Tuesday, June 13, 2017

that face

Back in the 1960s, about a decade before "Saturday Night Live," NBC had another skit-comedy series that was also political - namely, "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In." This is the show that has the dubious distinction of trivializing the presidency, courtesy of an appearance by Richard Nixon, no less, who was all too happy to exclaim, "Sock it to me! Sock it to me!"

And "Saturday Night Live" has gleefully followed in its footsteps.

"Laugh-In" had a terrific cast of newcomers on the edge of stardom - Goldie Hawn, Lily Tomlin, Henry Gibson, Eileen Brennan, Jo Anne Worley, Arte Johnson, Ruth Buzzi,Judy Carne,  Dave Madden, Chelsea Brown and Alan Sues, in addition to hosts Dick Martin and Dan Rowan - the New Martin & Lewis.

I bring up "Laugh-In" at this late juncture because it's been rattling in the mind ever since the new look-alike First Family took over the White House.  Specifically, I've been having memories of one of the show's recurring skits called The Farkle Family - about a clan whose kids all have the same damn face.

Frank and Fannie Farkle were the parents and their eight kids were ... Sparkle Farkle and her black twin Charcoal, another set of twins named Simon & Gar Farkle, Mark Farkle, Fritz Farkle, Flicker Farkle, and Fred Farkle. They all had red hair and the same freckled face, even Charcoal.

But unlike The First Kids, the Farkle kids didn't have their father's face.  No, they were dead-ringers for Ferd Berfel, the man who lived next door.

It's time NBC brought The Farkle Family out of the mothballs, perhaps making it a part of "Saturday Night Live." It's too relevant to ignore.
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~images~

~top: The First Family
~center: The Farkle Family

7 comments:

Bill from Philly said...

Great routine. I remember when Jonathan Winters visited the Farkles. Laugh-out-loud funny!

debbie said...

Always loved The Farkles. There were lots of guests stars visiting them. My favorite was James Garner.

Kiki said...

Yes, it is time to bring them back -- maybe even with another pair of Farkle twins that Dr. Ben Carson (in a guest spot) could separate!

joe baltake said...

You know, Kiki, he just might do it.

Tracy said...

Joe! You forgot to mention Judy Carne in your "Laugh-In" cast round-up!

joe baltake said...

Ooops! It's been corrected. Thanks, Tracy. -J

a.n. said...

I don’t think of “Laugh In” as strictly political. More like naughty sex jokes, etc. MSNBC did a fine job of showing “All the Presidents Men” mixed in with Trump comparisons.