Jack Benny on LAUGH-IN (1970)

[ben schwartz]

I'm not a big LAUGH-IN fan, but this episode guest starring Jack (with cameos from Johnny Carson and George "Goober" Lindsey) was one of the funniest I've ever seen since they wrote it all around Jack. Basically, he tries to keep up with the show's breakneck speed, but naturally works as slow as he always does. Like on his own show, Benny's reactions get the biggest laughs. Carson's jokes, very Pat McCormack era, are OK, and Goober is surprisingly funny as he groans over the dumb country jokes written for him. They keep cutting back to Benny, tho, with Goldie Hawn or Lily Tomlin advising him to "keep it moving, keep it moving, Mr. Benny," as Jack struggles to finish a line. Still very fresh when Benny is on, quite stale when LAUGH-IN's forced frenzy feel takes over. Pretty good at 76.

Ben