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Arts & Culture

The Best Of Laugh-In

The original cast members of George Schlatter's "Laugh-In," one of the most revolutionary television shows of all time.
Courtesy of George Schlatter Productions
The original cast members of George Schlatter's "Laugh-In," one of the most revolutionary television shows of all time.

Airs Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV

Before “Saturday Night Live,” “The Daily Show” or “The Colbert Report,” there was “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in,” one of the most revolutionary television shows of all time.

From 1968 until 1973, “Laugh-in” frequently was seen by 50 million viewers, capturing the zeitgeist of the era with its anarchic energy and pop aesthetic.

Combining the blackout comedy of the vaudeville tradition with a 1960s-style “happening,” psychedelic costumes, graphics, graffiti, outrageous characters and a new political awareness, “Laugh-in” became one of the most popular shows in history.

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"The Best Of Laugh-In" is a delightful tribute to the comedy-variety program, which not only transformed television, but became an important training ground for an entire generation of young writers and comic talent.

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Video Clips: Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In