I wonder if a latter-day Steve Martin could or would do this skit today? I mean, his audience was mostly people in their teens and 20's, right? Thirty-plus years ago, most of us, or a sizable chunk thereof, were well aware of Socrates and the story of his demise. (And having the audience know the background certainly helps advance the comedic value of the skit.) But I wonder how many Americans of that age group today would have any clue about that?
It clipped the final few seconds. His followers ask Plato (Werner Klemperer) "What did he say? What were his last words?" and a confused Plato tells them "He said... Rosebud."
Agree about the laugh track, but just glad to see it again in any form.
I agree - there was no laugh track when it aired as part of The Winds of Whoopee. Didn't need it then, doesn't need it now. Now I have to go look for the swimming and diving skit.
I wonder if a latter-day Steve Martin could or would do this skit today? I mean, his audience was mostly people in their teens and 20's, right? Thirty-plus years ago, most of us, or a sizable chunk thereof, were well aware of Socrates and the story of his demise. (And having the audience know the background certainly helps advance the comedic value of the skit.) But I wonder how many Americans of that age group today would have any clue about that?
TroyOi 6 months ago
@TroyOi This is a very astute observation. Let's face it, there has been a considerable dumbing down of our culture.
SOLANORICH 6 months ago
@SOLANORICH I suppose the only hope is if Nintendo comes out with a Greek Philosophers video game.
TroyOi 6 months ago
I have a Betamax tape of the special "Comedy Is Not Pretty". There is no laugh track on it.
The last line is "Come mister tally-man, tally me banana, daylight come and I wanna go home!"
flitriver 7 months ago
It clipped the final few seconds. His followers ask Plato (Werner Klemperer) "What did he say? What were his last words?" and a confused Plato tells them "He said... Rosebud."
Agree about the laugh track, but just glad to see it again in any form.
Sampiro 10 months ago
@Sampiro I appreciate you filling in that gap. I have it on a VHS tape from back in the day, and somehow it got messed up.
SOLANORICH 10 months ago
I agree - there was no laugh track when it aired as part of The Winds of Whoopee. Didn't need it then, doesn't need it now. Now I have to go look for the swimming and diving skit.
dabsads 1 year ago
Why does this have a laugh track? I distinctly remember the original special, and it most definitely didn't have one. It makes the whole thing lame.
gregdavidcraft 1 year ago