Roasting Don Rickles....

[The Annoyed Man]

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=n57hfv-Zo_A[/youtube]

[olafpfj]

I once had the pleasure of doing sound for Mr. Rickles. It was a throwback to the halcyon days of old Vegas including his manager who, while wearing a powder blue tux, threatened to break my legs if I missed a sound cue. There were several people backstage who came right out of central casting that I was politely told were "guests" of Don and not to ask questions.

The entire evening was a highlight of my career despite the wise guys threatening me. It was all tongue in cheek...I think. Since I did a good job I was escorted to his limo out back where he pinched my cheek and said "good job kid, you'll go far in this biz".

True story...LOL.

[The Annoyed Man]

You're a lucky man! I once had Henny Youngman stiff me for a tip after waiting on his table for what seemed like hours.

[A-R]

Seems "The Most Interesting Man in the World" had one too many Dos XX

Who is/was that guy? I recognize nearly everyone else on the stage, but not the speaker.

[WildBill]

Are you talking about Foster Brooks? Playing the drunk was his act.

[A-R]

Are you talking about Foster Brooks? Playing the drunk was his act.

Yeah, thanks for the name - I wasn't sure from Dean Martin's introduction if that was his real name or stage name.

Never seen/heard of him before. Funny stuff. Those old Dean Martin roasts are little before my time, but I used to watch them with my grandparents as a kid and do remember them fondly. Funny group of guys.

[olafpfj]

There is such intelligent wit to those guys that is sorely lacking these days. The few of that generation that I have had the pleasure to work with are also, without exception, consummate professionals.

They could also be vulgar without being crass. When they dropped an F bomb, it was rare and to perfect hilarious effect. Not many left sadly.

[The Annoyed Man]

Are you talking about Foster Brooks? Playing the drunk was his act.

Yeah, thanks for the name - I wasn't sure from Dean Martin's introduction if that was his real name or stage name.

Never seen/heard of him before. Funny stuff. Those old Dean Martin roasts are little before my time, but I used to watch them with my grandparents as a kid and do remember them fondly. Funny group of guys.

The funny thing about Foster Brooks was that he always looked so distinguished. So his character being a lush was sort of a non sequitur, which made it doubly funny.

I have other favorites. Here is the absolute comic genius of W.C. Fields on display:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=aEIUW5Rslrc[/youtube]

[WildBill]

A short clip from "It's a Gift" - Carl LaFong

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=2xHJrGEcP_k[/youtube]

TAM - I know why you are such a fan. W.C. Fields was "The Ultimate Annoyed Man".

[WildBill]

Another comic genius Groucho Marx - the Mirror Scene from "Duck Soup".
All without computer-generated-imagery.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=rdQ9jh5GvQ8[/youtube]

[The Annoyed Man]

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=4AZK2-Tfc84[/youtube]

[sjfcontrol]

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=Bia-MgE_SXg[/youtube]

[The Annoyed Man]

Another priceless Foster Brooks video:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=LzAXb7qCCAo[/youtube]

[sjfcontrol]

Harvey Korman trying not to laugh...

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=FjMHiQlQAIk[/youtube]