Week of March 18: Just a Quickie From "Laugh-In"

By Sylvia Gurinsky

It's "Sock It To Me" Time!

This week, PBS, as part of its pledge drive, showed the "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" retrospective aired by NBC a few years ago.

"Laugh-In," created in 1968 by George Schlatter for NBC, was very much of its time. Like CBS' "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," "Laugh-In" fed on the discontent of many young Americans with the Vietnam War and their government; unlike "The Somthers Brothers," "Laugh-In" got away with considerably more, with a lighter touch. The fast pace helped with that.

Among the show's writers were Lorne Michaels, who would go on to create "Saturday Night Live," Allan Manings, who wrote for "One Day At a Time" and "Good Times," and Jim Mulligan, who wrote for "M*A*S*H." The initial regular cast included Goldie Hawn, Judy Carne, Arte Johnson, Jo Ann Worley, Dave Madden and Henry Gibson. Lily Tomlin joined the cast in 1969. The two hosts, comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, cast member Ruth Buzzi and announcer Gary Owens would be the only participants to last through the entire run (1968-73). Hawn would go on to Oscar glory and movie stardom, Madden headed for "The Partridge Family" on ABC and many of the others had a variety of television appearances.

Who wasn't a guest star on this show? Sammy Davis, Jr. had frequent appearances. "Laugh-In" drew the cream of comedy, including Jack Benny; and film, including John Wayne and Kirk Douglas; and presidential candidate Richard Nixon (His opponent, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, declined an appearance; many believed that contributed to Humphrey's loss in 1968.).

Its snappy pace helped inspire the creators of PBS' "Sesame Street," whose initial seasons took children through fast-paced letters, numbers and life lessons.

Timely, "Laugh-In" would not prove to be timeless, since it was so topical. But it's fondly remembered, and a look at clips today provides laughs for those who remember the 60s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ8Vrvy0VeE

Was "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" great TV? You bet your sweet bippy!

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!