The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Michael Landon (TV 1975)

Director:

Greg Garrison

Stars:

Joey Bishop, Amanda Blake, Ernest Borgnine

Cast

Credited cast:
Joey Bishop	...	Himself
Amanda Blake	...	Herself
Ernest Borgnine	...	Himself
Sid Caesar	...	Himself
Norm Crosby	...	Himself
Phyllis Diller	...	Herself
Euell Gibbons	...	Himself
Lorne Greene	...	Himself
Michael Landon	...	Himself
Guy Marks	...	Himself
Dean Martin	...	Himself
Jan Murray	...	Himself
Don Rickles	...	Himself
Cliff Robertson	...	Himself
Victor Sen Yung	...	Himself

Storyline

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1975 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

User Reviews

"You're a marvelous actor, you've told me that many, many times." - Don Rickles

If there's any single actor or entertainer who's passing affected me the most it would be Michael Landon. With a long and distinguished career in TV as an actor, director and producer, Landon was a singular role model who's shows brought traditional family values to the small screen for twenty five years. I still think about Landon from time to time and still miss his presence.

With that, the air date for this Celebrity Roast on the IMDb is certainly incorrect as listed for 1975. My best guess is that the Roast occurred around 1984, as reference is made to Landon's hit TV series 'Highway to Heaven' which began that year, and one of the presenters, Marie Murphy brought up Ronald Reagan's second inaugural. The rest of the dais is considerably different as well, with only Lorne Greene, Norm Crosby and Don Rickles on hand along with MC Dean Martin.

The tone of this Celebrity Roast differed somewhat from the many I've seen, in that most of the guests paid sincere tribute to Landon's career and humanitarian work. Perhaps the most heartfelt tribute was expressed by Landon's co-star from 'Little House on the Prairie', Melissa Gilbert. She honored him for his efforts against substance abuse citing troubles he had with his own son. You could see the emotion on Landon's face as she made her remarks.

However the show had it's share of laughs as well. Rich Little did a funny bit impersonating the 'first choices' for the characters on 'Bonanza' - Ronald Reagan for Ben Cartwright, Don Rickles as Adam, and Jack Nicholson for Little Joe. Funny stuff. Also appearing on the dais were Vic Tayback, Orson Welles, Brian Keith, football greats Dick Butkus and Bubba Smith, and two more of Landon's TV co-stars, Lorne Greene and Merlin Olsen of 'Little House'. Watching today, I was somewhat jolted by a comment made by comedian Dick Shawn who joined in the praise for the guest of honor when he stated - "Everything said tonight so far can be said again at his funeral".