George Burns is the subject of this 90 minute broadcast from 1978, following the success of his recent hit, playing the title role in "Oh, God!" Regulars appearing included Milton Berle, Abe Vigoda, Gene Kelly, Ruth Buzzi, Jimmy Stewart, Dom DeLuise, LaWanda Page, Orson Welles, Charlie Callas, and Don Rickles. Old age is the main topic, from Red Buttons, who claims that George is "old enough to be his own father," to Phyllis Diller: "I didn't even see it coming, it hit me from the rear!" Newcomer Tom Dreesen is on very briefly, easily eclipsed by Frank Welker, who proves why he would become such a prolific voice-over artist, with amazing impressions of Burns, Sir David Frost, Muhammad Ali, Walter Cronkite, Henry Kissinger, and "a man who's prominent in politics, Billy Carter's brother Jimmy." Future President Ronald Reagan mentions how George entertained six Presidents: "6 out of 39 is not bad!" Lovely Connie Stevens talks about co-starring with George on WENDY AND ME, and how he surprised her with a burning kiss: "he forgot to take the cigar out of his mouth!" The most poignant moment comes at the very end, with a clip of George's oldest and dearest friend, Jack Benny, taken from a 1955 broadcast of THIS IS YOUR LIFE, who hadn't seen George "for ten minutes!" Even Jack Carter wonders what Benny must be feeling tonight: "isn't this a ridiculous situation, here I am up in Heaven, and God's on Earth!"
2 Reviews
Dean Martin Roast: George Burns
Michael_Elliott8 December 2015
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: George Burns (1978)
George Burns was 81 years old when he appeared as the roasted and it's amazing to think of how long he had been in the business and how he was becoming an even bigger star with OH GOD! It's even more amazing to think that the legendary Burns had another nineteen years to live. As I go through these Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts it's becoming clear that the more legendary the subject the better the jokes. Everyone knows they're roasting a legend so they want to bring their "A" game and they certainly do. As you'd expect, the likes of Milton Berle and Don Rickles are flawless with their jokes. Then you get a very funny and touching moment where Gene Kelly does a duo with Burns. Both Jimmy Stewart and Orson Welles deliver some big laughs and if you've seen Ruth Buzzi then you know how funny she is. LaWanda Page, Phyllis Diller and Jack Carter are also quite impressive with laughs. In fact, there's really not a dry moment to be found as the jokes coming flying and even Martin is in on the comedy.
Episode: A-
George Burns was 81 years old when he appeared as the roasted and it's amazing to think of how long he had been in the business and how he was becoming an even bigger star with OH GOD! It's even more amazing to think that the legendary Burns had another nineteen years to live. As I go through these Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts it's becoming clear that the more legendary the subject the better the jokes. Everyone knows they're roasting a legend so they want to bring their "A" game and they certainly do. As you'd expect, the likes of Milton Berle and Don Rickles are flawless with their jokes. Then you get a very funny and touching moment where Gene Kelly does a duo with Burns. Both Jimmy Stewart and Orson Welles deliver some big laughs and if you've seen Ruth Buzzi then you know how funny she is. LaWanda Page, Phyllis Diller and Jack Carter are also quite impressive with laughs. In fact, there's really not a dry moment to be found as the jokes coming flying and even Martin is in on the comedy.
Episode: A-
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