The Comedy Cellar

“Laugh and the world laughs with you,” a small line from a poem by Ella Wheeler which gained significance in the eyes of many comedic performers. Comedy has carried us through many tragic events such as The Depression and war. Even personal difficulties are better adopted with the unique abilities of gifted comedians.

When I was young my father was an avid “back in the day” story teller. I remember well him telling me about silent television. Of course, as a kid I’m thinking how useless TV would be without sound. Then, I was introduced to Benny Hill. Though Benny’s efforts caused controversy among some, his laugher caused tears among millions.

Teamwork was well appreciated with the “grand slam” efforts of Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First?” routine. Their major league performance gained them a platform in Baseball’s Hall of Fame. High in recognition in the comedic arena was a man who put reality into play. Jackie Gleason didn’t sugar coat marriage in his show, The Honeymooners. Instead, he opened us to humor at, what might be thought of as, inappropriate times. His approach, however ironic, also complimented our humanity.

Carol Burnette has played many different roles in her career. Oddly enough, her Tarzan yell became infamous. Eunice was likely a side of Carol that allowed her to develop a variety show at a time she was told it was a man’s world. Eunice was unmanageable and stubborn. I’m grateful to have witnessed those qualities and to have been able to share in the laughter of a show that was said to be doomed.

Close to my own funny bone is a heroic comedian who also beat the odds after being told in 1925 by a drama coach that as a performer she had no future, Lucille Ball. Had she listened we’d have been deprived of the tremendous laughter she so graciously offered. It’s reported that “I Love Lucy” dominated weekly ratings calculated in the United States which overwhelmingly proves we all love Lucy.

By: Gabriel J. Adams

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Home Improvement was an American TV series with 8 seasons, 204 episodes that aired from 1991 to 1999. It was an American sitcom created by Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra, and David MacFadzean. The show, which is about the improvement of one’s life with family, friends, work and school, along with the physical improvement of houses, was one of the most watched sitcoms in the US. Aside from popularity among viewers, the sitcom bagged many nominations and awards during its time.

The series centered around the lives of the main characters Tim Taylor, Jillian “Jill” Patterson Taylor, Bradley “Brad” Michael Taylor, Randall “Randy” William Taylor, Marcus Jason Taylor, Al Borland, Heidi Keppert and Wilson Wilson Jr. The Home Improvement casts that played these characters are Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson, Zachery Ty Bryan, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Taran Noah Smith, Richard Karn, Debbe Dunning and Earl Hindman respectively.

ABC’s sitcom Home Improvement revolves around the life of the Taylor family headed by father Tim. Together with his wife Jill, their three children Brad, Randy, and Mark, they live in the suburban setting of Detroit, Michigan. There, the story of their relationship with each other, and the humor in each problem they face are entailed in each episode.

It is often said that this series is responsible for launching the career of Tim Allen as a comedian. For almost an entire decade, this show was one of the highest-rated sitcoms. Another Hollywood celebrity who claimed fame through the show was Pamela Anderson. Though she was not part of the main Home Improvement cast, the start of her television career was attributed to her recurring role in the first two seasons as Lisa.

Other recurring Home Improvement cast includes William O’Leary, Blake Clark, Jimmy Labriola, Sherry Hursey, Mickey Jones, Gary McGurk, Casey Sander, Charles Robinson, Shirley Prestia, Betsy Randle, Jessica Wesson, Al Fann, Tudi Roche, Polly Holliday, Thom Sharp, Keith Lehman, Bonnie Bartlett, Kristen Clayton, Courtney Peldon, China Kantner, and Megan Cavanagh.

By: Will Speer

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