Jack on "A Prairie Home Companion"

[Brad from Georgia]

On Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companioin" for Saturday, January 13, he did an extended sketch about listening to radio when he was a child, and the bit re-created a few radio moments, including a Fibber McGee closet crash and a Jack Benny moment--"Your money or your life," natch. Unfortunately, the timing was off between the first and second demand for "your money or your life," and Tim Russell, while a talented mimic, didn't capture Jack's voice at all. He said, "I'm thinking," too, but sounded more as if he were doing a bored Boston banker than Jack. Maybe it would have been better if he'd said in irritable tones, "I'm thinking it O-ver!"

Got a good solid laugh, anyways.

[Gerry O.]

On Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companioin" for Saturday, January 13, he did an extended sketch about listening to radio when he was a child, and the bit re-created a few radio moments, including a Fibber McGee closet crash and a Jack Benny moment--"Your money or your life," natch. Unfortunately, the timing was off between the first and second demand for "your money or your life," and Tim Russell, while a talented mimic, didn't capture Jack's voice at all. He said, "I'm thinking," too, but sounded more as if he were doing a bored Boston banker than Jack. Maybe it would have been better if he'd said in irritable tones, "I'm thinking it O-ver!"

Got a good solid laugh, anyways.

Unfortunately, there are many inept people who try to re-create the comedy of Jack Benny and his program. (Of course, I am NOT including Laura Leff and Company in this, as those folks know the style and timing of Jack's comedy forwards and backwards!)

To those less qualified, I think that the following warning label should be affixed to recordings of Jack's radio and TV programs:

"Kids, Don't Try This At Home.....The Performers On This Recording Were Trained Professionals"!

[Gerry O.]

Unfortunately, there are many inept people who try to re-create the comedy of Jack Benny and his program. (Of course, I am NOT including Laura Leff and Company in this, as those folks know the style and timing of Jack's comedy forwards and backwards!)

To those less qualified, I think that the following warning label should be affixed to recordings of Jack's radio and TV programs:

"Kids, Don't Try This At Home.....The Performers On This Recording Were Trained Professionals"!

Ooops.....I forgot to mention something in my last post! Of COURSE I include the great Eddie Carroll in that list of Jack Benny impersonators who "knows what he's doing"! I saw Eddie's one-man "Jack Benny" show last summer, and it was an evening of superb entertainment.

[LLeff]

Unfortunately, there are many inept people who try to re-create the comedy of Jack Benny and his program.

Ay-men to that...and of course Eddie Carroll is not among them. I think I'd rather watch videos of a turntable playing records than hear (more) bad Benny impersonations.

[shimp scrampi]

I think one of the reasons impressions or parodies of Jack never work is they're trying to riff on an incredibly SUBTLE form of comedy. It's easy to do an impersonation of Elvis or Nixon, or Charo or Jerry Lewis, who traded on exaggerated mannerisms. But Jack is so contained that the impressions only hit the only "obvious" notes and miss the smaller stuff. So every sentence sounds like Jack calling "RAH-chester!" and way too many "Well!"s, etc. Alas. Just stick with the original when you can! Yikes, are we going to have Jim Carrey impersonators 20 years from now?

[Jack Benny]

Sorry everybody, but I have to disagree with you here. I love Jack Benny! I love Mary! I love the show! I love Dennis, Don, Frank, and Mel! I know you all do too! I really think that is all you need for a great recreation of a Jack Benny program! The righting will ave you and your shortcomings - remember how easy it was for other actresses to substitute for Mary!

I did a 45 minute show with 5 people helping me play the parts, and only one of them beside myself had a knowledge of the show! I was Jack of course, and my brother-in-law was Dennis, the race tout, and Frank Nelson. The players unfamiliar with Jack were my wife and two of our friends from church - they played Mary, Phil, and a shop girl. We were a huge hit! the audience loved it! I combined the Race Track/Christmas Shopping/ and Train Station episodes into one long story, and it was probably one of the great joys of my life! I think the main problem is that to do this effectively the audience has to be 55 or older! The older the better! After the show the audience came up to compliment us and talk about the impact that Jack and the original show had on their lives.

I think you all should do the same thing! Go perform for your church or a retirement home! You will never forget it I promise! The key, I think, is to forget trying to do the voice, but focus on the cadence and style. Dennis - very breathy delivery, Mary - fast and slightly harsh, Phil - ham it up as high as you can, and it still won't be over the top enough, Frank - nail the Yesss and Oooo, Do I, and you got it made, Jack - is the hardest by far, just don't try and be too funny, read his lines fairly straight, don't focus on the voice but the timing, Jack is the Glue that holds it all together!

[shimp scrampi]

Oh, I most definitely agree. Doing a show recreation or the kind of biographical thing Eddie Carroll does sound great to me. I'm thinking more of comedians who try to get a laugh out of momentarily "pulling a Jack Benny", or various skit characters trying to parody Jack. That never works. (see: The Jet Benny Show. YIPES!)