.be/WzmnSyqv37A?si=v6TNh8A2FZfYStpA See if you can keep up with Danny as he rolls through Russian composers in this gem taken from the musical "Lady in the Dark". https://youtu.be/KJm1pvOyyXc?si=_Zq_e893UXJh635_ Danny was a prolific novelty song artist and one of his best was a tribute to his beloved Dodgers. Oh, really? No -- O'Malley!" https://youtu.be/zBQlbtJqjUI?si=jtCNe9wP00UZAo4M Danny Kaye was a welcome presence on television anytime he appeared, and one of his best late career spots was on The Muppets Show. https://youtu.be/MyLTknMEiR4?si=vrftANsa7RmPx_eP  

Say hello to this week's Legend Rob Reiner -- director, actor, writer, producer, activist and all-around mensch. Son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob found his own path in Hollywood first as a writer for the Smothers Brothers, then with a breakout role in All in the Family, then as a movie director and actor. Rob practically invented the "mockumentary" format in the 1980s with This Is Spinal Tap (and boy are we eager for the sequel). His run of directorial credits in the 1980s is a murderer's row of classics and his periodic on-screen appearances are always welcome. And Rob still has no problem speaking his mind! As always, find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Rob? As we have all recently learned again the crew at South Park has no boundaries on their satire so when Rob popped up as an antismoking activist the South Park crew was there. Ouch! https://youtu.be/VvpK998H6Kk?si=1dsnRgFfKG-cR9Up All in the Family was a stunning departure from typical sitcom fare when it debuted in 1971 and the full volume battles between Rob's uber-liberal Michael Stivic and his bigoted father-in-law Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O'Connor) were a highlight. https://youtu.be/7toc7JDoFPk?si=RSS05fOj5Ohqrh2_ This is Spinal Tap was a cult classic from the start, one of the first "mockumentary" films of that era. A sequel is about to come out (over 40 years later!) and fans are salivating. Here's a short clip of one of the classic bits from the original.https://youtu.be/uMSV4OteqBE?si=_C8dkCvCrYrbK1iN Rob doesn't appear on camera that often but when he does it's a gem such as this clip from Sleepless in Seattle in which Rob explains to Tom Hanks the realities of dating in the 1990s.https://youtu.be/CVwwYxZzlSM?si=kVCQFe1JlKY9GoUI

This week it's across the pond to meet one of Great Britain's most beloved comedians, Frankie Howerd. After serving in WWII, Frankie launched his show business career, first gaining fame on radio and in music hall revues. When his popularity began to wane, Frankie tried different formats but it was a regular spot on David Frost's hit show That Was The Week That Was that brought him back into pubic view. After that, Frankie mixed movie roles. stage appearances, and television guest spots. He even had a key role as Mr. Mustard in the Bee Gee's ill-fated movie version of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. A recipient of the Order of the British Empire, Frankie has also been remembered with documentaries and a biopic. As always find extended cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Frankie? Frankie was part of the cast of That Was the Week That Was -- a seminal slice of British satire and one that showcased his unusual delivery. https://youtu.be/oLk4g3TL6Rk?si=5_KsO6KbRpGqd_1c After a stint on TW3 returned Frankie to the public eye he got his own variety show. Not much exists online from that show, but this episode will give you a taste. https://youtu.be/Jys5-x-Flew?si=DNCrGxx1g8oYYqs3 After Frankie starred in a smash revival of A Funny Think Happened on the Way to the Forum, which led to a fun series -- Up Pompeii! -- set in Ancient Rome. Frankie played a smart aleck slave named Lurcio who would often talk directly to the audience. Here's a full episode. https://youtu.be/SoyuS1niq6E?si=uEnsYVkiHpQ3grjo Later in his career, Frankie was a mainstay on tv variety programs, including this bit from the Royal Variety Performance in 1982.https://youtu.be/Qw6kSF0ZLZw?si=tzdzr45Oymtdfp0j  

Get your pjs on, grab a big bowl of cereal, and plant yourself in front of the TV (at least in your mind) -- its Saturday Morning Cartoon time with one of the seminal voices of animation. The name Daws Butler may not ring as many bells as Mel Blanc, but his characters sure do -- Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw and many more. A fortuitous early partnership with Stan Freberg paid off for Daws with tons of voice work in 1950s Hollywood, and when William Hanna and Joseph Barbera started their namesake studio in the 1960s, Daws was their as a key voice talent. Along the way Daws also was a mainstay of commercials (Captain Crunch anyone?) and founded a voice workshop that trained many of the next generation(s) of voice actors. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Daws Butler? When the Beatle's stormed America, drummer Ringo Starr was a sensation and Daws caught the wave with Bingo Ringo -- featuring Daws as Huckleberry Hound fantasizing about being a rock and roll star. https://youtu.be/j8l-UakqV28?si=Puvt-4UbfQ67TuR9 Early in his career Daws worked with Stan Freberg on the Beany and Cecil kids who's, then on Stan's series of groundbreaking Capitol records releases including Christmas Dragnet -- a parody of the Dragnet television show -- and Daws was a perfect partner to Stan Freberg's Joe Friday parody. https://youtu.be/VUcEnZZxO9Y?si=vOtthAGBgz1Xn7wo Daws was the king of Hanna Barbera studios which popularized "limited animation" as a way to cut costs and keep cartoons on the air. With the motion limited, solid voice work was essential. Daws says -- no problem!https://youtu.be/kT_ykjMWDGc?si=sqhJ87kitSfNp6f5

When you think of adjectives starting with 'f' that describe comedians you might think of "funny," "fast," and "fierce" -- but you may not think of "fluffy" -- not unless you are fans of Gabriel Iglesias who has ridden family-friendly and playful comedy to the top of the business. Always rotund, Gabriel was nicknamed "fluffy" by his mom -- we hope she gets a cut because it has become his trademark. From an early spot on the Nickelodeon kids show All That to a turn at Last Comic Standing Gabe kept climbing the career ladder. Along the way he also starred in a popular sitcom and has developed a fine resume of voice acting work. But Gabriel has never wandered far from the stand-up stage, hosting a Comedy Central Stand Up series and starring in numerous specials of his own. And to put the cherry on top, in 2022 Gabriel became the first comic to sell out a show at Dodger Stadium -- not bad for a kid called "fluffy"! As always find extended cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Fluffy? Fluffy has turned out to be a great, if unusual, nickname for Gabe and her he tells Jimmy Fallon the origin story. https://www.tiktok.com/@fallont.../video/7476524565150223662 When Gabe was on Last Comic Standing he was disqualified for using a cellphone to talk with family. Always a standup he turned that setback into instant material for his next special. https://youtu.be/A0BsqoMndz8?si=R5HM2qAt2zSwh3h7 From 2019-21 Gabe starred in a fun sitcom -- Mr. Iglesias -- which starred him as a high school history teacher. Here's the first episode. https://youtu.be/qGIPoodveZM?si=j2Y0jE03pYK7ffaV Gabe continues to be a top standup draw and his latest Netflix special -- 2025's Legend of Fluffy -- shows him in top form. https://youtu.be/ybzJy_jdJgA?si=iBS9ZUo6Zdtcb7Lf

David Cross is one of the best of the alternative stand-up comics who emerged in the 1990s. He also co-created a legendary HBO sketch show AND was the actor behind one of the most cringe-inducing characters in a show full of them. We wonder what he does in his spare time! A self-described "misfit" in his Georgia hometown, David found his people when he moved first to New York, then to LA in search of comedy stardom. He found it -- but in an alternative way issuing a number of well-received comedy albums on the SubPop label (at that time mostly known for grunge music), then teaming with Bob Odenkirk on Mr. Show, then owning the role of Tobias Funke on Arrested Development -- a therapist who doesn't really want to be a therapist -- instead he dreams of show business success (without a lick talent to back those dreams). As always, find extended cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more David Cross? Here's a little bonus if you are a Strokes fan -- David sets up this video for "Juicebox" with a perfect take on a bad Morning Zoo style DJ.https://youtu.be/GoltwBHXCx8?si=DUDE1CugtU1IY0j4 Mr. Show remains a favorite many years after its final episode. Created by and starring David and Bob Odenkirk, the show tied together sharp sketches on the oddest topics such as this most unusual talk show. https://youtu.be/mhVbLJvYP8s?si=JHuycsQ5XJjI8kr1 David was a hit in the alternative comedy movement of the 1990s and this 1994 appearance on Conan O'Brien is a good example of his style at the time. Nice sweater, too. https://youtu.be/CNzEK9_4Qyw?si=LIBCwnM2oir-pvPy David was part of the cast that made Arrested Development a cult classic, playing Dr. Tobias Funke, a therapist who really wants to be as star. https://youtu.be/r52Z-GscUwU?si=E5_AKVUUkGzGjhTQ

Every great comedy troupe has a cast member who provides "glue" as well as laughs and for the brilliant cast of SCTV, that "glue" was provided by Joe Flaherty. A bit older than the rest of the cast, Joe was part of the Second City Chicago troupe who went north in the early 1970s to establish one in Toronto. Good move -- that cast attracted young comics such as Dan Ackroyd and Gilda Radner (who would be poached by SNL) and the comedic "murderers row" who joined Joe at SCTV -- Dave Thomas, Eugene Levy, John Candy, Catherine O'Hara and Andrea Martin (later joined by Rick Moranis). Joe served as a mentor, as well as creating some hilarious characters including scary movie host Count Floyd and painfully sycophantic talk show host Sammy Maudlin. After SCTV Joe's career was lower profile but filled with great supporting roles in movies and tv shows, as well as voice acting gigs. Much loved by fellow cast members and fans, later in his career Joe also helped polish future Canadian comedy stars, teaching comedy writing at Humber College in Toronto. As always find extended cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Joe Flaherty? You can't do a Joe Flaherty episode without Count Floyd -- a loving parody of late night local tv horror movie hosts. https://youtu.be/MEjdt_n1l-4?si=sEavRmMwmg7H-geg Joe's Sammy Maudlin was a highlight of SCTV -- a wicked parody of dying Vegas culture and "knee slapping" talk show love fests. Add in John Candy as a boot licking co-host and a host of fading stars as guests and you have a comedy classic. https://youtu.be/jBXHFjpoW3o?si=BezMRwMcJ8dmM96j Joe had many small but key roles in movie comedies in the 1980s and 90s -- here is one with a slightly more serious vibe -- but still unmistakably Joe -- as he sets up a legendary cliff hanger in Back to the Future II. And Western Union got their money's worth from that product placement!https://youtu.be/9S3nJTnDZno?si=DtQWXZVUTW71wt0o Joe had a juicy role in the cult-classic tv show Freaks and Geeks, playing the Dad, Mr. Weir, with the cringe observations dialed up to 11. https://youtu.be/vOrSZQs2FBU?si=evrEpLmn7-ryaKjv  

Time to get your rock and roll shoes on with Tenacious D -- the musical comedy creation of Jack Black and Kyle Gass -- who turned a fun novelty act into an ever more fun worldwide recording and touring machine. When Black and Gass first met in an LA theater troupe they couldn't have known how much their futures would be intertwined. While an early HBO show didn't catch fire, their debut album was a smash -- earning airplay on traditional hard rock stations as well as on comedy shows. The secret is that their music is REALLY good. Both Jack and Kyle are fine musicians and Black is possessed of a voice that would make metal vocalists the world over envious. There is a reason that in their movie "The Pick of Destiny" Jack Black's character (in a flashback to his youth) has a picture of Ronnie James Dio on his wall that he worships (and that talks to him). From there the boys have mixed albums with concert tours and they show no signs of stopping after 30 years. Rock on! And, as always, find extra cuts below (NSFW for sure) and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Tenacious D? Tenacious D's first breakout song was Tribute -- and it's perfect that they purport to record this version in one of those cheesy recording booths that pop up at parties and clubs. https://youtu.be/_lK4cX5xGiQ? The movie The Pick of Destiny really catapulted The D into a new level of fame -- and it included this gem. https://youtu.be/kVbbtuJfgIc?si=qehn_vlPjJhM_S7t Tenacious D is about nothing if not the love of METAL music. Case in point, this great live version of The METAL! https://youtu.be/Ceo8E40vdiI?si=r-bFUKLUyRMP-jJz  

Sometimes comics start down unusual career paths (at least for a comic). How about accountancy? Bob Newhart famously plied that trade early in life. And today's Legend -- Ray Romano -- figured out his comedy path after studying accountancy in college. We suspect that Ray can hire out for an accountant these days after a career that includes a wildly successful sitcom, juicy voice acting roles, frequent guest spots on television (sometimes in dramatic roles), and a little professional poker tossed in the mix. Ray's family friendly brand of humor has gone down well with audiences since he first emerged in the late 1980s. Everybody Loves Raymond debuted in 1996 and launched him to the next level, along with wining him three Emmy awards over nine seasons. Most recently Ray has started taking dramatic roles as in Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" and he continues to be a popular draw on the standup stage. As always find extended cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Ray? The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson was legendary for the comics it featured early in their careers. Here's Ray from his first Tonight Show appearance in 1991. https://youtu.be/1VcdnqH0PJc?si=wuX4NQ1GyzRopK6h Everybody Loves Raymond was a smash focusing on the day-to-day live of a large Italian family. Here are some highlights. https://youtu.be/r6uuxO-sHT0?si=JuYxQDhW_M-kP5FD Ray is a key part of the Ice Age animated movie franchise playing Manny the Wooly Mammoth with just the right amount of sarcasm and grumpiness! https://youtu.be/mVkDXaeqkHA?si=4_YmPEmIuJ_3M1Hg