Vale: Dick Martin

Dick Martin, one half of the 60’s comedy team in Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In died on the weekend. He was 86.

Laugh-In took US TV by storm in the 1960s, making stars of Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin and creating such catch-phrases as “Sock it to me!” It was also popular in Australia.

Martin (pictured, right) died on Saturday night of respiratory complications at a hospital in Santa Monica, surrounded by family and friends.

Laugh-In, which debuted in 1968, was unlike any comedy variety show before it. Rather than relying on a series of tightly scripted song-and-dance segments, it offered up a steady, almost stream-of-consciousness run of jokes, political satire and madhouse antics. It also featured Ruth Buzzi, Henry Gibson and Arte Johnson.

Hosts Rowan and Martin linked the show with Martin’s madcap humour contrasting the more measured Dan Rowan.

For two years the show topped the Nielsen ratings, and its catch-phrases — “Sock it to me,” “You bet your sweet bippy” and “Look that up in your Funk and Wagnall’s” — were recited across America.

Guest stars such as John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and even Richard Nixon appeared.

After a later, short stint in game shows, Martin moved into directing on Newhart, In the Heat of the Night, Archie Bunker’s Place and Family Ties.

Source: Variety