Comedy Showcase: Looking Back at Don Rickles' Career on His 100th Birthday

Don Rickles, known as the king of insult comedy, would have been 100 years old this week. He died at age 90 in 2017, but he left behind a legacy of comedy performances that included a long list of genres -- American culture, self-deprecation, everyday life, religion, current events, shock, satire, and of course...insults.

Born in Queens with the name Rikhters to a Yiddish-speaking family, he began doing stand-up comedy performing in hotels in the Catskill Mountains in New York. He became known as an insult comedian by responding to his hecklers. The audience enjoyed these insults more than his prepared material, and he incorporated them into his act. 

Rickles was a regular on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, appearing more than 100 times over the course of 30 years.

Today we're posting a compilation of some of Rickles' most hilarious insults and quick-witted comebacks ever captured on late-night television. 

Enjoy!

Sunday Standup Comedy Showcase: Don Rickles Roasts Ronald Reagan in 1973

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. 

Born in Queens with the name Rikhters to a Yiddish-speaking family, Don Rickles began doing stand-up comedy performing in hotels in the Catskill Mountains in New York. 

He became known as an insult comedian by responding to his hecklers. The audience enjoyed these insults more than his prepared material, and he incorporated them into his act.

Here's a segment of Rickles roasting Ronald Reagan on the Dean Martin Show in 1973 when Reagan was governor of California. Let's turn the clock back 52 years and enjoy the video clip.

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Don Rickles and Jerry Lewis at the 1982 MDA Telethon

The MDA Labor Day Telethon was an enchanting yearly variety show that ran for half a century. Hosted for many years by Jerry Lewis, the telethon featured top stars from the world of music, comedy, and Broadway and was like no other show on earth. 

The telethon was created to help support the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which is leading the fight against muscular dystrophy. MDA dedicates itself to strength, independence and life.

Today we're turning the calendar back 40 years to revisit Don Rickles' appearance with Jerry Lewis.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

  #Throwback Thursday      #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Don Rickles Picks on the Audience

Don Rickles was one of comedy’s most famous funnymen. For over 55 years he appeared in top showrooms and concert halls throughout the world. He was regarded among the world’s top entertainers. 

Rickles earned the nicknames “The Merchant of Venom” and “Mr. Warmth” (coined affectionately by Johnny Carson) for his style of humor in which he poked fun at people of all ethnicities and walks of life. 

Rickles’ style was never mean-spirited—it was all just part of the act. In reality, most knew him to be quite genial and pleasant. It has been said that being “insulted” by Rickles is like “wearing a badge of honor.”

Rickles was one of the last of the great old-school comedians. In this vintage segment from his 1972 special show Don walks into the audience and picks on one after another, all in good fun.

Enjoy! 

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

  #Throwback Thursday    #TBT

Wacky Wednesday Comedy Showcase: Don Rickles Hosts Saturday Night Live in 1984

Born in Queens with the name Rikhters to a Yiddish-speaking family, Don Rickles began doing stand-up comedy performing in hotels in the Catskill Mountains in New York. 

He became known as an insult comedian by responding to his hecklers. The audience enjoyed these insults more than his prepared material, and he incorporated them into his act.

In 1984, Rickles hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live and delivered a monologue in which his political incorrectness spared no group from his insults. In less than 10 minutes he managed to cast aspersions on Italians, Irish, Jews, Blacks, Puerto Ricans, Chinese, fat people, and even (with difficulty) Swedes. But always funny in classic Rickles style, and not in a mean spirited way.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: The Always Politically Incorrect Don Rickles in Montreal

In 2014, Don Rickles, the always politically incorrect insult comic, made an appearance at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.

It was one of his last performances (he died two years later) and he was in rare form, interacting with hilarious dialogue with members of the large audience who were close enough to the stage to receive the volley of insults that Rickles made his specialty.

After a few minutes of banter with the audience including references to his Jewishness and his 49-year marriage, Rickles showed that he could sing by belting out a few verses of Laughter for Love.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.



#Throwback Thursday     #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Don Rickles at His Audience-Insulting Best

On this Throwback Thursday let's go back to December, 12, 1972 when Don Rickles had fun with a TV audience, walking up the aisle and finding willing and unwilling subjects to poke fun at.

Don Rickles was one of comedy’s most famous funnymen. For over 55 years he appeared in top showrooms and concert halls throughout the world. He was regarded among the world’s top entertainers. Rickles earned the nicknames “The Merchant of Venom” and “Mr. Warmth” (coined affectionately by Johnny Carson) for his style of humor in which he poked fun at people of all ethnicities and walks of life. 

Rickles’ style was never mean-spirited—it was all just part of the act. In reality, most knew him to be quite genial and pleasant. It has been said that being “insulted” by Rickles is like “wearing a badge of honor.” This is classic television comedy, perfect for fans of Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Dean Martin Variety Show, and other great comedy. 

Rickles was one of the last of the great old-school comedians. This vintage segmeint from his 1972 special show him at his original, insulting best!

Enjoy! 

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.



#Throwback Thursday    #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Don Rickles' Last Interview on Johnny Carson Show

Today's Throwback Thursday Comedy Special takes us back to May 1992 when Don Rickles made an appearance on one of Johnny Carson's last late night shows.

Don had Johnny and Ed McMahon laughing with his observations on marriage and on being selected as one of the ten best dressed men in the world.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.



#Throwback Thursday    #TBT

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Don Rickles' Funniest Moments (A Compilation)

Today we tried to post a video clip of Alan King on the Carol Burnett Show. This week we're posting from our Jerusalem office and got emails from some of you that the clip was blocked from being seen in the USA. It worked just fine from Israel, so we assumed that it could be seen everywhere else.

So instead we're substituting another Throwback Thursday video clip -- a compilation of Don Rickles' funniest moments. In this clip, Don takes no prisoners -- included in his list of victims are President Reagan, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Julia Roberts, Dean Martin, Johnny Carson, and many, many more.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.


#Throwback Thursday   #TBT

Dinner with Don: A Legacy Comedy Series Tribute to Don Rickles

The original insult comic, Don Rickles was usually introduced with a wink as “Mr. Warmth,” his entrance music a bullfighter’s trumpet fanfare. He was fearless. He publicly taunted the biggest bulls in America—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Ronald Reagan among them—and left them all howling. 

Born in Queens with the name Rikhters to a Yiddish-speaking family, he began doing stand-up comedy performing in hotels in the Catskill Mountains in New York. He became known as an insult comedian by responding to his hecklers. The audience enjoyed these insults more than his prepared material, and he incorporated them into his act.

Rickles passed away in April, but as a parting gift, the comedian left a YouTube series called Dinner with Don, 13 episodes that feature chats over dinner with talented younger artists and celebs—Snoop Dogg, Jimmy Kimmel, Sarah Silverman, Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Marisa Tomei and others. AARP Studios coproduced the series. 

Today we're sharing an episode with Sarah Silverman in which the two comedians talk about Don's trailblazing approach to standup comedy, Sarah's dream retirement, and Don's idol Milton Berle.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO. 

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Remembering Don Rickles and His Celebrity Roast of Frank Sinatra

We lost one of the great Jewish comedians last week with the passing of Don Rickles at age 90.

Although he became well known as an insult comic, his pudgy, balding appearance and pugnacious style led to few leading roles in film or television.

His prominent film roles included Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) and Kelly's Heroes (1970), and beginning in 1976 he enjoyed a two-year run starring in the sitcom C.P.O. Sharkey.

He received widespread exposure as a popular guest on numerous talk shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Show with David Letterman, and later voiced Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story films. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for the 2007 documentary Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project.

Today we're remembering Don Rickles as a "roaster" of celebrities on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, an NBC television special show hosted by entertainer Dean Martin from 1974 to 1984. For a series of 54 specials and shows, Martin would periodically "roast" a celebrity. These roasts were patterned after the roasts held at the New York Friars' Club. 

The format would have the celebrity guest seated on a dais, and one by one the guest of honor was affectionately chided or insulted about his career by his fellow celebrity friends.

In 1978, 39 years ago, Rickles turned in a hilarious performance on the Dean Martin Celebrity Hour roasting Frank Sinatra. The guests included Ronald Reagan, Red Buttons, Flip Wilson, Redd Foxx, George Burns, Milton Berle, Jonathan Winters, Peter Falk, Ruth Buzzi, and Orson Welles.

Those were the days before political correctness set in. As one YouTube commenter said, it was humor from an era when you could rib other cultures and everybody was fine with it, because people had enough self esteem to have fun. 

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO. 


  

#Throwback Thursday, #TBT

Funny Flashback - Don Rickles Surprises Frank Sinatra on Johnny Carson Show

Here's another in our series of flashbacks to special moments in television comedy. Don Rickles was a frequent guest on the Johnny Carson late night TV show. One night in November 1976, Johnny's guest was Frank Sinatra. 

In the middle of their conversation, Don Rickles struts in and quickly takes over, making Carson and Sinatra crack up with laughter. 

With heavy use of Italian dialect and references to organized crime, Rickles has the audience in his hands. He looks around and sees Sinatra, Carson, and Ed McMahon. He says "I'm a Jew, you're an Italian, here's a what? and here's a great Irishman. This is America."

Sinatra finishes up with a funny story about how Rickles exploited their personal connection in a restaurant encounter.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Comedy Classic - Don Rickles Insults an All-Star Cast of Entertainers in 1969

Don Rickles, known as an insult comedian, has been doing standup comedy for decades and is still going strong at age 87. We've posted a few highlights of his career in the last few years. Today, as we start a new year, we're sharing a stand-up routine that he performed in 1969 in front of an all-star audience of comedians, singers, actors, and entertainers.

Rickles spares no one as he lets the insults fly and doesn't adhere to today's politically correct standards. Maybe that's what makes him so funny as he does a routine with Pat Boone that recalls the days when Native Americans were called Indians.

In the course of this 14 minute video, Rickles manages to sling insults and funny comments at Ricardo Montalban, Dean Martin, Danny Thomas, Ernest Borgnine, Bob Newhart, Macdonald Carey, Dom DeLuise, Joey Heatherton and Caterina Valente. One minute before the end of the sequence, Bob Hope makes a surprise appearance.

Enj0y!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

Jerry Seinfeld and Don Rickles - Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

Today we're going for a virtual ride in a 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Seville with Jerry Seinfeld and Don Rickles as they head for a breakfast shmooze in Factor's Famous Deli in Los Angeles.

This is another episode in a web series that Seinfeld is running on the internet, interviewing fellow comedians while riding in classic cars to various restaurants and coffee shops in Los Angeles.
 
Like his TV show, it's "a show about nothing," but we feel it's energizing to be in the presence of these geniuses of comedy. It's not a rip-roaring hilarious session, but it's fun to see these masters of the stage and screen enjoying themselves in a casual setting.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)



(A tip of the kippah and a copy of the Kindle version of our book, Jewish Humor on Your Desktop: Old Jokes and New Comedians to Steve Smedresman for bringing this video to our attention.)

Don Rickles to Perform Thursday in New Jersey at BergenPAC

Don Rickles, the 87-year-old comedian known for his insults and politically incorrect humor sprinkled with Yiddishisms, will be performing this Thursday evening, June 20 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood. Since we have a lot of readers in the New York-New Jersey metro area, we thought you'd like to know whenever a major Jewish comic comes to town.

Born in Queens with the name Rikhters to a Yiddish-speaking family, he began doing stand-up comedy performing in hotels in the Catskill Mountains in New York. He became known as an insult comedian by responding to his hecklers. The audience enjoyed these insults more than his prepared material, and he incorporated them into his act.

Rickles is the subject of an article by Warren Boroson in this week's Jewish Standard. In the article, Boroson writes:

He has never played down his Jewishness.

One of his sons became a bar mitzvah at the Wall in Israel.

In his book, he writes that the Newharts (Bob Newhart is one of his favorite comedians) invite him and his wife over every Christmas eve. “Once in a while, Bob has a serious moment and says to me, ‘Don, you really enjoy Christmas, don’t you?’

“Sure I do,” Rickles answers. “One of our guys started it.”

He also writes that on the day of his wedding the phone rang at 4 a.m. in his hotel room in New York City. It was Cantor Yavne, from his childhood synagogue in Jackson Heights, who was to sing at the wedding in a few hours. He wanted Rickles and his cousin to meet him downstairs in a half-hour.

The cantor proceeded to drive Rickles and his cousin to the cemetery in Long Island where Rickles’ father was buried. “The cantor put on his white robe and prayer shawl,” Rickles said. “In the still of the morning, standing over my dear father’s grave, he sang the Hebrew prayer for the dead. He wailed; he sang with such tender feeling and heartfelt anguish that I felt the presence of God Almighty in every fiber of my being. Afterward, we recited the Kaddish, the Jewish mourners’ prayer, our words melting the morning fog to tears.

“Before we left, the cantor sang a prayer in Hebrew, inviting Dad to my wedding. Then he finished by saying, ‘May your soul be with us forever.’”

For a good look at Rickles' humor, check out this 1993 interview with Larry King.
 
Enjoy!
 
(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)