RIP Shelley Berman
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He was a very funny man.
Comedian Shelley Berman, who won gold records and appeared on top television shows in the 1950s and 1960s delivering wry monologues about the annoyances of everyday life, has died. He was 92.
Berman died Friday at his home in Bell Canyon, California, from complications from Alzheimer's disease, according to spokesman Glenn Schwartz. Berman was a pioneer of a new brand of comedy that could evoke laughter from such matters as air travel discomforts and small children who answer the telephone. He helped pave the way for Bob Newhart, Woody Allen, Jerry Seinfeld and other standup comedians who fashioned their routines around the follies and frustrations of modern living.
Late in his career, he played Nat David, father of Larry David, on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." With dialogue improvised by its cast, the comedy series gave Berman the opportunity to return to his improv roots and introduced him to a new generation of TV viewers.
"I'm not a standup comedian," Berman often insisted. "I work on a stool."
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He was a very funny man,
He was a very funny man, indeed. A part of my youth. I somehow ended up with a record album of his, I wonder if I still have it. Probably not.
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Bummer! My dad had one of
Bummer! My dad had one of his records back in the early 60's, great stuff.
RIP
Found it...
Great cut about airline stewardesses.
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The Curb episode where the
The Curb episode where the son gets him some weed for his glaucoma is pure gold. After Larry scores some chronic from a hooker, the three of them get really stoned.
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Berman felt Newhart ripped
Berman felt Newhart ripped him off by using the telephone as an integral part of his act.
He also worked with Nichols & May in the Compass, an early improv group that pre-dated Second City. He did well with structured material, but had a difficult time meshing during the actual free-form improv aspect.
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That's the album that I have
That's the album that I have or had, Thom.
I loved Nichols and May, have an old album of theirs, too.
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I am totally in love with
I am totally in love with Elaine May.
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My dad also had that album.
My dad also had that album. That must have sold hundreds of thousands.
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aw man! He was so funny in
aw man! thats too bad. He was very funny in "you Dont mess with the Zohan".
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Yep my parents had that album
Yep my parents had that album too.
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My Dad and my grandparents
My Dad and my grandparents had that album, among others by Berman. Funny guy. RIP.
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I'm in CONFERENCE
I'm in CONFERENCE
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I've never heard of him.
I've never heard of him.
But, RIP.
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Inside Shelly Berman
Inside Shelly Berman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbqwpqzc_dY