Howard Morris is so damn funny as Uncle Goopy. His creation of the Ernest T. Bass character on the Andy Griffith Show was comedy gold. I am young, and find old television to be the best.
Mr. Peepers on SNL, by Chris Kattan, had similar physical comedy to Uncle Goopy. Not comparing, but I can see where Chris may have studied such previous comedy talents.
I thought the same thing! Not taking away from Chris's comedy talents at all-- but IF he did watch this to get an idea, then he did a great job achieving it! @@jomo1181
Fun Fact: The man sitting next to Sid Caesar at 0:53 is Dave Tebet, the "villain" of the '' Saturday Night'' film of 2024. I put villain in "" because by the film's script took many creative liverties with the Dave Tebet character played by Willem Dafoe. The real Dave Tebet was a nice guy by all account.
@georgimihailov4906 In real life during WW2 Morris was Reiner's sergeant and they played skits together for the troops. Also in the same unit was Colonel Klink, who's name I cannot remember and Buddy Hackett.
Reading Mel Brooks very fine autobiography where he talks at some length about this magnificent sketch. Yes, Sid Caesar is brilliantly funny as Al and the three relatives and friends - especially Howie Morris - are hilarious, executing a level of physical comedy unmatched in the history of live TV, but how sensational is Carl Reiner as the host? Playing the role to perfection and somehow keeping a straight face in the midst of total comic pandemonium. Genius.
Can you imagine sitting at the table and hearing Mel Brooks go through the script at the pre-production meeting? What a moment that was, I bet! I would have loved to have been present at that moment.
Monty Pythons John Cleese said it was the hardest he’d ever laughed when he watched this skit. It could very well be the funniest skit in TV history. Pure comedic genius from the writers.
Imogene Coco's DINGLE MEATBALL served by Sid made me lose my ability to breathe somewhere in the late 50s. THAT is the most uproarious moment of my 76+yrs.
Me too!!!! I have always enjoyed Howard Morris as ernest T Bass. I watched him as a child of the 50's and I still love clean comedy..I do not want to hear all the dirty words that comics use and think are funny but are not to me..This had me laughing so hard I couldn't catch my breath..I had been talking about Carl Reiner and his friendship with Mel Brooks the day before his death with my son..to find out the next day he was gone was sad to me..but his humor and that of Mel Brooks has brightened the life of so many..Thank you to all of these wonderful comediennes.
@@racheldrum1982 Amen. And, as Sid often said, the best straight man ever. I always marvel at how unflappable he could be as the interviewer in the Professor sketches, where it's frequently obvious that Sid is trying to get him to break up. ---kjh
Every time I watch this I laugh like a hyena. Uncle Goopy was so funny. I read that Howard Morris milked that sketch for all it was worth. I'm glad he did, it is comedy at its' finest. And Carl Reiner was perfect as the straight man.
Funniest comedy moment in the history of television. And seriously, just look at the physical energy it took to do this -- they really gave 110% all the way.
I first saw this as a clip in the 1970s. I was on the floor in tears I was laughing so hard. Inspired lunacy from everyone. Howard Morris as Uncle Goofy was incredible!
Indeed. Carl Reiner is the funniest straight man in the history of comedy. NOTE: Mel Brooks wrote the sketch with head writers Lucille Kallan and Mel Tolkin, with Neil and Danny Simon in the wings.
This sketch is a true classic from TV's Golden Age of Comedy! In his autobiography, Mel Brooks, who wrote for the show, states that nearly 60% of this was improvised. When Caesar starts running through the audience, very little of that was planned. Luckily, the camera men were able to follow him!
Think of how much a high school drama/comedy troupe could learn from watching this. Wouldn't it be great if they could re-create this for a variety show at a high school. The crowd would go crazy.
How did I end up on this side of TH-cam? It all started with Netflix and popcorn, the Andy Griffith Show, and looking up a guest actor's career. Uncle Goopy is Ernest T. Bass. Well that was a long strange trip. Back to the 21st century.
Well Mr. Newton, I did the EXACT SAME THING...had to look up Howard Morris after seeing his exquisite performance as Ernest T. Bass on the Andy Griffith Show, and the next thing I know, I'm watching Sid Caesar's skit from the golden days of TV! Fabulous!
A year later and it's still happening. I love Howard Morris as Ernest T. and upon reading of this, just had to look it up. Getting to see the great Carl Reiner as well is a nice bonus. 😊
Carl Reiner doesn't get enough credit for holding this all together IMO. I'm listening to Mel Brook's audio version of his autobiography and he said that Sid took the opening to this sketch completely off the rails. He apparently wasn't expected to play hard to get and the whole theater was chaos. Brilliant stuff.
Yes, Carl played a wonderfully smarmy MC and managed to keep his head amidst the chaos created by Sid (although the chase was scripted, how he handled it was up to him and a lot of the action was pure Caesar) and Howie Morris (his clinging to Sid's leg wasn't scripted and Sid and Carl just went with it). There was also a lot of adlibbing by Sid. I've seen the original script and it wasn't all that funny. By the time Sid and company got through with it, you're right--it was brilliant.---kjh
One of the great eleven minutes of physical comedy of all time, and a spoof "This is Your Life" certainly deserved. I think we tuned in every week just to see how sickeningly sweet Ralph Edwards could possibly be while basically preventing the "honoree" from saying anything in response to what Edwards or the guests were supposed to say in the script, which did not leave a lot of time for extra comments. I remember Edwards being forced to rush through the Marchal Jewelers charm bracelet promo at times at the end. I can't imagine many of the celebrity honorees relished the chance to be reminded of how difficult their childhoods were only to have Uncle Goopy encourage them, etc. but there probably was some cachet connected to being a big enough star to be selected by Edwards.
Howard Morris (uncle goopy), Carl Reiner (the announcer and father of meathead Rob Reiner) and Colonel Klink (Werner Klemperer) were all in the same Army unit and performed for troops during WWII.
Never saw this before but am familiar with Reiner, Caesar, & Morris. I watched this and thought of my late Mother who loved skits like this. This comedic brilliance is hard to beat.
+Sid Caesar: Your Show of Shows / Caesar's Hour / Admiral Broadway Revue Yep! And whole sections of it ad-libbed! Spontaneous perfection from a group of comic geniuses.
I'm not talking about "surpasssed", but great genius and you will enjoy "Blotto" Laurel and Hardy or just the excerpt Stan Laurel drunk and hysterical laughing. Enjoy! -
I watch this skit every few months just to get a belly laugh. I remember the wonderful Saturday night lineup on NBC in the 1950s. The Jack Carter Show from 8-9, Your Show of Shows from 9-10:30 and Your Hit Parade from 10:30-11.This has to be one of the funniest skits ever done. And all on live TV. All in glorious black and white. I'm now 79 and can really appreciate those old TV shows when comedy was king.
Strange coincidence I'm seeing this for the FIRST TIME, on April 3 2022!!! I laughed till my tummy hurt! This is some seriously crazy comedy, right here! Mashing that subscribe button now!
Back then, this must have been filed under: "What we wish we'd REALLY see on This Is Your Life!" The pretty lady and Sid's reaction was a scream!!! Everybody was terrific. Howie Morris got passed around more times than a joint! I had been told Neil Simon wrote or contributed to it. It does have that "Simon-esque" feeling to it. Anyway, one of the greatest comedy sketches of all-time! Thanks SO much for uploading this!
I haven't watched Your Show of SHows in many years (I'm only in my 30's so I wasn't around for first run, but my Grandma introduced me to this show a long time ago) Today I was listening to the Pete Holmes podcast and he had Phil Rosenthal (creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) and Pete asked him what was the time he laughed the hardest in his life. Phil said it was this sketch and said that many people in comedy still consider it to be THE greatest sketch in TV history. I'm glad he brought it up. I just watched it, loved it and it reminded me of how much I always enjoyed this show..
I'm so happy that I have seen this work of art for the first time. I have not laughed this hard in ages. Just brilliant 😂❤❤ Amazing that those men were all veterans and became some of the most hilarious humans ever. Thank you for sharing this.
BRILLIANT COMEDIC TIMING, NATURAL TALENT, AWESOME SCRIPTS! CAN NOT BE TOPPED..JUST AS WONDERFUL NOW AS IT WAS WHEN I WAS A KID WATCHING THIS SHOW ON OUR 9 INCH PHILCO TV SET!!! BRILLIANCE NEVER FADES!!!!
Years ago as a bellman, I checked in an old Howard Morris, and was able to tell him how funny he was in the Nutty Professor. This Sid Caesar skit is fantastic. It had me laughing the hardest I ever have.😁
I agree with you about this being the funniest sketch. Many of my other favorites are from the great Marx Brothers, including the Lemonade Stand (Harpo and Chico, Duck Soup) and of course the ubiquitous scene in A Night at the Opera on the ship.
Yes, it does have that effect! I still find it amazing that the beginning of the sketch was unrehearsed, and the bit with Howie Morris latching on to Sid's leg wasn't in the script. Welcome! --kjh
Yes, I love the deer-in-the-headlights look when he finds out it's his "story" and his attempt to flee the theatre. Incidentally, much of that business in the theatre was improvised! ---kjh
Billy Crystal, a lifelong Sid Caesar worshipper, included footage of this sketch in his movie, Mr. Saturday Night, in a scene where his character, Buddy Young. Jr, his brother, and his wife are watching the sketch. Buddy is the only one watching it stone-faced and not laughing. As Crystal explained, it was Buddy's realization that no matter how funny he might be, he will never be as funny (and as popular) as Sid Caesar.
At the time, Louis was Kay Armen's "sidekick" (and comedy relief) on her local music and interview radio show, "MEET ME AT KAY'S", on WNBC in New York.
Carl stays smiling, in character all the way, Howie stole the show this time, Sid may arguably be the funniest man who ever lived. Can't remember laughing so long during a sketch, it was 1-derful !!!
This is based on an actual incident. On the old This is Your Life, they would trick the guest by having him there for someone else. Sometimes the guest is less than enthusiastic at the start. This skit is based on the Lowell Thomas incident. The great old news reader supposedly had to be almost dragged up to the stage. I'm not sure if the original still exists.
Holy Mackarel! Right when Reiner goes to go offstage at the beginning in the front left audience = SAM GIANCANA! I mean it. Look how he does all this facial hiding thing and cranes his neck away from the camera. - It's only a few seconds, but I've done that fellow's portrait, and this is "Sammy Momo", the gangster king, Giancana. - But really, you have to watch this a million times. Such pleasure. Turn the sound off and look at all the shots with the audience, like the lady behind Sid when he is chosen. By the way, is that Al Dente like pasta aldente? Thanks so much for this!
Gail Jarvis OMG! I think you're absolutely right! I went ahead and took two pictures - one a screen shot from this sketch and one I found online - and compared them. If it's not him then it's his twin brother! Wow! The Godfather right in the middle of a Sid Caesar sketch!
Momo was only the Don of the Chicago Outfit, not the overall La Cosa Nostra. He helped JFK get elected in Illinois in 1960 as a favor to Joe Kennedy. Rumor has it that when JFK and RFK went after organized crime with a vengeance, Giancana felt betrayed and was one of the major players in JFK 's assassination.
Howard Morris is certainly remembered for his physical and inventive comedy in both film and television, as well as his directing in both areas; but he is also famous for his cartoon voice-overs (Hanna-Barbera, King Features Syndicate, Filmation). His few forays into dramatic acting (‘Wanted: Dead Or Alive’, ‘The Alfred Hitchcock Hour’, ‘The Twilight Zone’, ‘Thriller’) shouldn’t be overlooked either…
I have a feeling you're right! Although I love the reaction of the woman sitting in back of him when she realizes, first, she's on camera, and second, that Sid is sitting in front of her. ---kjh
Fun Fact: The man sitting next to Sid Caesar at 0:53 is Dave Tebet, the "villain" of the '' Saturday Night'' film of 2024. I put villain in "" because the film's script took many creative liberties with the Dave Tebet character played by Willem Dafoe. The real Dave Tebet was a nice guy by all accounts.
Later, Carl Reiner did a small thing on the Dinah Shore show thinking he was going to be on This is your life program. Funny thing was that Ralph Edwards of that show was watching and decided to actually surprise Reiner on the following week's Dinah Shore show and have him on This is your Life. Reiner was totally surprised.
I found this after i found a real "This is your life Carl Reiner" with Ralph Edwards on TH-cam. They talked about this spoof, also how Carl appear on the Dinah Shore show, he was acting disappointed that Ralph wasn't there to do his life. The true story is after Ralph Edwards saw this, the Dinah Shore show... He got busy , put a "This is you life Carl Reiner" together in 1 week. Carl was going to be a guest on Dinah show the next week. At the end of that show they surprise Carl with the real thing this time. I just had to check this show out. When it air i wasn't even thought of by serval years. This was so funny.
Back in the day when comedy was funny not filthy. No profanity, no one grabbing their crotch, it's just good clean fun. I wish those days were still here.
![SID CAESAR: The Poker Game [THE HICKENLOOPERS] (YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS - VERY rare sketch)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RyNSFLkXTvA/mqdefault.jpg)
![SID CAESAR: The Poker Game [THE HICKENLOOPERS] (YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS - VERY rare sketch)](/img/tr.png)
Howard Morris was just a pure comedic force to be reckoned with
Howard Morris is so damn funny as Uncle Goopy. His creation of the Ernest T. Bass character on the Andy Griffith Show was comedy gold. I am young, and find old television to be the best.
Its the best. Totally agreed and I am happy that more young people have come appreciate the best of old television.
My favorite is Carol Burnett and Friends. Harvey Corman and Tim Conway are absolutely hilarious!!😂
No SNL bit could ever beat this sketch. Sid was a master. Howard Morris kills !!!
Comedy's Golden Age .... (and TV's Golden Age too).
Mr. Peepers on SNL, by Chris Kattan, had similar physical comedy to Uncle Goopy. Not comparing, but I can see where Chris may have studied such previous comedy talents.
I thought the same thing! Not taking away from Chris's comedy talents at all-- but IF he did watch this to get an idea, then he did a great job achieving it! @@jomo1181
Fun Fact: The man sitting next to Sid Caesar at 0:53 is Dave Tebet, the "villain" of the '' Saturday Night'' film of 2024. I put villain in "" because by the film's script took many creative liverties with the Dave Tebet character played by Willem Dafoe. The real Dave Tebet was a nice guy by all account.
@georgimihailov4906 In real life during WW2 Morris was Reiner's sergeant and they played skits together for the troops. Also in the same unit was Colonel Klink, who's name I cannot remember and Buddy Hackett.
The greatest comedy sketch in the history of television. Kudos also to the director for keeping up with mayhem.
Reading Mel Brooks very fine autobiography where he talks at some length about this magnificent sketch. Yes, Sid Caesar is brilliantly funny as Al and the three relatives and friends - especially Howie Morris - are hilarious, executing a level of physical comedy unmatched in the history of live TV, but how sensational is Carl Reiner as the host? Playing the role to perfection and somehow keeping a straight face in the midst of total comic pandemonium. Genius.
Can you imagine sitting at the table and hearing Mel Brooks go through the script at the pre-production meeting? What a moment that was, I bet! I would have loved to have been present at that moment.
Monty Pythons John Cleese said it was the hardest he’d ever laughed when he watched this skit. It could very well be the funniest skit in TV history. Pure comedic genius from the writers.
Most of this was written by a young Mel Brooks, but he says much of it was improvised by the players. It is great!
I've seen funnier skits than this on Caeser's Hour.
Fun
Imogene Coco's DINGLE MEATBALL served by Sid made me lose my ability to breathe somewhere in the late 50s. THAT is the most uproarious moment of my 76+yrs.
SINGLE
Fun fact this sketch was played at Howard Morris’s funeral
It’s me it’s me it’s Ernest T.😂👍
The death of the GREAT Carl Reiner brought me here. RIP Mr Reiner and thanks for the art.
Me too!!!! I have always enjoyed Howard Morris as ernest T Bass. I watched him as a child of the 50's and I still love clean comedy..I do not want to hear all the dirty words that comics use and think are funny but are not to me..This had me laughing so hard I couldn't catch my breath..I had been talking about Carl Reiner and his friendship with Mel Brooks the day before his death with my son..to find out the next day he was gone was sad to me..but his humor and that of Mel Brooks has brightened the life of so many..Thank you to all of these wonderful comediennes.
For eleven minutes Carl Reiner was the hardest-working straight man in show business. RIP.
An episode of The Twilight Zone, Season 4, Episode 12 called I Dream of Genie with Howard Morris brought me here.
@@racheldrum1982 Amen. And, as Sid often said, the best straight man ever. I always marvel at how unflappable he could be as the interviewer in the Professor sketches, where it's frequently obvious that Sid is trying to get him to break up. ---kjh
@@OMGWTFLOLSMH I've been looking for that one! Howie was awesome in that episode.
Every time I watch this I laugh like a hyena. Uncle Goopy was so funny. I read that Howard Morris milked that sketch for all it was worth. I'm glad he did, it is comedy at its' finest. And Carl Reiner was perfect as the straight man.
Funniest comedy moment in the history of television. And seriously, just look at the physical energy it took to do this -- they really gave 110% all the way.
I first saw this as a clip in the 1970s. I was on the floor in tears I was laughing so hard. Inspired lunacy from everyone. Howard Morris as Uncle Goofy was incredible!
This was also done live on television
Howard Morris. Seriously underrated comedic actor.
I was laughing, then Morris started clinging to Sid Caesar's leg. I totally lost it.
Howard Morris was just a comedy god he was also a fantastic voice actor he did voices for studios throughout the 1960s 70s and 80s even 90s
I agree. The funniest single sketch in the history of comedy.
ONe of the funniest sketches of ALL TIMES!! And was Ceasar's favorite, and mine. Howard Morris was BRILLIANT!
Indeed. Carl Reiner is the funniest straight man in the history of comedy. NOTE: Mel Brooks wrote the sketch with head writers Lucille Kallan and Mel Tolkin, with Neil and Danny Simon in the wings.
This sketch is a true classic from TV's Golden Age of Comedy! In his autobiography, Mel Brooks, who wrote for the show, states that nearly 60% of this was improvised. When Caesar starts running through the audience, very little of that was planned. Luckily, the camera men were able to follow him!
Think of how much a high school drama/comedy troupe could learn from watching this. Wouldn't it be great if they could re-create this for a variety show at a high school. The crowd would go crazy.
I can not deal with the simple brilliance of this show. This skit is especially funny.
Sid, Howie, Reiner, what a tremendous comedy team. God they were funny.
How did I end up on this side of TH-cam? It all started with Netflix and popcorn, the Andy Griffith Show, and looking up a guest actor's career. Uncle Goopy is Ernest T. Bass. Well that was a long strange trip. Back to the 21st century.
Me too! 😆
Well Mr. Newton, I did the EXACT SAME THING...had to look up Howard Morris after seeing his exquisite performance as Ernest T. Bass on the Andy Griffith Show, and the next thing I know, I'm watching Sid Caesar's skit from the golden days of TV! Fabulous!
Tyler James Newton me too
A year later and it's still happening. I love Howard Morris as Ernest T. and upon reading of this, just had to look it up. Getting to see the great Carl Reiner as well is a nice bonus. 😊
Unreal, I was watching an Andy Griffith episode with Ernest T bass and followed the same rabbit trail.
This is an absolute riot from start to finish.
I've said it before and will say it again--the funniest 11 minutes ever aired on TV. ---kjh
Carl Reiner doesn't get enough credit for holding this all together IMO. I'm listening to Mel Brook's audio version of his autobiography and he said that Sid took the opening to this sketch completely off the rails. He apparently wasn't expected to play hard to get and the whole theater was chaos. Brilliant stuff.
Yes, Carl played a wonderfully smarmy MC and managed to keep his head amidst the chaos created by Sid (although the chase was scripted, how he handled it was up to him and a lot of the action was pure Caesar) and Howie Morris (his clinging to Sid's leg wasn't scripted and Sid and Carl just went with it). There was also a lot of adlibbing by Sid. I've seen the original script and it wasn't all that funny. By the time Sid and company got through with it, you're right--it was brilliant.---kjh
Morris was a comedic genius!
One of the great eleven minutes of physical comedy of all time, and a spoof "This is Your Life" certainly deserved. I think we tuned in every week just to see how sickeningly sweet Ralph Edwards could possibly be while basically preventing the "honoree" from saying anything in response to what Edwards or the guests were supposed to say in the script, which did not leave a lot of time for extra comments. I remember Edwards being forced to rush through the Marchal Jewelers charm bracelet promo at times at the end. I can't imagine many of the celebrity honorees relished the chance to be reminded of how difficult their childhoods were only to have Uncle Goopy encourage them, etc. but there probably was some cachet connected to being a big enough star to be selected by Edwards.
Howard Morris (uncle goopy), Carl Reiner (the announcer and father of meathead Rob Reiner) and Colonel Klink (Werner Klemperer) were all in the same Army unit and performed for troops during WWII.
Howard Morris would go on to play one of my favorite comic characters, Ernest T. Bass on "The Andy Griffith Show" in three episodes.
Meathead! Of course. I recall Meathead, talent runs deep in the Reiner family.
Never saw this before but am familiar with Reiner, Caesar, & Morris. I watched this and thought of my late Mother who loved skits like this. This comedic brilliance is hard to beat.
Funny, funny , funny. Not subtle humor, just wonderful sight gags. Love it!
ABSOLUTE COMIC PERFECTION!!!
The funniest 11 minutes on television. Ever. Glad you enjoyed it! --kjh
RIP Carl Reiner
And Sid Caesar
The greatest achievement in comedy that mankind has yet attained. I can't imagine that it will ever be surpassed.
The funniest 11 minutes on TV. Ever. And live, to boot.
+Sid Caesar: Your Show of Shows / Caesar's Hour / Admiral Broadway Revue Yep! And whole sections of it ad-libbed! Spontaneous perfection from a group of comic geniuses.
I'm not talking about "surpasssed", but great genius and you will enjoy "Blotto" Laurel and Hardy or just the excerpt Stan Laurel drunk and hysterical laughing. Enjoy! -
Hilarious! That’s all I can say! This was comedy, this was television!
Live, without a net!
I saw this as a child and remember it all these years as the funniest thing I ever saw
I watch this skit every few months just to get a belly laugh. I remember the wonderful Saturday night lineup on NBC in the 1950s. The Jack Carter Show from 8-9, Your Show of Shows from 9-10:30 and Your Hit Parade from 10:30-11.This has to be one of the funniest skits ever done. And all on live TV. All in glorious black and white. I'm now 79 and can really appreciate those old TV shows when comedy was king.
Strange coincidence I'm seeing this for the FIRST TIME, on April 3 2022!!! I laughed till my tummy hurt! This is some seriously crazy comedy, right here! Mashing that subscribe button now!
There is nothing compared to the work of this most clever & much talented man, Sid Caesar. God bless you man!!!
There was no comedian as multi-talented as Sid in '50s TV and this is the funniest sketch I've ever seen (and Sid's favorite as well). ---kjh
Laughter!! It's something the world needs more of. Let's see these great shows broadcast again. :-)
Back then, this must have been filed under: "What we wish we'd REALLY see on This Is Your Life!" The pretty lady and Sid's reaction was a scream!!! Everybody was terrific. Howie Morris got passed around more times than a joint! I had been told Neil Simon wrote or contributed to it. It does have that "Simon-esque" feeling to it. Anyway, one of the greatest comedy sketches of all-time! Thanks SO much for uploading this!
I haven't watched Your Show of SHows in many years (I'm only in my 30's so I wasn't around for first run, but my Grandma introduced me to this show a long time ago) Today I was listening to the Pete Holmes podcast and he had Phil Rosenthal (creator of Everybody Loves Raymond) and Pete asked him what was the time he laughed the hardest in his life. Phil said it was this sketch and said that many people in comedy still consider it to be THE greatest sketch in TV history.
I'm glad he brought it up. I just watched it, loved it and it reminded me of how much I always enjoyed this show..
Sport Of Wrestling me too!
Same here. Came here from Petes podcast too.
Pure comedic gold!
I'm so happy that I have seen this work of art for the first time. I have not laughed this hard in ages. Just brilliant 😂❤❤ Amazing that those men were all veterans and became some of the most hilarious humans ever. Thank you for sharing this.
Crazy to think this is 70 years old.
To think a lot of the PC comedies today fail whereas these classic ones succeed.
BRILLIANT COMEDIC TIMING, NATURAL TALENT, AWESOME SCRIPTS! CAN NOT BE TOPPED..JUST AS WONDERFUL NOW AS IT WAS WHEN I WAS A KID WATCHING THIS SHOW ON OUR 9 INCH PHILCO TV SET!!!
BRILLIANCE NEVER FADES!!!!
Your Show of Shows truly was The Show of all shows. Nothing before nothing after or ever had such a platinum cast of writers and comedic talent.
It's been a couple of years since the last time I saw this and have been laughing louder and enjoying it even more than ever before !!! 😂😂😂😂😂
Years ago as a bellman, I checked in an old Howard Morris, and was able to tell him how funny he was in the Nutty Professor. This Sid Caesar skit is fantastic. It had me laughing the hardest I ever have.😁
Can you just imagine hanging out with these genius’ of comedy?? I mean what an evening of complete pandemonium they could create.
Funniest comedic sketch EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brilliant
OMG! This is so funny. Wish television was still this great
You and me both. Still the funniest 11 minutes ever shown on TV! --kjh
I laugh so hard every time I watch this sketch. Sid Caesar Carl Reiner and Howard Morris are so hilarious in this!
Comedy at its finest.
Louis Nye as the fireman.
Thank you! I knew his last name was Nye, but all I could think of was The Science Guy (Bill). 🙂👍
Thank you for confirming that was Louis Nye
This is a great show!!
I'm screaming with laughter! Just what I needed today!!
Howard Morris!
Thank you. I think I remember this from when I was a kid.
Crying, I'm laughing so hard. Brilliant!
This skit is right up there with Who s on First ....
Crying from laughter.
Loving this!! 🤣 🤣🤣 Thank you for posting.
You're very welcome. IMHO, the funniest 11 minutes ever shown on TV! ---kjh
I agree with you about this being the funniest sketch. Many of my other favorites are from the great Marx Brothers, including the Lemonade Stand (Harpo and Chico, Duck Soup) and of course the ubiquitous scene in A Night at the Opera on the ship.
What’s amazing is that this was done live the energy energy. This has is amazing.
Hi, I'm new here and I'm laughing so hard my coffee went up my nose.
Yes, it does have that effect! I still find it amazing that the beginning of the sketch was unrehearsed, and the bit with Howie Morris latching on to Sid's leg wasn't in the script. Welcome! --kjh
My favorite is Louie Nye. Remember him with Steve Allen? ("Hi ho Steverino")
Howard Morris used some of these mannerisms in the character Ernest T Bass.
Like how did he use some of those mannerisms
I don't know why It's taken me so long to find this. I totally see where Letterman got a lot of inspiration.
Uncle Goopy!!! Some of the funniest television ever here, flawless.
This was when it REALLY took talent to successfully pull off a live tv show. The air date was 6 months before I was born.
What makes this great is that, if you were to read this sketch, you would ask "What's so funny?" It's all in the performances.
Sid acts like a lot of us under that circumstance.
Yes, I love the deer-in-the-headlights look when he finds out it's his "story" and his attempt to flee the theatre. Incidentally, much of that business in the theatre was improvised! ---kjh
The audience is going crazy!!!!
The sketch supposedly received the greatest sustained laughter of any live episode. I can believe it! --kjh
I'm glad I took a whiz BEFORE I watched this. LMAO!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The funniest 11 minutes in the history of television 🎉🎉🎉
Billy Crystal, a lifelong Sid Caesar worshipper, included footage of this sketch in his movie, Mr. Saturday Night, in a scene where his character, Buddy Young. Jr, his brother, and his wife are watching the sketch. Buddy is the only one watching it stone-faced and not laughing. As Crystal explained, it was Buddy's realization that no matter how funny he might be, he will never be as funny (and as popular) as Sid Caesar.
Some epic comedy actors on that stage.
Carl Reiner called this sketch the best, funniest comic sketch ever written for television. Period.
And there's Louie Nye! (Sonny Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillys)
Nye would show up occasionally on all of Sid's shows, from the Admiral Broadway Revue, YSOS, to Caesar's Hour! --kjh
Good catch. I loved sonny drysdale lol.
At the time, Louis was Kay Armen's "sidekick" (and comedy relief) on her local music and interview radio show, "MEET ME AT KAY'S", on WNBC in New York.
Carl stays smiling, in character all the way, Howie stole the show this time, Sid may arguably be the funniest man who ever lived. Can't remember laughing so long during a sketch, it was 1-derful !!!
No "F" words. They had to think and create.
Robert Burnett ,,,,Very true. I don't like vulgarity that is masqueraded as comedy. Have a great day.
Funny is funny, whether its g-rated or r-rated.
@@hapgood22 true, after all they did get a little off color at 8:40
You think they would be able to use the "F" word in the 50's even if they wanted to use it.
@@hapgood22 For you yes, for the rest of us, NO!!
You have the same sense of humor as my Mom, Gary.
I'm snorting I'm laughing so hard.
I make it a general rule to never watch this sketch with any kind of liquid in my mouth. --kjh
@@sidcaesaryourshowofshowsca2250 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The talent here!!!
Best sitcom ever
This is based on an actual incident. On the old This is Your Life, they would trick the guest by having him there for someone else. Sometimes the guest is less than enthusiastic at the start. This skit is based on the Lowell Thomas incident. The great old news reader supposedly had to be almost dragged up to the stage. I'm not sure if the original still exists.
Proof Positive: They just don't make'em like that any more!
Holy Mackarel! Right when Reiner goes to go offstage at the beginning in the front left audience = SAM GIANCANA! I mean it. Look how he does all this facial hiding thing and cranes his neck away from the camera. - It's only a few seconds, but I've done that fellow's portrait, and this is "Sammy Momo", the gangster king, Giancana. - But really, you have to watch this a million times. Such pleasure. Turn the sound off and look at all the shots with the audience, like the lady behind Sid when he is chosen. By the way, is that Al Dente like pasta aldente? Thanks so much for this!
Gail Jarvis OMG! I think you're absolutely right! I went ahead and took two pictures - one a screen shot from this sketch and one I found online - and compared them. If it's not him then it's his twin brother! Wow! The Godfather right in the middle of a Sid Caesar sketch!
Gail Jarvis Have you read book on Giancana called Double Cross written by his brother Chuck and godson Sam. He literally was into everything.
0:40 ?
Or 0:29
Momo was only the Don of the Chicago Outfit, not the overall La Cosa Nostra. He helped JFK get elected in Illinois in 1960 as a favor to Joe Kennedy. Rumor has it that when JFK and RFK went after organized crime with a vengeance, Giancana felt betrayed and was one of the major players in JFK 's assassination.
Brilliant
Howard Morris is certainly remembered for his physical and inventive comedy in both film and television, as well as his directing in both areas; but he is also famous for his cartoon voice-overs (Hanna-Barbera, King Features Syndicate, Filmation). His few forays into dramatic acting (‘Wanted: Dead Or Alive’, ‘The Alfred Hitchcock Hour’, ‘The Twilight Zone’, ‘Thriller’) shouldn’t be overlooked either…
Nothing about Howard Morris should be overlooked . He was simply a genius .
I have a feeling those who realized Sid was sitting near them, may have had some idea who was to be picked.
I have a feeling you're right! Although I love the reaction of the woman sitting in back of him when she realizes, first, she's on camera, and second, that Sid is sitting in front of her. ---kjh
How funny!
OMG one of the great routines
Fun Fact: The man sitting next to Sid Caesar at 0:53 is Dave Tebet, the "villain" of the '' Saturday Night'' film of 2024. I put villain in "" because the film's script took many creative liberties with the Dave Tebet character played by Willem Dafoe. The real Dave Tebet was a nice guy by all accounts.
Did you know that uncle goopy was later Ernest T bass on The Andy Griffith show
Super!!!
Later, Carl Reiner did a small thing on the Dinah Shore show thinking he was going to be on This is your life program. Funny thing was that Ralph Edwards of that show was watching and decided to actually surprise Reiner on the following week's Dinah Shore show and have him on This is your Life. Reiner was totally surprised.
No secret that Sid Caesar an Mel Brooks............. Best Friends........Nuts........both..........an Hilarious...............
Good show from 1954
quite the emotional reunions
the funniest sketch ever ?? I can't think of many funnier ones
They did this on live television
I found this after i found a real "This is your life Carl Reiner" with Ralph Edwards on TH-cam. They talked about this spoof, also how Carl appear on the Dinah Shore show, he was acting disappointed that Ralph wasn't there to do his life.
The true story is after Ralph Edwards saw this, the Dinah Shore show... He got busy , put a "This is you life Carl Reiner" together in 1 week. Carl was going to be a guest on Dinah show the next week. At the end of that show they surprise Carl with the real thing this time. I just had to check this show out. When it air i wasn't even thought of by serval years. This was so funny.
Back in the day when comedy was funny not filthy. No profanity, no one grabbing their crotch, it's just good clean fun. I wish those days were still here.
Once saw Howard Morris in the Burbank Costco early 90's and when he saw a couple of us in the aisle he started doing shtick.
"Sesame Street" also parodied "This Is Your Life". It was called "Here Is Your Life."
I had not known that--thanks for pointing this out. A wonderful spoof in its own right--loved the tree. Brilliant sketch ideas never die! --kjh