Jan 22, 1968. Actually the name of this NBC comedy was “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.” Funny men Dan Rowan and Dick Martin hosted the show, but they seemed staid next to the show’s other regulars, most of whom were young unknowns, including Dennis Allen, Chelsea Brown, Judy Carne, Ruth Buzzi, Ann Elder, Richard Dawson, Teresa Graves, Arte Johnson, Goldie Hawn, Alan Sues, Jo Anne Worley and Lily Tomlin. The show moved fast from gag to gag, with heads popping out of bushes or doors in the big wall. The show brought a new energy to comedy as well as new phrases to our vocabulary (“ You bet your sweet bippy,” “Sock it to me”). The last telecast was May 14, 1973.
Images: NBC publicity photos, public domain.
