The hosts of this 1985 Comic Relief Telethon were three legends of comedy….Billy Crystal, Whoopie Goldberg and Robin Williams….as this event was more than just a “photo shoot for the stars”….as the four comedians in video….Steve Allen, George Carlin, Whoopie Goldberg and Michael J. Fox….were all well known legends in comedy of their own right.
Steve Allen was an American television personality, radio personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, writer, and advocate of scientific skepticism….who achieved national fame as the first host of The Tonight Show in 1954….which happened to be the first late night television talk show….and though he got his start in radio….Allen is best known for his extensive network television career….where he gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts then went on to hot The Tonight Show….after which he went on to host numerous game and variety shows….including his own…. The Steve Allen Show….I’ve Got a Secret and The New Steve Allen Show. He was a regular panel member on CBS’s What’s My Line?, and from 1977 until 1981 wrote, produced, and hosted the award-winning public broadcasting show Meeting of Minds….which was a series of historical dramas presented in a talk format. Allen was also a pianist and a prolific composer….who by his own estimate wrote more than 8,500 songs….of which some were recorded by numerous leading singers….and while working as a lyricist….Allen won the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition. He also wrote more than 50 books….including novels, children’s books, and books of opinions, including his final book, Vulgarians at the Gate: Trash TV and Raunch Radio in 2001. In 1996 Allen was presented with the Martin Gardner Lifetime Achievement Award from the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP). He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Hollywood theater named in his honor.
George Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, and social critic. Carlin was noted for his black comedy and thoughts on politics….the English language….psychology….religion….and various taboo subjects. He and his “seven dirty words” comedy routine were central to the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation….in which a 5–4 decision affirmed the government’s power to regulate indecent material on the public airwaves. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comics, as one newspaper called Carlin “the dean of counter-culture comedians”….who in April 2004 placed second on the Comedy Central list of “Top 10 Comedians of US Audiences”
Michael J Fox is a Canadian-American actor, author, comedian, producer, and activist….with a film and television career spanning from the 1970’s to 2010’s….as Fox starred in the Back to the Future trilogy…. where he portrayed Marty McFly….along with other notable roles that included Mike Flaherty on the ABC sitcom Spin City (1996–2000)….and his portrayal of Alex P. Keaton on the American sitcom Family Ties….in a career in which he won five Emmys….four Golden Globes….and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Whoopi Goldberg is an American actor, comedian, author, and television host….who has been nominated for 13 Emmy Awards for her work in television….as she is one of the few entertainers who have won an Emmy Award….a Grammy Award…..an Oscar….and a Tony Award. She was the second black woman in the history of the Academy Awards to win an acting Oscar.
When you consider the talents of these four outstanding entertainers….it becomes obvious that this video is MUST SEE TV for any and all fans of comedy and entertainment.
