Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Gymnastic Comedy Routine: Paul Hunt
US gymnast Paul Hunt performs on uneven bars at the 1981 Nadia Tour at Madison Square Garden, NYC.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Steve Martin: Billy Jean
This is a clip from a show called "The New Show". It was produced by Lorne Michaels and some of the other original SNL and SCTV creators. This was the opening sketch to the first show.
Friday, January 18, 2008
The Unknown Comic
The Unknown Comic is the stage name for Canadian-American actor and stand-up comic Murray Langston, best known for his comic performances on The Gong Show, usually appearing with a paper bag over his head.
Langston began his career in 1970 when he appeared on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, doing impressions of a fork, a tube of toothpaste and a grandfather clock. Later, at the suggestion of Redd Foxx, he teamed with comedian Freeman King, and after appearing on several episodes of The Midnight Special, they were spotted by producers and soon became regular performers on the The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.
After over 100 appearances with Sonny and Cher, Langston began to make appearances on many more series, including The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show, The Wolfman Jack Show, and The Bobby Vinton Show.
Langston also invested in a nightclub restaurant called "SHOW-BIZ", but the club closed within two years, taking his savings. Strapped for cash, he accepted an offer to appear on The Gong Show. However, he was reportedly embarrassed about appearing on the show, so he put a bag over his head, memorized a few old jokes, and became "The Unknown Comic". The character was a hit, and soon developed a cult following, appearing on more than 150 Gong Show episodes. Soon, he was appearing regularly in Las Vegas and made the rounds of many popular talk and variety shows.
Langston later produced The Unknown Comedy Hour for Playboy TV, followed by The Sex and Violence Family Hour, starring a very young Jim Carrey. He also wrote the screenplays for the films Night Patrol (1984), Up Your Alley (1988), and Wishful Thinking (1997), and was co-host of "The NEW Truth or Consequences" (1987).
In the early 1990s, Langston decided to retire from show business to concentrate on raising his daughter as a single father.
Langston began his career in 1970 when he appeared on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, doing impressions of a fork, a tube of toothpaste and a grandfather clock. Later, at the suggestion of Redd Foxx, he teamed with comedian Freeman King, and after appearing on several episodes of The Midnight Special, they were spotted by producers and soon became regular performers on the The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.
After over 100 appearances with Sonny and Cher, Langston began to make appearances on many more series, including The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show, The Wolfman Jack Show, and The Bobby Vinton Show.
Langston also invested in a nightclub restaurant called "SHOW-BIZ", but the club closed within two years, taking his savings. Strapped for cash, he accepted an offer to appear on The Gong Show. However, he was reportedly embarrassed about appearing on the show, so he put a bag over his head, memorized a few old jokes, and became "The Unknown Comic". The character was a hit, and soon developed a cult following, appearing on more than 150 Gong Show episodes. Soon, he was appearing regularly in Las Vegas and made the rounds of many popular talk and variety shows.
Langston later produced The Unknown Comedy Hour for Playboy TV, followed by The Sex and Violence Family Hour, starring a very young Jim Carrey. He also wrote the screenplays for the films Night Patrol (1984), Up Your Alley (1988), and Wishful Thinking (1997), and was co-host of "The NEW Truth or Consequences" (1987).
In the early 1990s, Langston decided to retire from show business to concentrate on raising his daughter as a single father.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
The Hallelujah Chorus, with closed-captioning:
actually, it's men dressed in drag as nuns... men who are supposed to be monks who've taken a vow of silence but still want to perform Handel's Messiah. They refer to themselves as "the nuns of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence"
note: if you like the video above, watch another performance by the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus. This longer version includes the introduction by Dr. Stan Hill, Artistic Director. His intro is great and the performance is different. VERY enjoyable!
actually, it's men dressed in drag as nuns... men who are supposed to be monks who've taken a vow of silence but still want to perform Handel's Messiah. They refer to themselves as "the nuns of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence"
note: if you like the video above, watch another performance by the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus. This longer version includes the introduction by Dr. Stan Hill, Artistic Director. His intro is great and the performance is different. VERY enjoyable!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Marty Feldman: Undertaker Sketch
Marty Feldman was (he died in 1982) an English writer, comedian, and BAFTA-Award winning actor. On film, he's best remembered as Igor in Young Frankenstein. Because he suffered from a thyroid condition known as Graves Disease, his eyes bulged strikingly.
Here, in this undertaker sketch, the late (and great) Spike Milligan also plays a major role.
Here, in this undertaker sketch, the late (and great) Spike Milligan also plays a major role.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
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