Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty (1980) (TV)

Director:

Joseph Cates

Writers:

Michael Elias (writer)
Carmen Finestra (writer)

Release Date:

14 February 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Steve Martin's second NBC special was done entirely in sketches. Highlights include: Marty Robbins' "El Paso" with monkeys; "The Death of Socrates;" and "Bizarre Oddities of the World." |

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Steve Martin	...	Himself / Various
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marty Allen	...	Igor
Richard Deacon	...	King of Cey What
Joyce DeWitt	...	Love God's Date
Phil Foster	...	Pyramid Owner
Peter Graves	...	TV Director
Werner Klemperer	...	Plato
Meredith MacRae	...	Hippie
Gary Mule Deer	...	Hippie
Louis Nye	...	Laundry Customer
Regis Philbin	...	Public Service Announcer
Carl Reiner	...	Sportscaster
Paul Reubens	...	Cafe Counter Guy
Dick Schaap	...	Sportscaster
Noah Tutak	...	Kid run over by steamroller

Runtime:

USA:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Aspen Film Society

Trivia:

The special was produced without a laugh track, more like a film.

Quotes:

Steve Martin: [as Socrates] It was always: "Socrates, what is truth? Socrates, what is the nature of the good? Socrates, what should I order? Socrates, what are you having?" And not once did anyone ever say: "Socrates, hemlock is poison!"

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Winds of Whoopie (1983) (TV)

Soundtrack:

El Paso

Spotty Sketch Show Has Some Great Moments

This show (not seen on network tv since 1988) represents the 'old' Steve Martin, as he began to outgrow the 'wild and crazy guy' persona. The sketches vary from hilarious (a parody of Marty Robbins' "El Paso" where Martin acts out the song with trained monkeys may be the funniest thing he's ever done) to subtle genius (he lip-synch's "Some Enchanted Evening", and does it straight, wearing a white tux) to parody (he mimics "60 Minutes" by turning the tables and investigating THEM, esp. Morley Safer being Canadian--look for Paul Reubens in a odd cameo as a sandwich maker), and those are the strong points. Other skits are inconsistent (the diving competition bit has some funny moments), dated(his "Love God" routine with Joyce DeWitt dies a rather painful death) or a bit offensive (a drunk driving steamroller bit actually made my mother storm out of the room!)...

This is a nostalgia piece for fans of the old "arrow through the head" Martin fans...fans of the slightly pretentious "artist" will likely be confused.