Now that’s FUNNY
Laugh until it hurts as PBS explores the history of American comedy — from Abbott and Costello to “The Daily Show”
About 10 minutes into the fifth hour of the PBS documentary series, “Make ’Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America,” hot shot filmmaker Judd Apatow notes that there is “nothing more boring” than describing why things are funny.
He should have added an exception to that statement. Apatow, the writer-producer-director of such films as “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up,” should have said nothing is more boring than describing why things are funny unless those doing the describing include comedy legends like the late George Carlin, Chris Rock, Carl Reiner, Jonathan Winters, Dick Van Dyke, Steve Martin, Norman Lear and Jerry Seinfeld.
This six-hour series, which runs for two hours over the next three Wednesdays on WNED-TV and WNED-HD, uses the legends above and cultural historians and biographers to give a history of comedy that spans from “Father Knows Best” to “The Daily Show.” Along the way, it demonstrates how much the state of comedy and American culture is influenced by the state of the economy and whether the nation is at war, at peace or dealing with a domestic scandal like Watergate.
Considering where the stock market and the economy are today, “Make ’Em Laugh” couldn’t arrive at a better time for PBS. The first two parts premiere Wednesday at 8 p. m. on WNED-HD and 9 p. m. on the regular WNED-TV.
I must admit I was a bit concerned when the first commentator onscreen was Apatow, the current king of repetitive nerd comedies. But after seeing the entire series, his leading off makes perfect sense.
Not only is Apatow likely to attract younger viewers who think comedy started with “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” he also illustrates that his so-called new brand of comedy really is just a tweaking of comic themes about nerds and oddballs that have been successful for generations.
The series is hosted by Billy Crystal, though the word “hosted” is a bit of a misnomer if viewers expect Crystal to play the part of Johnny Carson, Steve Allen or Jack Paar.
Crystal just does a brief bit to set up each episode. He starts by doing a joke at the expense of PBS star documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. “I’m not Ken Burns,” said Crystal. “If I were, I’d have bangs.”
Narrated by Amy Sedaris, Wednesday’s opening episode deals with the lure of “Nerds, Jerks and Oddballs,” the second episode with “Breadwinners and Homemakers” from the early heartwarming days of television. On Jan. 21, the episodes deal with “The Knockabouts” and “The Groundbreakers.” The series concludes Jan. 28 with episodes on “The Wiseguys” and “Satire and Parody.”
“Make ’Em Laugh” works on several levels — as nostalgia, as history, as trivia and as pure entertainment. In short, there is something for everyone. If asked for my personal favorite, I’d pull a Jack Benny, pause and say, “I’m thinking it over.”
My favorite is Episode 4, which details with ground-breakers like Mae West, Moms Mabley, Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Carlin and The Smothers Brothers who tested the limits of freedom of speech and often were punished for it.
But other viewers might be more enthralled by the trivia. For example, what was Redd Foxx’s real name? What famous film writer-director started writing jokes for Sid Caesar at age 17? What famous film star and former “Saturday Night Live” performer started his career working behind the magic counter at Disney? What famous comedian was a jazz soloist at Juilliard? Who was Charlie Chaplin’s understudy? (The answers are at the end of the story).
If viewers get bored from the commentary loaded with clever superlatives, the boredom will quickly be relieved by the footage of classic comic material such as Abbott & Costello’s “Who’s On First” routine, Woody Allen’s early stand-up-days, Richard Pryor’s stand-up act ... and the list goes on and on.
It is safe to say that many viewers who have been content just to laugh at funny routines may get a new understanding of comedy. The series never forgets to be entertaining while reminding viewers that a comedian is doing his job if he makes people happy or uncomfortable — or both.
Now the trivia answers: 1. John Sanford 2. Woody Allen 3. Steve Martin. 4. Robin Williams. 5. Stan Laurel.
In an interview in Los Angeles last summer, writer-producer-director Michael Kantor (“Broadway: The American Musical”) said the series was inspired by the 2004 presidential election campaign. “I began to think, just as the Broadway musical [series] was able to give insight into American history and the evolution of our culture, so, too, could comedy reflect American culture in all of its glory and weirdness,” said Kantor.
He began the series with Charlie Chaplin because he represented the influence of the immigrant and included as many clips as he could find and get permission to use.
“It was always well, what’s the amazing comedy, that people don’t know,” said Kantor. “And when we’re dealing with a comedy legend, what are the kind of clips that you can’t rent at the corner video store.”
Of course, he realized that a series this all-encompassing won’t please everyone, and some important and influential people will be left out. On the same panel with Kantor, were comedians and writers Richard Lewis, Larry Wilmore and Anne Beatts. When they were asked to name some comedians that influenced them, Flip Wilson, Jackie Mason and Rodney Dangerfield were mentioned.
However, they don’t appear in the episodes sent for review. I suppose in a way that is funny. But it also may be indicative of how difficult it is going to be for this wildly entertaining series to please everyone.
Television Review
“Make ’Em Laugh”
★★★★
(Out of four)
Premieres at 8 p. m. Wednesday on WNED-HD and 9 p. m. on WNED-TV
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