Just reading Teri Garr’s book Speedbumps. She mentions working in this short. She knew Martin as they had jobs at Disneyland years before. Buck Henry was a friend of her neighbors along with Albert Brooks and Rob Reiner. They were all hiring each other for projects. Carl Gottlieb the director of this short was one of their friends and he went on to be a producer. He also co wrote The Jerk with Steve Martin. (Garr and Henry were paid with Betamax machines)
Lol, the way the couple in the background just takes the desert wagon crashing into their table without making a single noise or getting angry. Just business as usual.
I never knew about this short film! This was made before his first film, The Jerk. This is great. I got to speak to Steve 1x, at a screening of Pennies From Heaven.
In college back in the day, a group of us used to watch The Absent Minded Waiter over and over again. Someone had it on VHS and we literally watched it multiple times a day, every day. Good memories.
@@bobbywolff1274 the waiter keeps forgetting what Niles had ordered and recaps the order by saying to Niles you had the?... And Niles replies the absent minded waiter lol I can't remember what episode and what season it was but I hope this helped?
This is great! It was shown before a Steve Martin appearance at the Arie Crown theater in Chicago, 1978. Hilarious. So glad I saw Steve at the height of his 'Wild and Crazy Guy' era!
This is my Cinderella's slipper. If I ever see something, or do something really dumb, I'll say, "Just call me the Absent Minded Waiter." One day, someone will look at me, laugh uproariously, and I will propose.
This was the short feature before the main attraction on the "Homage to Steve" VHS tape I had years ago. Basically it was Steve Martin live in concert from 1980 I believe. You can probably find it on TH-cam somewhere.
That's art. Terri was so pretty. Steve so goofy. And Buck being Buck. Cute little tale. Nice to see it and I wonder if this little gem has made its way into the National Archive?
I'm watching, enjoying the over-the-top silliness of the humor, but also wondering, "How are they going to make a whole movie of this?" Then I got to "The End" and realized it wasn't a clip from a movie, but an entire short.
He's actually touring as part of a band and he plays the banjo, of course. All these multi talented people. He's written a couple of books as well. If you like Appalachian style music you'd enjoy his concert. His bandmares are some of the greatest talent in that genre, and I think he even met Earl Scruggs. Scruggs is to the banjo what VanHalen or Page are too the guitar.
@@taydrabrookshire347 yeah but I don't think we have Hulu here in Australia I mainly just remember him from his comedy movies when I was a kid enjoyed many of his films I guess he can't act forever
Hahaha...HMMMMMMMM.what is with Teri Garr & the mountain of mashed potatoes? It seemed as though it may have been her first encounter with Steve the Waiter - Buck had a Sucker in His Palms
So I have to tell you not being a student of film and or anything like my daughter. She didn't even have to tell me this but at the end of the video there was the right upper screen Mark of changing the film during the ending credits? That makes absolutely no sense to me. Did you notice or are you that aware of what is happening around you in the industry?
The only answer that I can think of is that and I can't think of one because when that flash goes up on the right side of the screen you change reels 😭😔☝️😎💪 did you notice the Emojis? 🤯 That's Hollywood baby 🍼 girl 😘🐕🦺🥁🙏 and have fun! Try to take care of your neighbors a little better next time. You never know what you're going to get!❤🎉😢😅 Whatever!
It was nominated in 1978 and should've won imho! Here were the nominees: Short Film (Live Action) Winner I'll Find a Way Beverly Shaffer and Yuki Yoshida, Producers Nominees The Absent-Minded Waiter William E. McEuen, Producer Floating Free Jerry Butts, Producer Notes on the Popular Arts Saul Bass, Producer Spaceborne Philip Dauber, Producer The winner, "I'll Find a Way" was a documentary about Nadia, a 9-year-old girl with spina bifida. It is definitely excellent, and a serious documentary. To me it's appalling that it was in the same category as AMW! Here it is if anyone cares to watch it: th-cam.com/video/TcvCfaenCp0/w-d-xo.html
Saw him in concert back when his King Tut song was the big thing. The show opened with this showing on a giant screen. Thought it was hilarious. First time I've seen it since then ... did not age well. 😕
I saw him Pine Knob, a 15k seat amphitheater in Detroit that summer. Same show. Not much from that era aged well, but this sure killed in 1977. The place was upside down with laughs.
I’ve heard about this video back in the 1970s, as Steve Martin’s comedy career was ascending. I am seeing it for the first time in 2024. And I have to say, it’s not that funny.
Rest in Peace, Buck and Teri. Two very fine actors.
RIP the fabulous and beautiful Teri Garr
"One stunning human!"
I always think of her opposite Dustin in Tootsie❤
She's great isn't she... I have not disliked her acting. Not once. My favourite actor.
Just reading Teri Garr’s book Speedbumps. She mentions working in this short. She knew Martin as they had jobs at Disneyland years before. Buck Henry was a friend of her neighbors along with Albert Brooks and Rob Reiner. They were all hiring each other for projects. Carl Gottlieb the director of this short was one of their friends and he went on to be a producer. He also co wrote The Jerk with Steve Martin. (Garr and Henry were paid with Betamax machines)
Those betamax machines must be worth a fortune by now!
Imagining that enclave of timeless giftedness and checked ego…
@@astolennova??
Carl Gottlieb also wrote some movie about a girl and boy being eaten by some fish or something .
Thank you John, for the giggles...just what we all need these days!
I saw Steve Martin live back in 1978 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and the show opened with this short film.
With that kind of track record I'll bet on the other horses to make it through tomorrow alive
I saw him in St. Petersburg FL and it opened with this too.
Lol, the way the couple in the background just takes the desert wagon crashing into their table without making a single noise or getting angry. Just business as usual.
I never knew about this short film! This was made before his first film, The Jerk. This is great. I got to speak to Steve 1x, at a screening of Pennies From Heaven.
In college back in the day, a group of us used to watch The Absent Minded Waiter over and over again. Someone had it on VHS and we literally watched it multiple times a day, every day. Good memories.
"lets smoke a jay and watch again!" ;)
...thats called A CLASSIC :)
We used to watch your mom over and over again
yep same here
damn the weed was good back then.
When people find me in a zone out, I often reply, "Sorry just went to the Bahamas for a moment." Only the cool people know what I'm referencing.
That's what I tell the dentist when he asks "You doing ok?"
I saw this when it first came out. What a treat to see it again.
Niles crane references this in an episode of Frasier when the waiter at nervosa can't get his order right lol
dave, what EXACTLY did Niles say?, plz
@@bobbywolff1274 the waiter keeps forgetting what Niles had ordered and recaps the order by saying to Niles you had the?... And Niles replies the absent minded waiter lol I can't remember what episode and what season it was but I hope this helped?
That’s funny since it doesn’t seem like it would be something Niles or Fraiser would reference. Seems too low brow for them
@lorinichols9996 yeah but occasionally they would reference more simpler things maybe to not seem too smart and possibly attract more audience
This is great! It was shown before a Steve Martin appearance at the Arie Crown theater in Chicago, 1978. Hilarious. So glad I saw Steve at the height of his 'Wild and Crazy Guy' era!
Couldn’t have been very important, or you wouldn’t have forgotten it! … Oh I remember, i’m radioactive! Shake!
Now I know where Spielberg got the idea for the dissolve from the Paramount logo to a mountain-shaped object for the Indiana Jones movies.
I was just thinking the same thing!
Ah!
Close Encounters came to mind
The birth of a comedic genius.
Teri Garr is gorgeous.
That old 35mm print gives it that classic feel but I would love to see this restored and preserved. I wonder if any others exist.
I think we have all at one stage of our life been served by the type of waiter Steve Martin plays here even been given extra change lol
This displays his fullest potential. I’m kinda pissed it didn’t win the Academy Award it was nominated for
When I was a kid and I’d make a mess my mum would say ‘pigsss must have been here’
I remember watching this years ago.
The Bahamas joke still makes me laugh.
I still use that line to this day
Heard it on one of his records - so this is where it comes from!
One of my dessert island films .. along with anything by Mel brooks or Monty python
Hah. "Dessert" island. I see what you did there. 😅
"A Steve Martin Short" please make that title into a movie starring Steve Martin & Martin Short!
A Steve Martin short Martin short short
This is my Cinderella's slipper. If I ever see something, or do something really dumb, I'll say, "Just call me the Absent Minded Waiter." One day, someone will look at me, laugh uproariously, and I will propose.
Another Martin masterpiece
Vale Buck Henry! The amount of times I ran this through a projector.....
I love Buck Henry's grin at 3:09, "it begins!"
oh shit i remember seeing this when i was a kid. forgot all about it. so awesome.
"Hold the onions." 😅😅😅
3 superstars!!! ❤❤❤
This should have been a show
Not only had I never seen this, I didn't know it even existed.
Let alone that it was nominated.........
"Hold the onions" 😂
I usually take a mini vacation to Hawaii. Those 20 foot waves are mesmerizing.
How bout some nice dutch sugar jelly cake, it's good for you. *goes catatonic* 🤣
- Well, that was fun. I remember fun, it used to happen more often.
This is the Golden Girls music between scenes I love it
I saw Steve when I was in college before he made it big. I never saw this short before. I was laughing my ass off!
This was the short feature before the main attraction on the "Homage to Steve" VHS tape I had years ago. Basically it was Steve Martin live in concert from 1980 I believe. You can probably find it on TH-cam somewhere.
That's art. Terri was so pretty. Steve so goofy. And Buck being Buck. Cute little tale. Nice to see it and I wonder if this little gem has made its way into the National Archive?
Inspector Clouseau’s original job before he got in the Police 😂
Holy crap, 46 years ago
I'm watching, enjoying the over-the-top silliness of the humor, but also wondering, "How are they going to make a whole movie of this?"
Then I got to "The End" and realized it wasn't a clip from a movie, but an entire short.
"Mr. Short Term Memory" from SNL was like this.
i used some of these lines in a improv class…i used to make the other actors corpse with laughter
That brought me here from watching what would you do show Absent minded waiter!😂
The Only Steve Martin Movie to be Oscar Nominated. (The Jerk should have been, and Planes, Trains).
We loved St Lucia. The Pitons were of course beautiful but the island has plenty more to offer.
Listen to that score, it sounds like a silent movie accompaniment
My favorite quintessential Martin
Saw this in Vegas when Steve Martin opened for Helen Reddy.
5:12 Hotel Hell, When your manager is going to give you your paycheck for the first time after 10 years.
*It has a real "Mel-Brooks-Channels-Monty-Python" vibe. (Except it's funny.)*
RIP Teri Garr.
Love it. Trust me.
Really funny.
He plays a variation of this in The Muppet Movie, if I'm not mistaken.
Would you like to sniff the bottle cap?
The resemblance between Teri Garr and Lisa Kudrow is freaky. No wonder they played mother and daughter on Friends.
I didn’t really laugh until the end. But that WAS a great ending 😂
She resembles Lisa Kudrow so much!
@Glenn Reeve I think she might have I can't exactly remember I'm sure a Google search will tell you
0:17 And now, we're pleased to bring you our feature presentation.
Martin did this on the Smothers Brothers show in the 60's
That was Phoebe's mother.
Pheobe!!
Where would someone have seen this?
Did this play in the theaters before the movie started?
Yes
Paramount sent it along with the movie “Grease” as a short to be played with the coming attractions.
Steve Martin was a big character back in the day almost a national American treasure now you don't see or hear much from him
He's actually touring as part of a band and he plays the banjo, of course. All these multi talented people. He's written a couple of books as well. If you like Appalachian style music you'd enjoy his concert. His bandmares are some of the greatest talent in that genre, and I think he even met Earl Scruggs. Scruggs is to the banjo what VanHalen or Page are too the guitar.
@@esmewvimes2901 I'm in Australia I doubt he will be here anytime soon but that is interesting
He has a Hulu show 😎
@@taydrabrookshire347 yeah but I don't think we have Hulu here in Australia I mainly just remember him from his comedy movies when I was a kid enjoyed many of his films I guess he can't act forever
@@davemustaki134 Disney+ has it there I believe
Carl Gottlieb also co-wrote some movie about a girl and boy being eaten by some fish or something; nobody remembers it.
Why do I not believe this was nominated for an Oscar? I love Steve Martin, but thet're not all diamonds..............
Is that Louie Anderson at 1:13?
no
Buck Henry kinda looks like Alec Guinness at the end 😂
So how did the band get bowling for soup from this?
I dont get it either...
Hahaha...HMMMMMMMM.what is with Teri Garr & the mountain of mashed potatoes? It seemed as though it may have been her first encounter with Steve the Waiter - Buck had a Sucker in His Palms
* Water... and glasses *
So I have to tell you not being a student of film and or anything like my daughter. She didn't even have to tell me this but at the end of the video there was the right upper screen Mark of changing the film during the ending credits? That makes absolutely no sense to me. Did you notice or are you that aware of what is happening around you in the industry?
A series I mean
The only answer that I can think of is that and I can't think of one because when that flash goes up on the right side of the screen you change reels 😭😔☝️😎💪 did you notice the Emojis? 🤯 That's Hollywood baby 🍼 girl 😘🐕🦺🥁🙏 and have fun! Try to take care of your neighbors a little better next time. You never know what you're going to get!❤🎉😢😅 Whatever!
Makes you wonder why they kept him on if he so unprofessional?
Is the chef the same chef with tourettes from Curb Your Enthusiasm?
I don't get S.M. It must be me.
He’s OK. Humor is subjective.
@@Vichedges Comedy isn't pretty.
4:36 the judgmental look he gives him after serving the six martinis is pretty funny
Did he really have grey hair as a young man or is that just a wig he’s wearing? 🤨
That was his hair color
pigs must have been here
lolol
It's all about the payoff, as it were.
This was Oscar nominated??? Must have been a bad year for short films.
Pigs must have been here....
Tedious, I couldn't make it through. Take a joke and beat it to death. Didn't bother to wait for the punch line, which I presume there must be.
But you stuck around to make a post? ........ Mentally ill much?
Re-scan with way better gear...
th-cam.com/video/HpR-OylqUAU/w-d-xo.html
Pigs must have been here.
A good sketch ala Carol Burnett, but it would have been far-better acted by Don Knotts, Tim Conway or a number of other actors.
It was nominated in 1978 and should've won imho! Here were the nominees:
Short Film (Live Action)
Winner
I'll Find a Way
Beverly Shaffer and Yuki Yoshida, Producers
Nominees
The Absent-Minded Waiter
William E. McEuen, Producer
Floating Free
Jerry Butts, Producer
Notes on the Popular Arts
Saul Bass, Producer
Spaceborne
Philip Dauber, Producer
The winner, "I'll Find a Way" was a documentary about Nadia, a 9-year-old girl with spina bifida. It is definitely excellent, and a serious documentary. To me it's appalling that it was in the same category as AMW!
Here it is if anyone cares to watch it:
th-cam.com/video/TcvCfaenCp0/w-d-xo.html
In 2023, just a silly sketch... in 1977, an Academy Award nominee. How standards change.
Spielberg stole from Martin!
Saw him in concert back when his King Tut song was the big thing. The show opened with this showing on a giant screen. Thought it was hilarious. First time I've seen it since then ... did not age well. 😕
I saw him Pine Knob, a 15k seat amphitheater in Detroit that summer. Same show. Not much from that era aged well, but this sure killed in 1977. The place was upside down with laughs.
I definitely disagree. I think it aged just fine. True classics never get old 😊
@@sarahsilverlight2064
It's entirely possible that I didn't have well ... in fact it's very likely
@@SteveHallintheVale Huh? Lol. Not understanding your comment, not trying to be mean, but maybe something was lost in translation 🙂
I’ve heard about this video back in the 1970s, as Steve Martin’s comedy career was ascending. I am seeing it for the first time in 2024. And I have to say, it’s not that funny.
Sorry. I fail to see the humor. The cheese stands alone, I guess.
Painfully unfunny & tiresome before the first 5 minutes have elapsed.
This is so woke.
Im a big fan of steve martin but this movie's dialogue was poorly written.
Comedy is Anticipation, Repetition, and Timing.