Watched the series and have to admit I was a bit disappointed of no mention of Fred Allen other than a small clip I caught of him with Jack Benny. He was a master wit and should have had a mention in the chapter regarding satire.
share I had the same thought as I watched this. Fred Allen is one of the most important and influential figures in the history of comedy. (Sadly, most young people don't even know who he is.) Yet he's all but ignored in this documentary -- at least, as far as I can tell. If his life and career are in here somewhere, and I missed it, I apologize. But based on what I've seen, he's not here.
Before Fred Allen, people were still recycling old vaudeville and burlesque jokes. Allen changed that. He pioneered a new kind of radio comedy, satirizing the events of the day. He was a dry, sardonic commentator on the passing American scene -- not simply a clown or buffoon insulting a group of on-air stooges. He was probably the most respected comedian of his day, and he influenced countless comedians, either directly or indirectly. He parodied newscasts and newsreels, paving the way for 'Weekend Update' on SNL, 'The Daily Show,' and the Onion. He was a giant of comedy, but you wouldn't know it from this documentary.
Bob & Ray (Bob Elliott & Ray Goulding) were a comedy team, best known on radio, in their heyday from the 1950s to the 1970s. Like Allen, they pioneered a new kind of satire based on a deadpan, realistic style. When they spoofed a soap opera, it had the delivery, sound effects, music, and overall sound and style of a real soap opera. Until Bob & Ray came along, most comedians (say Bob Hope or Milton Berle) would have done a soap opera parody, but simply cracked their usual one-liners during it. The Bob and Ray style lives on in SCTV, SNL, and other shows too countless to mention. Many comedians cite Bob and Ray as influences, including some you wouldn't guess, like Woody Allen.
I could name other influential comedians NOT appearing in this documentary. I didn't hate 'Make 'Em Laugh.' There were interesting clips, and I'm not sorry I watched it. But I couldn't help but wonder: what was the point? What was it about? It just felt like a bunch of clips, highlighting the careers of various comedians, with no larger purpose. It felt disorganized and unfocused. I didn't feel like I learned anything about the growth of American humor, or how comedy evolved.
Again, what was the point?
Thanks for your excellent questions and comments. Sometimes it seems as though the people creating and producing television these days have no memory of such genius as Fred Allen or Bob & Ray. Don't they have access to video or radio archives? It would be great to make them available to everyone today, or at least to have those who put together such specials on comedy to have a broader perspective and appreciation for such influential talents.
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