Tom and Dick took the stage at the beginning of the show and ran thru a bunch of their schtick before announcing a special guest, "The Great Flydini." It turned out to be Steve Martin, who had been a writer on The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour on TV years earlier. By 1987, he was a bonafide super star with several movie credits, but he came out as a special guest and did the most hilarious act as a wacked-out magician who could make bizarre stuff appear thru the fly in his pants. He had a coat on with one fake arm. His real arm was actually inside his pants which were filled with things like a telephone, a bouquet of flowers and other odd things that he'd pass out thru his fly. At first the audience was mystified about why he was part of the show, but it slowly dawned on people who he was and the act just got funnier and funnier. After about 10 minutes he pulled off some amazing finale and left the stage. The Smo's never mentioned his real name - only acknowledging "The Great Flydini."
After the show we went down to the dressing room to hang out and we got to witness Steve in action as a comedy writer. He was concocting a bit for the Smo's based on the concept that Tommy was going to go solo as The Smother Brother, Mother Smother's other son (there's some alliteration for ya!) It was fascinating to watch Steve in action as the bit came to life. He would recite a punch line and then give the actual time that Tommy needed to allow for the audience to laugh and respond. It was all very scientific and calculated, not to mention LOL hilarious. A true craftsman and a master comedian!
Another opening act story: during the time that Nick had returned to sing with the Trio I had a band in Denver. We were playing at a summer festival at some park in town and our opening act was a trained pig! And you shoulda seen him in the Green Room before the show - what a hog!!!
Responses