# The "I don't have a CLUE why these people are famous" list **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 20, 2001, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528 "2001-06-20T22:52:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/21 "2001-06-21T03:00:22Z")
Yup, Regis started off on Joey Bishop. My parents often regale me with stories of “that goofy sidekick job he had… he always wore white bucks.” I just smile and nod. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/22 "2001-06-21T03:10:12Z")
Nipsy Russell and Dom Deluise are comedians. Sandra Bernhard started out as an ugly comedienne. Bob Uecker was a Met when that by itself was funny. And he was a funny Met. He’s now a not-so-funny Brewers announcer, or was the last time I listened to a Brewers game. Brett Somers was Jack Klugman’s wife. She was pretty good on “Match Game.” That was after my last daytime class and I’d get a little, well, prepared for the show. Under those conditions it was funny. Yes, Regis was Bishop’s McMahon. Rula Lenska was on “Rock Follies.” British show about a manufactured girl group (sound familiar?) with music by Roxy Music’s Andy Mackay. She was also in a “Dr Who” and a “To the Manor Born,” a couple of Doper favorites. Dick Cavett started out as a TV writer, like Woody Allen, Bruce Vilanch, and Conan O’Brian. Remember, it was just a few years ago that only us “Simpsons” fans could answer the question, “Conan WHO?” Lauren Hutton was a model. Did I miss anybody? ---
**Author:** ![lestrange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/aca169/32.png) [@lestrange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lestrange)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/23 "2001-06-21T03:23:41Z")
Kitty Carlisle-- [http://www.artswire.org/arts&business/evekitty.htm](http://www.artswire.org/arts&business/evekitty.htm) Now, the one who utterly mystified me, who I’d completely forgotten until **Cranky** mentioned her, was Rula Lenska. In fact, I recall seeing T shirts at the time (she was in, I think, a V05 ad, “Hello, I’m Rula Lenska”) that said, “Who the hell is Rula Lenska?” Pretty much captured my feelings on the matter. A google search turns up that, at the time, she was moderately famous in Britain for her role in a TV series called “Rock Follies.” And the IMDB has quite a long list of things she was in. And she seems to have narrated lots of books on tape. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/24 "2001-06-21T03:44:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > \*\*Sandra Bernhard started out as an ugly comedienne. > \*\* She stayed that way, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/25 "2001-06-21T03:46:07Z")
I have one – Pia Zadora. What use is she? The last time I saw her, she was lip-syncing on a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/26 "2001-06-21T03:50:19Z")
Pia Zadora was in the classic “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” when she was a kid and turned out to be a surprisingly good (ie: not horrible) singer. Jamie Farr was in that movie, too, and it was so bad that even HE used a different name! ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/27 "2001-06-21T04:12:15Z")
I’ve got three: Anna Maria Alborghetti (remember those the salad dressing commericals?) Brenda Vaccaro (I saw one movie with her in it, although I’m sure she’s done more) Jaye P. Morgan (I remember her from The Gong Show…but that’s it) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/28 "2001-06-21T05:57:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > \*\*Nipsy Russell and Dom Deluise are comedians. > > Sandra Bernhard started out as an ugly comedienne. > > Bob Uecker was a Met when that by itself was funny. And he was a funny Met. He’s now a not-so-funny Brewers announcer, or was the last time I listened to a Brewers game.\*\* Bob Uecker never played for the Mets. He played for the Braves, Phillies, and Cardinals. For all his self-depreciating humor, Uecker is actually a very good announcer. He was a terrible player, but for some reason he hit incredibly well against Sandy Koufax. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/29 "2001-06-21T09:03:03Z")
Oh, I love Bruce Vilanch. His column was one of the few reasons I kept reading The Advocate as long as I did. And Hollywood Squares… Announcer: [Answer is “banana”] You are the nation’s most popular fruit. What are you? Bruce: Humble. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/30 "2001-06-21T12:17:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > \*\*Sandra Bernhard started out as an ugly comedienne. > \*\* And now she’s…? What? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/31 "2001-06-21T12:19:52Z")
She has a nice shape on her, though… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/32 "2001-06-21T12:22:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*Bob Uecker never played for the Mets. He played for the Braves, Phillies, and Cardinals. \*\* My error. But he was FUNNY ENOUGH to be a Met. And yes, he’s a good announcer. He pays attention to the game. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/33 "2001-06-21T13:09:47Z")
Kitty Carlisle (Hart - don’t forget her last name, damn it! She was married to Moss Hart - and she’ll be only too happy to tell you about it)was an actress of some merit (she’s in A Night At the Opera with the Marx Bros.). Her other claim to fame is for being part of glittering New York cafe society. I think she keeps Bobby Short in a little box under her bed. Anna Mariea Alborghetti was also an actress. IIRC, she was supposed to be another Sophia Loren. Sorry, but there can only be one of her and she’s all mine. Jaye B. Morgan - is it just me or does she seemed coked out in those re-runs of the Gong Show. That woman was just too over the top to be completely straight. Pia Zadora has a cabaret act and used to headline Vegas quite a bit. She also married an Israeli movie mogul. Her photo spread in Penthouse back in the 80s showed her off her other talents. The Gabor sisters article in Vanity Fair already got mentioned, so that base is covered. Rula Lenska used to mystify me as well. “I’m Rula Lenska…” Yeah, so what? Dick Cavett had a talk show for a long while and made a name for himself by being able to drop more names per sentence than anyone else on earth “I recall my conversation with Groucho when we were playing pinochle with Cary Grant and Troy McClure in the love grotto with Hugh Hefner and Gypsy Rose Lee, etc. etc. etc…” I can take him in very small doses only. As the old saying goes, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/34 "2001-06-21T13:17:35Z")
Oops - I forgot to add my person to the list: Orson Beane. ---
**Author:** ![Heloise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@Heloise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heloise)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/35 "2001-06-21T13:33:32Z")
[hijack]I don’t really think Sandra Bernhardt is ugly, just expressive. I’ve seen some beautiful photos of her, so I think a lot of her look is part of the act - she mostly grimaces or “caricatures” herself.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/36 "2001-06-21T13:39:41Z")
Charles Nelson Reilly was also a regular on the 1960s TV series **The Ghost and Mrs. Muir**. He also mplayed the Messenger in Neil Simon’s **God’s Favorite** on Broadway. I loathe Sandra Bernhardt with a passion. _Is_ she a comedian? She’s never done anything _funny_! Or witty. Or interesting (aside from that cable series about bad movies). ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/37 "2001-06-21T13:44:37Z")
Dropzone - Uecker actually was considered a good defensive catcher, just couldn’t hit. I believe you are thinking of Marv Throneberry, ex-Met, ex-Yankee, ex-beer salesman. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/38 "2001-06-21T14:06:59Z")
Dick Cavett also was Delia Deietz’s Agent in **Beetlejuice**. He was in the whole “Day-O” scene. That’s how I will always remember him. “Delia, you are a flake. You’ve always been a flake and if you insist on scaring people…do it with your sculptures.” ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/39 "2001-06-21T14:10:45Z")
Jesus, it’s threads like this that make me feel old,(well, my age, which is pretty much the same thing) and make me want to shake you snipperwhappers because I remember every one of the people mentioned here, virtually every one from the beginning of their tv careers. Cavett is very near the top of my favorite all time talk show hosts,BTW. It’s true, some of the celebs mentioned simply shouldn’t be there, but many of them that are hanging on by their fingernails now were once in everyone’s living room, and almost everyone enjoyed whatever they did. Most of you just weren’t here yet. End of old dude’s harangue…Rick ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528/40 "2001-06-21T14:18:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lurkernomore \* > \*\*I believe you are thinking of Marv Throneberry, ex-Met, ex-Yankee, ex-beer salesman. \*\* Oh, probably. But I still like “Mr Belvidere.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-i-dont-have-a-clue-why-these-people-are-famous-list/69528.md?page=3)