Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase: Milton Berle Heckled by Irving Benson in 1966

Some of the best standup comedy was on TV shows and comedy specials in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Today we continue our Sunday Standup series, sharing some of the classic routines by iconic comedians on Sunday editions of Jewish Humor Central.  

Comedian Milton Berle's career as an entertainer spanned over eight decades, first in silent films and on stage as a child actor, then in radio, movies and television. Born Mendel Berlinger in 1908, he dominated the television screen for most of the twentieth century. 

The Milton Berle Show played Friday night at 9:00 on ABC up against The CBS Friday Night Movie and The Man From UNCLE on NBC. He developed a heckler routine with Berle hosting the Hollywood Palace on March 5, 1966 with Henny Youngman in the audience but it was far funnier with Irving Benson as the heckler. Benson's character on this show was called Sidney Shpritzer.

The character would turn up in the balcony overlooking the stage of Berle's variety show (where the studio audience could see him) and banter with Berle about the host's alleged lack of talent and originality. 

Here's an episode from 1966. Enjoy!