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 / Modified jun 4, 2011 9:06 a.m.

Best of Laugh-In

A look back at the comedy series that transformed television. Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. on PBS-HD. by Colleen Greer

Before “Saturday Night Live,” “The Daily Show” or “The Colbert Report,” there was “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in,” one of the most revolutionary television shows of all time. From 1968 until 1973, “Laugh-in” frequently was seen by 50 million viewers, capturing the zeitgeist of the era with its anarchic energy and pop aesthetic. Combining the blackout comedy of the vaudeville tradition with a 1960s-style “happening,” psychedelic costumes, graphics, graffiti, outrageous characters and a new political awareness, “Laugh-in” became one of the most popular shows in history.

laugh-in_rowan-martin617x347 Hosts of LAUGH-IN, Dan Rowan and Dick Martin.
PBS

THE BEST OF LAUGH-IN is a delightful tribute to the comedy-variety program, which not only transformed television but became an important training ground for an entire generation of young writers and comic talent.

Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. on PBS-HD.

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