From Beautiful Downtown Burbank - A Critical History of Rowan And Martin's Laugh - In, 1968 - 1973

by Hal Erickson

McFarland & Company (series)

Rowan and Martin's "Laugh-In" was one of the quirkiest and most unusual programs on television, defying definition as simply comedy, variety, or burlesque. The show had audiences laughing for six seasons and continues to make appearances in revivals, reunions, and salutes. Even with corny and now dated humor, the show's signature lines and gags are ingrained in popular American culture.

This critical history of "Laugh-In" is arranged chronologically and includes background details on the show's creators and the events leading up to "Laugh-In's" creation. In addition to an analysis of the original six seasons, the text includes information on lookalike shows that emerged after "Laugh-In's" success, and on the various resurgences of the show that continued up into the nineties. An appendix contains a complete program history with principal production credits and episode guides.