Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
1 9 6 7 - 1 9 7 3 (USA)
124 x 60 minute episodes
 Rowan
& Martin's Laugh-In was one of TV's classics, one of those
rare programs which was not only an overnight sensation, but was
highly innovative, created a raft of new stars, and started trends
in comedy which other programs would follow.
Hosted by Dan Rowan (the straight-man) and Dick Martin “from
beautiful downtown Burbank”, this wacky series provided a
contemporary, fast-paced, unstructured comedy that was exactly
what an agitated America wanted in 1968.
Laugh-In was first seen as a one-time special on 9
September 1967. It was such a hit that it inevitably led to a
series.
Its lightning-fast pace took full advantage of the technical
capabilities of television and video tape. Blackouts, sketches,
one-liners, and cameo appearances by famous show- business
celebrities and even national politicians were all edited into a
frenetic whole.
The regular cast was large and the turnover high, and of the 40
regulars who appeared in the series only four were in it from
beginning to end, the two hosts, announcer Gary Owens, and Ruth
Buzzi.
 The
show built up a devoted following, eager for such catchphrases as
"Verrry interestink . . . but stupid", "Is that a
chicken joke?", "Here comes de judge" and
"Sock it to me".
Judy Carne was the 'Sock it to me' girl, and other regulars
included Arte Johnson as the German Soldier, peering out from
behind a potted palm; Ruth Buzzi as the little old lady with an
umbrella, forever whacking the equally decrepit old man who
snuggled up beside her on a park bench, and Lily Tomlin as both
the sarcastic, nasal telephone operator named Ernestine and Edith
Anne, a child philosopher whose catchphrase was "and that's
the truth".
Gary Owens was the outrageously over modulated announcer,
facing the microphone, hand cupped over ear; Alan Sues was the
grinning moron of a sports announcer and Goldie Hawn the eternally
giggling dumb blonde.
Hawn's dumb blonde image on Laugh-In came about
unintentionally. She says; "When I first started, I was so
nervous that I would look at the cue cards and get all mixed up.
The producer loved it and said to keep it that way".
Laugh-In carried jokes about subjects like drugs, death,
and homosexuality - pretty daring for 1968, particularly for
Americans. Nevertheless, the show attracted star guests like John
Wayne and even presidential candidate Richard Nixon.
 Nixon
went on during the 1968 election campaign just to say "sock
it to me". The producers offered the same opportunity to his
opponent Hubert Humphrey, but he declined. In the event, Nixon won
the election by only a million votes. Dick Martin admits; "A
lot of people have accused us".
Some of the devices of the show were the Cocktail Party,
Letters to Laugh-In, The Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award,
Laugh-In Looks at the News, the gags written on the undulating
body of a girl in a bikini, and the joke wall at the close of each
show, in which cast members kept popping out of windows to throw
each other one-liners - or a bucket of water.
Not until Saturday Night Live would another television
variety show ensemble leave such a firm imprint on the evolution
of American comedy.
The theme tune to the show was called Inquisitive Tango.
Alan Sues died of cardiac arrest in December 2011
at the age of 85.
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