Fifth Avenue Forum

The man is really an under appreciated comedic talent.

Genius level.

Rickles befriended mobster "Crazy" Joe Gallo following a performance at the Copacabana in 1972. Gallo, whom Rickles had ribbed mercilessly during his set despite being warned not to do so, accepted Rickles' ribbings in good humor and invited him to Umberto's Clam House after the show. Rickles declined the offer. That night, a gunfight erupted at Umberto's, killing Gallo.

Two months after opening on April 7, 1972, New York gangster Joe Gallo was shot and killed at the restaurant. His party of family and friends (including his daughter, wife, and bodyguard) had stopped for an early morning snack after celebrating his 43rd birthday at the Copacabana. A rival gangster spotted him and sent in hitmen shortly after Gallo was seated at a butcher block table in a back corner. After sustaining five shots, Gallo stumbled out into the street and died.

About 10 years ago, David Letterman asked Don Rickles about having to work in mob-owned places early in his career. Rickles quickly corrected Letterman, and said it wasn’t so long ago he was still dealing with wise guys and such.

As a favor, he played the Copacabana in 1972, then owned by a shady character. The owner warned him “Crazy Joey” Gallo was out in front. He told Don this heavy-duty mobster could be friendly but had a ferocious temper. He strongly advised Rickles to lay off Gallo.

Rickles: “Dave, that’s like waving a red cape in front of me. Toro! I went after him all night, and he LOVED it! Tears down his cheeks!” Rickles said Gallo came backstage and warmly begged Don to join him and his pals at Umberto’s Clam Broth House. Rickles came up with excuses, and got out of it. This was fortunate for the world of comedy.

That night at around 5 a.m., four gangsters came into Umberto’s and disposed of Gallo with .38s and .45s. This was seen as extremely negative feedback for the Colombo hit.

was going through Don Rickles' wiki page right after Regis died and didn't realize there was a good chance he would have been shot in 1972 had he not declined an offer to hang out with a mobster after a show.

Rickles befriended mobster "Crazy" Joe Gallo following a performance at the Copacabana in 1972. Gallo, whom Rickles had ribbed mercilessly during his set despite being warned not to do so, accepted Rickles' ribbings in good humor and invited him to Umberto's Clam House after the show. Rickles declined the offer. That night, a gunfight erupted at Umberto's, killing Gallo.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Rickles

Two months after opening on April 7, 1972, New York gangster Joe Gallo was shot and killed at the restaurant. His party of family and friends (including his daughter, wife, and bodyguard) had stopped for an early morning snack after celebrating his 43rd birthday at the Copacabana. A rival gangster spotted him and sent in hitmen shortly after Gallo was seated at a butcher block table in a back corner. After sustaining five shots, Gallo stumbled out into the street and died.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbertos_Clam_House

About 10 years ago, David Letterman asked Don Rickles about having to work in mob-owned places early in his career. Rickles quickly corrected Letterman, and said it wasn’t so long ago he was still dealing with wise guys and such.

As a favor, he played the Copacabana in 1972, then owned by a shady character. The owner warned him “Crazy Joey” Gallo was out in front. He told Don this heavy-duty mobster could be friendly but had a ferocious temper. He strongly advised Rickles to lay off Gallo.

Rickles: “Dave, that’s like waving a red cape in front of me. Toro! I went after him all night, and he LOVED it! Tears down his cheeks!” Rickles said Gallo came backstage and warmly begged Don to join him and his pals at Umberto’s Clam Broth House. Rickles came up with excuses, and got out of it. This was fortunate for the world of comedy.

That night at around 5 a.m., four gangsters came into Umberto’s and disposed of Gallo with .38s and .45s. This was seen as extremely negative feedback for the Colombo hit.

https://buffalonews.com/opinion/columni ... 11456.html

I mentioned it before, but Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood have a two man improv show that is hysterical. With Covid, they've turned to virtual shows that also include members of the audience (i.e., you) via Zoom. May have to do this again soon:

https://passportshows.com/portfolio/str ... ciousness/

There seems to be a growing trend in comedy where contrarianism has taken the place of actually being funny. It seems to have started after 9/11 (which absolutely broke Dennis Miller's ability to tell jokes), and has expanded in the era of campus cancel culture. It's like just railing on that is now what passes as 'funny' for some comedians, who in the past I regarded as being at the pinnacle of the craft. It's depressing.

There seems to be a growing trend in comedy where contrarianism has taken the place of actually being funny. It seems to have started after 9/11 (which absolutely broke Dennis Miller's ability to tell jokes), and has expanded in the era of campus cancel culture. It's like just railing on that is now what passes as 'funny' for some comedians, who in the past I regarded as being at the pinnacle of the craft. It's depressing.

Yes.

There seems to be a growing trend in comedy where contrarianism has taken the place of actually being funny. It seems to have started after 9/11 (which absolutely broke Dennis Miller's ability to tell jokes), and has expanded in the era of campus cancel culture. It's like just railing on that is now what passes as 'funny' for some comedians, who in the past I regarded as being at the pinnacle of the craft. It's depressing.

Yes.

I point to things like Crank Yankers and Borat and such as the problem. Things with zero humor value being pushed as comedy.