Thinking of a couple of outstanding comedians today. Michael McKean, currently plugging the 2025 Spinal Tap movie along with Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner, celebrates his 78th birthday today.
First and foremost, there's something about the very earnest cover of the Rolling Stones' Start Me Up by The Folksmen that cracks me up.
The blog shall toast Michael and the superb comedy he has helped bring to a weary and stressed-out world over many decades, and also toast another outstanding comic born on this date in Quebec City, Norm MacDonald.
Here's a terrific interview and overview of Mr. McKean's lengthy showbiz career. Thanks a million for this, SAG AFTRA!
Michael McKean's episode of Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast is a must-listen.
In the "I did not know that" department, the IMDB entry for Michael McKean notes: In early 1967, he was briefly a member of the New York City "baroque pop" band The Left Banke and played on the "Ivy, Ivy" single.
First heard about Michael McKean via the early 1970's improv group The Credibility Gap, which also featured David L. Lander and Harry Shearer.
The erudite and talented San Francisco deejay John Gilliland hosted a Sunday night comedy show on what was back then a top AM radio station and did us listeners the favor of playing very funny sketches by The Credibility Gap. Did not know until decades later than John was, at KRLA, an early member of the improv troupe in the late 1960's.
Michael and David L. Lander found their way from The Credibility Gap to the Garry Marshall sitcom LaVerne & Shirley as goofballs Lenny & Squiggy. Their best bits were the songs of Lenny & The Squigtones, although the then-prominent laugh track often drowns them out.
Was never crazy about Laverne & Shirley, even as a fan of previous Garry Marshall series (The Odd Couple), since by that time Monty Python's Flying Circus reruns, Saturday Night Live and SCTV were on the air. Still kept an eye out for Mr. McKean's appearances on Saturday Night Live a few years later, when Dick Ebersol produced the show.
The following sketches featuring The Folksmen and Spinal Tap is from the 10th season of SNL, the last produced by Ebersol. Ever so briefly, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest were SNL cast members.
Love those clips of Spinal Tap's early years!
There's so much to draw from that we shall very likely be making additions and edits to this post all weekend. The Return Of Spinal Tap is required viewing.
And then there are the Christopher Guest feature films, in which Michael McKean is among a super-talented stock company, along with Catherine O' Hara, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Fred Willard, Parker Posey, Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Hitchcock and John Michael Higgins.
To make the segue from Michael McKean to Norm MacDonald, here is Adam Sandler's song from the SNL 50 extravaganza. In the Sandman's nicely done hat tip to Saturday Night Live's casts and production crew which starts at 3:45, Michael and Norm are duly noted!
Devoted a lengthy post to Norm MacDonald, born October 17, 1959 at some length at the time of his untimely passing in 2021. Were there any clips not included in that post? Yes - this one.
If that isn't sufficient Norm, watch the following!
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