EPISODE · May 27, 2025 · 3 MIN
Comic Relief US
from Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve · host Randy Hodgins and Steve McLellan
Sometimes wrangling comedians can seem like herding cats -- but in 1986 everyone and everything came together for Comic Relief US -- a charity originally focused on helping America's homeless population which mounted a series of comedy spectaculars right up until the early 2000s. The organization continues to do good work today -- even staging a live LA Fire benefit -- but it's those early televised events (aired on HBO) that cemented its legendary status. The Comic Relief shows were hosted for many years by Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robin Williams and they featured top stand-up, sketch, and musical comedians -- and boy was the bullpen loaded! Over time Comic Relief has raised over $50 million for charity and created a brilliant time capsule of comedy at its most generous and collaborative. Plus -- the shows were really funny! As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Comic Relief? Here's a nice slice of the very first Comic Relief US show back in 1986. A lot of legends here!https://youtu.be/pAVpBl5YzHI?si=rPA-j8Z03iu92BKs Comic Relief 6 was another triumph -- the whole thing is worth watching but the onstage banter among Billy, Whoopi, and Robin is great!https://youtu.be/x6npULKsfCA?si=p4WrQkSBTc6J3DPJ Talk about legendary -- here are Peter Cook and Dudley Moore reprising their classic Beyond the Fringe sketch "One Leg Too Few."https://youtu.be/k-3Mi9A9kWA?si=rt2pSaXZO27-lWCm
What this episode covers
Sometimes wrangling comedians can seem like herding cats -- but in 1986 everyone and everything came together for Comic Relief US -- a charity originally focused on helping America's homeless population which mounted a series of comedy spectaculars right up until the early 2000s. The organization continues to do good work today -- even staging a live LA Fire benefit -- but it's those early televised events (aired on HBO) that cemented its legendary status. The Comic Relief shows were hosted for many years by Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robin Williams and they featured top stand-up, sketch, and musical comedians -- and boy was the bullpen loaded! Over time Comic Relief has raised over $50 million for charity and created a brilliant time capsule of comedy at its most generous and collaborative. Plus -- the shows were really funny! As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Comic Relief? Here's a nice slice of the very first Comic Relief US show back in 1986. A lot of legends here!https://youtu.be/pAVpBl5YzHI?si=rPA-j8Z03iu92BKs Comic Relief 6 was another triumph -- the whole thing is worth watching but the onstage banter among Billy, Whoopi, and Robin is great!https://youtu.be/x6npULKsfCA?si=p4WrQkSBTc6J3DPJ Talk about legendary -- here are Peter Cook and Dudley Moore reprising their classic Beyond the Fringe sketch "One Leg Too Few."https://youtu.be/k-3Mi9A9kWA?si=rt2pSaXZO27-lWCm
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Comic Relief US
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