"What's your big biff with the Nazis?"
October 28, 2018 10:24 AM   Subscribe

 
Just amazing to watch Glick/Martin Short make Mel Brooks and Larry David laugh.

He really was a virtuoso performer back in the 80s. Here's a 1982 Letterman segment that shows off some of his weirder characters, including Pierre Trudeau and Jerry Lewis. With a bonus Frank Sinatra duet with fellow young Canadian Paul Schaeffer.
posted by JamesBay at 10:57 AM on October 28, 2018


With Jiminy Glick, it's really interesting how all of these comedians seem to react genuinely to the character, as if they can't help themselves.
posted by JamesBay at 11:03 AM on October 28, 2018


Jerry Seinfeld did not seem to enjoy the experience. He was just mean and prickly but not in a “playing a character” way. I’m lately getting the sense that this is the real Jerry. Jiminy however cracks me right up.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 11:30 AM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]




Funny that Tom Hanks, the only non-comedian, is the only one who seems to have taken Short/Glick off guard.
posted by clawsoon at 12:10 PM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]


Jiminy Glick seems like the perfect antidote for a malaise I haven't yet experienced. A perfect and beautiful thing that was out of time for me, and an excellent successor to Jackie Rogers Jr.
posted by rhizome at 12:12 PM on October 28, 2018 [2 favorites]


Friends and still quote Mr Sussman 30+ years later. "Oh hohohoho I'm not talking to you."
posted by dobbs at 12:22 PM on October 28, 2018 [2 favorites]


Martin Short is also good at being interviewed on TV

There's a moment in the Jimmy Kimmel video where they show a clip of Martin Short and Steve Martin on stage. Short leans back, the back of his chair breaks off and he winds up on the floor with his feet in the air. Steve Martin is just gleefully giggling at the spectacle.

When they cut back to the interview, they confirm that was not planned and the chair really did break.
posted by zarq at 12:28 PM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]


Like Brooks, I lost it at "rimshot in the outer colon".
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:12 PM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]


Jerry Seinfeld did not seem to enjoy the experience.

That's not the impression I got.
posted by Pendragon at 3:16 PM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]


Jerry Seinfeld did not seem to enjoy the experience.

He was fixedly engaging and giving Short an immense amount of material to work with! That's what improv is all about.
posted by clockzero at 3:18 PM on October 28, 2018 [6 favorites]


Yeah, Seinfeld seemed entirely on board. Like Ricky Gervais, he went the "disdainful straight man" route.
posted by brundlefly at 3:54 PM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]


During the recent Toronto elections, I was entertaining myself with some old clips from SCTV's "Melonvote" special, and came across this one of Martin Short cracking up Andrea Martin by not doing anything.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:21 PM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]


Yes okay, maybe that's it. Seinfeld's disdain came across to me as much more genuine than Gervais'. I guess I'm just not a fan of that kind of humour and it was *me* that was uncomfortable. Well, I'm glad Jerry enjoyed it then because Jiminy Glick is funny.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:27 PM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]


He does the exact same thing in the Miranda Sings episode of Comedians in Cars... Jiminy and Miranda are so ridiculously lacking in self awareness that Seinfeld goes for exasperation followed by insults to set up their (non)reactions.
posted by plastic_animals at 6:15 PM on October 28, 2018




I have to admit: between the duo stage show with Short and Steve Martin and this, I'm beginning to think I've not been giving Martin Short enough credit.
posted by freebird at 9:56 PM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]


I'm beginning to think I've not been giving Martin Short enough credit.

Watch Clifford. AGAIN. Genius.
posted by mrgrimm at 10:44 PM on October 28, 2018


So. Short shrift then?
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 11:17 PM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]


I have to admit: between the duo stage show with Short and Steve Martin and this, I'm beginning to think I've not been giving Martin Short enough credit.

He's probably the greatest living physical comedy actor in the traditional style. Like Robin Williams it seems like he rarely needs writers, he's comfortable pretty much everywhere, and he has the skills. He's definitely the funniest Amigo, which was maybe the last vital movie for both Steve and Chevy.

Steve Martin is fallow. I haven't watched the Netflix thing yet, but Short is probably carrying him a lot in those shows. If you watched the Steve Martin episode of Comedians in Cars, he admits that he quit standup because he ran out of material.
posted by rhizome at 1:51 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]


I just rewatched the Netflix show yesterday - it’s good
posted by growabrain at 6:15 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]


I like all of this. But does Jiminy not know any funny women? Probably not.

Edited to add, I found some! They didn’t make it into the “best of.” And there’s like 5 so in gender math that’s an overwhelming representation of women.
posted by amanda at 8:00 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]


I really don’t want to be a downer but he sexually assaults Ellen!

Huh.
posted by amanda at 8:05 AM on October 29, 2018


I grew up on this humor. I love comedy. And it’s so strange to turn over a good, old entertainment nostalgia rock and see that maybe it was missing some things. I can’t help it, I want to see more women and non-white people. These old guys are hilarious but their special club is lacking in depth.
posted by amanda at 8:12 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]


I really don’t want to be a downer but he sexually assaults Ellen!

If you're referring to this, she seemed to actively participate in the bit, so....

If you're referring to another instance, then I apologize (and I probably haven't seen it).
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:23 AM on October 29, 2018


So, pretty much all of the skits with women start off with him at best mentioning how lovely and attractive the women are. But, you know, with Illeana Douglas, he starts off talking about cutting her dress off, just cutting the straps right off. She's laughing, too, so I guess she's in on it?

I don't have any reason to think Martin Short has anything less than total respect for the funny female colleagues he has met and worked with in his life. But on the other hand....

I admire Catherine O'Hara for belching in his face. He mounts her later.

Maybe this one is interesting, too, when he somehow interviews NBA superstar, John Salley.
posted by amanda at 4:29 PM on October 29, 2018


I needed this today.
posted by prepmonkey at 10:57 AM on October 30, 2018


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