early performances of well-known comedians

February 18, 2012 4:54 PM

Early performances of well-known comedians, collected by mikl-em on Laughing Squid: Louis C.K. (also see The Evolution of Louis C.K., a YouTube edit of his tribute to George Carlin - previously - intercut with clips throughout his career); Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, and Steven Wright; Sarah Silverman; David Letterman; Steve Martin; Robin Williams; and "What They Did Before 30 Rock". Also see posts on George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Father Guido Sarducci, and Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.
posted by flex (23 comments total)

I don't even have to watch these to already know that this is one of my favorite posts! Thanks!
posted by mrzer0 at 5:15 PM on February 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Tina Fey also did some voiceover work for the Williams "Medieval Madness" pinball machine in 1997 (hah! gotcha beat by two years!)
posted by JoeZydeco at 5:44 PM on February 18, 2012 [2 favorites]

George Carlin was "removed by the user."
posted by Obscure Reference at 5:48 PM on February 18, 2012

Maybe this is why you should be allowed to film comedians? Thanks for the post, hope it stays up!
posted by grizzly at 6:18 PM on February 18, 2012

weird, is it just me or does Louis CK's accent seem really different?
posted by timsneezed at 6:21 PM on February 18, 2012

Also did he dye his hair?
posted by timsneezed at 6:22 PM on February 18, 2012

Man, Louis CK would be like 20 in that 1987 clip, if that. He was just a couple of years ahead of me in our high school. I think his hair just looks kind of dark in that clip from the lighting.
posted by dfan at 6:26 PM on February 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

If only there was video of early Cosby stand-up. I'd love to see video of the classic version of Chicken Heart.
posted by cashman at 6:28 PM on February 18, 2012

This is wonderful just for Father Sarducci. I could listen to him all day.
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:33 PM on February 18, 2012

cashman - IIRC, we're aroughly the same age. Convincing my younger co-workers and friends that Bill Cosby was once one of the funniest people on earth is an incredibly danting challenge. The routine about Russell and the Toilet Bowl usually does the trick.
posted by jonmc at 6:34 PM on February 18, 2012

I always thought it was a shame that so few people seem to know of Father Guido Sarducci compared to these other folks. If they would compile his stuff on DVDs, I'd snap 'em up in a second. Same with George Wallace.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 6:56 PM on February 18, 2012

Father Guido Sarducci Live at St. Douglas Convent is absolutely one of the records that shaped my sense of humor; I listened to that thing a million times in grade school. It's still pretty darn funny. Dude is a treasure.
posted by mintcake! at 6:57 PM on February 18, 2012

Tina Fey also did some voiceover work for the Williams "Medieval Madness" pinball machine in 1997

Just did a playthrough, and if that's her, she's certainly disguising her voice behind some rather thick accents. Still a pretty darn funny machine, thanks in no small part to the Second City performers doing the script & voices.
posted by ShutterBun at 8:21 PM on February 18, 2012

That "Evolution of Louis CK" compendium is a stop-whatever-you're-doing-right-now must-see if (like me) you hadn't already seen it. I can't think of any comedian in my stand-up-watching lifetime who's had a roll like the one Louis is on right now. Maybe Eddie Murphy in the '80s?
posted by gompa at 8:29 PM on February 18, 2012

Early? How about Eddie Cantor in 1923, with sound. How dey do dat? And if you watch it, you'll be all "Howcum dey do dat?"
posted by hexatron at 8:42 PM on February 18, 2012

Just watched that Tonight Show debut by Steven Wright. He startes with one of my all-time favourite Steven Wright bits - heck of an opening line. Watching him nearly lose the plot in the interview with Johnny afterward, I got to wondering: Has anyone who later went on to substantial success in comedy ever bombed on their late-night TV debut? I mean like crickets-and-flop-sweat bombed?
posted by gompa at 8:47 PM on February 18, 2012

weird, is it just me or does Louis CK's accent seem really different?

He's pretty young there. He grew up in Mexico City and English is his second language. That may be what you're hearing.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:58 PM on February 18, 2012

He's pretty young there. He grew up in Mexico City and English is his second language. That may be what you're hearing.

I thought he grew up in the Boston area?
posted by timsneezed at 10:24 PM on February 18, 2012

I guess it depends on how you mean 'grew up'-- he moved from Mexico to Boston when he was seven.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:28 PM on February 18, 2012

I got to wondering: Has anyone who later went on to substantial success in comedy ever bombed on their late-night TV debut? I mean like crickets-and-flop-sweat bombed?

Chevy Chase, dick.
posted by hal9k at 6:58 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Just did a playthrough, and if that's her, she's certainly disguising her voice behind some rather thick accents.

She absolutely did work on that machine, and some of the outtakes have been played at pinball/gaming conventions for years. Specifically, she's the voice of the "Opera Singer" princess and the Cockney-talking princess - but the outtakes had her doing other voices, like a very bitter old woman.
posted by jscott at 7:23 AM on February 19, 2012

"Also did he dye his hair?"

I just watched the season one and two of his show "Louie C.K." . In his flashbacks to his childhood, his hair is red but in flashbacks to being a young comic, his hair seemed dark.
posted by what's her name at 8:40 AM on February 19, 2012

Any post that includes Ann Meara is a gem. By definition. She's a very nice lady.
posted by Goofyy at 10:09 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]