Don Rickles Speaks! is an indelible, hilarious treasure deeply etched into my brain, second only to "Mr. Warmth's" Hello Dummy! (1968) recording of his nightclub act.
Extra good news is large chunks of this live performance are online, on demand.
As Good as It Gets
In the early 1960s, American pop culture was extremely polite, as viewed through the media. Television was entertaining, of course, but rarely did its content extend beyond safe, even bland boundaries.
Then, one late night, Johnny Carson gave Don Rickles, long a showbiz insiders' favorite, his big break on The Tonight Show. Carson opened the door for the comic to go for broke with his special brand of insult humor, a taboo zone where other producers had feared to tread. Rickles took to the stage like a ferret and went for Johnny's jugular.
Ladies and gentlemen, a star -- and a phenomenon -- was born. Don Rickles became a fabled "overnight sensation" and "must-see TV." The outrageous, wild-eyed comedian was booked regularly with Carson (always his best broadcast showcase) and soon onto every program imaginable.
The Mad Man Mystique
Notes, CD Baby:Rickles was able to take his personal frustrations, his views (which were incredibly controversial and politically incorrect, even back then) and make them palatable. Don Rickles did material on TV that no one else could get away with, then or now. "You hockey puck!!" was Rickles trademark phrase, which he used with aplomb when skewering anyone from the little guy to the Hollywood's elite. Rickles played no favorites. He appeared to have open-mouthed and sweat on the brow contempt for just about everyone, including his wife Barbara, a constant foil in his act.
Analyzing Don Rickles' appeal over the decades, I've come to realize his unique success as an insult comic is essentially four-fold.
First, his attitude. He is the exasperated guy standing up to authority, willing to lash out with the words his audience might wish to speak. Rickles is Everyman, our cathartic vent.
Second, his mind possesses lightning fast wit. It can be delightfully stunning to see him work because the bulk of what he says and does is razor sharp, crafted on the spot. He is a master of improvisation, no doubt brilliant.
Jokes and Mirrors
Naysayers like to point out anyone can spout insults. Um, no they can't, dummies -- not like Mr. Rickles, and not with his generated laughter.And that brings me to the third item. When all is said and done, Don Rickles doesn't actually insult anyone. His bluster is always playful and we sense, rightly so, he means no harm, nothing ill intended. His quips are not vicious on inspection. They are pure silliness and tease. He riffs on known facts and the perceived stereotypes of his audience, not some negativity he creates. His humor is a mirror on society.
Finally, Rickles is an original. He is swift, precise, uproarious, and a marvel.
So much an innovation, his influence has been rampant. His persona has become one of the most appropriated in recent decades.
Johnny Carson lifted more than a lot of Don Rickles into his own performances, embarrassingly so at times. Carson became a road company Rickles, an understudy.
Burt Reynolds' entire talk show and comic movie career channels Don Rickles, down to his flip delivery and facial takes.
And the list goes on, myself included.
Don Rickles Speaks!
In Don Rickles Speaks, the comedian faces an "eminent panel of experts," including comedy writer Pat McCormick, tossing out journalistic questions on entertainment celebrities, politicians, and world events, as if all were attending a presidential press conference. Rickles sounds to be improvising the entirety of his brickbats in a remarkably funny performance, still quite entertaining, though the names and occurrences of the past might be unknown to new ears.CD Baby has posted generous two-minute audio clips from the concept album for broadband and dial-up users to enjoy. The tracks are:
1. Current Events
2. Some Good Friends
3. Sinatra
4. Names In The News
5. Show Biz And Travel
6. Night Clubs
7. Television
8. Some Big Stars
9. Sports
10. Thoughts
11. Capsule Comments
12. Famous Men And Women
Listen: Don Rickles Speaks!
Mike Durrett, a lifelong admirer and sponge of Don Rickles, worked as a comedian in radio and independent films, and as a professional comedy writer for entertainment personalities before producing and writing About Humor as our Guide, starting in 1998. He publishes original humor on MikeDurrett.com and TheTopOneList.com. Click for more info on Humor Boy.
