Photo credit: Dan Rosenberg
FOS Dan Rosenberg was also present at the bash in Brentwood. Take in his account, then scroll down and drink in the blow-by-blow of FOS Steve Ochs, also in attendance! If you consider yourself a standup comedy fans (and an SHECKYmagazine fan), you’ll read both!
Before the event, there was a red carpet… Okay, it was more of an area rug, but red nonetheless. The performing comics weren’t the only stars in the house. Hugh Hefner, and all of his blonde girlfriends took up the whole first row. Also spotted were Rob Reiner, Budd Friedman, Fred Willard, Mark Schiff, Wayne Federman, Kent Emmons and Max Alexander to name a few.
With close to a thousand years of comedy experience in the building, the evening started out with a no-show– Larry King was still recuperating from the Paris Hilton interview and couldn’t make the show. Jack Riley (Mr. Carlin from The Bob Newhart Show) was a great replacement. He said he was only doing the show so that he could have a credit in this decade.
The first act out was Jonathan Winters and it was the beginning of several standing ovations that night. Next was a video tribute by Woody Allen that was, well, very Woody. Shelley Berman came out, and did a classic phone call routine of his, after asking why he was there. “If I am so important, why am I not too busy to be here?”
Next came Albert Brooks wearing all black because he misunderstood the PR guy and thought that Mort Sahl had died. He read the eulogy he had prepared and it was hysterical. Drew Carey came out with his classic suit and black framed glasses and killed. Geroge Carlin made a “surprise” appearance (he was on the list given to the press) and he gave Sahl credit for making his career what it was. When Mort guest hosted The Tonight Show before Johnny was hired, he put on a young Carlin that had only been a solo act for about three months. He had only recently parted with partner Jack Burns)
Norm Crosby followed with some great material. Jay Leno who said he was nervous performing for one of his idols. Richard Lewis was dressed like “Captain Kirk’s Cantor” and was at the top of his game. Bill Maher said that he aspired to be Mort Sahl. He said that if you take the jokes out of Mort’s act you would still have a great speech that made good points, but that Mort always had the jokes.
Harry Shearer came out and was a special guest emcee to introduce Kevin Nealon, who was great. Don Rickles appeared, via video, and it looked like he was sitting in a park in Santa Monica. He quipped that the producers would pay bus fare and that is why he couldn’t make it. Paula Poundstone was the final guest comedian and she worked the crowd and ended up talking to the man that started the Mort Sahl fan club in 1956.
Then, the man of the hour (actually the 2-1/2 hours) came out to the final standing ovation of the evening. Mr. Sahl, in his trademark red V-neck sweater was fantastic. He spoke of helping Woody Allen and Dick Cavett sneak into the Copa when he was performing there. Someone in the back of the near sellout crowd called out “You talk about JFK, what about 9/11 and that conspiracy, talk about that, Mort!” Who knew Michael Moore was in the house?
Hanging outside after the show, Improv founder Budd Friedman noted that the line-up, other than Jonathan Winters, was in alphabetical order, and that it worked out “just fine that way.”
Overall it was a once-in-a-lifetime show that only those in attendance got to witness. It was not video- or audiotaped and it was a great experience for a comedian or any fan of comedy. The Heartland Foundation plans future shows with equally stellar lineups.
From left: Rob Reiner, Dan Rosenberg (Photo credit: Dan Rosenberg)