Dan Rowan and Dick Martin made one extremely hilarious show in Laugh In. Every other sketch comedy show that came after was just a parody of the Laugh In formula.
The Best of times on TV. Before there was SNL, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In is my earliest memory of sketch variety program on TV along with the Ed Sullivan Show, the Smothers Brothers, Carol Burnett & Friends and Sonny & Cher. BTW personally to me first 4 years of SNL were by far my favourite with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
Interesting to know about his early life in a gypsy caravan carnival family, foster home to war hero fighter pilot and back to showbiz. The man personified dignity and intelligence with a fearlessness that was largely under appreciated or talked about. But Dan Rowan was a pioneer for free speech and television variety innovation that was never duplicated.
Yes, Dan Rowan was impressive. I watched a lot of the Laugh-In series on amazon not long ago, and was surprised at how irritating and unfunny Dick Martin was. How was he even on the show, let alone one of the hosts?
To each their own. I personally think “Laugh IN” was the dumbest show on network television. I didn’t get the humor when I was a kid watching reruns and now that I’m older I can kinda understand the humor but it’s simply not funny. I don’t see how this show made it past the first pilot episode much less multiple seasons.
I was crazy about Laugh-In. It was an innovative savante grade program. I thought Dick Martin was funny and cute, but now I find Dan Rowan most attractive :)
Absolutely was! And I also remember Flip Wilson show, Richard Prior summer special, and others that were so progressive. But 'Laugh In' was the ultimate in everything you could possibly need to be informed with entertainment at the time 😉!
Wow that's poignant. Especially with several of the episodes he did as a soldier looking in the mirror and changing uniforms throughout World war II through Vietnam. Even as a kid of 10 years old I realized how important that statement was especially with Sinatra's song in the background. I think it was called when I was 17?
Jon H Yep. I think her first appearance "pregnant" was at the end of the first season. When Ruth appeared "pregnant" was in the Laugh-In Special, in the fall of 1967. I thought it was hilarious whenever JoAnne would sing something like 'You made me Love You' while appearing pregnant.
@@GirlsRuleTheWorld2023 Only Rowan, Martin, Owens, and Buzzi were there from beginning to end. However, Owens was not in the 1967 pilot and Buzzi missed two first-season episodes.
In his biography of FoxNews creator Roger Ailes, _The Loudest Voice in the Room_, author Gabriel Sherman describes how Ailes, then a Republican Media Consultant, battled to convince a reluctant Nixon to appear on _Laugh In_, and utter the words, "Sock it to me?", by informing him that, "It's 1968. Television elects Presidents now."
It's funny that Dan Rowan is concerned that a comedy show would help elect a president. SNL has had some influence on most recent presidential elections.
SNL followed the equal time doctrine in 1984 when they tried to add ZZ Top to the long list of candidates in the Democratic primary. Wish I could find that video. They started playing the the real video for Sharp Dressed Man, then cut in about the equal time, then showed a video of the song featuring Mondale, Glenn, Hart, Jackson, Askew, McGovern, and probably a couple more that I can't remember (along with ZZ Top of course).
Dan Rowan and Dick Martin made one extremely hilarious show in Laugh In. Every other sketch comedy show that came after was just a parody of the Laugh In formula.
The Best of times on TV. Before there was SNL, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In is my earliest memory of sketch variety program on TV along with the Ed Sullivan Show, the Smothers Brothers, Carol Burnett & Friends and Sonny & Cher. BTW personally to me first 4 years of SNL were by far my favourite with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
Rowan. Super handsome!
Interesting to know about his early life in a gypsy caravan carnival family, foster home to war hero fighter pilot and back to showbiz. The man personified dignity and intelligence with a fearlessness that was largely under appreciated or talked about. But Dan Rowan was a pioneer for free speech and television variety innovation that was never duplicated.
Watching the old reruns of "Laugh-In" on Decades, I have come to appreciate just how good Dan Rowan was.
He was a legend
Yes, Dan Rowan was impressive. I watched a lot of the Laugh-In series on amazon not long ago, and was surprised at how irritating and unfunny Dick Martin was. How was he even on the show, let alone one of the hosts?
To each their own. I personally think “Laugh IN” was the dumbest show on network television. I didn’t get the humor when I was a kid watching reruns and now that I’m older I can kinda understand the humor but it’s simply not funny. I don’t see how this show made it past the first pilot episode much less multiple seasons.
I was crazy about Laugh-In. It was an innovative savante grade program. I thought Dick Martin was funny and cute, but now I find Dan Rowan most attractive :)
Did you meant savante as a pun? I hope so.
Or the ignorance is frightening. As a pun, it is genius.
@@Plethorality I guess that was a typo. I just corrected my comment from two years ago. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Laugh In was a unique production in that it was a trend breaker while also being a trend setter.
Absolutely was! And I also remember Flip Wilson show, Richard Prior summer special, and others that were so progressive. But 'Laugh In' was the ultimate in everything you could possibly need to be informed with entertainment at the time 😉!
"Laugh-In" is one of my all-time favorites-Thanks for posting this interview.
I like the way he puts his cigarette out on the carpet 😂
Dan Rowan was also a decorated fighter pilot in WW2.
Wow that's poignant. Especially with several of the episodes he did as a soldier looking in the mirror and changing uniforms throughout World war II through Vietnam. Even as a kid of 10 years old I realized how important that statement was especially with Sinatra's song in the background. I think it was called when I was 17?
Dan Rowan was a class act !!!
He was born in 1932. I don't think he flew anything while he wasn't in high school yet.
@@steveprestegard5151 Pretty sure it was 1922
"Sock - it - to.....MEeeeee?"
Lmao 😂!
Laugh In Great show. Still watch it to this day in the Decades channel
So they invented family entertainment? Always loved that show.
Heh, and his I was that lil girl speech, is certainly better than Kamela's. 😁
No disrespect to Mr. Rowan, but the first pregnancy on TV was Lucy Ricardo’s on I Love Lucy.
That predates Laugh-In by a decade or two.
I actually remember watching that very show that Nixon appeared on.
Baloney. Prove it ( will accept pics and affidavits, if notarized )
@@joeambrose3260 See for yourself: th-cam.com/video/3e9iWizfsm8/w-d-xo.html October 16, 1968. I'm old enough to remember Nixon.
@@8avexp Say it, don't spray it, put on your mask
(will accept spraying, notarized)
JoAnne Worley also appeared pregnant a few times singing things like "These Foolish Things Remind Me of You".
Jon H Yep. I think her first appearance "pregnant" was at the end of the first season. When Ruth appeared "pregnant" was in the Laugh-In Special, in the fall of 1967. I thought it was hilarious whenever JoAnne would sing something like 'You made me Love You' while appearing pregnant.
She left way to soon from the show.
@@GirlsRuleTheWorld2023 Only Rowan, Martin, Owens, and Buzzi were there from beginning to end. However, Owens was not in the 1967 pilot and Buzzi missed two first-season episodes.
His voice sounds a lot like Dean Martin.
I was not born until later 70s but I discovered Laugh-In in the early 1990s and immediately loved the zany show. Especially the hilarious Joann.
I don't think anyone nowadays understands what a talk show should be and can be. Watch old Dick Cavett reruns.
John Terrino hardly anyone is ever as good as Dan Rowan was - quality anecdotes, minimum ego. Rare.
A time capsule. And still relevant today. Watch 4:00 to 5:00. Prescient. Cavett’s line apocryphal: “If its true it would be fascinating to know it.”
I LOVE THIS SHOW! But what about "I Love Lucy" in 1952 when Lucy gets pregnant?? The whole season showed Lucy struggling with Her Pregnancy!
She wasn't allowed to 1. Show her profile 2. Use the word 'Pregnant".
"I Love Lucy" made pregnancy safe for television! And then it was "The Mothers-in-Law."
Those damn cigarettes were mandatory back then seemed like.
In his biography of FoxNews creator Roger Ailes, _The Loudest Voice in the Room_, author Gabriel Sherman describes how Ailes, then a Republican Media Consultant, battled to convince a reluctant Nixon to appear on _Laugh In_, and utter the words, "Sock it to me?", by informing him that, "It's 1968. Television elects Presidents now."
Perma tanned Dan Rowan smoking, times have changed.
I realize now that he is also blushing.
Both guest smoking & where are the ashtrays? 🤔🤣🤔
Vacuum trays built into chairs
what part of the equal time doctrine don't you understand.
This episode must be originating from Hollywood, not NYC.
Baloney
It's funny that Dan Rowan is concerned that a comedy show would help elect a president. SNL has had some influence on most recent presidential elections.
Wheres there equal time doctrine
SNL followed the equal time doctrine in 1984 when they tried to add ZZ Top to the long list of candidates in the Democratic primary. Wish I could find that video. They started playing the the real video for Sharp Dressed Man, then cut in about the equal time, then showed a video of the song featuring Mondale, Glenn, Hart, Jackson, Askew, McGovern, and probably a couple more that I can't remember (along with ZZ Top of course).
@defundthewar
No, it was offered to both. Quite well documented. And humour is relative. I found it damn funny!
stop writing about my relatives that way
I'd like to see any president on today's crappy comedy shows. Of course you wouldn't
Taylor Runyons except for Obama