To those no longer with us....

[BogDog]

Ruth Buzzi, the effervescent Emmy-nominated comedian and voice actor who starred on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” died Thursday at her Texas home, her family announced on Facebook. She was 88.

The zany comedian appeared in every episode of the popular variety show that ran for five seasons, playing characters such as the frumpy, hairnet-wearing Gladys Ormphby. On the show, she was known for using her purse as a weapon to whack Arte Johnson’s dirty old man character on the park bench.

Buzzi won a Golden Globe and received five Emmy nominations during her run on “Laugh-In.” The comedian, who was only 30 years old when she became famous for playing a little old lady, told the AP in 2018, “Gladys is the underdog. Gladys embodies the overlooked, the downtrodden, the taken for granted, the struggler. So when she fights back, she speaks for everyone who’s been marginalized, reduced to a sex object or otherwise abused. And that’s almost everyone at some time or other.”

If you have never had the pleasure... One of her funniest moments:
https://youtu.be/nQkrPcPaqmk

[PA Jack]

She was, indeed, very funny. Growing up, my family spent many summers in Charlestown RI, right next to Westerly on the CT border. Ruth was born in Westerly and went to Stonington High School, right next door. The local Westerly Sun frequently ran articles on her and she occasionally visited as a local celebrity. She was a very down-to-earth person and not enamored with TV fame. RIP.

[BogDog]

Ruth's park bench skits with Artie Johnson were unforgettable. I think they made over 100 of these in those great 5 years...

https://youtu.be/CiFnf-cLGTs

[OBI-wan]

Joe Don Baker 89 Walking Tall,

[Duncan Edwards]

Joe Don Baker 89 Walking Tall,

Talk about a slice of American "BubbaCana Southsploitation" excellence. I actually have a friend who played one of bootleggers that runs away at the beginning of the movie.

Joe Don Baker was same age as my dad almost to the day. For 30 years he was the big tough kind of smart guy in movies and tv.

[PA Jack]

Joe Don Baker 89 Walking Tall,

While the Dwayne Johnson remake was an OK movie, I feel that the original Joe Don Baker saga was more enjoyable to experience. Watching him swing that huge piece of wood around was quite a spectacle, and he played the part with more gusto. The movie was violent and portrayed cops and crooks as strictly and totally good vs. bad, so it is unlikely to be duplicated nowadays (“I understand the difference between a poor honest judge and a rich dishonest one,” says Buford Pusser as he assigns the men’s room as the crooked judge’s new office). RIP.

[qswammer]

George Wendt, Norm from Cheers, 76. RIP

[BogDog]

Just saw that.


George Wendt, Who Played Norm on ‘Cheers,’ Dies at 76

George Wendt, an American actor and comedian who earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for his performance as Norm Peterson on the beloved NBC comedy series “Cheers,” died Tuesday morning at his home. He was 76.

Wendt’s death was confirmed by his publicist Melissa Nathan with the following statement: “George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”

https://youtu.be/ABNqMLcHSf0?si=kQgLjrHLRAxtyqsF

[PA Jack]

George Wendt’s portrayal of Norm was one of a kind, a big part of the show’s success - great one-liners. I also thought he was good in the movie Gung Ho with Michael Keaton, a funny film about an American auto plant being taken over by a Japanese car company. RIP.

[Fred588]

George Wendt’s portrayal of Norm was one of a kind, a big part of the show’s success - great one-liners. I also thought he was good in the movie Gung Ho with Michael Keaton, a funny film about an American auto plant being taken over by a Japanese car company. RIP.

I thought Norm was a great character. The character of Fred in quite a few scenes that start at the JungleLand Bar and Grill is based on him.