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00:00:07,201 --> 00:00:09,236
Since this is PBS,
good luck using this.
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00:00:09,304 --> 00:00:10,637
You should be TV star!
3
00:00:10,705 --> 00:00:11,705
Oh, no, too much pressure
4
00:00:11,773 --> 00:00:13,173
and you have to
get up too early.
5
00:00:13,241 --> 00:00:15,475
I don't think there's
anyone here who isn't aware
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that this is a little
special moment in time.
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For once,
I am not going to be Jan Brady.
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I'm going to be Marsha,
damn it.
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Oh, my nose!
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I came out to be funny.
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Here I am!
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I don't think anybody else
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on the show was
trying to do that.
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Pure dyn-o-mite!
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Oh, god, I wish Ethel
was here to see this.
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I'm willing to be silly
and dumb and foolish
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and fall on my ass.
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Why on earth you'd
want to go out with a man
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you know nothing about.
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Hello.
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Oh.
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I got lucky.
I won the lottery.
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00:01:01,122 --> 00:01:03,490
Pioneers of Television
was made possible
24
00:01:03,558 --> 00:01:06,059
contributions
to your PBS station
25
00:01:06,127 --> 00:01:07,894
from viewers like you.
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00:01:10,965 --> 00:01:12,933
They played the doctors and
nurses we watched every week.
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It's still in people's
consciousness from that time.
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You know, people,
"Didi-didi."
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00:01:16,404 --> 00:01:17,671
"You mean nanu-nanu."
"Yeah, that's it."
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Nanu-nanu!
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Oh!
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I grew up in a house where
we watched a lot of comedy
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and we would then go around
and imitate it.
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-You think I'm funny?
-You're funny!
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00:01:25,747 --> 00:01:27,714
You think so?
'Cause people say I'm funny,
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but it's like, aaagh,
I don't see it, you know?
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You got to
get messy in comedy.
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It's got to be ugly.
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You've got to take the pie.
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I rate it "D"
for dyn-o-mite!
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Their acting skills
amused a generation.
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I didn't think about
being funny in those days.
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Just thought about
being an actress.
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Physical pieces
that I would put in,
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and by the time it
got to showtime,
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we were so excited
it present it.
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What can I do
to make you like me?
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00:02:01,115 --> 00:02:04,484
Get off the stage.
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00:02:06,621 --> 00:02:08,288
It's two crazy guys,
you know,
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00:02:08,356 --> 00:02:10,957
that have just been released
from a major hospital.
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[Babbling]
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Sometimes method acting
can be like urinating
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in brown corduroy pants --
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you feel fabulous,
we see nothing.
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You have to think,
"I know what this is about,
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but how can I do it in
a more interesting
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or fresher way?"
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I really admire you,
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00:02:32,346 --> 00:02:34,081
for having the nerve
to stay here
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after that
humiliating experience.
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[Laughter]
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Together they brought
comedy acting
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to the television age.
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They are the pioneers
of television.
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In the late 1970s,
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Robin Williams
took television by storm
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with a different
approach to comedy,
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a manic style he showcased
on Mork & Mindy.
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00:03:02,210 --> 00:03:03,977
So, you're from outer space.
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00:03:04,045 --> 00:03:05,712
Yes, you mind if I take
a few pictures
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00:03:05,780 --> 00:03:07,247
for the folks
on the home planet?
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00:03:07,315 --> 00:03:08,815
They'd like to get
some postcards.
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[Laughter]
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00:03:09,884 --> 00:03:11,184
No.
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Okay, watch the blookie.
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00:03:13,187 --> 00:03:15,856
[Laughter]
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It came at a time when people
were going, "What's this?"
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And we got lucky, and then it
was just this thing of --
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it became every Thursday night,
people going --
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they wanted to see
how crazy it would be.
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-Like to buy a record?
-I'm just kind of browsing.
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Let's offer you a special deal,
new from Hotel,
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Marcel Marceau's
greatest hits.
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Who can ever forget
"Man Ascending an Escalator"?
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00:03:34,542 --> 00:03:36,977
"Man Watching the World's
Largest Staircase"?
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There he goes walking
across it now.
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Let's just forget the vinyl
see the other exciting things
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you get free with this --
look, it can be a hand glove.
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It also can dice, slice,
and make julienne fries.
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[Laughter]
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00:03:46,387 --> 00:03:49,823
It can also be a party favor,
a King Tut hat, who knew?
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00:03:49,891 --> 00:03:51,792
Also a puppet for
a two-dimensional child.
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00:03:51,859 --> 00:03:53,727
Hi, Mom,
nice to have you home.
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Long before his breakout hit,
Robin Williams had spent years
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00:03:58,065 --> 00:04:01,134
honing his skills,
beginning with a class
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00:04:01,202 --> 00:04:03,904
he took in a new kind of
comedy performance
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called improvisation.
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00:04:05,606 --> 00:04:07,941
And it was this beginning
of getting laughs,
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especially around improvising,
which I went,
100
00:04:10,378 --> 00:04:12,813
"Literally can create it
there in that space?"
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00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,048
They went, "Yep."
"Okay, let's do this."
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The response to his
early comedy performances
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in San Francisco
encouraged Williams
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to take the next step --
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00:04:23,457 --> 00:04:26,293
moving to Los Angeles
to try his luck in clubs
106
00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,629
and improv groups,
adually working out the bits
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00:04:29,697 --> 00:04:31,765
that would later
make him a star.
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00:04:31,833 --> 00:04:35,402
My god,
Nanook of Norinne.
109
00:04:35,469 --> 00:04:37,537
My god!
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00:04:37,605 --> 00:04:39,272
This is a lovely --
look at this thing.
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00:04:39,340 --> 00:04:41,374
Right now there's a whole
bunch of animals going,
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"Is it cold? Jesus!"
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[Applause]
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Woo!
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00:04:48,850 --> 00:04:51,785
It's the idea of, you know,
just starting off with concepts
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00:04:51,853 --> 00:04:53,753
and then just building
off of that,
117
00:04:53,821 --> 00:04:56,723
and weirdly, a lot of times just
playing off the audience.
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00:04:56,791 --> 00:04:58,992
Oh! I guess you couldn't
afford the bottom fur.
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00:04:59,060 --> 00:05:02,229
[Laughter]
120
00:05:02,296 --> 00:05:04,898
I feel like Liberace right now,
going, "Just leave me
121
00:05:04,966 --> 00:05:07,701
with the candelabra, damn you,
leave me the candelabra."
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00:05:07,768 --> 00:05:09,002
This is wonderful.
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00:05:09,070 --> 00:05:12,639
Robin's wearing the lovely pants
from Hefty Bag.
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00:05:12,707 --> 00:05:15,008
[Laughter]
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00:05:15,076 --> 00:05:17,110
¶ La da di da ¶
126
00:05:17,178 --> 00:05:19,246
Took a while to kind of
just get the feeling of,
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00:05:19,313 --> 00:05:21,848
"Okay, try this, try these,"
and essentially these characters
128
00:05:21,916 --> 00:05:24,084
were jumping around,
a lot of different characters.
129
00:05:24,151 --> 00:05:26,453
There was a little kid,
a kind of pretentious little --
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00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,689
I remember I did a character
called Little Andrew,
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00:05:29,757 --> 00:05:31,892
"Who was very,
very intelligent.
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00:05:31,959 --> 00:05:34,561
A long time before the iPad,
133
00:05:34,629 --> 00:05:36,429
I was basically
downloading information."
134
00:05:36,497 --> 00:05:38,999
"How?"
"Psychically.
135
00:05:39,066 --> 00:05:41,201
Don't make me hurt you."
136
00:05:41,269 --> 00:05:43,169
But it was just, you know,
some people would like it,
137
00:05:43,237 --> 00:05:45,005
other people, you're like,
"Whoa, what is this?"
138
00:05:45,072 --> 00:05:47,474
One was a Russian
stand-up comedian
139
00:05:47,541 --> 00:05:49,943
kind of a takeoff
named Nicky Lenin
140
00:05:50,011 --> 00:05:51,478
who did "suppressions."
141
00:05:51,545 --> 00:05:55,215
A Soviet poem
of pain and suffering.
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00:05:55,283 --> 00:06:00,120
Little robin upon my windowsill
with tiny breast of red.
143
00:06:00,187 --> 00:06:03,890
I brought the window slowly down
and crushed the sucker's head.
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00:06:03,958 --> 00:06:05,692
[Laughter]
145
00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:07,827
He's gone,
but sometimes works.
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00:06:07,895 --> 00:06:09,562
Soviet ventriloquism.
Johnny, you happy to be here?
147
00:06:09,630 --> 00:06:10,964
[Muffled]
Delighted!
148
00:06:12,500 --> 00:06:14,534
At small comedy clubs
like this,
149
00:06:14,602 --> 00:06:16,636
audiences are
notoriously fickle,
150
00:06:16,704 --> 00:06:19,272
but Williams learned
from each performance.
151
00:06:19,340 --> 00:06:21,308
I remember there was one show
we did at a club
152
00:06:21,375 --> 00:06:23,143
and it was the opening night
of this club
153
00:06:23,210 --> 00:06:25,412
and the mics all broke
and the sound system went out
154
00:06:25,479 --> 00:06:27,314
and the guy went,
"What are we going to do?
155
00:06:27,381 --> 00:06:29,282
What are we going to do?"
"I can talk loud."
156
00:06:29,350 --> 00:06:31,618
And that was the first time,
and that kind of
157
00:06:31,686 --> 00:06:33,987
also determined my style
of just being off-mic
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00:06:34,055 --> 00:06:36,656
and not a standing target
working the whole audience
159
00:06:36,724 --> 00:06:38,858
and using that ability
to project my voice
160
00:06:38,926 --> 00:06:41,227
to kind of change
the perspective in the room,
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00:06:41,295 --> 00:06:43,463
so that was the beginning
of using literally
162
00:06:43,531 --> 00:06:44,597
one of those skills.
163
00:06:44,665 --> 00:06:46,433
Coming over here,
it's nice to wander back.
164
00:06:46,500 --> 00:06:48,668
Thank you.
165
00:06:48,736 --> 00:06:50,270
Oh, we're just
going to work on this,
166
00:06:50,338 --> 00:06:51,705
we're going to
tease it a little.
167
00:06:51,772 --> 00:06:52,706
Just look at it.
168
00:06:52,773 --> 00:06:53,940
How about those 49ers?
169
00:06:54,008 --> 00:06:55,608
You think they're ever
going to work again?
170
00:06:55,676 --> 00:06:57,277
I don't know.
Let's look over there.
171
00:06:57,345 --> 00:06:59,913
Let's just look over here
just a second.
172
00:06:59,981 --> 00:07:02,682
Okay, we're going to put
a little up here,
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00:07:02,750 --> 00:07:04,684
Hare Krishna,
Hare -- sorry.
174
00:07:04,752 --> 00:07:08,555
Right now she's going,
"I worked all day on that!"
175
00:07:08,622 --> 00:07:11,157
Ooh, more smoke.
I want to die.
176
00:07:11,225 --> 00:07:12,859
When it works,
there's nothing better.
177
00:07:12,927 --> 00:07:14,728
When it doesn't work,
there's nothing worse.
178
00:07:14,795 --> 00:07:16,429
Hence the metaphor is
you kill or die.
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00:07:16,497 --> 00:07:17,430
There's no in between.
180
00:07:17,498 --> 00:07:18,898
The metaphors are
pretty brutal.
181
00:07:18,966 --> 00:07:20,367
"You killed."
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00:07:20,434 --> 00:07:23,169
Or "you maimed."
183
00:07:23,237 --> 00:07:25,472
You know, then when you
don't do well, "You died."
184
00:07:25,539 --> 00:07:28,375
Forward to Intellect,
saving warning Sequence 2,
185
00:07:28,442 --> 00:07:30,110
save your ass at any cost.
186
00:07:30,177 --> 00:07:33,013
Phase in Sequence 2,
dynamite opening response B.
187
00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,749
Phase in amlac
opening sequence B,
188
00:07:35,816 --> 00:07:37,283
amlac phase in now.
189
00:07:37,351 --> 00:07:39,652
Hey, nice to be here.
190
00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:41,421
That's a routine
I actually developed
191
00:07:41,489 --> 00:07:43,156
that was called
"what goes on inside
192
00:07:43,224 --> 00:07:44,891
a comic's mind
when you've bombing,"
193
00:07:44,959 --> 00:07:47,160
and it's come inside my mind,
and it was literally
194
00:07:47,228 --> 00:07:49,029
thdesperation of
looking for material
195
00:07:49,096 --> 00:07:50,630
and trying to find
the right joke
196
00:07:50,698 --> 00:07:52,198
and eventually getting it out.
197
00:07:52,266 --> 00:07:54,734
You go blue just because that's
the only way to get out of it.
198
00:07:54,802 --> 00:07:57,203
Move on to dynamite
second routine 1B,
199
00:07:57,271 --> 00:08:00,273
phase in now, amlac phase in
opening response 1B,
200
00:08:00,341 --> 00:08:02,342
amlac C, sequence A.
201
00:08:02,410 --> 00:08:05,612
How 'bout that walking, eh?
202
00:08:05,679 --> 00:08:07,313
Mayday, mayday, mayday!
203
00:08:07,381 --> 00:08:09,649
And then finally your
id comes up, like,
204
00:08:09,717 --> 00:08:11,518
"Let me go,
I can talk to 'em.
205
00:08:11,585 --> 00:08:14,487
They're just -- just let it go,
I've got some stuff."
206
00:08:14,555 --> 00:08:16,156
No, not you.
"Nah, hah hah!
207
00:08:16,223 --> 00:08:17,357
Talk about your mother!"
208
00:08:17,425 --> 00:08:18,892
You're not ready,
you're not ready.
209
00:08:18,959 --> 00:08:24,397
ABC saw William's act,
and, in 1978,
210
00:08:24,465 --> 00:08:27,400
fast-tracked a new sitcom
in which he'd play an alien.
211
00:08:27,468 --> 00:08:30,070
Critics were skeptical
of the premise,
212
00:08:30,137 --> 00:08:32,372
but Mork & Mindy
was a big hit.
213
00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:33,473
[Telephone ringing]
214
00:08:33,541 --> 00:08:38,511
Ring! Ring!
215
00:08:38,579 --> 00:08:40,447
Please get the telephone.
216
00:08:40,514 --> 00:08:42,649
Oh, phone.
217
00:08:42,716 --> 00:08:44,851
Primitive means of
audio communication.
218
00:08:44,919 --> 00:08:47,253
[Laughter]
219
00:08:47,321 --> 00:08:50,723
I wonder what it looks like.
220
00:08:50,791 --> 00:08:52,459
Hello!
221
00:08:52,526 --> 00:08:56,296
Hello?
222
00:08:56,363 --> 00:08:57,464
[Ringing stops]
223
00:08:57,531 --> 00:09:00,066
I killed it.
224
00:09:00,134 --> 00:09:02,469
It struck a chord because
it was so kind of out of
225
00:09:02,536 --> 00:09:04,604
left field in that way,
but it was a blast.
226
00:09:04,672 --> 00:09:06,139
The first year
was crazy fun.
227
00:09:06,207 --> 00:09:08,541
Ah!
228
00:09:08,609 --> 00:09:10,810
I'm going home, mama!
229
00:09:10,878 --> 00:09:12,145
[Laughter]
230
00:09:17,785 --> 00:09:20,053
Hey! Don't take away
my gusto!
231
00:09:20,121 --> 00:09:23,356
[Laughter]
232
00:09:23,424 --> 00:09:25,725
Ah, help me,
I'm melting!
233
00:09:25,793 --> 00:09:27,794
[Laughter]
234
00:09:30,564 --> 00:09:33,600
Mork & Mindy was performed
in front of a studio audience,
235
00:09:33,667 --> 00:09:36,269
a long-standing technique
that especially benefits
236
00:09:36,337 --> 00:09:38,771
comedians like Williams,
who need the feedback
237
00:09:38,839 --> 00:09:40,473
of an audience reaction.
238
00:09:40,541 --> 00:09:43,009
People forget that Chaplin,
when he did a lot of his movies,
239
00:09:43,077 --> 00:09:44,577
was performing
in front of people,
240
00:09:44,645 --> 00:09:46,146
that they sometimes
would have --
241
00:09:46,213 --> 00:09:48,281
a lot of the silent comedians
would have, like --
242
00:09:48,349 --> 00:09:50,917
because there was no soundtrack,
they'd have an audience there.
243
00:09:50,985 --> 00:09:52,418
They knew where
the laughs were.
244
00:09:52,486 --> 00:09:54,420
Or he would take it out
as stage productions.
245
00:09:54,488 --> 00:09:56,456
Like, the Marx Brothers
did all of their movies
246
00:09:56,524 --> 00:09:57,624
as stage productions first
247
00:09:57,691 --> 00:09:59,359
so they knew where
all the laughs were.
248
00:09:59,426 --> 00:10:02,495
Television couldn't contain
Robin Williams,
249
00:10:02,563 --> 00:10:05,131
and soon he was
starring in movies
250
00:10:05,199 --> 00:10:07,066
like Good Morning, Vietnam.
251
00:10:07,134 --> 00:10:11,404
Good morning,
Vietnam!
252
00:10:11,472 --> 00:10:14,607
Hey, this is not a test,
this is rock and roll!
253
00:10:14,675 --> 00:10:18,144
Director Barry Levinson
took advantage of Williams'
254
00:10:18,212 --> 00:10:21,414
improvisational skills
by secretly filming him
255
00:10:21,482 --> 00:10:24,617
from a distance as he
interacted with locals.
256
00:10:24,685 --> 00:10:27,353
There'd be just Thai kids
and different people kind of
257
00:10:27,421 --> 00:10:29,389
and we'd be talking
and he'd just say,
258
00:10:29,456 --> 00:10:31,624
"Start rolling," and wouldn't
let anybody know,
259
00:10:31,692 --> 00:10:33,960
and you'd get wonderful stuff
with just the people
260
00:10:34,028 --> 00:10:35,628
and just regular folks.
261
00:10:35,696 --> 00:10:37,564
It's no big deal.
262
00:10:37,631 --> 00:10:40,366
Look,
¶ How loving can you feel ¶
263
00:10:40,434 --> 00:10:42,101
¶ When you got
that moment when ¶
264
00:10:42,169 --> 00:10:44,504
¶ Don't you know that
time can be that-a way ¶
265
00:10:44,572 --> 00:10:45,838
¶ Wacka-wack,
wacka-wack, wacka-wack ¶
266
00:10:45,906 --> 00:10:47,674
We ended up playing
with a grapefruit
267
00:10:47,741 --> 00:10:49,943
instead of a baseball,
and there was one actor,
268
00:10:50,010 --> 00:10:52,679
"This is not a real baseball,
I have seen a real baseball."
269
00:10:52,746 --> 00:10:54,781
And he just started
arguing with me,
270
00:10:54,848 --> 00:10:57,083
and Barry said, you know,
"Keep rolling."
271
00:10:57,151 --> 00:10:58,785
It was wonderful,
'cause he was like,
272
00:10:58,852 --> 00:11:00,186
"No, it's a baseball."
273
00:11:00,254 --> 00:11:02,021
"No, it's not a baseball.
This is a piece of fruit."
274
00:11:02,089 --> 00:11:05,158
It's much smaller
and harder than this one.
275
00:11:05,226 --> 00:11:07,527
You've got me there, Wilk,
because, I'm sorry,
276
00:11:07,595 --> 00:11:10,430
we have no budget, you see,
and I've got to get on a plane
277
00:11:10,497 --> 00:11:11,931
and we have to do with
what we can.
278
00:11:11,999 --> 00:11:14,167
Give me your hand.
Thank you.
279
00:11:14,235 --> 00:11:15,969
-Thank you all the same.
-Thank you all the same.
280
00:11:18,572 --> 00:11:21,007
Williams would go on
to play a wide range
281
00:11:21,075 --> 00:11:23,509
of both comic
and serious roles in films,
282
00:11:23,577 --> 00:11:26,312
winning an Academy Award
for Good Will Hunting.
283
00:11:26,380 --> 00:11:30,183
But for many, he remains
the iconic Mork from Ork.
284
00:11:30,251 --> 00:11:32,218
It still is that thing,
even after winning
285
00:11:32,286 --> 00:11:33,953
an Academy Award,
for like a week,
286
00:11:34,021 --> 00:11:36,356
people going, "Hey,
Good Will Hunting, way to go."
287
00:11:36,423 --> 00:11:38,258
Two weeks later,
"Hey, Mork!"
288
00:11:38,325 --> 00:11:39,792
It doesn't change.
289
00:11:41,729 --> 00:11:43,963
By the fourth season
of Mork & Mindy,
290
00:11:44,031 --> 00:11:46,666
the producers decided
to add a new character,
291
00:11:46,734 --> 00:11:49,302
played by the only comedian
who could match
292
00:11:49,370 --> 00:11:51,904
Robin Williams'
spontaneous comic energy --
293
00:11:51,972 --> 00:11:53,006
Jonathan Winters.
294
00:11:53,073 --> 00:11:56,376
I don't like you, Freddy.
295
00:11:56,443 --> 00:11:58,177
Don't like you, Junior.
296
00:11:59,947 --> 00:12:01,614
You wonder if I am different.
297
00:12:01,682 --> 00:12:04,284
I am twisted
and bent out of shape
298
00:12:04,351 --> 00:12:06,853
because you took my parents
299
00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:08,421
from me!
300
00:12:10,157 --> 00:12:11,524
[Laughter]
301
00:12:13,661 --> 00:12:15,862
In many ways,
Jonathan Winters had
302
00:12:15,929 --> 00:12:17,997
paved the way
for Robin Williams
303
00:12:18,065 --> 00:12:20,800
as television's first
improvisational genius.
304
00:12:20,868 --> 00:12:23,102
I know you're bitter
because you had to leave
305
00:12:23,170 --> 00:12:25,038
that plush job there
in the Pentagon.
306
00:12:25,105 --> 00:12:27,307
Yeah, it's cuckoo.
307
00:12:27,374 --> 00:12:29,108
Cut that jazz out.
308
00:12:29,176 --> 00:12:30,877
Let's face it,
it's sort of a challenge for --
309
00:12:30,944 --> 00:12:35,982
it's sort of --
hope you didn't get any on you.
310
00:12:36,050 --> 00:12:39,085
It's sort of man against
the jungle, you might say.
311
00:12:39,153 --> 00:12:41,220
You know, malaria,
yellow fever.
312
00:12:41,288 --> 00:12:43,856
Animals.
No offense, Rodney.
313
00:12:43,924 --> 00:12:47,026
You see, I'll be
shoving off before long,
314
00:12:47,094 --> 00:12:49,162
and, look, you're into me
for 200 now.
315
00:12:49,229 --> 00:12:50,697
Keep your hands out of there.
316
00:12:50,764 --> 00:12:52,098
WILLIAMS: He made it possible
317
00:12:52,166 --> 00:12:54,200
for me to think that
you can do anything.
318
00:12:54,268 --> 00:12:55,802
He made it possible
to do voices,
319
00:12:55,869 --> 00:12:58,304
characters, sound effects,
and all those different things
320
00:12:58,372 --> 00:13:00,006
that just open the world up.
321
00:13:00,074 --> 00:13:02,442
He was morphing
before the technology.
322
00:13:02,509 --> 00:13:04,410
So it was a bit --
that was, for me,
323
00:13:04,478 --> 00:13:06,279
like the beginning of,
like, wow.
324
00:13:06,347 --> 00:13:07,680
Tell me, Mr. Groundhog,
325
00:13:07,748 --> 00:13:09,382
do you predict six miserable,
326
00:13:09,450 --> 00:13:11,918
lousy weeks of weather
ahead of us or not?
327
00:13:11,985 --> 00:13:14,954
I don't know anything
about the weather, Jack.
328
00:13:15,022 --> 00:13:16,589
I can tell you that it's
329
00:13:16,657 --> 00:13:19,025
a crummy hole
I live in down there.
330
00:13:19,093 --> 00:13:21,894
It's rotten, it's damp,
the missus is about
331
00:13:21,962 --> 00:13:24,163
he ugliest broad
I have ever seen.
332
00:13:24,231 --> 00:13:25,832
[Laughter]
333
00:13:28,635 --> 00:13:31,637
Now, Robin Williams
said to me one time,
334
00:13:31,705 --> 00:13:36,509
"Pops, you're my mentor,"
and I said, "No, don't --
335
00:13:36,577 --> 00:13:39,011
Listen, don't say 'mentor.'
336
00:13:39,079 --> 00:13:42,882
In Ohio, they think
that's a salve.
337
00:13:42,950 --> 00:13:45,752
Say 'idol.'
Everybody gets that.
338
00:13:45,819 --> 00:13:47,153
I love 'idol.'
339
00:13:47,221 --> 00:13:50,590
See, mentor's -- that's like
a pharmaceutical thing.
340
00:13:50,657 --> 00:13:52,024
Put that on your skin."
341
00:13:53,594 --> 00:13:56,129
Jonathan Winters'
comedy skills ran deep.
342
00:13:56,196 --> 00:13:59,499
As a boy in Dayton, Ohio,
he listened to his grandfather
343
00:13:59,566 --> 00:14:01,667
joke about
the town celebrities,
344
00:14:01,735 --> 00:14:03,803
Wilbur and Orville Wright.
345
00:14:03,871 --> 00:14:06,639
WINTERS: And I met
Orville Wright when I was a kid.
346
00:14:06,707 --> 00:14:10,009
My grandfather went to school
with these guys,
347
00:14:10,077 --> 00:14:13,045
and he said they
were devoid of any humor,
348
00:14:13,113 --> 00:14:14,514
they were not funny.
349
00:14:14,581 --> 00:14:17,984
I went like to this to them
and I said, you know,
350
00:14:18,051 --> 00:14:20,052
"How's the airplane, Orville?"
351
00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:22,655
As a young man,
352
00:14:22,723 --> 00:14:24,757
Winters hoped to
become an artist,
353
00:14:24,825 --> 00:14:27,493
but his wife set him
on a different track.
354
00:14:27,561 --> 00:14:29,362
My wife said, "Enough.
355
00:14:29,430 --> 00:14:31,464
Your art isn't that good.
356
00:14:31,532 --> 00:14:35,568
I'm going to tell you,
I love you," this and that.
357
00:14:35,636 --> 00:14:38,538
"You don't have a style,
and you've got to have a style.
358
00:14:38,605 --> 00:14:42,208
As a performer in
the music business and acting,
359
00:14:42,276 --> 00:14:44,343
you've got to have a style."
360
00:14:44,411 --> 00:14:45,878
And I didn't have a style.
361
00:14:45,946 --> 00:14:47,580
Winters went to New York
362
00:14:47,648 --> 00:14:50,917
and developed his unique
improvisational style.
363
00:14:50,984 --> 00:14:54,821
Soon he was a regular
on the talk show circuit.
364
00:14:54,888 --> 00:14:56,489
He has a plan to save Cuba.
Listen to this.
365
00:14:56,557 --> 00:14:57,557
Please tell them.
366
00:14:57,624 --> 00:14:58,925
[As JFK]
Well, my plan is this, Jack.
367
00:14:58,992 --> 00:15:00,293
[Laughter]
368
00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,162
From one Jack to another,
369
00:15:03,230 --> 00:15:05,865
it has been my feeling
right along,
370
00:15:05,933 --> 00:15:08,768
and I tried to get Congress
to go along with me,
371
00:15:08,836 --> 00:15:11,504
my friends.
372
00:15:11,572 --> 00:15:16,008
Lyndon, who I saw
about a year ago.
373
00:15:16,076 --> 00:15:17,543
[Laughter]
374
00:15:17,611 --> 00:15:20,613
Jonathan Winters was
almost unknown
375
00:15:20,681 --> 00:15:23,883
until he had
the Jack Paar experience,
376
00:15:23,951 --> 00:15:28,354
and people who came on that show
became suddenly known.
377
00:15:28,422 --> 00:15:30,556
Did you ever undress
in front of a dog?
378
00:15:30,624 --> 00:15:34,227
[Laughter]
379
00:15:34,294 --> 00:15:36,162
Um...
380
00:15:36,230 --> 00:15:38,264
[Laughter]
381
00:15:38,332 --> 00:15:41,067
I'll tell you...
382
00:15:41,134 --> 00:15:42,768
You think about that
for a minute.
383
00:15:42,836 --> 00:15:44,737
[Laughter]
384
00:15:44,805 --> 00:15:47,840
I don't know, people,
you know, it's funny.
385
00:15:47,908 --> 00:15:50,510
A bird somehow
doesn't count, right?
386
00:15:50,577 --> 00:15:51,911
[Chuckles]
387
00:15:51,979 --> 00:15:53,546
Or a cat.
388
00:15:53,614 --> 00:15:56,115
But a dog,
they really stare.
389
00:15:56,183 --> 00:15:58,584
[Laughter]
390
00:15:58,652 --> 00:16:00,753
If Jack Paar liked
what you were doing,
391
00:16:00,821 --> 00:16:03,823
you know, the rest of the guests
could come back the next night.
392
00:16:03,891 --> 00:16:07,360
I'd just come out of the shower
and here was my dog.
393
00:16:07,427 --> 00:16:10,530
[Laughter]
394
00:16:10,597 --> 00:16:13,099
You know they
can talk, right?
395
00:16:13,166 --> 00:16:14,934
So when they
look at you like...
396
00:16:15,002 --> 00:16:17,136
[Laughter]
397
00:16:17,204 --> 00:16:18,905
Yeah, and wagged
her little tail
398
00:16:18,972 --> 00:16:21,474
and went out and told
her friends what she'd seen.
399
00:16:21,542 --> 00:16:24,010
I remember seeing him --
watching him with my father.
400
00:16:24,077 --> 00:16:26,779
My dad was kind of, you know,
very kind of quiet like this,
401
00:16:26,847 --> 00:16:29,181
and Jonathan did a thing
where he came on one time
402
00:16:29,249 --> 00:16:30,917
on The Tonight Show
with Jack Paar
403
00:16:30,984 --> 00:16:32,084
and came out and said --
404
00:16:32,152 --> 00:16:33,686
and Jack said,
"What are you?"
405
00:16:33,754 --> 00:16:34,820
What are you?
406
00:16:34,888 --> 00:16:36,889
I'm the Voice of Spring!
407
00:16:36,957 --> 00:16:42,128
[Laughter]
408
00:16:42,195 --> 00:16:45,131
I bring you some little goodies
from the forest.
409
00:16:45,198 --> 00:16:46,933
[Laughter]
410
00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,635
[Whistles]
411
00:16:49,703 --> 00:16:51,537
[Laughter]
412
00:16:51,605 --> 00:16:53,839
And I saw my dad
lose it and I went,
413
00:16:53,907 --> 00:16:56,042
"Okay, this guy,
I like this guy."
414
00:16:56,109 --> 00:16:58,010
Where did you
decide to do this?
415
00:16:58,078 --> 00:16:59,312
This is something new.
416
00:16:59,379 --> 00:17:02,381
Well, I've been to the forest,
and the --
417
00:17:02,449 --> 00:17:05,151
You've been on Third Avenue,
is where you've been.
418
00:17:05,218 --> 00:17:07,186
[Laughter]
419
00:17:07,254 --> 00:17:09,855
Weeee!
420
00:17:09,923 --> 00:17:13,225
Took me 45 minutes
to get that in there.
421
00:17:13,293 --> 00:17:15,962
I'm sorry, in the forest,
we don't care.
422
00:17:16,029 --> 00:17:17,463
[Laughter]
423
00:17:21,101 --> 00:17:24,403
At each performance,
Winters would morph into
424
00:17:24,471 --> 00:17:28,407
a collection of characters,
all funny, all spontaneous.
425
00:17:28,475 --> 00:17:32,545
That was very touching,
boys and girls.
426
00:17:32,613 --> 00:17:34,347
Excuse me while
I shed a tear.
427
00:17:34,414 --> 00:17:36,482
I don't want to do it
in front of you.
428
00:17:36,550 --> 00:17:38,484
CHILDREN: Aw!
429
00:17:38,552 --> 00:17:39,552
Oh...
430
00:17:39,620 --> 00:17:42,722
[Laughter]
431
00:17:42,789 --> 00:17:44,724
Ah!
432
00:17:44,791 --> 00:17:47,793
Ah, just a little medicine.
433
00:17:47,861 --> 00:17:50,696
"And the boys said, 'No, no.'
Jeez, I'll tell it."
434
00:17:50,764 --> 00:17:53,399
"I am not from Paris,
I am from Bordeaux."
435
00:17:53,467 --> 00:17:56,769
"And we seen this light up there
and it was a huge saucer."
436
00:17:56,837 --> 00:17:58,704
"I have a marvelous appetite.
437
00:17:58,772 --> 00:18:01,240
You can tell that
by looking at me."
438
00:18:01,308 --> 00:18:04,443
"Oh, god, I wish Ethel
was here to see this."
439
00:18:04,511 --> 00:18:07,113
"Take me to your leader!
Take me to your leader!"
440
00:18:07,180 --> 00:18:08,848
"And did you take him
to your leader?"
441
00:18:08,915 --> 00:18:10,316
"I didn't know who
my leader was."
442
00:18:10,384 --> 00:18:12,251
[Laughs nervously]
443
00:18:12,319 --> 00:18:13,452
"Stop that, boy."
444
00:18:15,856 --> 00:18:20,226
In 1956, Jonathan Winters
got his own television show,
445
00:18:20,293 --> 00:18:23,562
the first-ever series
broadcast in color.
446
00:18:23,630 --> 00:18:27,266
It didn't last long,
but he was back in 1967
447
00:18:27,334 --> 00:18:30,436
with another series
showcasing his comic genius.
448
00:18:30,504 --> 00:18:33,139
Margaret, if you'd be kind
enough to plug in that
449
00:18:33,206 --> 00:18:35,207
new electric knife
that you gave me,
450
00:18:35,275 --> 00:18:36,942
there's a special turkey here.
451
00:18:37,010 --> 00:18:38,911
Would you plug it in,
sweetheart?
452
00:18:38,979 --> 00:18:42,581
[Laughter]
453
00:18:42,649 --> 00:18:44,283
Thppt! Oh!
454
00:18:44,351 --> 00:18:45,885
[Laughter]
455
00:18:45,952 --> 00:18:48,287
I'm sorry,
Uncle Willie!
456
00:18:48,355 --> 00:18:50,356
Try to stand, will ya?
457
00:18:50,424 --> 00:18:51,657
[Laughter]
458
00:18:51,725 --> 00:18:53,926
Cut your tie off,
didn't it? Aw!
459
00:18:53,994 --> 00:18:56,028
When we're talking about
improvisation,
460
00:18:56,096 --> 00:18:57,029
it's a little scary.
461
00:18:57,097 --> 00:18:58,431
It's always scary.
462
00:18:58,498 --> 00:19:02,535
A lot of you people have asked
why my strange headdress.
463
00:19:02,602 --> 00:19:03,569
[Laughter]
464
00:19:03,637 --> 00:19:04,970
Well, don't ask anymore.
465
00:19:05,038 --> 00:19:06,706
Ppt, ppt.
466
00:19:06,773 --> 00:19:08,040
[Laughter]
467
00:19:08,108 --> 00:19:09,842
[Applause]
468
00:19:09,910 --> 00:19:12,611
When you saw him on his show
where he would come out with
469
00:19:12,679 --> 00:19:14,780
a box of stuff
and just take out something.
470
00:19:14,848 --> 00:19:16,982
One time, I remember,
he came out and said,
471
00:19:17,050 --> 00:19:18,284
"My name is Tommin Turney,
472
00:19:18,351 --> 00:19:20,119
I come from the country
of Tangwai.
473
00:19:20,187 --> 00:19:25,324
Our country is 400 yards wide
and 20 miles long."
474
00:19:25,392 --> 00:19:27,026
And then they said,
"What is your chief export?"
475
00:19:27,094 --> 00:19:28,828
"Mainly rope."
476
00:19:28,895 --> 00:19:30,996
It was like --
and he just started
477
00:19:31,064 --> 00:19:32,732
building these things.
478
00:19:32,799 --> 00:19:34,166
Give him a hat,
he could go for days.
479
00:19:34,234 --> 00:19:39,839
It's not easy here on this
bloody ship, is it, matey?
480
00:19:39,906 --> 00:19:41,540
-Is it?
-It's not easy, sir.
481
00:19:41,608 --> 00:19:43,209
'Course it isn't.
482
00:19:43,276 --> 00:19:45,778
You want to go
that route again?
483
00:19:45,846 --> 00:19:48,247
Lock and load the cannon.
484
00:19:48,315 --> 00:19:50,316
That's the cannon
right there.
485
00:19:50,383 --> 00:19:52,351
-Yes, sir.
-See, I've been drinking, too.
486
00:19:52,419 --> 00:19:54,553
I can't help.
487
00:19:54,621 --> 00:19:57,723
These are all different from
this afternoon.
488
00:19:57,791 --> 00:19:59,024
You bet they are.
489
00:19:59,092 --> 00:20:01,160
And he'd make
these things up,
490
00:20:01,228 --> 00:20:03,863
but then when it came time
to do it again
491
00:20:03,930 --> 00:20:06,699
on the live show
after the dress rehearsal,
492
00:20:06,767 --> 00:20:09,235
he wasn't as good
because he wanted --
493
00:20:09,302 --> 00:20:11,637
he didn't want to do
the same thing,
494
00:20:11,705 --> 00:20:15,341
and the time he did it first
was the funniest.
495
00:20:15,408 --> 00:20:17,643
That was the first thing that
came in his head, boom,
496
00:20:17,711 --> 00:20:20,679
and he did it
and it was great.
497
00:20:20,747 --> 00:20:24,650
Let's -- let's play swords.
498
00:20:24,718 --> 00:20:27,486
[Laughter]
499
00:20:27,554 --> 00:20:29,155
I didn't have to do anything
500
00:20:29,222 --> 00:20:31,724
except just stand there
and laugh at him.
501
00:20:31,792 --> 00:20:35,127
I'd sing a song
and supposedly I don't know
502
00:20:35,195 --> 00:20:39,131
that he's behind me doing
all kinds of crazy things.
503
00:20:39,199 --> 00:20:42,935
¶ I'm starry-eyed ¶
504
00:20:43,003 --> 00:20:47,606
¶ And vaguely discontented ¶
505
00:20:47,674 --> 00:20:49,708
¶ Like a nightingale ¶
506
00:20:49,776 --> 00:20:54,380
[Whistles]
507
00:20:54,447 --> 00:20:56,215
Cracker.
508
00:20:56,283 --> 00:20:57,583
[Laughter]
509
00:20:57,651 --> 00:20:59,185
ANDY WILLIAMS:
It was silly for me
510
00:20:59,252 --> 00:21:03,055
to sing it in dress rehearsal
and for him to do it because,
511
00:21:03,123 --> 00:21:06,125
again, he was funnier
doing it the first time
512
00:21:06,193 --> 00:21:07,993
than he was the second time.
513
00:21:08,061 --> 00:21:14,333
The reason a lot of these guys,
Andy and Dean and Steve
514
00:21:14,401 --> 00:21:20,206
and Jack had chosen me was
a very dangerous thing,
515
00:21:20,273 --> 00:21:23,576
but thank god,
they would say,
516
00:21:23,643 --> 00:21:26,946
if they were here today
to say it,
517
00:21:27,013 --> 00:21:29,815
I would bet on this,
one thing about Winters,
518
00:21:29,883 --> 00:21:32,551
you never knew what he was
going to say or do.
519
00:21:32,619 --> 00:21:34,420
When we had Jonathan on,
it was amazing,
520
00:21:34,487 --> 00:21:36,689
because he and I --
they would just do these things
521
00:21:36,756 --> 00:21:38,424
like, "Jonathan
and Robin riff here."
522
00:21:38,491 --> 00:21:40,426
I was kicked out of Santa, sir.
They found me in a dress.
523
00:21:40,493 --> 00:21:42,261
Doesn't make any difference.
They found you in what?
524
00:21:42,329 --> 00:21:43,262
A gown.
525
00:21:43,330 --> 00:21:45,197
Ah, gown's better.
526
00:21:45,265 --> 00:21:46,198
[Laughter]
527
00:21:46,266 --> 00:21:48,734
WILLIAMS: One time we did
528
00:21:48,802 --> 00:21:50,069
a World War I takeoff.
529
00:21:50,136 --> 00:21:52,638
They shot for like 45 minutes
to the point where
530
00:21:52,706 --> 00:21:54,773
the cameras were
running out of film.
531
00:21:54,841 --> 00:21:56,842
They were like machine gunners
at Guadalcanal.
532
00:21:56,910 --> 00:21:58,277
I'm out!
533
00:21:58,345 --> 00:22:00,346
Get a gunner
to camera three!
534
00:22:00,413 --> 00:22:01,847
And were just riffing.
535
00:22:01,915 --> 00:22:03,616
They're coming,
father, look!
536
00:22:03,683 --> 00:22:05,584
Thousands of Huns,
Germans, Bosch!
537
00:22:05,652 --> 00:22:07,686
Germans and Bosch!
What's the Bosch?
538
00:22:07,754 --> 00:22:10,756
-Small soup with beets.
-I suppose.
539
00:22:10,824 --> 00:22:12,791
And then eventually they would
cut it down to five minutes.
540
00:22:12,859 --> 00:22:14,560
[Imitating gunfire]
541
00:22:14,628 --> 00:22:16,495
Ow, ow, my hand,
my hand!
542
00:22:16,563 --> 00:22:18,664
I'm sorry, sorry,
take it out!
543
00:22:18,732 --> 00:22:19,698
I'm hurt, I'm hurt!
544
00:22:19,766 --> 00:22:21,133
I know you are,
but you've killed
545
00:22:21,201 --> 00:22:22,935
the old man with
four fingers in his head!
546
00:22:23,003 --> 00:22:24,904
[Laughter]
547
00:22:24,971 --> 00:22:29,608
Well, it's two crazy guys,
you know,
548
00:22:29,676 --> 00:22:33,479
that had just been released
from a major hospital,
549
00:22:33,546 --> 00:22:36,548
and, "Ha, ha, ha,
we're on the playground now,
550
00:22:36,616 --> 00:22:37,850
you'll never get us.
551
00:22:37,918 --> 00:22:40,619
We can get in that Jeep
and roll away, bye-bye."
552
00:22:40,687 --> 00:22:43,322
And he is on full throttle.
553
00:22:43,390 --> 00:22:45,324
I mean, I can be
on full throttle,
554
00:22:45,392 --> 00:22:48,060
but I found out what
full throttle can do to you.
555
00:22:48,128 --> 00:22:51,397
It can -- you can end up
hitting the pylon
556
00:22:51,464 --> 00:22:53,532
rather than going around it.
557
00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:58,737
Um...the thing to me,
Robin is like a great air show.
558
00:22:58,805 --> 00:23:00,572
Looks like
the bloody war's over.
559
00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,007
-No, sir.
-What a shame.
560
00:23:02,075 --> 00:23:03,275
And no action.
561
00:23:03,343 --> 00:23:06,345
You know, I can't --
no, it's my medallions.
562
00:23:06,413 --> 00:23:08,180
[Laughter]
563
00:23:08,248 --> 00:23:09,515
There we are.
564
00:23:09,582 --> 00:23:11,483
It would take him literally
sometimes 30 minutes
565
00:23:11,551 --> 00:23:13,452
to get from his car to
the set on Mork & Mindy
566
00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:15,487
because he would stop
and perform for everybody.
567
00:23:15,555 --> 00:23:19,024
The guys that comes up now,
"Did I see you on television?"
568
00:23:19,092 --> 00:23:21,660
Of course, a lot of
times I will say,
569
00:23:21,728 --> 00:23:24,763
"I'm Leland Buckhorn
and I'm a bronco buster,
570
00:23:24,831 --> 00:23:25,931
a bronco rider."
571
00:23:25,999 --> 00:23:28,167
"No, that's not it."
572
00:23:28,234 --> 00:23:31,603
"Oh, yes, it is.
I'm Leland Buckhorn.
573
00:23:31,671 --> 00:23:34,340
And I'm busting my
whole thing down here
574
00:23:34,407 --> 00:23:36,275
and riding them Brahman bulls.
575
00:23:36,343 --> 00:23:38,043
It's just terrible for me.
576
00:23:38,111 --> 00:23:40,646
I can't do it no more."
577
00:23:40,714 --> 00:23:42,581
And have the woman
turn to her husband,
578
00:23:42,649 --> 00:23:44,516
"Eddie, I told you
it wasn't him."
579
00:23:44,584 --> 00:23:47,619
Jonathan Winters,
as everyone knows,
580
00:23:47,687 --> 00:23:50,222
is some kind of a...
581
00:23:50,290 --> 00:23:51,523
savant or something.
582
00:23:51,591 --> 00:23:52,658
I mean, I don't know.
583
00:23:52,726 --> 00:23:55,661
He just never stopped.
He was always
584
00:23:55,729 --> 00:23:56,895
in some character.
585
00:23:56,963 --> 00:23:59,164
I just thinke felt
so comfortable there.
586
00:23:59,232 --> 00:24:02,001
Writing for
an improvisational performer
587
00:24:02,068 --> 00:24:04,670
like Jonathan Winters
was a challenge
588
00:24:04,738 --> 00:24:07,906
because Winters liked to
work out his own bits.
589
00:24:07,974 --> 00:24:09,708
They would give him
stuff to say that if
590
00:24:09,776 --> 00:24:11,944
he didn't think was funny,
he couldn't memorize it.
591
00:24:12,012 --> 00:24:14,546
Jonathan, please.
592
00:24:14,614 --> 00:24:16,749
Just do the lines.
593
00:24:16,816 --> 00:24:19,585
What we've talked about
for five days, okay?
594
00:24:19,652 --> 00:24:21,520
Because he's so
naturally funny that
595
00:24:21,588 --> 00:24:23,489
I think it was like
tissue rejection.
596
00:24:23,556 --> 00:24:25,891
They would write him stuff
to say and just, pbbt,
597
00:24:25,959 --> 00:24:27,893
you know, and he'd go,
"I don't -- no."
598
00:24:27,961 --> 00:24:33,665
You got six to seven
writers on the show, okay?
599
00:24:33,733 --> 00:24:36,835
This one scene here
in the second act, please,
600
00:24:36,903 --> 00:24:38,637
let's just do it.
601
00:24:38,705 --> 00:24:40,839
Tomorrow we'll do it.
602
00:24:40,907 --> 00:24:42,775
Why can't we do it now, man?
603
00:24:42,842 --> 00:24:45,310
I'd like to get it started --
you know,
604
00:24:45,378 --> 00:24:47,446
I want to get
this thing going.
605
00:24:47,514 --> 00:24:50,716
There's going to be some
big changes all week.
606
00:24:50,784 --> 00:24:52,584
I know that, okay.
607
00:24:52,652 --> 00:24:57,423
Now, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday,
608
00:24:57,490 --> 00:24:58,957
skipping -- you're fighting
for your life.
609
00:24:59,025 --> 00:25:00,926
I'm fighting
to get in some more.
610
00:25:00,994 --> 00:25:03,962
I want to do a thing with
a window out here with the kids.
611
00:25:04,030 --> 00:25:05,197
What window?
612
00:25:05,265 --> 00:25:07,032
The break front.
613
00:25:07,100 --> 00:25:08,834
It's a fake window, okay?
614
00:25:08,902 --> 00:25:11,503
Can you get that?
You're getting 60,000 bucks.
615
00:25:11,571 --> 00:25:13,072
A fake window.
616
00:25:13,139 --> 00:25:15,941
Phew, medication.
617
00:25:16,009 --> 00:25:17,276
[Gulps]
618
00:25:17,343 --> 00:25:19,478
There we go.
619
00:25:19,546 --> 00:25:21,513
Because he's so
instinctually funny
620
00:25:21,581 --> 00:25:23,682
that you just want to go,
"Let him go.
621
00:25:23,750 --> 00:25:25,784
Let him free-range.
We'll be there."
622
00:25:25,852 --> 00:25:28,220
You know, then when they did,
it would work.
623
00:25:28,288 --> 00:25:31,657
What made Jonathan Winters
and Robin Williams unique
624
00:25:31,724 --> 00:25:34,093
was their ability
to create comedy
625
00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:36,495
from nothing instantaneously.
626
00:25:38,364 --> 00:25:40,899
Improvisational masters
can conceive, write,
627
00:25:40,967 --> 00:25:43,602
and perform a line all in
the blink of an eye.
628
00:25:45,905 --> 00:25:48,207
At the other end of
the spectrum are performers
629
00:25:48,274 --> 00:25:50,709
who focus on preparation,
getting into their roles,
630
00:25:50,777 --> 00:25:53,979
carefully crafting the delivery
of each funny word.
631
00:25:54,047 --> 00:25:57,382
Among the most honored of these
formally trained comedy actors
632
00:25:57,450 --> 00:25:59,518
is Cloris Leachman,
who's won more
633
00:25:59,586 --> 00:26:01,753
acting Emmy Awards
than anyone else.
634
00:26:05,091 --> 00:26:09,328
In 1946, Cloris Leachman nearly
won the Miss America contest,
635
00:26:09,395 --> 00:26:12,197
but beauty pageants
weren't her goal.
636
00:26:12,265 --> 00:26:14,566
She wanted to act,
a dream since she
637
00:26:14,634 --> 00:26:16,735
stepped onstage
as a little girl
638
00:26:16,803 --> 00:26:19,404
and learned her first
lesson about comedy.
639
00:26:19,472 --> 00:26:21,507
I, like, twirled and did --
and I slipped
640
00:26:21,574 --> 00:26:27,112
and fell flat on my ass,
and I was horrified.
641
00:26:27,180 --> 00:26:28,547
And everybody laughed.
642
00:26:28,615 --> 00:26:30,449
And it changed, I'm sure,
643
00:26:30,517 --> 00:26:33,185
my outlook for
the rest of my life,
644
00:26:33,253 --> 00:26:35,988
that it's okay to fall
flat on your ass.
645
00:26:36,055 --> 00:26:37,723
The audience is with you.
646
00:26:37,790 --> 00:26:40,592
They're right there
with you and for you.
647
00:26:40,660 --> 00:26:45,697
Studying under Elia Kazan
at the famed Actors Studio,
648
00:26:45,765 --> 00:26:48,167
Leachman learned the techniques
of dramatic acting,
649
00:26:48,234 --> 00:26:49,935
which she then
applied to comedy.
650
00:26:50,003 --> 00:26:54,406
LEACHMAN: Kazan emphasized
using objects
651
00:26:54,474 --> 00:26:56,542
in a scene instead of
using your face.
652
00:26:56,609 --> 00:26:58,644
Well, gee, you know,
he would have you
653
00:26:58,711 --> 00:27:01,914
do something with an object that
would show how you're feeling.
654
00:27:01,981 --> 00:27:04,149
We're gonna get this business
deal on its feet, all right,
655
00:27:04,217 --> 00:27:06,118
and then the feet's gonna be
right on your neck.
656
00:27:06,186 --> 00:27:07,486
Now, that's a damn lie!
657
00:27:07,554 --> 00:27:10,222
Now, listen, this outfit
is going to go through,
658
00:27:10,290 --> 00:27:12,357
but the arrangement has
got to be between you and me.
659
00:27:12,425 --> 00:27:14,826
So I said, "I need something,"
and the prop department said,
660
00:27:14,894 --> 00:27:16,395
"Well, what do you need?"
"Well, I don't know,
661
00:27:16,462 --> 00:27:17,529
I -- a candy?"
662
00:27:17,597 --> 00:27:19,932
So they gave me
this bowl on a stem
663
00:27:19,999 --> 00:27:21,700
with wrapped candy covered.
664
00:27:21,768 --> 00:27:24,336
My goodness,
let's not grobble.
665
00:27:24,404 --> 00:27:26,071
Yeah, let's not fight about
666
00:27:26,139 --> 00:27:28,307
anything silly like
old Maureen.
667
00:27:28,374 --> 00:27:29,908
I mean, what the hell.
668
00:27:29,976 --> 00:27:31,777
[Laughter]
669
00:27:31,844 --> 00:27:32,911
Crack.
670
00:27:32,979 --> 00:27:34,413
I cracked it.
671
00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:38,283
Oh, yes,
it got a big laugh.
672
00:27:38,351 --> 00:27:43,055
That's the sort of thing
that's wonderful,
673
00:27:43,122 --> 00:27:44,723
to use objects.
674
00:27:47,126 --> 00:27:49,661
Throughout her career,
Leachman has been careful
675
00:27:49,729 --> 00:27:51,663
not to play stock
comic characters.
676
00:27:51,731 --> 00:27:54,399
Instead, she works to make
each performance unique.
677
00:27:54,467 --> 00:27:55,567
LEACHMAN: It's so easy
678
00:27:55,635 --> 00:27:56,568
to do clichés.
679
00:27:56,636 --> 00:27:58,136
We all know what --
in fact,
680
00:27:58,204 --> 00:28:01,173
some actors who think they're
really good and they aren't,
681
00:28:01,241 --> 00:28:04,142
they think they're good because
they know their clichés.
682
00:28:04,210 --> 00:28:07,012
Oh, I know, you stand this way
or you don't cry
683
00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:09,348
or you do or whatever
at this point.
684
00:28:09,415 --> 00:28:11,116
It's all clichés.
685
00:28:11,184 --> 00:28:14,586
So you have to think,
"I know what this is about,
686
00:28:14,654 --> 00:28:17,556
but how can I do it in
a more interesting
687
00:28:17,624 --> 00:28:18,857
or fresher way?"
688
00:28:18,925 --> 00:28:21,493
Cloris Leachman's
breakthrough role on television
689
00:28:21,561 --> 00:28:24,229
came as Phyllis on
The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
690
00:28:24,297 --> 00:28:25,697
So this is the newsroom?
691
00:28:25,765 --> 00:28:27,833
Yeah, this is it.
Morning, Gordy.
692
00:28:27,900 --> 00:28:29,101
Hi, Mary, how are you?
693
00:28:29,168 --> 00:28:30,502
Oh, Gordy,
I'd like you to meet
694
00:28:30,570 --> 00:28:32,070
Phyllis Lindstrom,
my new assistant,.
695
00:28:32,138 --> 00:28:33,639
This is Gordy Howard,
our weatherman.
696
00:28:33,706 --> 00:28:35,240
Gordy, I just want to
say one thing.
697
00:28:35,308 --> 00:28:36,808
I'd love you to
come over for dinner
698
00:28:36,876 --> 00:28:38,543
so we can really
get to know each other.
699
00:28:38,611 --> 00:28:39,544
[Laughter]
700
00:28:39,612 --> 00:28:42,014
I mean as human beings.
701
00:28:42,081 --> 00:28:44,383
Because we're going to be
working together.
702
00:28:44,450 --> 00:28:47,452
Yeah, uh-huh.
703
00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:49,254
Gordy and I really
hit it off.
704
00:28:49,322 --> 00:28:50,722
[Laughter]
705
00:28:53,326 --> 00:28:55,694
Leachman's comic nemesis
on the show
706
00:28:55,762 --> 00:28:57,429
was Valerie Harper's Rhoda.
707
00:28:57,497 --> 00:28:59,931
We loved each other.
We were great friends.
708
00:28:59,999 --> 00:29:02,367
We'd go to lunch every day
and decide what
709
00:29:02,435 --> 00:29:04,670
we were going to do
so we wouldn't take
710
00:29:04,737 --> 00:29:07,239
so much time on the set,
'cause Mary and Jay,
711
00:29:07,307 --> 00:29:10,175
the director, they'd do it
and that's the end of it.
712
00:29:10,243 --> 00:29:14,346
Rhoda, you'll give me
an honest opinion, won't you?
713
00:29:14,414 --> 00:29:16,848
Uh, not necessarily,
Phyllis.
714
00:29:16,916 --> 00:29:19,418
Well, listen,
I'll taste it.
715
00:29:19,485 --> 00:29:21,019
Give it a try here.
716
00:29:23,890 --> 00:29:24,956
I love this pie.
717
00:29:25,024 --> 00:29:26,858
[Laughter]
718
00:29:26,926 --> 00:29:28,060
So it's come down to this.
719
00:29:28,127 --> 00:29:30,262
I've become such
an object of pity
720
00:29:30,330 --> 00:29:32,230
that even Rhoda
is being kind.
721
00:29:32,298 --> 00:29:33,732
No!
722
00:29:35,401 --> 00:29:37,803
The Phyllis character
was eventually spun off
723
00:29:37,870 --> 00:29:39,638
into her own show,
724
00:29:39,706 --> 00:29:42,941
but with a different cast,
the comedy dynamic changed.
725
00:29:43,009 --> 00:29:47,212
Lars proposed to
somebody before me?
726
00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:50,182
Oh, he must have known her
long before he knew me.
727
00:29:50,249 --> 00:29:52,551
Oh, no, dear,
I think he was going out
728
00:29:52,618 --> 00:29:54,720
with both of you
at the same time.
729
00:29:54,787 --> 00:29:56,621
[Laughter]
730
00:29:56,689 --> 00:29:59,491
When you take a character
out of a group
731
00:29:59,559 --> 00:30:03,095
like The Mary Tyler Moore Show,
it's not a character.
732
00:30:03,162 --> 00:30:06,131
It's only defined by
the people around you.
733
00:30:06,199 --> 00:30:08,367
So it was tricky,
and each week I thought,
734
00:30:08,434 --> 00:30:10,202
"Who am I going to
be this week?"
735
00:30:10,269 --> 00:30:12,704
It was a little tricky.
Isn't that interesting?
736
00:30:14,540 --> 00:30:17,042
Always looking to stretch
her comic skills,
737
00:30:17,110 --> 00:30:18,543
Leachman took movie roles,
738
00:30:18,611 --> 00:30:20,178
including an iconic turn
739
00:30:20,246 --> 00:30:22,881
as Frau Blucher
in Young Frankenstein.
740
00:30:22,949 --> 00:30:25,217
That was your cigar smoldering
in the ashtray!
741
00:30:25,284 --> 00:30:26,651
Yes!
742
00:30:26,719 --> 00:30:29,154
And it was you who left
my grandfaer's book out
743
00:30:29,222 --> 00:30:30,155
for me to find!
744
00:30:30,223 --> 00:30:32,257
-Yes!
-So that I would --
745
00:30:32,325 --> 00:30:33,325
Yes!
746
00:30:33,393 --> 00:30:35,026
And you and Victor were --
747
00:30:35,094 --> 00:30:38,397
Yes! Yes! Say it!
748
00:30:38,464 --> 00:30:42,401
He was my boyfriend!
749
00:30:42,468 --> 00:30:45,637
And then Mel Brooks gave me
a one line reading,
750
00:30:45,705 --> 00:30:47,773
and all I've
ever done with him.
751
00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:50,308
I said, "Stay close
to the candles.
752
00:30:50,376 --> 00:30:52,577
The staircase
can be treacherous."
753
00:30:52,645 --> 00:30:54,413
He gave me this line reading.
754
00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:56,281
"Stay close to the candles.
755
00:30:56,349 --> 00:30:59,184
The staircase
can be treacherous."
756
00:30:59,252 --> 00:31:02,220
That means a couple of
people have died already.
757
00:31:02,288 --> 00:31:04,890
[Laughs]
Isn't that funny?
758
00:31:04,957 --> 00:31:06,958
Stay close to the candles.
759
00:31:07,026 --> 00:31:10,328
The staircase
can be treacherous.
760
00:31:12,698 --> 00:31:14,199
In High Anxiety,
761
00:31:14,267 --> 00:31:16,301
director Mel Brooks
suggested Leachman
762
00:31:16,369 --> 00:31:17,936
play the role
of Nurse Diesel
763
00:31:18,004 --> 00:31:19,905
just like she had
played Frau Blucher,
764
00:31:19,972 --> 00:31:21,573
but the actress
had another idea.
765
00:31:21,641 --> 00:31:22,707
LEACHMAN: He said,
766
00:31:22,775 --> 00:31:24,576
"Oh, well, how do you
want to play it?"
767
00:31:24,644 --> 00:31:27,179
And I said, "I don't know,
but I'm so hateful and evil,
768
00:31:27,246 --> 00:31:29,047
I don't want anybody
to recognize me,
769
00:31:29,115 --> 00:31:31,917
and I think they know my smile
from The Mary Tyler Moore Show,
770
00:31:31,984 --> 00:31:35,654
so I think maybe if
I don't smile,
771
00:31:35,721 --> 00:31:38,990
[Mumbling]
and I kind of talk like that."
772
00:31:39,058 --> 00:31:40,826
Nurse Diesel!
773
00:31:40,893 --> 00:31:43,395
Are you all right?
774
00:31:45,465 --> 00:31:46,698
Yes.
775
00:31:46,766 --> 00:31:48,834
We heard some weird noises
emanating from the room.
776
00:31:48,901 --> 00:31:49,835
We were...worried.
777
00:31:49,902 --> 00:31:52,337
Weird noises?
778
00:31:52,405 --> 00:31:54,172
It was the TV.
779
00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:56,408
Sorry it disturbed you.
780
00:31:56,476 --> 00:31:58,143
I've turned it down.
781
00:31:58,211 --> 00:32:00,846
Is there anything else?
It is rather late.
782
00:32:00,913 --> 00:32:03,782
Leachman's acting skills
were so strong,
783
00:32:03,850 --> 00:32:06,818
she could play an over-the-top
comic role
784
00:32:06,886 --> 00:32:10,455
for Mel Brooks one day
and an intensely serious role
785
00:32:10,523 --> 00:32:12,591
for Peter Bogdanovich the next.
786
00:32:12,658 --> 00:32:16,228
[Dish rattling]
787
00:32:17,430 --> 00:32:19,931
What am I doing
apologizing to you?
788
00:32:19,999 --> 00:32:23,001
Why am I
always apologizing to you,
789
00:32:23,069 --> 00:32:26,004
you little bastard?
790
00:32:26,072 --> 00:32:28,940
In The Last Picture Show,
Leachman played Ruth Popper,
791
00:32:29,008 --> 00:32:31,409
the role that would earn her
an Academy Award
792
00:32:31,477 --> 00:32:34,813
thanks to the power
of this scene.
793
00:32:34,881 --> 00:32:36,615
I haven't done
anything wrong.
794
00:32:36,682 --> 00:32:38,383
Why can't I
quit apologizing?
795
00:32:38,451 --> 00:32:40,118
You're the one
ought to be sorry!
796
00:32:40,186 --> 00:32:41,786
I wouldn't still be
in my bathrobe
797
00:32:41,854 --> 00:32:42,988
if it hadn't been for you.
798
00:32:43,055 --> 00:32:44,756
I'd have had
my clothes on hours ago.
799
00:32:44,824 --> 00:32:47,926
You're the one made me quit
caring if I got dressed or not!
800
00:32:47,994 --> 00:32:49,661
[Sighs]
801
00:32:49,729 --> 00:32:53,164
As she got older,
Cloris Leachman found herself
802
00:32:53,232 --> 00:32:56,535
back on television,
ntinuing to create
803
00:32:56,602 --> 00:32:58,737
a unique character
for each role.
804
00:33:01,374 --> 00:33:04,075
["Jingle Bells" playing]
805
00:33:04,143 --> 00:33:07,045
You do this to torture me?
To hurt me?
806
00:33:07,113 --> 00:33:08,380
You don't like
Christmas music?
807
00:33:08,447 --> 00:33:10,215
It sounds like
the song they sang
808
00:33:10,283 --> 00:33:12,484
when they would ride
through the villages
809
00:33:12,552 --> 00:33:14,486
and throw the babies
into the fire.
810
00:33:14,554 --> 00:33:16,621
They sang "Jingle Bells"?
811
00:33:16,689 --> 00:33:19,758
They sang something.
812
00:33:19,825 --> 00:33:22,561
I have a --
a knitting needle,
813
00:33:22,628 --> 00:33:26,498
my grandson's here,
perfectly lovely darling boy.
814
00:33:26,566 --> 00:33:30,635
["Jingle Bells" plays]
815
00:33:30,703 --> 00:33:32,938
And I get mad --
I don't know what --
816
00:33:33,005 --> 00:33:35,774
I stab him with my
knitting needle in his thigh,
817
00:33:35,841 --> 00:33:36,908
and he goes, "Ow!"
818
00:33:36,976 --> 00:33:38,343
["Jingle Bells" plays]
819
00:33:38,411 --> 00:33:41,346
Ow! God, what the hell
is wrong with you?
820
00:33:41,414 --> 00:33:43,515
You like pushing me.
That's what happens
821
00:33:43,583 --> 00:33:45,250
when you push,
big, tough guy.
822
00:33:45,318 --> 00:33:49,588
Oh, and I --
and because he goes on about it,
823
00:33:49,655 --> 00:33:52,958
I jiggle -- I -- oh!
I'm just horrible--
824
00:33:53,025 --> 00:33:55,026
[Laughs]
825
00:33:55,094 --> 00:33:56,261
Isn't that terrible?
826
00:33:56,329 --> 00:33:58,463
You shouldn't even be
allowed to be a grandma!
827
00:33:58,531 --> 00:33:59,965
Are you finished?
828
00:34:00,032 --> 00:34:02,934
Yes! I am -- Ow! Ah!
829
00:34:03,002 --> 00:34:04,402
Ah!
830
00:34:04,470 --> 00:34:07,739
Oh! I am so sorry.
831
00:34:07,807 --> 00:34:11,076
I should have kissed your
boo-boos and made them better.
832
00:34:11,143 --> 00:34:14,980
It's always been a big challenge
not to repeat myself
833
00:34:15,047 --> 00:34:16,681
and not to do clichés.
834
00:34:16,749 --> 00:34:19,751
Even a script will say,
"She comes and sits,"
835
00:34:19,819 --> 00:34:21,820
and, oh,
you don't want to sit, then.
836
00:34:21,887 --> 00:34:24,556
You find out a way
to do something else
837
00:34:24,624 --> 00:34:28,226
or maybe start to sit and not
or get on one leg or lean.
838
00:34:28,294 --> 00:34:30,061
You've lost your mind
and you're never lucid
839
00:34:30,129 --> 00:34:31,363
for very long,
so listen up.
840
00:34:31,430 --> 00:34:34,199
I understand, go,
let's do this.
841
00:34:34,266 --> 00:34:36,968
We'd like you
to quit smoking.
842
00:34:37,036 --> 00:34:38,203
What are you talking about?
843
00:34:38,270 --> 00:34:40,138
You guys aren't
letting me smoke, are you?
844
00:34:40,206 --> 00:34:43,408
I quit smoking in 1971.
845
00:34:43,476 --> 00:34:45,744
-You did?
-Yeah.
846
00:34:45,811 --> 00:34:47,512
I quit when
Virginia was born.
847
00:34:47,580 --> 00:34:49,614
You quit smoking for me?
848
00:34:49,682 --> 00:34:51,182
If you're Virginia, yeah.
849
00:34:51,250 --> 00:34:56,521
I wanted to live long enough to
see what you'd grow up to be.
850
00:34:56,589 --> 00:34:58,256
Doesn't look like
it was worth the wait.
851
00:34:58,324 --> 00:35:01,660
Well, I think it's fun to
bring comedy to serious things
852
00:35:01,727 --> 00:35:03,962
and bring
serious things to comedy.
853
00:35:04,030 --> 00:35:06,564
And we won't let you
smoke anymore.
854
00:35:06,632 --> 00:35:08,066
In fact,
since you're quitting,
855
00:35:08,134 --> 00:35:10,402
no one in this house
is going to smoke anymore.
856
00:35:10,469 --> 00:35:11,936
[Dog barking]
857
00:35:12,004 --> 00:35:13,605
[Lighter flicks]
858
00:35:17,076 --> 00:35:18,643
Oh...
859
00:35:20,279 --> 00:35:21,813
Good luck with that.
860
00:35:23,749 --> 00:35:26,584
For a versatile actor
like Cloris Leachman,
861
00:35:26,652 --> 00:35:29,087
the subtle nuances
of each character
862
00:35:29,155 --> 00:35:31,456
were the key
to her performances.
863
00:35:31,524 --> 00:35:34,259
But another group of
comedy actors
864
00:35:34,326 --> 00:35:37,529
were quite happy to
play it big and broad
865
00:35:37,596 --> 00:35:40,532
in iconic roles
that audiences loved.
866
00:35:40,599 --> 00:35:44,102
Junior. Junior!
867
00:35:44,170 --> 00:35:45,170
Junior.
868
00:35:45,237 --> 00:35:46,604
Don't stop me now, Mama!
869
00:35:46,672 --> 00:35:49,340
I'm past the point
of no return!
870
00:35:49,408 --> 00:35:50,742
[Laughter]
871
00:35:52,745 --> 00:35:55,847
Jimmy Walker played just
one role on television,
872
00:35:55,915 --> 00:35:58,850
yet few actors have shot to
prominence more quickly
873
00:35:58,918 --> 00:36:01,686
or created more controversy
than Walker did
874
00:36:01,754 --> 00:36:04,189
on a show called
Good Times.
875
00:36:04,256 --> 00:36:06,491
I came on to be funny.
876
00:36:06,559 --> 00:36:08,159
That was my plan of attack.
877
00:36:08,227 --> 00:36:12,197
A black family should have
a black symbol.
878
00:36:12,264 --> 00:36:15,166
If Mama sees that there,
she's gonna kill you.
879
00:36:15,234 --> 00:36:19,104
Jesus may have your soul,
but Mama gonna have your behind.
880
00:36:19,171 --> 00:36:21,072
[Laughter]
881
00:36:21,140 --> 00:36:24,743
When I come out,
I want nuclear bomb comedy,
882
00:36:24,810 --> 00:36:27,479
and I don't think
anybody else on the show --
883
00:36:27,546 --> 00:36:29,547
they're actors,
so they're thinking,
884
00:36:29,615 --> 00:36:31,816
"We're acting."
I came out as a stand-up.
885
00:36:31,884 --> 00:36:33,318
Different deal.
886
00:36:33,385 --> 00:36:38,156
And, Junior, don't think of
taking mail that ain't ours.
887
00:36:38,224 --> 00:36:43,628
[Laughter]
888
00:36:43,696 --> 00:36:47,465
I don't take things, Mama,
I find them.
889
00:36:47,533 --> 00:36:49,634
[Laughter]
890
00:36:49,702 --> 00:36:53,638
Then don't find any mail
that ain't ours.
891
00:36:53,706 --> 00:36:55,874
God didn't make man to steal.
892
00:36:55,941 --> 00:36:58,943
Then how come he gave us
more pockets than hands?
893
00:36:59,011 --> 00:37:00,779
[Laughter]
894
00:37:00,846 --> 00:37:03,615
Producer Norman Lear
had designed Good Times
895
00:37:03,682 --> 00:37:05,116
as a vehicle to portray
896
00:37:05,184 --> 00:37:07,352
the African American
experience,
897
00:37:07,419 --> 00:37:10,955
but Jimmy Walker's character
became so popular so fast,
898
00:37:11,023 --> 00:37:12,791
he changed
the direction of the show.
899
00:37:12,858 --> 00:37:15,593
Overnight, Walker's
comic catchphrase
900
00:37:15,661 --> 00:37:18,496
became part of
the national vocabulary.
901
00:37:18,564 --> 00:37:21,266
Dyn-o-mite!
902
00:37:21,333 --> 00:37:22,667
Dyn-o-mite!
903
00:37:22,735 --> 00:37:25,370
Dyn-o-mite!
904
00:37:25,437 --> 00:37:28,106
"Dyn-o-mite" made
Jimmy Walker famous,
905
00:37:28,174 --> 00:37:30,642
but the very
first time he used it,
906
00:37:30,709 --> 00:37:32,210
Walker wasn't so sure.
907
00:37:32,278 --> 00:37:34,212
WALKER: Director John Rich,
he said,
908
00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:35,980
"I want you to
do it like this,"
909
00:37:36,048 --> 00:37:38,683
and I went, "John,
that's a little silly.
910
00:37:38,751 --> 00:37:42,220
That's -- to just have
somebody stand up
911
00:37:42,288 --> 00:37:44,722
and say 'dynamite'
in the middle of the show?"
912
00:37:44,790 --> 00:37:46,991
He says, "This thing is
going to be big."
913
00:37:47,059 --> 00:37:49,093
Dyn-o-mite!
914
00:37:49,161 --> 00:37:52,864
[Applause]
915
00:37:52,932 --> 00:37:57,902
Jimmy Walker's outsized acting
was popular from the start,
916
00:37:57,970 --> 00:38:01,472
but backstage,
controversy was brewing.
917
00:38:01,540 --> 00:38:04,609
I thought that they --
we had lost the focus,
918
00:38:04,677 --> 00:38:06,911
which was the family
as a whole
919
00:38:06,979 --> 00:38:09,480
and not just, you know,
buffooning.
920
00:38:09,548 --> 00:38:12,951
Today hasn't been a good day in
the chicken delivering business.
921
00:38:13,018 --> 00:38:15,787
Well, what happened?
Somebody rip off the coleslaw?
922
00:38:15,855 --> 00:38:16,788
[Laughter]
923
00:38:16,856 --> 00:38:18,756
No, worse than that.
924
00:38:18,824 --> 00:38:20,225
I lost my job.
925
00:38:20,292 --> 00:38:21,326
You lost your job?
926
00:38:21,393 --> 00:38:22,927
Oh, honey,
what happened?
927
00:38:22,995 --> 00:38:25,396
What, did they catch you
finger-licking again?
928
00:38:25,464 --> 00:38:26,731
[Laughter]
929
00:38:26,799 --> 00:38:29,267
And I made it clear
as to what my feelings were,
930
00:38:29,335 --> 00:38:31,469
that, you know,
how much more of the --
931
00:38:31,537 --> 00:38:34,005
how many more chicken hats
and how -- you know,
932
00:38:34,073 --> 00:38:35,340
how long can we do this?
933
00:38:35,407 --> 00:38:38,109
WALKER: As talent,
I don't think
934
00:38:38,177 --> 00:38:42,313
Norman Lear agrees with
anything that I've ever done.
935
00:38:42,381 --> 00:38:46,451
I think that Norman felt that
his show was hijacked,
936
00:38:46,518 --> 00:38:48,720
his idea,
what he wanted to do,
937
00:38:48,787 --> 00:38:51,890
and I think to this day,
he still regrets that.
938
00:38:51,957 --> 00:38:56,127
Sometimes we would
have a moment,
939
00:38:56,195 --> 00:38:58,129
and Norman Lear
would always say,
940
00:38:58,197 --> 00:39:00,832
"Well, didn't that moment
feel much better than
941
00:39:00,900 --> 00:39:03,034
that tomfoolery
you're always doing?"
942
00:39:03,102 --> 00:39:05,270
And I would go, "No.
943
00:39:05,337 --> 00:39:07,639
That's it.
I'm here for laughs.
944
00:39:07,706 --> 00:39:09,540
If you need a laugh,
let me bring it.
945
00:39:09,608 --> 00:39:12,343
I'm coming in on
the big Boeing 707.
946
00:39:12,411 --> 00:39:13,878
I'm trying to kill."
947
00:39:13,946 --> 00:39:17,015
For Walker, sitcoms
should be about laughs,
948
00:39:17,082 --> 00:39:20,351
and the way to get laughs
is to play it big.
949
00:39:20,419 --> 00:39:25,523
In any sitcom you do,
someone has to be the guy
950
00:39:25,591 --> 00:39:27,458
to take the pie.
951
00:39:27,526 --> 00:39:31,529
But that I mean that person
has to be the one
952
00:39:31,597 --> 00:39:33,865
that you look to laughs.
953
00:39:33,933 --> 00:39:35,400
You've got to commit,
954
00:39:35,467 --> 00:39:37,869
snot's got to
come out your nose,
955
00:39:37,937 --> 00:39:39,570
your eyes got to water,
956
00:39:39,638 --> 00:39:42,206
you've got to
have hands flapping.
957
00:39:44,877 --> 00:39:47,378
You've got to
get messy in comedy.
958
00:39:47,446 --> 00:39:48,746
It's got to be ugly.
959
00:39:48,814 --> 00:39:50,815
You've got to take the pie.
960
00:39:50,883 --> 00:39:53,418
Somebody -- and the person
that takes the pie
961
00:39:53,485 --> 00:39:55,820
usually is going to surface,
'cause that's where
962
00:39:55,888 --> 00:39:58,022
the person --
that's where people gravitate.
963
00:39:58,090 --> 00:40:01,693
Much of Jimmy Walker's appeal
came from his ability
964
00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:04,629
to use his wiry frame
for comic effect.
965
00:40:04,697 --> 00:40:06,998
It's part of a long tradition
of TV actors
966
00:40:07,066 --> 00:40:09,100
best known for
their physical comedy,
967
00:40:09,168 --> 00:40:11,069
a group that
includes Art Carney,
968
00:40:11,136 --> 00:40:13,237
Don Knotts,
Penny Marshall,
969
00:40:13,305 --> 00:40:16,574
John Ritter,
and Michael Richards.
970
00:40:16,642 --> 00:40:18,943
Man, these are tight!
971
00:40:19,011 --> 00:40:20,111
Squinch your hips in!
972
00:40:20,179 --> 00:40:22,013
I am squinching my hips!
973
00:40:22,081 --> 00:40:24,615
Squinch 'em!
974
00:40:24,683 --> 00:40:27,719
[Laughter]
975
00:40:27,786 --> 00:40:29,287
It's not gonna work.
It's not gonna work.
976
00:40:29,355 --> 00:40:31,055
Let me just think
for a second here.
977
00:40:31,123 --> 00:40:32,724
You'd better get me --
978
00:40:32,791 --> 00:40:34,993
[Laughter]
979
00:40:35,060 --> 00:40:37,495
[Telephone jingles]
980
00:40:37,563 --> 00:40:39,998
Here, get me --
get me -- get me --
981
00:40:40,065 --> 00:40:41,399
Oh, hold on, hold on.
982
00:40:41,467 --> 00:40:42,934
Hold it, look.
983
00:40:43,002 --> 00:40:45,470
You're gonna need the jaws of
life to get out of those things.
984
00:40:45,537 --> 00:40:49,073
Among television's
all-time most-gifted
985
00:40:49,141 --> 00:40:51,476
physical performers,
Dick Van Dyke.
986
00:40:51,543 --> 00:40:55,513
ANNOUNCER:
The Dick Van Dyke Show.
987
00:40:55,581 --> 00:40:57,482
Starring Dick Van Dyke.
988
00:40:57,549 --> 00:40:58,783
He missed the ottoman sometimes
989
00:40:58,851 --> 00:41:00,852
and sometimes he tripped
over the ottoman.
990
00:41:03,822 --> 00:41:05,757
Loved it. I just loved it.
Still love it.
991
00:41:05,824 --> 00:41:08,092
CONDUCTOR: And Clarksville!
992
00:41:08,160 --> 00:41:09,961
That's our train!
993
00:41:10,029 --> 00:41:14,098
As a boy, Dick Van Dyke spent
hours in the movie theater
994
00:41:14,166 --> 00:41:17,101
carefully studying his
favorite physical comics.
995
00:41:17,169 --> 00:41:19,037
If there was
a Laurel & Hardy,
996
00:41:19,104 --> 00:41:21,439
my mother would
have to come and get me,
997
00:41:21,507 --> 00:41:24,642
because I would sit through two
or three runnings of it.
998
00:41:24,710 --> 00:41:26,010
I just loved those guys.
999
00:41:28,514 --> 00:41:30,548
Come on, Stan!
1000
00:41:30,616 --> 00:41:32,517
This is the last train today!
1001
00:41:32,584 --> 00:41:34,819
Come on!
1002
00:41:38,190 --> 00:41:40,858
Van Dyke got his first chance
to showcase his skills
1003
00:41:40,926 --> 00:41:43,528
on national television
on Pat Boone's variety show
1004
00:41:43,595 --> 00:41:45,663
in 1958.
1005
00:41:45,731 --> 00:41:48,933
[Stairs creaking]
1006
00:41:49,001 --> 00:41:50,501
[Bicycle horn honks]
1007
00:41:50,569 --> 00:41:51,903
[Laughter]
1008
00:41:51,970 --> 00:41:55,273
[Horn honks down stairs]
1009
00:41:55,340 --> 00:41:57,108
[Clock cuckooing]
1010
00:41:57,176 --> 00:41:59,644
[Laughter]
1011
00:41:59,711 --> 00:42:03,281
Van Dyke's physical skills
were unlike any other
1012
00:42:03,348 --> 00:42:05,049
comedy performer
on television.
1013
00:42:05,117 --> 00:42:07,819
[Wind blowing]
1014
00:42:07,886 --> 00:42:09,587
[Laughter]
1015
00:42:18,197 --> 00:42:19,764
[Laughter]
1016
00:42:29,575 --> 00:42:31,642
That same year,
Van Dyke landed a guest shot
1017
00:42:31,710 --> 00:42:36,214
on Phil Silvers' show
and buzz began to build.
1018
00:42:36,281 --> 00:42:38,349
They had me on that show
playing a hillbilly
1019
00:42:38,417 --> 00:42:40,017
who could pitch
with both hands.
1020
00:42:40,085 --> 00:42:42,420
Got any more throws like that?
1021
00:42:42,488 --> 00:42:44,288
Yeah, I've got one
I call my bender.
1022
00:42:44,356 --> 00:42:45,389
Your bender.
1023
00:42:45,457 --> 00:42:47,058
Yeah, that's in case
of a squirrel
1024
00:42:47,126 --> 00:42:48,392
a-hiding behind a tree.
1025
00:42:48,460 --> 00:42:49,427
I'll show it to you.
1026
00:42:49,495 --> 00:42:51,729
[Laughter]
1027
00:42:51,797 --> 00:42:53,397
Wait, hold on.
The target's over there.
1028
00:42:53,465 --> 00:42:54,465
I know.
1029
00:42:54,533 --> 00:42:57,101
He knows, he knows.
1030
00:42:59,138 --> 00:43:00,438
[Laughter]
1031
00:43:00,506 --> 00:43:01,772
[Man yells]
1032
00:43:01,840 --> 00:43:03,574
A fastball,
a change of pace, a curve,
1033
00:43:03,642 --> 00:43:04,742
it's too good to be true!
1034
00:43:04,810 --> 00:43:06,844
I could kill a squirrel
with either hand,
1035
00:43:06,912 --> 00:43:08,880
and he tried to sell me
to the Yankees.
1036
00:43:08,947 --> 00:43:10,681
As a pitcher.
1037
00:43:10,749 --> 00:43:13,084
--Did you say Yankees?
-Yeah.
1038
00:43:13,152 --> 00:43:14,886
Now, listen, now,
keep this as a surprise, Hank.
1039
00:43:14,953 --> 00:43:17,488
You're going to get a tryout
with the New York Yankees!
1040
00:43:17,556 --> 00:43:19,657
Oh, I don't reckon
I can do that, sergeant.
1041
00:43:19,725 --> 00:43:21,859
My daddy wouldn't hold still
for me being on
1042
00:43:21,927 --> 00:43:23,528
the same side
with the Yankees.
1043
00:43:23,595 --> 00:43:25,029
Oh, wait a minute,
what is this?
1044
00:43:25,097 --> 00:43:26,664
The Civil War's been over
90 years!
1045
00:43:26,732 --> 00:43:28,966
Well, I'm sorry, sergeant,
but my pappy says
1046
00:43:29,034 --> 00:43:30,434
General Lee give up too soon.
1047
00:43:31,570 --> 00:43:34,205
Dick Van Dyke is a very
adroit man with comedy.
1048
00:43:34,273 --> 00:43:35,673
He can do physical comedy
1049
00:43:35,741 --> 00:43:37,875
and he does
spoken comedy very well.
1050
00:43:39,478 --> 00:43:42,880
Dick Van Dyke landed
his own sitcom in 1961,
1051
00:43:42,948 --> 00:43:44,815
but the first scripts
weren't written
1052
00:43:44,883 --> 00:43:47,218
to take advantage of
his physical comedy skills,
1053
00:43:47,286 --> 00:43:50,454
and so Van Dyke would try to
work in bits each week.
1054
00:43:50,522 --> 00:43:54,125
VAN DYKE: We did a lot of improv
during the week of rehearsal,
1055
00:43:54,193 --> 00:43:56,460
physical pieces
that I would put in,
1056
00:43:56,528 --> 00:43:58,763
and by the time
it got to showtime,
1057
00:43:58,830 --> 00:44:00,932
we were so excited
to present it.
1058
00:44:00,999 --> 00:44:03,534
¶ Everybody ¶
1059
00:44:03,602 --> 00:44:06,037
¶ And now you're
doing the twist ¶
1060
00:44:06,104 --> 00:44:08,706
¶ Everybody ¶
1061
00:44:08,774 --> 00:44:11,409
¶ You're gonna be
getting a kiss ¶
1062
00:44:11,476 --> 00:44:14,779
He will break into a tap dance
at the drop of a hat
1063
00:44:14,846 --> 00:44:19,450
and he can do card tricks
and he can do impressions.
1064
00:44:19,518 --> 00:44:21,752
He's just wonderful,
but he doesn't flaunt it.
1065
00:44:21,820 --> 00:44:25,223
Physical comedy always has
the potential for injury,
1066
00:44:25,290 --> 00:44:28,226
and The Dick Van Dyke Show
was no exception.
1067
00:44:28,293 --> 00:44:30,094
Today's modern-day comedian
1068
00:44:30,162 --> 00:44:32,063
comes out in front
of his audience
1069
00:44:32,130 --> 00:44:34,565
and talks to them
in a relaxed -- oh!
1070
00:44:34,633 --> 00:44:36,434
[Laughter]
1071
00:44:36,501 --> 00:44:38,035
I'd sometimes come in
on a Saturday
1072
00:44:38,103 --> 00:44:39,770
to come up with something...
1073
00:44:39,838 --> 00:44:43,040
Laughing at people in pain
is a manifestation of
1074
00:44:43,108 --> 00:44:45,509
a deep-seated hostility.
1075
00:44:45,577 --> 00:44:51,382
[Laughter]
1076
00:44:51,450 --> 00:44:54,085
[Laughs]
1077
00:44:54,152 --> 00:44:55,920
Thank goodness we have
reached a point
1078
00:44:55,988 --> 00:44:58,256
in our civilization today
where we no longer laugh
1079
00:44:58,323 --> 00:45:01,192
at people
destroying themselves.
1080
00:45:01,260 --> 00:45:04,495
[Laughter]
1081
00:45:04,563 --> 00:45:06,464
It was one of
my favorite things.
1082
00:45:06,531 --> 00:45:08,099
I'm very happy to say
1083
00:45:08,166 --> 00:45:10,468
that you'd have to look
all over the world
1084
00:45:10,535 --> 00:45:13,671
to find someone who would laugh
at a man, say, falling down.
1085
00:45:13,739 --> 00:45:15,573
Oh, no!
1086
00:45:15,641 --> 00:45:18,042
[Laughter]
1087
00:45:18,110 --> 00:45:20,378
It did hurt.
I didn't do it right.
1088
00:45:20,445 --> 00:45:22,680
But it's funny to lo at.
1089
00:45:24,783 --> 00:45:26,651
The Dick Van Dyke Show
was performed
1090
00:45:26,718 --> 00:45:28,052
in front of a live audience,
1091
00:45:28,120 --> 00:45:30,221
because even for
physical comedians,
1092
00:45:30,289 --> 00:45:32,356
the feedback of
an audience is key.
1093
00:45:32,424 --> 00:45:34,759
I just don't see how people
do comedy shows
1094
00:45:34,826 --> 00:45:38,796
without an audience,
because they do half the work.
1095
00:45:38,864 --> 00:45:41,999
They're the ones that
give you the timing.
1096
00:45:42,067 --> 00:45:44,368
You go with their reaction.
1097
00:45:44,436 --> 00:45:46,404
And I can't work
without an audience.
1098
00:45:46,471 --> 00:45:50,408
At the very end of the show,
I didn't handle myself too well
1099
00:45:50,475 --> 00:45:51,976
with that Patrick rat.
1100
00:45:52,044 --> 00:45:55,112
Aw. He got you to say
something embarrassing,
1101
00:45:55,180 --> 00:45:56,947
didn't he?
What was it?
1102
00:45:57,015 --> 00:45:59,350
I said Alan Brady is bald.
1103
00:45:59,418 --> 00:46:03,587
[Laughter]
1104
00:46:03,655 --> 00:46:07,224
I just don't understand how
people can not have that,
1105
00:46:07,292 --> 00:46:11,128
you know, that interplay,
'cause that's what makes comedy.
1106
00:46:11,196 --> 00:46:12,530
Oh, without an audience,
1107
00:46:12,597 --> 00:46:14,365
I don't know
what I would have done.
1108
00:46:14,433 --> 00:46:18,836
An audience may have been
critical for Dick Van Dyke,
1109
00:46:18,904 --> 00:46:21,605
but the more recent crop
of television comedians
1110
00:46:21,673 --> 00:46:24,342
have eliminated
the studio audience altogether.
1111
00:46:24,409 --> 00:46:26,777
They represent a new kind
of comedy actor,
1112
00:46:26,845 --> 00:46:28,312
confident in the writing,
1113
00:46:28,380 --> 00:46:30,514
less worried about
instant feedback.
1114
00:46:30,582 --> 00:46:33,818
Among the most successful,
Tina Fey.
1115
00:46:33,885 --> 00:46:36,320
I'm not over it,
and now I'm wearing this!
1116
00:46:36,388 --> 00:46:38,756
What is the deal
with my life?
1117
00:46:38,824 --> 00:46:40,358
Are you imitating me?
1118
00:46:40,425 --> 00:46:43,661
No! This is what
I sound like when I cry!
1119
00:46:43,729 --> 00:46:45,296
I think I'm
a little insulted!
1120
00:46:45,364 --> 00:46:47,598
You're insulted?
I'm crying!
1121
00:46:47,666 --> 00:46:51,135
Well, it's mostly this kind of
single-camera approach
1122
00:46:51,203 --> 00:46:53,671
is just what's
in fashion right now.
1123
00:46:53,739 --> 00:46:57,842
I think you can make a very good
comedy in front of an audience.
1124
00:46:57,909 --> 00:47:00,378
I don't -- some people I feel
think there's a stigma to it,
1125
00:47:00,445 --> 00:47:03,614
that it's too easy,
but you look at shows
1126
00:47:03,682 --> 00:47:07,184
like Cheers and --
well, only Cheers, guess.
1127
00:47:07,252 --> 00:47:11,522
Like many modern TV comedians,
Tina Fey learned her craft
1128
00:47:11,590 --> 00:47:14,291
at Chicago's Second City
through performances that
1129
00:47:14,359 --> 00:47:16,961
taught her how to deal
with success and failure.
1130
00:47:17,028 --> 00:47:19,063
Kevin, as a former
Miss Tennessee,
1131
00:47:19,131 --> 00:47:20,564
there's two things I know.
1132
00:47:20,632 --> 00:47:23,367
One of them is that
the children are our future,
1133
00:47:23,435 --> 00:47:27,605
and the other is that people
respond to friendliness,
1134
00:47:27,672 --> 00:47:30,741
and that is why
a friendly company --
1135
00:47:30,809 --> 00:47:33,544
-Is a successful company.
-Yee-ha.
1136
00:47:33,612 --> 00:47:37,014
The high feeling of when
something actually goes well
1137
00:47:37,082 --> 00:47:39,984
is great, but almost
more valuable is the --
1138
00:47:40,051 --> 00:47:43,421
the thrilling free fall
of when it goes terribly
1139
00:47:43,488 --> 00:47:45,589
and just goes terribly
and then you sort of realize,
1140
00:47:45,657 --> 00:47:48,392
"Well, we didn't die.
Let's just start again."
1141
00:47:48,460 --> 00:47:50,928
That is I think the thing
that's the best for you
1142
00:47:50,996 --> 00:47:52,730
and performers to experience.
1143
00:47:52,798 --> 00:47:56,200
At Saturday Night Live,
Fey was hired as a writer
1144
00:47:56,268 --> 00:47:59,570
and didn't join the cast
for three years.
1145
00:47:59,638 --> 00:48:02,973
Two days before Britney Spears'
HBO concert from Las Vegas,
1146
00:48:03,041 --> 00:48:05,709
someone broke into
her dressing room and stole
1147
00:48:05,777 --> 00:48:08,612
the white Elvis-inspired
rhinestone jump suit that
1148
00:48:08,680 --> 00:48:11,515
she wore to promote the event,
and you know what?
1149
00:48:11,583 --> 00:48:12,917
I'm not giving it back.
1150
00:48:12,984 --> 00:48:15,886
[Laughter]
1151
00:48:15,954 --> 00:48:17,688
I'm keeping it now.
It's mine.
1152
00:48:17,756 --> 00:48:20,558
When Fey got her own show,
30 Rock,
1153
00:48:20,625 --> 00:48:23,794
it retained
a writer-centric approach.
1154
00:48:24,463 --> 00:48:26,730
Okay, are we going to talk
about this like adults,
1155
00:48:26,798 --> 00:48:28,833
or are you just going to
throw thing at me?
1156
00:48:31,169 --> 00:48:34,705
Okay, fine,
get it out of your system.
1157
00:48:34,773 --> 00:48:36,340
All right, nothing
that plugs in, you guys!
1158
00:48:36,408 --> 00:48:37,942
Nothing that could
really hurt me!
1159
00:48:40,245 --> 00:48:42,546
There's a lot of work
in that writers' room
1160
00:48:42,614 --> 00:48:45,516
to think about those jokes
and those bits and that story.
1161
00:48:45,584 --> 00:48:48,419
But that focus on writing
doesn't minimize
1162
00:48:48,487 --> 00:48:52,056
Fey's respect for actors
who can make an audience laugh.
1163
00:48:52,123 --> 00:48:54,391
Going into something
and I know where the jokes are,
1164
00:48:54,459 --> 00:48:56,026
and when the joke's
well-executed,
1165
00:48:56,094 --> 00:48:58,128
that will make me laugh,
but also when there's
1166
00:48:58,196 --> 00:49:00,231
a little nuance of performance
that is sort of
1167
00:49:00,298 --> 00:49:04,101
an extra gift from the actor --
just a small facial thing
1168
00:49:04,169 --> 00:49:06,537
or a rhythmic thing --
that is --
1169
00:49:06,605 --> 00:49:09,707
that is just an, you know,
an unforeseen gift,
1170
00:49:09,774 --> 00:49:11,509
'cause you go in --
mostly as a writer,
1171
00:49:11,576 --> 00:49:12,743
you go into it hoping, like,
1172
00:49:12,811 --> 00:49:14,311
"Yeah, nobody
screw up my jokes."
1173
00:49:14,379 --> 00:49:16,447
For Tina Fey,
comedy acting combines
1174
00:49:16,515 --> 00:49:17,982
the preparation of a writer
1175
00:49:18,049 --> 00:49:20,484
and the spontaneity
of an improv performer.
1176
00:49:20,552 --> 00:49:22,353
FEY: There's a lot
of talk about
1177
00:49:22,420 --> 00:49:24,655
relaxed readiness,
and so I think there's
1178
00:49:24,723 --> 00:49:27,258
a lot of preparation,
preparation, preparation,
1179
00:49:27,325 --> 00:49:30,194
and then you want to be in
a state of relaxed readiness
1180
00:49:30,262 --> 00:49:32,696
so that if something
spontaneous does happen,
1181
00:49:32,764 --> 00:49:35,432
you're there and you're capable
of seizing that moment,
1182
00:49:35,500 --> 00:49:38,035
but I think you get there
with a lot of prep work.
1183
00:49:38,103 --> 00:49:39,737
My god, Lemon,
what is that?
1184
00:49:39,804 --> 00:49:41,572
This is how I cry now!
1185
00:49:41,640 --> 00:49:44,909
Ever since you made me get
that off-brand eye surgery!
1186
00:49:44,976 --> 00:49:46,577
Lemon, what have we
done to you?
1187
00:49:47,946 --> 00:49:50,281
It's okay.
1188
00:49:50,348 --> 00:49:52,816
Go home and get some rest.
I'll take the hit.
1189
00:49:52,884 --> 00:49:55,119
I can't let you
do that for me.
1190
00:49:55,186 --> 00:49:56,654
Let him go.
1191
00:50:00,725 --> 00:50:02,860
Like all accomplished
comedy actors,
1192
00:50:02,928 --> 00:50:05,229
Tina Fey recognizes that
the best comedy
1193
00:50:05,297 --> 00:50:08,465
is a reflection of reality,
performances that tell a truth
1194
00:50:08,533 --> 00:50:10,000
while they make us laugh.
1195
00:50:10,068 --> 00:50:11,802
FEY: I think that's
the biggest thing
1196
00:50:11,870 --> 00:50:13,203
you can teach someone,
1197
00:50:13,271 --> 00:50:16,340
is to play real characters
that they know, or real --
1198
00:50:16,408 --> 00:50:18,943
or to portray the world
as they see it
1199
00:50:19,010 --> 00:50:21,712
and not the way they think
the audience expects it.
1200
00:50:21,780 --> 00:50:23,581
You know, we used to --
Amy Poehler and I
1201
00:50:23,648 --> 00:50:25,482
used to tour together
for the Second City,
1202
00:50:25,550 --> 00:50:27,117
and we would do
these old sketches
1203
00:50:27,185 --> 00:50:29,019
that were handed to us
that a lot of times
1204
00:50:29,087 --> 00:50:30,821
were just a way for
the girlfriend,
1205
00:50:30,889 --> 00:50:32,690
the waitress to
come in and be like,
1206
00:50:32,757 --> 00:50:35,326
"Honey, well what's this?"
Well, I would never do that,
1207
00:50:35,393 --> 00:50:37,661
so let's change --
let's make up new ones.
1208
00:50:37,729 --> 00:50:40,764
Good evening,
my fellow Americans.
1209
00:50:40,832 --> 00:50:42,399
[Laughter]
1210
00:50:42,467 --> 00:50:46,837
I was so excited when I was told
Senator Clinton and I
1211
00:50:46,905 --> 00:50:49,340
would be
addressing you tonight.
1212
00:50:49,407 --> 00:50:50,608
[Laughter]
1213
00:50:50,675 --> 00:50:54,011
And I was told I would be
addressing you alone.
1214
00:50:54,079 --> 00:50:55,279
[Laughter]
1215
00:50:57,716 --> 00:51:00,851
There is no single path
to acting funny.
1216
00:51:00,919 --> 00:51:03,787
TV has a long history
of physical comedians,
1217
00:51:03,855 --> 00:51:06,023
method actors,
and improvisers.
1218
00:51:06,091 --> 00:51:08,626
Each performer is unique,
but together,
1219
00:51:08,693 --> 00:51:10,861
they've kept us laughing
for 50 years.
1220
00:51:10,929 --> 00:51:12,162
Is it rewarding? Yeah.
1221
00:51:12,230 --> 00:51:14,164
But is it hard work?
Oh, yeah.
1222
00:51:14,232 --> 00:51:16,867
And as you get older,
it's like it's harder work.
1223
00:51:16,935 --> 00:51:19,937
I had heart surgery halfway
through the last tour.
1224
00:51:20,005 --> 00:51:21,071
You know,
almost killed you.
1225
00:51:21,139 --> 00:51:22,940
I'm back!
Hee hee, way to go!
1226
00:51:23,008 --> 00:51:25,976
I'm getting letters from
third generation now from --
1227
00:51:26,044 --> 00:51:28,545
that show is still
running around the world,
1228
00:51:28,613 --> 00:51:31,715
and I get letters from kids
who enjoy the show.
1229
00:51:31,783 --> 00:51:33,150
Good feeling.
1230
00:51:33,218 --> 00:51:38,455
That is fun,
to remind yourself that --
1231
00:51:38,523 --> 00:51:42,059
that jokes can be enjoyed
by a live audience.
1232
00:51:42,127 --> 00:51:44,928
If the audience doesn't laugh,
then it's not funny.
1233
00:51:44,996 --> 00:51:45,929
The end of it.
1234
00:51:45,997 --> 00:51:47,097
There's no more discussion.
1235
00:51:47,165 --> 00:51:48,666
I'd love to know what's next.
1236
00:51:48,733 --> 00:51:50,801
I can't wait,
so exciting.
1237
00:51:50,869 --> 00:51:52,069
It really is exciting.
1238
00:51:52,137 --> 00:51:58,075
How often, how often
can you say to yourself
1239
00:51:58,143 --> 00:52:02,713
watching whatever scene it is
1240
00:52:02,781 --> 00:52:05,616
that puts you on the floor
and you say, "God,
1241
00:52:05,684 --> 00:52:08,218
I don't know when I laughed
as much as I did tonight"?
1242
00:52:08,286 --> 00:52:10,354
That's how rare it is.
1243
00:52:12,157 --> 00:52:15,159
They are the pioneers
of television.
1244
00:54:18,683 --> 00:54:21,051
Have I done a lot of
Shakespearean plays? No.
1245
00:54:21,119 --> 00:54:23,620
contributions
to your PBS station
1246
00:54:23,688 --> 00:54:25,455
from viewers like you.
1247
00:54:26,424 --> 00:54:29,126
They played the doctors and
nurses we watched every week.
1248
00:54:29,194 --> 00:54:30,627
But could I?
1249
00:54:30,695 --> 00:54:33,497
With help
and the right director.
1250
00:54:33,565 --> 00:54:34,932
You could, dear boy.
1251
00:54:34,999 --> 00:54:37,100
Don't be afraid
to enunciate.
1252
00:54:37,168 --> 00:54:41,405
I met Laurence Olivier when I
did the first Academy Awards,
1253
00:54:41,472 --> 00:54:43,307
and they said, "Mr. Olivier,
this is Robin Williams."
1254
00:54:43,374 --> 00:54:46,577
"Hello," and he said,
"Are you wearing makeup?"
1255
00:54:46,644 --> 00:54:48,278
And I said,
"Yes, Mr. Olivier."
1256
00:54:48,346 --> 00:54:50,314
And he said, "Don't.
It makes you look effeminate."
1257
00:54:50,381 --> 00:54:51,915
Thank you, Larry.
1258
00:54:51,983 --> 00:54:53,217
[Laughs]
1259
00:54:53,284 --> 00:54:54,785
Kept that in mind.
1260
00:54:58,022 --> 00:55:00,958
For more insider features
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1261
00:55:01,025 --> 00:55:03,393
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1262
00:55:03,461 --> 00:55:06,230
visit pbs.org.
1263
00:55:09,601 --> 00:55:11,802
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1264
00:55:11,870 --> 00:55:11,802
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