Great Moments in 70s and 80s TV History: Scatman and Lawanda team up

It doesn't get much more seventies than Lawanda Page joining Scatman Carothers at the podium at a roast of Angie Dickinson:

Ok, maybe it does if you throw in a Kojak reference.

Scatman is doing some not particularly Angie-focused material about garbage collection and how rough his old 'hood was when he makes a comment about it being in worse shape than LaWanda Page, which makes her say, "Hold on, turkey!"

To his credit, Scatman invites her to come on up and tell her side of the story:

She says, "The last time I saw a face like yours, honey, a jockey was feeding it sugar." He retorts, "They could push your face in batter and make gorilla cookies." YIKES!

They exchange a few more quips until Page gets the last words: 'So long, SUCKER!"

It's truly a great moment in 1970s TV history, but don't take our word for it. Check out Jummie Walker's reaction:

Jimmie Walker talks about the "Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts"

In this week's podcast, Mike and I talk about the strange case of Jimmie Walker and how present he was or was not for the roast of Peter Marshall. It was difficult to find much online about this--searching for Walker now yields mostly speculation about dating or not dating Ann Coulter--but the comedian did mention his experiences on the series in his memoir.

The following comes from Dynomite! Good Times, Bad Times, Our Times--A Memoir.

Walker first met Celebrity Roasts producer Greg Garrison when doing a shot on a Rowan and Martin variety special that aired on NBC after the duo's Laugh-In ended. He did a 4-minute standup segment, and was treated like an afterthought by Garrison, who told him, "OK, you got some laughs. So what?"

Later in the book Walker says he was sometimes the only black man on the dais for the roasts because they had to have one. Garrison, he writes, still didn't think he was funny.

"The only reason you're on the show," he said, 'is that the Network told me to put you on the show." Though the roasts were on NBC and Good Times was on CBS, my Q score (which measures public appeal and is important to advertisers) was so high that even a competing network wanted me to make an appearance.

But Garrison made sure I rarely told many jokes. Instead, to fulfill his orders I was mostly shown sitting on the dais during the tapings,. When viewers saw the show, there I'd be, howling with laughter at a terrible joke from Charo. In fact, Garrison taped my reaction shots before the roast. I had no idea what joke I'd be laughing at!'

He continues:

The dictatorial Garrison also insisted that all of the men wear a tuxedo or suit and tie. But when we passed on the way to the set for the first show, I just had on my usual jacket.
"Where's your tie?" he asked.
"In my dressing room," I told him.
"Don't lie to your f****** idol!" he shouted.
He was right. I never did have a tie--and I never wore one on the show, either.

Dean Martin Celebrity Roast playlist is live!

If you enjoyed our podcast this week, head on over to our official YouTube page and watch our playlist for this episode!



You will see more Foster Brooks, more Rip Taylor, and Vincent Price for Time-Life Books! Bea Arthur and Madame! And how about Paul Lynde giving a local weather report? All this and more on the playlist!

Show Notes: Epiosde 4-4: The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Peter Marshall

*The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast began as a segment on The Dean Martin Show in 1973, then transitioned into a series of standalone specials.

*The roast of Peter Marshall premiered May 2, 1977, at 10:00 P.M. on NBC, airing against The Andros Targets (CBS) and a movie/failed pilot called Roger & Harry: The Mitera Target (NBC) starring John Davidson as a private investigator.

*Peter Marshall (1926-still around and doing well) was born Ralph Pierre LaCock. His son, former major leaguer Pete LaCock, didn't change his name and ensured kids everywhere would have at least one baseball card that could make them laugh out loud.

*The roster of roasters:

*Dean Martin
*Joey Bishop
*Rose Marie
*Red Buttons
*Zsa Zsa Gabor
*Orson Welles
*Rip Taylor
*Vincent Price
*Karen Valentine
*Ed Bluestone
*Foster Brooks
*Jimmie Walker
*Jackie Gayle
*Wayland Flowers and Madame
*Jack Carter
*Paul Lynde

*Joey Bishop's late night talk show was on ABC 1967-1969, and his eponymous sitcom ran 1961-1965 on NBC and CBS.

*I apologize for making a Teen Mom reference on the podcast. It was done to make a point and will not be repeated this season.

*Wayland Flowers' puppet Madame is, according to this, based on an actual person: Marjorie C. MacGregor, a fixture in D.C.

*Jimmie Walker says some very interesting things about the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts in his autobio--so interesting, in fact, we will share them in a separate post!

*Foster Brooks was almost 65 when this aired. He later snagged a recurring role on Mork & Mindy, which we talk about here.

*The third canceled Paul Lynde show Karen Valentine refers to remains a mystery, but in addition to The New Temperatures Rising and The Paul Lynde Show, which we mention, Lynde also starred in multiple failed pilots.

*Zsa Zsa Gabor was in Moulin Rouge and Touch of Evil, not to mention Queen of Outer Space, before becoming more known just for being Zsa Zsa.

*Pat McCormick was an actor, game show panelist, and head writer for The Tonight Show.

Tomorrow on Battle of the Network Shows...