Gallagher live 8-15-10 (DVLH)

DVLH Gathering of the Juggalos. Gallagher's signature sketch is the "Sledge-O-Matic," a large wooden mallet that Gallagher uses to smash a variety of objects, including computer keyboards, containers of cottage cheese, cartons of chocolate milk, tubes of toothpaste, pound cake ("I guess it does"), Big Macs, grape soda, fried chicken, and, most famously, watermelons. Given the messy nature of this portion of his act, it is usually saved for the finale of his shows. Show attendees in the first two or three rows are usually provided with plastic sheeting for protection, and many fans bring their own additional protection (raincoats, umbrellas, and so on). Gallagher performs other prop-food gags including a demonstration of constipation using a jar of Jif peanut butter and an explanation of the difference between men and women using a sausage wrapped in a banana peel.

In addition to the Sledge-O-Matic, Gallagher's act features a variety of wacky props,[1][2] including a large trampoline designed to look like a couch, an adult sized Big Wheel, and a cap with a fringe of hair attached to the back. A foam-rubber steamroller designed for crushing children sits in his house, built for a Showtime special that never happened.

While the Sledge-O-Matic act works as an example of physical prop comedy, Gallagher frequently uses this portion of his act as a criticism of American consumer culture. The act itself (and even its name) is a parody of ads for the Ronco Veg-O-Matic, a kitchen appliance that was heavily advertised on American television during non-primetime hours from the mid-1960s through the 1970s. (See Wikiquotes for the traditional introduction to the Sledge-O-Matic sequence.)

Gallagher often uses wordplay in his act, skewering the English language and its eccentricities. He mentions in one routine that words like "b-o-m-b", "t-o-m-b" and "c-o-m-b" are not pronounced similarly, which he calls "d-u-m-b".
The "Gallagher Too/Two" controversy
In the early 1990s, Gallagher's younger brother Ron Gallagher asked him for permission to perform shows using Gallagher's old routines, including using Gallagher's trademark Sledge-O-Matic routine. The idea was that Ron Gallagher, who was unemployed, would tour the country working small venues that couldn't afford a show put on by Gallagher himself. Since Ron bears a strong resemblance to his older brother, the show would be almost like having a real Gallagher show.

In recent appearances on Opie and Anthony, Gallagher mentioned that this was also done in reaction to Carrot Top, beginning his career at the time and using similar ideas to Gallagher's - using a hands-free neck mic, using outrageous props, etc.[citation needed]

Gallagher granted his blessing to his younger brother on the condition that Ron and his manager would make it clear in their promotional materials that it was Ron Gallagher, not Gallagher himself, who was putting on the show.

After a few years of complying with Gallagher's conditions, Ron began blurring the line between his act and that of his brother. He would often promote his act as "Gallagher Too," a moniker Gallagher felt was insufficiently informative. In some instances, Ron's act was promoted in a way that provided no clue to prospective attendees that they were seeing someone other than Gallagher himself.

Gallagher initially attempted to get his brother to stop these activities by requesting that he stop using Gallagher's well-known Sledge-O-Matic routine. These efforts proved futile, and Ron kept touring as "Gallagher Too" (often spelled "Gallagher Two") while using the Sledge-O-Matic routine his older brother had made famous. In August 2000, Gallagher sued his brother for trademark violations and false advertising. The courts ultimately sided with Leo Gallagher, and an injunction was granted prohibiting Ron from performing any act that impersonates his brother in small clubs and venues.

According to 90ways.com, "Leo was successful in suing his brother, and Ron, unemployed again, had to pay damages. The siblings' immediate family, feeling sorry for Ron, who was finally making a decent living, sided with him during the trial. Leo would not relent, outraged by the attempted hoax. Leo is now estranged from his family."

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Gallagher
• live
• 2010
• gathering
• juggalos
• dvlh
• ICP
• TMZ
• comedy
• stand
• hbo
• special

[peperonyandchease]

uh shutup and smash stuff

[fbzscp]

"oh shit! I got a corolla!" priceless...

[7522IF]

His stuff nowadays sounds like material a boring coworker might come up with

[KaptKan1]

One of the best descriptions of Obomber yet: "He's a bastardised piece of shit!"

I concur.

[Onlinepoetrycafe]

I agree, I looved his old acts, like the useful inventions and items, like the 'honker', priceless! Or the way he could improve on other inventions. I loved his educational comedy, like on the alphabet, or even on the english language itself. He used to be a genius..one of the very few comedians that could teach, make sense, and get his laughs and purpose across (along with a few watermelons..) But now... he's just the same as any other, no specialties, cursing, racism...where did Gallagher go?

[nick1979usmc]

everyone with negative comments about this must be a die hard san fran liberal

[nick1979usmc]

everyone with negative comments about this must be a die haed san fran liberal

[theclickbeetles]

And he wonders why he's not on TV anymore?

[APyleOfVinyl]

@bijibadness Sad really. Before I saw this, I was one of his biggest fans. I enjoyed his 1984 act "Over Your Head" my dad taped off of NBC, and I watched it over and over because it was brilliant and there was no cursing or political bias. This was a total embarrassment, I also feel sorry for Gallagher because he has obviously not aged well at all. He looks seriously ill here and I believe he is also not well up in the brain department.

[dogeymon83]

This guy is brilliant!

[elroddin76]

No buddy, no alien would land on this planet because of redneck, racist, drunken assholes like yourself. This is pretty sad if this is what your show has turned into.

[elroddin76]

Never knew he was such a racist, homophobic piece of shit. Smash your watermelons and shut up.