Ernie Kovacs and the Nairobi Trio. And remember his moustached character, a mousy little guy. or his professorial one?
He was a “master” of the art.
I’ll also add in Jackie Carson, Shecky Green, Alan King, and those who came up in the 60’s with them. Anyone remember big Sheldon Leonard (Ed Sullivan Show), or Myron Cohen?
Alan King joke: He was a member of a large family and for years he thought that he was Chinese, not Jewish. When asked why, he said that his father forgot the names of some of his children after the fifth one so when he wanted something, he would call one and say, “Hey You”, get me my paper.
I don’t recall any of those listed in this discussion as ever having used cuss words to make their work funny before public audiences. They let their intelligent humor speak for itself.
Look at what we have now.
As for the others you mentioned...they were all great. I recently saw Jack Carson play in a noir crime movie, and he was superb.
I think I will watch IAMMMMW tonight in his honor.
“It’s only a possibility now, it’s only a possibility that this man was telling the truth. And if it was the truth, then it is a fact that this place is almost 200 miles away. Now I suggest that we quietly get into our cars and drive down there at a safe, sound speed, keeping each other in sight of each other. And then when we get down there, we dig up the money - providing there is some money there. And if we do find it, we share it amongst us in a simple manner. “