Number 1 Programs: ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN

It had been 17 years since a variety series format had been the #1 program of TV. NBC's ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN did it for two straight years.

Premiering in January 1968, R&W LAUGH-IN was a combination of old and new comedy. It's roots were in vaudeville and burlesque, but the contemporary, edgy topics of the late 60's of found it way into the show. From sexual innuendos, to politics, to the war in Vietnam, civil rights and the sexual revolution were common place in the series. But, humor was at the forfront.

Heading up the series were Dan Rowan and Dick Martin. They were a typical comedy team of the straight-man (Rowan) and the dumb guy (Martin). They were in most sketches, plus a contemporary monolog.

The cast of LAUGH-IN was filled with classic and great personalities. Goldie Hawn, Ruth Buzzy, Joan Worley, Henry gibson and Artie Johnson. In Later years, Lily Tomlin, Richard Dawson and Larry Hovis would join the series. Presidential candidate Richard Nixon mad an appearance on the show to say the famous catch-phrase "Sock It To Me!"

The series won six Emmy Awards, three in the Musical/Variety categories, One for directing, but two for individual Achievements. Artie Johnson (1969) and Goldie Hawn (1970) each won for their performances on the show. Ruth Buzzi won a Gold Globe for her performance in 1973.

Some of the great characters from the series were the Farkel Family. A huge family where all the kids looked like the next door neighbor. Arte Johnson's Wolfgang the German Soilder. Lily Tomlin's Ernestine the Phone operator and the child Edith Ann. and Ruth Buzzi's and Arte Johnson's Gladys and Tyrone.

After six season, the freshness, the edginess of ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN wore off and the show ended on March 12, 1973.

In 1977, producer/creator George Schltter and NBC attempted a revivla of the series, but simply titled it LAUGH-IN. It stared the then unknown comedian Robin Williams, just before he did MORK AND MINDY. Rowan & Martin, who owned part of the LAUGH-IN franchise, sued Schlatter and won a $4.6 million judgement.

SCHEDULING HISTORY:

The series ran on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. for it's entire six season run, on NBC.

RATINGS HISTORY:

1967-68: Ranked 21st with a 21.3 household rating
1968-69: Ranked 1st with a 31.8 household rating
1969-70: Ranked 1st with a 26.3 household rating
1970-71: Ranked 13th with a 22.4 household rating
1971-72: Ranked 22nd with a 21.4 household rating
1972-73: Ranked outside the top 30.