Who are we? We are our stories.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Jonathan Winters

In the previous post I referenced Newhart, Winters and Carlin. It struck me that most of you don't have a clue what I'm talking about (for nice a change of pace). Comedy records. Jonathan Winters was manic-depressive to the point of occasional hospitalization. Robin Williams was a disciple, but he was a wannabe pretender compared to Jonathan. When Winters was rolling and not ... quite ...over the edge, he was the fastest thing I ever saw.

3 comments:

Margadant said...

Without doubt, the King. Unfortunately, Winter's will probably be remembered for the bland TV improv stuff he did at end of his public career.

Winter's early 60's albums eclipsed anything he did on TV -- probably because of some network/Judeo-Christian code somewhere.

While his characters cracked some unexpected great lines, I found Winter's set-ups in his bits equally hilarious.

"will be observing off-shore through heavy lenses," "the Japs, the monkeys, the coconuts," "Hep me! Hep me! I'm trying to get out!" the "the home for the bewildered," all still manage to occasionally creep into my conversations -- usually at an inopportune time.

reverend dick said...

Dammit. Now it's all I can do to find more clips. He is a geeeeeenius.

Gunnar Berg said...

I'm glad I opened a door.