CATCH A RISING STAR 10TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL (TV)
Summary
This comedy/variety special, hosted by Richard Belzer, celebrates the tenth anniversary of the famous comedy club "Catch a Rising Star." This program features comedy stars who started out at the club such as David Brenner, Richard Belzer, Billy Crystal, Gabe Kaplan, Joe Piscopo, Rita Rudner, Andy Kaufman, and Robin Williams. Also featured are musical performances by singer Pat Benatar, who was discovered at the club. Highlights include the following: David Brenner gives an introduction about the club and mentions some of the big names in show business who have graced the stage; then Richard Belzer talks about his start at the club and jokes about living in Hollywood and the adjustments he had to make, experiencing his first earthquake in bed with his girlfriend, the concept of Reaganomics, and Mick Jagger; Billy Crystal talks about being back in New York and the familiar sounds in the city, living in a predominantly black neighborhood and going to the movies with an all-black audience, seeing his relatives when he comes home to New York, collecting baseball cards, playing basketball in high school, and the concept of puberty and the teenage sex drive occurring at the same time; and Pat Benatar then sings "You Better Run." Other highlights include the following: Gabe Kaplan recalls his first night on the stage and responses he received from audience members as well as the owners, growing up in Brooklyn and living in an apartment complex in Miami with a lot of older Jewish people, and his spoof of "The Dating Game" -- a routine which he performed for the first time on "The Tonight Show"; Joe Piscopo impersonates Frank Sinatra performing some of his favorite rock 'n' roll songs in his distinctive style; Rita Rudner discusses her initial goals to become a ballerina and not a comedienne, her family background in a Jewish middle-class neighborhood, having children and being involved in relationships, the times in life when she would rather be a man, and staying at Howard Johnson hotels while on the road. Next, Andy Kaufman performs his original "foreign man" routine, which he used for his audition at the club, but he is interrupted by a rude man in the audience; the heckler then argues about whether Kaufman has any new material and their tempers begin to flare; and, instead of performing new material, Kaufman does his imitation of Elvis Presley. After Pat Benatar performs "Little Too Late," Robin Williams is joined by Belzer for the opening moments on stage before starting his high-energy humor; Williams comments on what watching the recent boxing match between Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney was like, plays with some of the items that are on the stage, talks about his series "Mork & Mindy" going off the air; and does his impression of Elmer Fudd singing Bruce Springsteen's song "Fire."
(This program contains adult-oriented material and explicit language.)
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: October 15, 1982 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:30:01
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T82:0672
- GENRE: Specials; Comedy/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Stand-up comedy
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 1982
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rick Newman … Producer
- Richard Fields … Producer
- John Moffitt … Director
- Ernestine Guglielmo … Writer
- Eddie Rabin … Music (Misc. Credits), Music Coordinator
- Geraldo, Neil "Spyder James" … Music (Misc. Credits), Songs for Pat Benatar arranged and produced by
- Richard Belzer … Host
- Pat Benatar … Performer, Singer
- David Brenner … Performer
- Billy Crystal … Performer
- Gabe Kaplan … Performer
- Andy Kaufman … Performer
- Joe Piscopo … Performer
- Rita Rudner … Performer
- Robin Williams … Performer
- Dick Cavett … Guest
- J.J. Wall … Cast, the Cab Driver
- Barry Mitchell … Cast, Woody Allen