Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in

▪ American television program
      American television comedy and variety show that aired on the National Broadcasting Company (National Broadcasting Co., Inc.) (NBC) network for six seasons (1967–73). The series won several Emmy and Golden Globe awards, including the 1969 Golden Globe for best television show, and in its first two seasons it was the most-watched program on television, according to the Nielsen rankings.

      Named in the vein of the happening events that were hallmarks of the 1960s youth and protest movements (“sit-ins,” “love-ins,” and “teach-ins”), Laugh-in fashioned its aesthetic from the counterculture. Originally planned as a one-time special, the show enjoyed immediate success and became one of the most widely viewed broadcasts of the late 1960s. Although it was hosted by veteran comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, playing the straight-man and dummy, respectively, the show relied largely on young, emerging talents, such as Goldie Hawn, Gary Owens, Arte Johnson, Ruth Buzzi, and Henry Gibson, who quickly became household names. The regular performers frequently reprised characters and gave rise to punch lines that became ubiquitous: “You bet your sweet bippy,” “Here come da judge,” “Verrrry interesting,” and “Sock it to me.” The frenetic, fast-paced show moved quickly from dance party to sketch to skit to oddball talent routine, each packed with political jokes, sexual innuendo, recurring gags, or some combination of all three. In its structure and content, the series eschewed traditional variety show boundaries and introduced a novel and unconventional approach to incorporating music, stand-up, and scripted comedy along with innovative visual effects. Laugh-in tapped into the zeitgeist in a way no other show had, appealing to both flower children and middle-class Americans. Many celebrities, including Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner, entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. (Davis, Sammy, Jr.), and then-presidential candidate Richard Nixon (Nixon, Richard M.), appeared on the show.

      In its six seasons, Laugh-in captured the American imagination and became a pop culture touchstone, influencing a generation of television comedy. Many of the show's performers and production staff went on to successful careers in television and film, most notably Hawn, who became a major motion picture star.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In — Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In [Rowan and Martins Laugh In] (also infml Laugh In) a popular US comedy television series (1968–73) on ↑NBC. It was presented by Dan Rowan (1922–87) and Dick Martin, with a regular team of actors, and used short, fast… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In — (also infml Laugh In) a popular US comedy television series (1968–73) on NBC. It was presented by Dan Rowan (1922–87) and Dick Martin (1923– ), with a regular team of actors, and used short, fast jokes and comedy situations, a new idea at the… …   Universalium

  • Martin, Dick — ▪ 2009 Thomas Richard Martin        American comedian born Jan. 30, 1922, Battle Creek, Mich. died May 24, 2008, Santa Monica, Calif. was the irrepressible cohost with straight man Dan Rowan of the breakout hit television variety show Rowan &… …   Universalium

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  • Dick Martin (comedian) — Dick Martin Dan Rowan (left) and Dick Martin on Rowan Martin s Laugh In, 1968. Birth name Thomas Richard Martin Born January 30, 1922( …   Wikipedia

  • Dan Rowan — Born July 22, 1922(1922 07 22) Beggs, Oklahoma Died September 22, 1987(1987 09 22) (aged 65) Siesta …   Wikipedia

  • Dan Rowan — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Rowan. Dan Rowan est un acteur et producteur américain né le 22 juillet 1922 à Beggs, Oklahoma (États Unis), décédé le 22 septembre 1987 à Englewood (Floride). Sommaire …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Dick Martin — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Dick Martin (homonymie). Dick Martin est un acteur, réalisateur et producteur américain né le 30 janvier 1922 à Détroit, Michigan (États Unis) et décédé le 24 mai 2008 en Californie des suites …   Wikipédia en Français

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