RIP Arte Johnson

[Insidious Von]

He was 90, God Bless.

Rowan and Martin's Laugh In was before my time. I'll never forget the promotional skits he did for the then expansion Toronto Blue Jays. He as Professor Weirdschmatz would explain the rules and terms of baseball - and get them completely wrong. Some were hilarious like his explanation of the Rancid Ball (foul ball). He never returned after 1977 but I've never forgotten him.

 

[unassuming]

"Very Interesting.....", thought he was dead already.

RIP

 

[superstar_88]

I didn't get the humour. What's with the laugh tracks? Is this 1920's humour? And who is Arte Johnson? Never heard of him.

 

[tml]

He was 90, God Bless.

Rowan and Martin's Laugh In was before my time. I'll never forget the promotional skits he did for the then expansion Toronto Blue Jays. He as Professor Weirdschmatz would explain the rules and terms of baseball - and get them completely wrong. Some were hilarious like his explanation of the Rancid Ball (foul ball). He never returned after 1977 but I've never forgotten him.

The way he pronounced the word "league"in those commercials has always stuck in my mind and made me laugh.

 

[bluebro69]

I didn't get the humour. Is this 1920's humour?

Sort of. It was the late 1960's/early 1970's, but Rowan and Martin's Laugh In was a throwback and a salute to vaudeville, which was very big in the 1920's. I guess you had to be there--plus we didn't have so many choices back then. Lots of comedians got their start on the series, most notably (these days) Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin. Everyone wanted to be a guest star, and they even got Richard Nixon to do a quick video "Sock it to me?" for them.

 

[bluecolt]

How old are you guys? Good god, this website is being frequented by underage kids. I remember Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In like it was yesterday, since I was in university at that time. Rowan and Martin (who was married to the beautiful Playboy Playmate and bunny, Dolly Read)were always well-dressed and coordinated the irreverent and zany goings-on of the show, which consisted of a series of comic skits and featured superb comics as Judy "Sock-it-to-me" Carne, Goldie Hawn, Arte Johnson, Henry Gibson, Joanne Worley and guest stars like Sammy Davis, Jr. Arte Johnson ended each show, dressed in a Wehrmacht uniform and helmet, uttering in sotto German, "Very interesting, but dumb." Much, if not all, of their humour would be verboten on tv today.

 

[unassuming]

How old are you guys? Good god, this website is being frequented by underage kids. I remember Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In like it was yesterday, .

LOL, Yeah it was a great show, I too remember like it was yesterday.

To the young'uns here, imagine a weekly variety tv show which featured all the top young actors/comedians of today.

 

[bluebro69]

Hee Haw was the country version of Laugh In, hosted by Roy Clark and Buck Owens, and ran a lot longer, although most of its time was in syndication, not network. Both programs were filled with lots of quick cuts, jokes, songs. A variety show like they just don't do any more.

But you younger folks probably don't remember Hee Haw either. So sad--great memories.

 

[superstar_88]

This looked like something the Carol Burnett show would do.

 

[bluebro69]

This looked like something the Carol Burnett show would do.

Yeah, variety shows all followed the same format, more or less. The shows had hosts, usually the name of the program ('Rowan and Martin's' Laugh In, The 'Carol Burnett' show, 'Sonny and Cher', The 'Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour, The 'Jackie Gleason' Show, etc.). Usually started with a monologue, comedy skits (Laugh In's skits were just more plentiful and shorter than most), a musical guest, a few recurring characters, more comedy, maybe another musical guest, then the goodbye until next time...

 

[superstar_88]

… and Donny and Marie

 

[The Oracle]

Yeah, variety shows all followed the same format, more or less. The shows had hosts, usually the name of the program ('Rowan and Martin's' Laugh In, The 'Carol Burnett' show, 'Sonny and Cher', The 'Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour, The 'Jackie Gleason' Show, etc.). Usually started with a monologue, comedy skits (Laugh In's skits were just more plentiful and shorter than most), a musical guest, a few recurring characters, more comedy, maybe another musical guest, then the goodbye until next time...

Can we please bring that back.......