Tom Waits: The Piano Has Been Drinking -1977

[andrewptob]

Best head of hair, ever

[Biigfish559]

I don't want to spawn an American vs Brit row but, as a limey myself, would I be right in thinking all the indignant posts, and the likes for them are American while the one's who "get it" are Brits. Just curious. These guys are a bit like early Chris Morris(Brasseye) type satire and fair play to Tom, an accomplished actor , for playing along.

[rexvenom]

I love this. To the show dudes, Tom is a bit of a joke. But they are forgotten, and Mr. Waits is a legend for all time. (to me)

[Resenbrink]

He has no fucking idea just how full of shit Tom made him come off as.

[Uktrayf]

incredible



[futurfry]

Scripted

[supersharpower]

Thank you so much for this. This is as close as we humans get to a groovy time machine.

[zzyyxxo]

how cute he was.  It seems a million years ago...

[speedyspooley]

is that Martin Mull?

[rockefe]

Ah youth. Some of these posters are obviously too young to remember Fernwood Tonight, a fake talk show spoofing talk shows. It was a spin-off of Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, Norman Lear's spoof of soap operas. It starred Martin Mull and Fred Williard. Tom is great in the bit. As @zaperfan stated, it's a gem!

[gomerpyleism]

Nick Caves FAther and Master.....and clone....and twin.....and triplet.....

[claudio1989miguel]

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.

[TheBham54]

Ok, this is addressed to the last couple of comments...."Fernwood Tonight" was a parody of talk shows from back in the day...mid to late 70's...and Tom was in on the joke...The tacky set, lame comments & laugh track are all part of the act. Martin Mull was/is a comic genius and you don't know what your talking about....

[REDMEAT1969]

@briggaplease you are an idiot,,,this old show was back when TV was still worth watching....and Tom is friends with the hosts....this was exactly how he wanted it...if you hate this you must not be a true Tom Waits fan...

[novadrian]

@briggaplease I don't think you get it either. In fact it's this type of clever, deadpan, satirical humour that is now lacking from American media. They're all brilliantly funny and Tom Waits manages to be bittersweet at the same time. Wonderful song...one of his best.

[zaperfan]

wankers personified !!!!!

[novadrian]

@zaperfan I think you've misinterpreted what's going on here. They're all brilliant. This is a gem.

[nomusician]

the fake laughs throughout are so disturbing. Rotten luck indeed.

[novadrian]

@nomusician It's not faked at all. This is a genuine studio audience laughing at the brilliant deadpan humour of Tom Waits and the presenter. The song is just beautiful, bittersweet, sad and funny at the same time. The presenter is flippant because it's part of the act.

[lostinmyroom1981]

"I rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy." ha. Waits.

[bahhhmeran]

He's that kinda guy who would be down on his luck and softly crack a witty one liner with a dry voice and a half smile, knowing that few would hear and fewer would understand.

[lostinmyroom1981]

@bahhhmeran . I like the way you put that.

[bmarlin611]

It's a comedy bit, dumbass.

[cirrusxl]

fucking insulting, canned laughter over an artist. Just because the douches don't get it

[Doroboneko]

@cirrusxl Agreed. The audience and the hosts are complete dumbasses in this video.

No respect at all.

[novadrian]

@Doroboneko I don't think you get it. This is brilliant subtle witty comedy accompanied by the bittersweet songs and humour of Tom Waits.The hosts are acting like this as a joke which tom Waits is in on. They in fact have enormous respect for him. The apparent flippancy is pure satire. The laughter is NOT canned by the way. It's a genuine studio audience.

[martinvicious]

quit laughing assholes! it's a sad song

[dahomies94]

FRED WILLARD.

[Putytand]

the man looks broken, spills his heart out.

they're laughing nevertheless

this is fucking surreal.

[bryanonfilm]

Tom Waits makes me want to murder anyone who isn't Tom Waits.

[jcriscitello]

The Show was actually call Fernwood Tonight

[youknowsheshalfcrazy]

He is so handsome.

[anononomous]

How can you watch this and not realise Tom is in on the joke?! He's given a feed line for christs sake :-D

The Piano Has Been Drinking is a great AND funny song, and Tom Waits is a funny guy. Why so serious??

[Biigfish559]

@anononomous I bet Tom ad libbed the song itself, he seems talented enough to

[this1MFer]

Rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy

[misscarolinec]

These guys are worse then the chicks from the view.. Love you Tom Waits! 

[oogaboogan]

these presenters ruin everything but tom saves it

[hawanja]

Just wish they would cut the stupid laugh track while he's singing.

[TaskMaster619]

who the fuck is this presenter that he can make these faces at tom waits?

[videoplusdvd]

@TaskMaster619 This clip is from an episode of the fictional 1978 talk show "America 2-night", and the "hosts" are Martin Mull and Fred Willard

[jabba987654321]

the moderators suit is ridicolous.. tom waits is a genius!

[TheDaleDenton]

@jabba987654321 '77 man. was pretty rad back then. for the disco sorta folk atleast.

[xatzidakis]

He confronts those idiots easily,veeery easily. ;)

[paperbacklou]

People are laughing because there is a laugh track. The show was a parody as said below.

[15bluethings]

so young and goofy he was here... where does the time go?

[ilovekurtcobain17]

its art and i would like to thank mr.knoth my english teacher for this song its so awesome

[Tedminat0r]

hahahaha, thier reaction to the song... Its beautiful :D

[kkeelan]

"I'd rather have a bottle in front 'a me than a frontal lobotomy."

FUNNIEST THING EVER.

[TheBeerslammer]

is that second chair fred willard?

[jcattwood]

hilarious, hella hairy ass! good stuff!

[braininahat]

Subtitle should be: How To Make An Arse Of Yourself and Almost Ruin A Brilliant Performance

[DeadbrainLives]

We had to leave our 4-year old as collateral...

[MarkArandjus]

Is it just me or are the hosts trying way too hard to be funny?

[StrOcc]

@MarkArandjus it was 1977... humor has changed a bit.

[darickr]

@MarkArandjus If you don't know the joke, the hosts are actors Fred Willard and Martin Mull, and they're acting like a couple of small town TV Hosts that haven't a clue. That was the show "Fernwood Tonight". The real life producers were cool enough to have Tom Waits on as a performer, but the hosts pretend to not get it.

[campoobutt]

@MarkArandjus Welcome to 1970's cable television.

[dinger5]

prefrontal lobotomy

[cnhariits]

Ide rather have a bottle in front of me then a frontal lobotomy...

[cnhariits]

Ide rather have a bottle in front of me then a frintal lobotomy...

[lenny121]

i can watch this over and over again

[MrJohnered]

And you can't find your waitress with a geiger counter

[XPIOLT]

I was turned onto Tom Waits in about 78-79 with the Album 'Closing Time'. My father would stop over and I would put it on and he would laugh and mock him. I agree with what Letterman said about him once, he's cool. Either you love him or hate him. Remember when he sued Cheetos because the cat used to act and sound just like Tom Waits? lol

[luckyd0m]

@XPIOLT agreed... just dont use tom waits and lol in the same sentence please... just doesn't feel right.

[unjusdorange]

Tom waits is a comedian/performer. Most fans seems to take him far too serious. I'm not a fan of his comedy, but i love the combination of storytelling and music.

[RazelG]

This is an old comedy show called Fernwood Tonight. It's a parody of talk shows from the 70s. People are laughing because Martin Mull and Fred Willard are pretty funny guys, and the show is supposed to be high brow, then here comes Tom Waits, making things less "uppper class", which is how it should be. Tom = brilliance.

[tattooedangel88]

why the fuck are they all laughing???

[avfalt]

What talkshow is this? And what's up with all the laughing?

Great performance by Tom though..