Say hello to the King of Cleveland, the Lord of TV improvisation, and Potentate of the Price is Right game show -- Drew Carey. A regular guy, Drew's enduring and broad appeal has made him a fixture on television since the late 1980s when he competed on Star Search. His Tonight Show debut in 1991 won Johnny Carson's approval and earned Drew the fabled invite to join the guests on the couch. From there Drew became a reliable guest on talk shows and helmed cable specials, then in 1995 launched the Drew Carey Show sitcom, a smash which also featured one of his future improv co-stars Ryan Stiles. Speaking of improv, that was Drew's next conquest, hosting the American version of Whose Line is it Anyway which led to his next star turn, as the replacement for Bob Barker on the Price is Right game show. All the while, Drew has never lost the everyman touch, in whichever medium he chooses! As always find extended clips below and thanks for sharing our shows.

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A successful first appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show has launched many a comedy career, and when Drew got his turn at bat in 1991 he knocked it out of the park. https://youtu.be/k6Bt-q_pRh8?si=AdWSqigtOcxJW5nR

The Drew Carey show was a hit sitcom and like other hits it had a memorable supporting cast. Here's a nice set of highlights from the show. https://youtu.be/5VN1A5yab5o?si=Ok7fGP_71Ss5Xdza

Drew was the host and sometimes participant for the wildly successful improv game show Whose Line is it Anyway? Drew's back and forth with the Improv players was always sharp. https://youtu.be/2vUb8tVZoW0?si=wvk5QW4Zd6YS5hFS

There are legends and then there are LEGENDS -- and Chicago's Second City comedy troupe is the second kind. This episode we focus on Second City in the 1960s - before they became known as a talent pool for SNL and SCTV! After morphing from the Compass Players improv troupe, Second City became known for finely tuned sketches -- often deriving absurd and hilarious results from a normal setting (or vice versa). And the name itself -- The Second City -- had its own comedy meaning, having been pulled from a series of unflattering articles about Chicago in the New Yorker in 1952. The impact of Second City on the comedy world has been immense with players from Robert Klein to Joan Rivers to Harold Ramis to John and Jim Belushi to Bill and Brian Doyle-Murray gracing the stage over time. So, if you are ever in Chicago, make a pilgrimage to 1616 North Wells Street where the Second City awaits, busy at work training the next generation of sketch comedy stars! As always, find extended cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows.

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An early classic from Second City asked the question "What would happen if the University of Chicago had a football team? Ask no longer!https://vimeo.com/195830483?fl=pl&fe=sh

Fred Willard and Robert Klein are two of our favorite comics -- and they both worked the boards at Second City early in their careers. This bit features both men in a parody of Ripley's Believe It or Not! https://youtu.be/MAB4ZIgL6j0?si=rVahywZ8OBrtpTa7&t=1115

It's always fun to go back in time and listen to future comedy stars honing their craft. This fine collection gathers sketches from throughout the years (and thanks for the time stamps!). Dip in anywhere and laughter will follow! https://youtu.be/MAB4ZIgL6j0?si=cgNkZeeM4Hk4Qqkk

When Hee Haw first debuted in 1969 many saw it as a cornpone knockoff of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and while the show did indeed trade in cornpone comedy it also carved out it's own niche, running in syndication until 1993. Hosted by country music Hall of Famers Buck Owens and Roy Clark, the show mixed regular features with bits involving special guests -- usually another top country musician. For much of urban America Hee Haw served as a gateway to country music and the show retains a devoted following through DVD releases and streaming. As always, find extra cuts below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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Hosts Buck Owens and Roy Clark were spotlighted in Pickin' and Grinnin' which saw groaner jokes alternate with blazing guitar and banjo licks. https://youtu.be/2m7FifTu39I?si=mBcHZrEqinUtV4K6

Hee Haw drew the best in country comedy -- and in this case the country is Canada. Don Harron reprised his popular Charlie Farquharson character from Canadian television -- bringing you all the updates from Radio KORN.https://youtu.be/8XiOJQIEDC4?si=0TCNIjXDAQkNy0f5

One of Hee Haw's recurring bits was The Cornfield -- an homage to Laugh-In's Joke Wall. Performers would pop up alone or in small jokes and deliver a rim-shot worthy joke. https://youtu.be/pQH6Py7YmYI?si=bDVMehmKH8VDs-Il&t=419