"Although modeled on the real-life daredevil Evel Knievel, Super Dave was more like the ill-fated Wile E. Coyote, who would snap back from being crushed by a boulder or falling off a cliff in the Road Runner cartoons. 'People loved the character getting mauled,' Mr. Blye told the Television Academy."
From
"Allan Blye, 87, Dies; ‘Smothers Brothers’ Writer and ‘Super Dave’ Creator/In his wide-ranging career, he also helped write Elvis Presley’s comeback special and appeared on an early version of 'Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood'" (NYT).
And, re the Smothers Brothers show: "Mr. Blye and his writing partner, Mason Williams — best known for writing and performing the hit guitar instrumental
'Classical Gas'— worked on the deadpan editorials delivered regularly by Pat Paulsen, a mournful-looking cast member who used the show as a platform to run for president in 1968 as the candidate of the S.T.A.G. (Straight Talking American Government) Party."
"In a few days, the voters will go to the polls and elect a man to ruin the country. I mean run the country. All the other candidates are making 11th hour appeals seeking a convincing mandate from the people and the people are making 11th hour appeals for a convincing candidate. Polls show Nixon leading both Humphrey and Wallace with 14 undecided and 36 percent disgusted."
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18 comments:
"I've upped my standards. Now up yours." -- Pat Paulsen
Well, I guess somebody has to write the unfunny dross that fills-in the time between commercials on the TV variety show.
Could it be that Paulson is secretly Kamala's campaign manager? If not, what would Kamala being doing differently than she is now?
Paulsen's campaign has aged well.
Who would Fuji be backing in this election? If I went to a Trump rally, I would be wearing a blue FUJI hat. I love Albert, but Super Dave was my favorite Einstein vehicle.
Graphic designer Art Irizawa became an unlikely TV celebrity as Fuji on ‘Super Dave’
We're up to 65% disgusted now
Super Dave Osborne was hilarious. There's a whole category of visual humor that's gone, now, because computers have take over special effects. Young people don't even understand how these things were ever funny. But part of Super Dave's humor, like Tim Conway's, was because the special effects were so cheesy and fake, but also original, like a kid would think up. Like burying a guy up to his chest and parking a pair of shoes in front of him, to show he's been squashed after falling from a great height and missing the mat. That kind of thing. It was funny because of Super Dave's dead pan delivery, with that hoarse voice, but also because of how cheesy the effects were, almost daring the viewer to snort. Nowadays effects are scrutinized for how convincing they are, how realistic. No room for the imagination, and it diminishes the effect.
Having said that, though - isn't it odd that modern comedians are almost limited completely to stand-up type formats, even when they're on TV situation comedies? That nobody (as far as I know) has harnessed the huge power of computer graphics and the technology of Special Effects to go together with creative comedy? What would Super Dave and Dorf the golfer be able to create with this technology to re-invigorate visual humor, I wonder? Or someone of Buster Keatons / Charlie Chaplin's abilities?
Bring back the Stooges !
I have seen some of Super Dave's bits, I am surprised he lived that long.
Super Dave was great on Letterman way back. Before Dave went off the rails.
I just saw a bit of a doc on Jewish comedy. Some parts are not very good--asking Jews if there is such a thing as Jewish comedy, do they practice it, etc. Bob Einstein talks a bit about SuperDave. Is Dave Jewish? Bob says no Jew ever has been, or ever will be, a stunt man. Dave will have a Jew as a boss or manager.
This in itself is funny. What does the Jewish manager think of this goy who keeps killing himself and then kind of coming back from the dead? Even in show business, it's hard to find someone stupid enough to keep doing this act. Yet there's something noble about it. Dave lies and says his stunts are about 99% successful, and also says he has to keep uping the danger for the sake of his fans. They are the ones who are really important. Perhaps no Jew would be quite this crazy, yet Jews are often interested in show business, and they can see the value of working with someone like Dave.
…from you Wince that’s a painful burn…
Well…of course you did!
Pat Pausen and "Super Dave" did share a certain "deadpan" quality.
Judging by Dave's appearances on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" it looks like that quality came naturally to both men, but kudos to Blye for bringing Pat and Dave to the screen.
Pat Paulson and his campaign were the first to propose the banning of bullets to solve the gun problem in America. At the time, it was seen as a lighthearted joke. More recently, California attempted to ban bullets, but the ban failed. However, Jerry Brown did sign a law making lead bullets illegal for hunting. Pat Paulson was ahead of his time.
Saw Pat Paulson as well as the Smothers Brothers at the Pasadena Ice House . Fun times
Thanks. I had almost forgotten Pat Paulson.
Has anyone mentioned that Bob Einstein was brother to another great comic, Albert Brooks?
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