The Man Who Makes You Laugh — Anthony Newley

A remarkable performance by Anthony Newley — a complete story in a few minutes — of his song written for the American Comedy Awards, "The Man Who Makes You Laugh." This is from Michael Parkinson's program in 1978 with guests Newley, Leslie Bricusse, and Petula Clark.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• funnyman

[hazzanohio]

I had the pleasure and honor to meet Anthony Newley late in his career when he performed at the Holiday House in Monroeville, PA (now long gone). I had always been a big fan. He didn't have the greatest voice, but he had a unique style and could he ever interpret a song. He performed this piece that night and years later I was able to find an album on which he sings it. Thank you to the person who posted this video. What a real treat it is to watch him perform it again.

[baileymarkham]

@hazzanohio Marvelous! You're very welcome.

[tesswarwick]

I saw Anthony Newley perform this on a TV show late one night in, probably, the 70s. He performed it in front of a mirror, dressed in clown costume, removing his make up. I only remembered the 'look at me, I'm a funny man' line, the song haunted me for 30 years ... I searched on YouTube and, hey, up it popped!!!

This is brilliant - and I can't stop watching it! Newley is brilliant! I just wish I could find the original version that I saw. It might have been 'The Anthony Newley Show' ...

[baileymarkham]

@tesswarwick If you're referring to the 1972 US special, THE ANTHONY NEWLEY SHOW, he did not perform that song on it. Perhaps this was the performance on THE AMERICAN COMEDY AWARDS. Does anyone remember that one who can verify?

[tesswarwick]

@baileymarkham I know that he performed it , and maybe wrote it, for the American Comedy Awards, but think that he had a BBC show here in the UK (I wonder where you are, Bailey ...). I would have been 16 in 1972 and I'm sure that I was older than that when I saw the TV show. In fact, I was away at boarding school at 16 and I was at home when I saw him perform it. In hindsight, he was applying make up rather than removing it. I'm pretty sure it was a Fri/Sat/Sun night show ...

[baileymarkham]

@tesswarwick I'm in the US. I do hope someone will know exactly what show the performance you remember was on!

[davidgrahamscott]

This is great!!! Wonderful ...just wonderful!!!

[theoneandonlyjenjen]

I have been looking for this song for so long. A wonderful memory of watching the Mike Douglas Show when I was young. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for posting!

[999intrepid]

@tesswarwick I also saw it just once - never forgot it. Quite sure it was on Carson in the mid 70s.

[ZosiaZawistowska]

Thank you so much for posting this. This song is hard to find. I remember when Anthony used to perform this on the Mike Douglas Show in the 70s.

[75amoeba]

He looks so cool here.