Albert Brooks Comedy School Clip

[Julian9ehp]

We need more clips from "The Great American Dream Machine." It was good and funny, and it has vanished into the aether.

[FungusMossGnosis]

When will I ever get to see the whole thing!?

[carlsetzer]

Notice how the floor is already soaked in the spit-take room.

[joshscobey]

I feel so bad for Albert that they decided to add a laugh track and silly music. Whoever made those decisions really doesn't get the joke.

[karmadhyana]

@joshscobey Wasn't this aired on SNL as a short? I know that he did a lot of SNL shorts...maybe that could explain the laugh track (i.e. audience)? Just wondering.

[joshscobey]

@karmadhyana No, this is not an SNL Short. This was aired on PBS, then was used for a Milton Berle special a couple years later. It was the people from the Berle special who didn't get the joke and added the laugh track. When Albert made his short films for SNL, you can't hear the audience laughing unlike today when SNL airs 'Digitsl Shorts'.

[karmadhyana]

@joshscobey Aah, okay, that makes complete sense (except the part about adding the laugh track to Digital Shorts...I'm mean, do people really need to be cued as to when it is appropriate to laugh? If so, they'd be adding a laugh track to all of SNL's stuff. Sheesh!!). Thanks for the info! Peace!

[8pasta]

@joshscobey It originally aired on a PBS show called "The Great American Dream Machine" without the "enhancements." This brief excerpt came from a talk show pilot with comedians talking about comedy. Hosted by Milton Berle, it had this clip with the "sweeteners."

[mondofzz]

I had to describe what a spit take was to someone on the phone. You really need a visual.

[karmadhyana]

@mondofzz LOL! It would lose something in the translation, hah! I know what a spit take is, and a double take--even a triple take (just add a take!)--but the elbow take I'm trying to figure out...going through the obvious scenarios in my noggin'...none seem funny, so I know I"m missing something...

[kitsch2spacea]

A magnificent pay off. Hysterical.

[brilleaben]

Was the teacher Jay Leno? Didn't it sound like him?

[rfburton1]

Albert is one of the greats of American comedy. Writer, director, performer, an all-around talent who has had far too little recognition. A genius.

[Gerkinstock]

@rfburton1... Modern Romance is the funniest movie I've ever seen.

[pro404]

wtf did i just watch

[ErichoTTA]

Ah, the spit take.  A classic.

[jeffersonianideal]

The Great American Dream Machine was a few years ahead of SNL but also featured Chevy Chase and Marshall Efron. Amazing that a comedy show of this kind was actually produced for public television. The 1970s were a wonderfully creative time period for TV, music and radio.

[Feewaybill57]

Actually, I believe this is part of a longer piece that aired on a PBS program circa 1972 called "The Great American Dream Machine." The original lacked the canned laughter. There are only five or so segments from Saturday Night Live and I can not find any of them on YouTube.

[bobdmac]

You're right. It also showed students approaching him as he walked around campus, and they'd try out jokes on him.

[57buickcentury]

@bobdmac The student that tries out the joke is played by David L. Lander, the future Squiggy from "Laverne and Shirley".

The only place I've seen this complete since its original airing is the Museum of TV and Radio in Beverly Hills. Look for "Great American Dream Machine" and view Show C.

[friskylamar]

Yep - "The Great American Dream Machine." Oh how I wish they'd release all the episodes on DVD! ! !

[Elqno]

did you torrent-search it??

[57buickcentury]

Can someone PLEASE post the entire short film? There are many more great scenes here. It was originally produced for the PBS show "Great American Dream Machine".

[BonnieBeeGood]

Thanks SO MUCH for posting! Been doing spit takes ever since seeing this! Love Albert Brooks...Albert if you're out there, my sister and I saw you at The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, CA, doing stand up circa 1973. You told us frm stage to NOT pay for our tickets, as we were last in line behind the rope to see-but-not-pay-for the 1st show, & that after a 15 min. intermission, you'd be doing the same schtick word 4 word! You saved us money, made us laugh & we LOVE YOU always!

[dontgd]

I loved this as a kid

[JoeBBBlow2]

So this must be one of the short films he did for SNL's first season. Great to see it.