In yesterday’s essay about the loss of Robert Schimmel, I mentioned his early break on the Young Comedians Special on HBO. It’s amazing to look back at the number of famous comedians who were launched from that showcase, and to this day many still single out Rodney Dangerfield as the guy who helped them take that next crucial step in their careers.
A lesser comic might have been concerned that these new guys might overshadow them or at least become viable competition. After failing in his younger days as Jack Roy and then reinventing himself as the Rodney persona, I think he had an appreciation for how fragile success can be, and made an effort to help those he thought were worthy of a shot.
And I doubt he was worried about competition. Rodney was the master.
So here are Ten From Dangerfield’s in NYC, featuring some great comics – many of whom got their career-making break from Rodney himself. Wish they’d release these old shows on DVD – people like Maurice LaMarche deserve better.
01) Bill Hicks
02) Bob Nelson
03) Richard Lewis
04) Bob Saget
05) Andrew Dice Clay
06) Fred Stoller
07) Tim Thomerson
08) Sam Kinison
09) Andy Kaufman
10) Roseanne Barr
