The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians
Encyclopedia
The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians (1970) is an animated half-hour ABC television special produced by Rankin/Bass
Animation, best known for their stop-motion Christmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
. The show aired on April 7, 1970 before the airing of that year's Oscars
. It was a tribute to early vaudeville
, and featured animated reworkings of various famous comedians' acts.
Most of the comedians provided their own voices for their animated counterparts, except for W. C. Fields
and Chico Marx
, both deceased, Zeppo Marx
who had left show business in 1933, and Harpo Marx
also deceased, but no voice was needed since his stage persona did not speak. Voice actor Paul Frees
narrated the show and filled in for those actors who weren't able to do their own voices.
The show included such segments as a Marx Brothers skit, which was a reworking of a scene from their Broadway play I'll Say She Is
(1924). The skit included their famous Napoleon parody, with Napoleon played by Groucho
. The sketch featured animated representations. Romeo Muller
is credited as having written special material for the show in addition to the original scripts that came from the various comedians' sketches.
Although not really remembered now by the general public, at the time it gave Rankin/Bass their highest TV ratings ever, notably even higher than the high-rated Rudolph. In recent years, Behr Entertainment was in talks to produce a similar show that would feature cartoon renditions of Jack Benny
, George Burns
, Abbott & Costello, and Bob Hope
. 13 half-hour episodes were proposed.
Rankin/Bass
Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc. , also known as Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment, was an American production company, known for its seasonal television specials, particularly its work in stop-motion animation. The pre-1974 library is currently owned by Classic Media,while the post-1974 library is...
Animation, best known for their stop-motion Christmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a Christmas television special produced in stop motion animation by Rankin/Bass. It first aired Sunday, December 6, 1964, on the NBC television network in the USA, and was sponsored by General Electric under the umbrella title of The General Electric Fantasy Hour...
. The show aired on April 7, 1970 before the airing of that year's Oscars
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
. It was a tribute to early vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, and featured animated reworkings of various famous comedians' acts.
Most of the comedians provided their own voices for their animated counterparts, except for W. C. Fields
W. C. Fields
William Claude Dukenfield , better known as W. C. Fields, was an American comedian, actor, juggler and writer...
and Chico Marx
Chico Marx
Leonard "Chico" Marx was an American comedian and film star as part of the Marx Brothers. His persona in the act was that of a dim-witted albeit crafty con artist, seemingly of rural Italian origin, who wore shabby clothes, and sported a curly-haired wig and Tyrolean hat.As the first-born of the...
, both deceased, Zeppo Marx
Zeppo Marx
Herbert Manfred "Zeppo" Marx was an American film star, musician, engineer, theatrical agent and businessman. He was the youngest of the five Marx Brothers. He appeared in the first five Marx Brothers feature films, from 1929 to 1933, but then left the act to start his second career as an...
who had left show business in 1933, and Harpo Marx
Harpo Marx
Adolph "Harpo" Marx was an American comedian and film star. He was the second oldest of the Marx Brothers. His comic style was influenced by clown and pantomime traditions. He wore a curly reddish wig, and never spoke during performances...
also deceased, but no voice was needed since his stage persona did not speak. Voice actor Paul Frees
Paul Frees
Paul Frees was an American voice actor and character actor.-Biography:He was born Solomon Hersh Frees in Chicago...
narrated the show and filled in for those actors who weren't able to do their own voices.
The show included such segments as a Marx Brothers skit, which was a reworking of a scene from their Broadway play I'll Say She Is
I'll Say She Is
I'll Say She Is is a stage revue written by brothers Will B. Johnstone and Tom Johnstone and starring the Marx Brothers and Lotta Miles.-Background:...
(1924). The skit included their famous Napoleon parody, with Napoleon played by Groucho
Groucho Marx
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...
. The sketch featured animated representations. Romeo Muller
Romeo Muller
Romeo Muller, Jr. was an American screenwriter and actor most remembered for his screenplays such as for the 1964 TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.-Early years:...
is credited as having written special material for the show in addition to the original scripts that came from the various comedians' sketches.
Although not really remembered now by the general public, at the time it gave Rankin/Bass their highest TV ratings ever, notably even higher than the high-rated Rudolph. In recent years, Behr Entertainment was in talks to produce a similar show that would feature cartoon renditions of Jack Benny
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
, George Burns
George Burns
George Burns , born Nathan Birnbaum, was an American comedian, actor, and writer.He was one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, film, radio, television and movies, with and without his wife, Gracie Allen. His arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation became...
, Abbott & Costello, and Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
. 13 half-hour episodes were proposed.
Featured guests
- Jack BennyJack BennyJack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
- George BurnsGeorge BurnsGeorge Burns , born Nathan Birnbaum, was an American comedian, actor, and writer.He was one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, film, radio, television and movies, with and without his wife, Gracie Allen. His arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation became...
- Henny YoungmanHenny YoungmanHenry "Henny" Youngman was a British-born American comedian and violinist famous for "one-liners", short, simple jokes usually delivered rapid-fire...
- The Smothers Brothers
- Flip WilsonFlip WilsonClerow Wilson, Jr. , known professionally as Flip Wilson, was an American comedian and actor. In the early 1970s, Wilson hosted his own weekly variety series, The Flip Wilson Show...
- Groucho MarxGroucho MarxJulius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...
- Phyllis DillerPhyllis DillerPhyllis Diller is an American actress and comedian. She created a stage persona of a wild-haired, eccentrically dressed housewife who makes jokes about a husband named "Fang" while pretending to smoke from a long cigarette holder...
- Jack E. LeonardJack E. LeonardJack E. Leonard was an American comedian who made frequent appearances on television variety and game shows.-Biography:...
- George JesselGeorge Jessel (actor)George Albert Jessel was an American illustrated song "model," actor, singer, songwriter, and Academy Award-winning movie producer. He was famous in his lifetime as a multitalented comedic entertainer, achieving a level of recognition that transcended his limited roles in movies...
- Paul FreesPaul FreesPaul Frees was an American voice actor and character actor.-Biography:He was born Solomon Hersh Frees in Chicago...
(as Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, and W.C. Fields)