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by Jeff_Michael from Cubicle W-18

Last Post 38 days, 12 hours Ago


The Flying Fickle Finger of Fate
May 25, 2008 | 11:36 PM
Category: News
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Saturday night on our 10pm newscast I reported on Dick Martin's death. I do that a lot-- report on people dying.  But this one was different for me.

First of all, for those of you who weren't around between 1968 and 1973, Dick Martin was the jolly half of Rowen and Martin-- the team who created Laugh-In. I have very fond memories, sitting with my parents in front of our family TV set watching Laugh-In.  I could spend take up a lot of space here writing about how Laugh-In broke ground that shows like SNL and MadTV later built upon but, in the case of Martin's passing, that isn't my point.

Reporting on Dick Martin's death was more thought provoking for me because I met Mr. Martin a year or so ago; not professionally-- I didn't interview him. I sat with him inside the cramped wine store I frequent. I would say, "..where I shop" but it's it's much more than a store, really. More like a Cabernet-tinted version of Cheers, minus the bar stools.

Dick Martin came in, tagging along with Tom Rowan. Tom is Dan Rowan's son; a marvelously friendly guy who, you could tell, picked up the friendship with Martin right where his dad left off when he died in 1987. I was in awe. I was sitting with Dick Martin! I felt like a 10 year old again, reliving memories of Beautiful downtown Burbank, Sock it to me and Hear come da judge! Mr. Martin spent an hour, filling me full of stories of starting out as a bartender in Pasadena and Hollywood.. of meeting Rowan and beginning their stand-up routine in the Valley, if memory serves (serves Me, not him. His memory was sharp as a tack!).

Dick Martin was known as being the same affable fellow off camera that he was on. And that geniality followed him into his 80's. He made millions laugh and that is a talent that should never be underestimated or undervalued. I am  thrilled I got to chat with Dick Martin and for that reason I am a bit sadder that we have lost one more entertainer from the Greatest Generation.
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beepbeep read my blog view my photos
May 26, 2008 | 10:53 AM

He's a friend of my evil step-brother Mark. I met him in 1994 at my fathers funeral. He had kind eyes.

Why do you think he elected not to have a funeral?
Shans-Deb read my blog view my photos
May 26, 2008 | 10:59 AM

Jeff,
Thanks for sharing your personal feelings about this man. Dick Martin always seemed like such a sincere and kind person, he did not need to be rude to make people laugh, he had a talent to be able to be funny without crudeness... when I was a kid my Dad said that he had an unexpected casual exchange with Dick Martin... my Dad met him while my Dad was at work one day... my Dad came away saying nothing but kind things about Mr. Martin, much like you have done. The world needs more people like Dick Martin, he will be missed by so many people.
craftyguy read my blog
May 26, 2008 | 11:13 AM

you bet your sweet bippy he will be missed ..how can you not miss anyone who gave us Tiny Tim...the original American Idol..goodnight Dick
spacealien read my blog view my photos
May 26, 2008 | 12:36 PM

dick matrin gone?? bummer!! laugh-in was a great show! i watched it every week with my pops... which is kind of funny itself cause he was so conservative!! i can see mr martin now, telling the big man upstairs to "sock it to me baby!!"
mystere read my blog view my photos
May 27, 2008 | 5:43 PM

Jeff,

I can only imagine just how much you are counting your blessings of meeting Dick Martin. I hope you keep those memories alive for a long time. Thanks again for everything!

"Mr. E." from Cypress
Jeff_Michael read my blog
Jun 3, 2008 | 1:30 AM

Mr. E, spacealien, craftyguy, shans-deb and beepbeep... thanks for the thoughts.
Then it was Harvey Korman who left us. We're really not around for long, are we? Here's to laughing as much as we can while we're here!
Jeff
mystere read my blog view my photos
Jun 3, 2008 | 1:35 PM

Jeff,

Check out my pics under the Namm Show catalog: You can see who I've met...by the way, I went to school with John Stamos...he wanted to be an actor since he was a young kid.
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Jeff_Michael

Read the Bio. There is a bowling pin, a Reidel cabernet glass, a piece of rebar and a .38 special hollowpoint bullet taped to an evidence marker on my desk. Now, what does all that say about me?

Member Since: 7/3/2006


 

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