Am I the only one that thinks Laugh-In is still funny?

Every time this show is mentioned, people act like it's dated and corny and deserves to forever be locked up in the vaults. I don't understand the criticism! Seeing episodes and clips of the show never fails to crack me up. Am I completely weird?! OK, it may be dated, but I don't see how that makes it unfunny.

 

its dated by time and events ! same as monty python both shows you can make a best of for about an hour!

 

where do you see laugh in?

 

YouTube, PBS specials, and the Best Of DVDs.

 

For those of who where there, it still has its moments (kinda like looking at an album of old photos), but for those who weren't, probably not so much, as it was just way too topical.

Definitely plays better when viewed via "best of" compilations (especially when some context is provided for those who are unfamiliar with many of the cultural references). That said, as much as I still enjoy parts of it, I can't ever see myself sitting down and watching any complete episodes ever again.

 

But I wasn't there, and I viewed full episodes. I must just be weird. I think this show is hilarious and deserves a better legacy than it has.

 

I wasn't there either. I discovered the show in the 80s & I think it's hilarious.

Darryl

 

I still love it. Great performers and a fast pace where any references you might not get zip right by.

Uncle Al just kills me every time.

 

Now there's a comparison I won't let stand! I wasn't around for either Python or Laugh-In, but while the latter is an intermittently amusing period piece of mainly historical interest, Python is still gold, baby!

 

Yeah, there was a resurgence of the show in the mid-80s. 30-minute episodes syndicated on afternoon TV, perhaps? I can't recall exactly. I found it trippy and amusing as a preteen, but it's basically insufferable to me now in anything other than small doses. Once you get past the flower power look and references of the thing, it just isn't funny. To each his own of course.

dan c

 

Laugh-in is still gold too. It's a classic. There's richness there. I haven't sat down and watched an episode since I was a kid but whenever I see a clip it makes me smile or chuckle and that's what's important isn't it? It's still got legs but having said that, it is of its time and there'll likely be nothing like it again. Seeing this post made me go read the wikipedia page on it. Interesting to see that Lorne Michaels was a writer on the show.

 

I wish they would release the Maltese Bippy on DVD: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064627/

 

In all honesty, apart from Tiny Tim's appearances and it's groovy theme tune, it's a load of crap IMO. I'm yet to crack a laugh at anything I've seen from it. I do however want to see it's little known spin-off Turn-On which didn't even get through it's first episode.

 

I still lose it when I see Goldie crack up. She had one of the most contagious laughs in Hollywood, even better than Julia.

 

It was a great show, and I still enjoy the few episodes I've been able to find.

 

I've seen clips of "Turn-On". It was literally, like, five second random shots of a guy in a diaper, a guy riding a wooden horse, a bunch of Klansmen... I didn't get it. I'd be curious to see the entire episode, though. (Sadly, no one seems to have the second episode, which featured the Monkees.)

 

Turn On was most certainly NOT a Laugh-In spin off. It was ABC's intended competition (or rip-off, or bandwagon jumping) for NBC's Laugh-In. I'd love to see it too, as I missed it's only showing.

If ever there was a series crying out for complete seacon sets, this is it, before all us boomers die off. The 2 best-ofs are woefully insufficient.

 

Yeah, Turn-On was producer George Schlatter's very short-lived "edgier" companion show on ABC. I think Laugh-In was a very funny show for its time, but 40 years later... not so much. It's definitely got some moments here and there, and the fast-paced editing was extremely innovative for its time.

 

OK, so it WAS a spin-off.

 

Do the full Turn-On episodes even still exist anywhere? The two episodes produced would certainly make for an interesting curio-cum-period piece.

 

I don't think that the Flying Circus is nearly as dated. Did you know that there's a lake underneath this forum?

 

My understanding is that George Schlatter still has all the masters for the show (I believe there were more than two episodes in the can as well).

 

I was watching it on Nick at Nite.



Darryl

 

Here's a short clip of Turn-On:

 

I have all of the best of DVDs and still love it. I can see, though where it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, and there are some bits that make me cringe.

I especially love seeing Sammy Davis, Jr. in full nehru jacket/huge medallion/bell bottomed mod regalia.