Could JB make it in today's world?

[Frank Nelson]

With all the garbage that passes for comedy & entertainment today, do you think Jack would have become the star he was if he was starting out today? I have to admit to being a little skeptical but I wanted to hear what everyone else thought.

[Maxwell]

Boy, that's a good question, and I'm not really sure. For one thing, Jack started in vaudeville whereas most of today's comedians either come out of groups like Second City (a la so many of the stars who came from SNL) or from stand-up.

For another, it sure seems a lot of them push the bounds of good taste a lot more than Jack ever did. So he wouldn't get the notoriety of a Chris Rock.

On the other hand, the stuff he did was hilarious, and at least for those of us lucky enough to either remember him or to have discovered him are aware, timeless.

My guess is that if Jack Benny were starting out today, the result wouldn't be the Jack Benny we know, and there's no way of knowing if he'd get the necessary breaks to get into TV or movies.

[Brad from Georgia]

I think Jack's basic characterization would still work if he arrived on the scene today...and if his ensemble of supporting players joined him, I think he'd be a successful entertainer, though the tone of his shows would necessarily be a little different. But Jack spoke to something in the human condition, and that's a sort of bedrock, really--it underlies the changing fads and fashions. To use a comparison, I really think Kelsey Grammer learned a lot from Jack, and Jack's "modern" career might have followed a similar track to his.

Though somehow I can't picture Sideshow Jack trying to kill Bart Simpson every year.

[Gerry O.]

Jack spoke to something in the human condition, and that's a sort of bedrock, really--it underlies the changing fads and fashions. To use a comparison, I really think Kelsey Grammer learned a lot from Jack, and Jack's "modern" career might have followed a similar track to his.

Last week Kelsey Grammer was a guest on Tony Danza's talk show, and Tony asked Kelsey about Jack Benny....specifically, about the comparison that people make to Kelsey and Jack. As Tony was asking his question, the camera showed a later photo of Jack, from probably the early 1970's.

Kelsey acknowledged that Jack was a big influence on his comedy style and his career in general...and then BOTH men raved about how great Jack's TV shows were.

It really floored me to see and hear Jack being discussed on a present-day TV talk show like that....You just don't find that happening these days!

[Brad from Georgia]

Wish I'd seen the show!

[Jack Benny]

Let's see, Jack "made it" in Vaudville, in Radio, in Television. Now he is gone, but he continues to "Make it" in the internet, in ipods, in every new radio format. Yes, I'm certain that if Jack were here today he would have no problem "making it," and he would make anything he was involved with better than anyone could have thought possible! That is the definition of Jack Benny after all!

[Frank Nelson]

Let's see, Jack "made it" in Vaudville, in Radio, in Television. Now he is gone, but he continues to "Make it" in the internet, in ipods, in every new radio format. Yes, I'm certain that if Jack were here today he would have no problem "making it," and he would make anything he was involved with better than anyone could have thought possible! That is the definition of Jack Benny after all!

I don't doubt that Jack would still be the best entertainer around, I guess my doubts would be whether the network bigwigs would give him a chance. Maybe he would've come up with some sort of reality show dealing with obstinate sales people & such.

[LLeff]

Kelsey acknowledged that Jack was a big influence on his comedy style and his career in general...and then BOTH men raved about how great Jack's TV shows were.

This is very strange to me, because I tried so hard to get Grammer involved in the 39 Forever convention, and was told very flatly that he had "no interest whatsoever." Harry Shearer, on the other hand, was a very willing volunteer to be on panels and otherwise contribute to the proceedings (although a last-minute schedule change for him prevented it). I still have a difficult time reconciling this.

[Gerry O.]

Kelsey acknowledged that Jack was a big influence on his comedy style and his career in general...and then BOTH men raved about how great Jack's TV shows were.

This is very strange to me, because I tried so hard to get Grammer involved in the 39 Forever convention, and was told very flatly that he had "no interest whatsoever." Harry Shearer, on the other hand, was a very willing volunteer to be on panels and otherwise contribute to the proceedings (although a last-minute schedule change for him prevented it). I still have a difficult time reconciling this.

Laura, I don't mean this as an insult to your "39 Forever" convention or to Kelsey Grammer, but perhaps Mr. Grammer only considers it worth his time if he can praise and honor Jack on nationwide TV shows where he is sure of being seen and heard by millions of people....Just a thought!

[LLeff]

Laura, I don't mean this as an insult to your "39 Forever" convention or to Kelsey Grammer, but perhaps Mr. Grammer only considers it worth his time if he can praise and honor Jack on nationwide TV shows where he is sure of being seen and heard by millions of people....Just a thought!

It's possible and that thought had crossed my mind, but I would have thought that he'd at least have given a statement about his love for Jack rather than the nasty brush-off I got. If we hadn't had anyone of celebrity status involved, then it would be understandable. But with Harry Shearer, Budd Friedman (owner of the Improv), Jack Rollins (legendary producer), and other people of standing in the entertainment world involved in various ways...oh well. It's an old wound and not a lot makes sense in Hollywood.

What was it that Fred Allen said? You can take all the sincerity in Hollywood, stick it in a flea's navel and still have room left over for three caraway seeds and an agent's heart.

[Gerry O.]

Laura, I don't mean this as an insult to your "39 Forever" convention or to Kelsey Grammer, but perhaps Mr. Grammer only considers it worth his time if he can praise and honor Jack on nationwide TV shows where he is sure of being seen and heard by millions of people....Just a thought!

It's possible and that thought had crossed my mind, but I would have thought that he'd at least have given a statement about his love for Jack rather than the nasty brush-off I got. If we hadn't had anyone of celebrity status involved, then it would be understandable. But with Harry Shearer, Budd Friedman (owner of the Improv), Jack Rollins (legendary producer), and other people of standing in the entertainment world involved in various ways...oh well. It's an old wound and not a lot makes sense in Hollywood.

Laura, I'm sorry that things didn't work out with Kelsey Grammer. Of course, you COULD try again for a future event....only next time I suggest that you pull back your hair in a bun, speak in a flat, monotone voice and call yourself "Lilith"!

[scottp]

That's unfortunate on many levels... for one thing, it would have been great to do a script with Eddie Carroll as Jack and Kelsey Grammer as Orson Welles!

[LLeff]

Just so I don't sound totally sour grapes, I also tried hard to get Johnny Carson there. And while he chose not to attend, he was still gracious and expressed his continuing love for Jack.

With just about anyone who knew Jack, all you have to do is say Jack's name and you'll see their eyes light up and they visibly relax, launching into singing his praises. Even people I'm told are "very private" and "generally don't give interviews" have done so when they knew the subject was Jack Benny.

I call it "the Magic of Jack."

[Maxwell]

Just so I don't sound totally sour grapes, I also tried hard to get Johnny Carson there. And while he chose not to attend, he was still gracious and expressed his continuing love for Jack.

With just about anyone who knew Jack, all you have to do is say Jack's name and you'll see their eyes light up and they visibly relax, launching into singing his praises. Even people I'm told are "very private" and "generally don't give interviews" have done so when they knew the subject was Jack Benny.

I call it "the Magic of Jack."

Which leads to what is probably a rhetorical question: Is there any comedian you can think of who is beloved as much as Jack Benny by both people in the business and fans? I can't think of anyone off hand.

[Gerry O.]

Which leads to what is probably a rhetorical question: Is there any comedian you can think of who is beloved as much as Jack Benny by both people in the business and fans? I can't think of anyone off hand.

Neither can I. Something else to consider.....I honestly can't think of any performer whose passing had such a devasting effect on fellow show-business performers and the general public alike when he or she passed away.

Legends like Bing Crosby, Johnny Carson, Lucille Ball and others have passed away, and their deaths are lamented by people, but it's usually in regard to what they accomplished during their show-biz career. The deceased usually isn't mourned as a loved one, and the public usually doesn't react as if a personal friend or family member has just died. However, people reacted that way when Jack passed away.

The closest thing that I can think of was when John Ritter died.....many people who never met John felt personally and deeply saddened by his death, but I think that much of that reaction was shock and came from the fact that he was so young. Jack was 80 years old at the time of his death, but people reacted as if he was only 40 or 50.

After all these years I'm still amazed at how much Jack Benny was not only respected as a performer, but also loved and mourned as a human being.