Jack Benny was a master of comic timing.
He knew how to seed and sustain a laugh.
He could turn a pause into a punchline.
He knew when to exit...and as he proved in 1966 , he knew when to return.
America's favorite cheapskate, the comic genius who had starred in Vaudeville, Films, and who helped to define comedy on Radio, had not done television for over a year, when
he stepped before the LIVNG COLOR cameras at NBC's sprawling Burbank,CA facility to tape THE JACK BENNY HOUR in the Fall of 1966.
The full episode posted below, from the JILL LACHENMAYER YOU TUBE site, is a prime example of the gentle, but absurd ( and sometimes, ad-libbed ) comedy that made Benny a comic Icon and a television pioneer.
His guests included comedian Phyllis Diller, singer Trini Lopez and The Smothers Brothers ( before they were controversial ).
American Motors was his sponsor and this Special pre-empted a first-run episode of STAR TREK, trading a Starship Captain for a King of Comedy.
You'll also note that on this occasion Benny's venerable theme song, LOVE IN BLOOM, was replaced with an upbeat instrumental theme that had a swinging sixties beat.
Enjoy!!!!!:)
No comments:
Post a Comment