# ID This Comedian, Please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754 "2019-07-09T02:57:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/1 "2019-07-09T02:57:44Z")
We’ve been watching Johnny Carson reruns. I think this one aired in the 1980s. There was a stand-up comedian pitching his routine on Carson one night, but they never said his name as best we recall. But, maybe someone knows this routine: In brief, the comedian was recounting his experience on a date at a French restaurant. He imitates the French waiter like the older Elvis with a curled lip, and he spoke a few words of French ending each line with an Elvis “momma”. His routine goes into mocking the pronunciation of French words and its silent letters. Then, he wonders who dreampt of serving snails? He says, “It must have been a poor person receiving unexpected company, saying ‘Wait a minute, and I’ll dig something up!’” This routine was just hysterical! Does anyone know who this stand-up comedian might have been? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/2 "2019-07-09T03:44:19Z")
Can you find it on youtube? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/3 "2019-07-09T05:11:03Z")
For some reason I’m thinking David Steinberg ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/4 "2019-07-09T05:56:43Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > For some reason I’m thinking David Steinberg [Here he is on Carson.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6a4AFQzYDU) Ring a bell? ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/5 "2019-07-20T02:49:57Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > [Here he is on Carson.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6a4AFQzYDU) > Ring a bell? Yes, I believe this is him. I am having some issue with my audio. But, he looks like the guy. I’ll get my issue fixed and check this out for sure! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/6 "2019-07-20T11:14:01Z")
Sorry to hijack but can I tack on a similar request? Good. This has to be from the 70s. It was a “magician” who did a bunch of silly tricks. All the while, he is -not so much singing- but accompanying himself by loudly warbling: “Da da DAH da, da da DAH da!” etc. Big fellow, white guy, I believe he had a bushy mane and a mustache. Anyone know his name or can provide the clip? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/7 "2019-07-20T12:15:00Z")
Doug Henning? Though he’s not a big guy. Ali Bongo? You’d probably remember the turban. Ricky Jay, then? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/8 "2019-07-20T12:40:48Z")
[Art Metrano](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-SNrvHdZJE) or [Jesus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nAMMeTQISQ). ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/9 "2019-07-20T12:48:28Z")
I can’t find a clip, but I’m positive that’s Avery Schreiber (of Burns and Schreiber fame); his so-called “magic” routine consisted of “tricks” that were incredibly dumb, but hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/10 "2019-07-20T13:06:58Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > [Art Metrano](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-SNrvHdZJE) That’s the guy. Thanks for tracking down the clip. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/11 "2019-07-20T13:17:29Z")
^ Well, I’ll be damned; that’s the routine, all right. It does clear up, for me, why Schreiber would go solo. Thanks. Now, back to the show! ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/12 "2019-07-20T14:02:03Z")
OK, here’s one I’ve been trying to remember. Pretty sure I saw him on Carson a couple of times. A comedian who used a piano as part of his routine. The thing that I remember is that he smoked a cigar, and he had the rubber part of a toilet plunger stuck to the side of the piano. While he was playing, he stuck his cigar in the plunger and used it as a cigar holder. Ring a bell with anyone? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/13 "2019-07-20T14:21:11Z")
Pete Barbutti. [Told the funniest joke, about a London saxophonist, I’ve ever heard.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0dF75hDDRE) ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/14 "2019-07-20T14:23:34Z")
And here’s one I remember: a comedian who dressed up in a football outfit and did a bit on the United Way, or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/15 "2019-07-20T14:27:24Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > [Art Metrano](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-SNrvHdZJE) Man, I love this bit. So deep, so meta. And the look on his face- “get a load of _this_!” - is perfect! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/16 "2019-07-20T14:28:24Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > And here’s one I remember: a comedian who dressed up in a football outfit and did a bit on the United Way, or something like that. [Bob Nelson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BerJdS2VJhA), who has many, many great routines. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/17 "2019-07-20T17:04:25Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Pete Barbutti. > > [Told the funniest joke, about a London saxophonist, I’ve ever heard.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0dF75hDDRE) OMG yes that’s the guy. I remember he also did the bit about the accordion school. [https://youtu.be/OCD6qBuMUSk](https://youtu.be/OCD6qBuMUSk) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/18 "2019-07-20T18:19:28Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > \>snip\> The thing that I remember is that he smoked a cigar, and he had the rubber part of a toilet plunger stuck to the side of the piano. While he was playing, he stuck his cigar in the plunger and used it as a cigar holder. \ Is that a signature move, or what? That **Kordeen School** bit is priceless. Thanks for passing it on. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/19 "2019-07-20T20:40:14Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > OK, here’s one I’ve been trying to remember. Pretty sure I saw him on Carson a couple of times. A comedian who used a piano as part of his routine. The thing that I remember is that he smoked a cigar, and he had the rubber part of a toilet plunger stuck to the side of the piano. While he was playing, he stuck his cigar in the plunger and used it as a cigar holder. Ring a bell with anyone? I think that was Victor Borge. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754/20 "2019-07-20T20:51:01Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [Bob Nelson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BerJdS2VJhA), who has many, many great routines. That clip is from some sort of Rodney Dangerfield Presents the Young Comedians special bank in, I think, the early 90s. That same special introduced Bobcat Goldthwaite to the world. I taped it, and rewatched the Nelson and Golthwaite routines for many years. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-comedian-please/836754.md?page=2)