So long, Fred Willard

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Joe Hass

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May 16, 2020, 3:17:56 PM5/16/20
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Kevin M.

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May 16, 2020, 4:20:13 PM5/16/20
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So many Willard memories. On Leno’s Tonight Show, Willard was often brought in to salvage a really badly written comedy sketch. I recall one in particular where he played Christopher Columbus in Heaven, and during rehearsal nobody... not even the writers... were laughing. Leno finally turn to Willard and suggested they start ad-libbing. The results were hilarious. The finished sketch was entirely from Willard’s creativity and wit. He was always warm and genial backstage to everyone.

Of course he will always be remembered for his performances in Spinal Tap and Best In Show. I have two ACE Trucking Company vinyl records, and bootlegs of Fernwood Tonight (if they released it on DVD I’d buy it). So lots of his art to cherish. 

On Sat, May 16, 2020 at 12:17 PM Joe Hass <hassg...@gmail.com> wrote:
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Kevin M. (RPCV)

Diner

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May 16, 2020, 6:58:20 PM5/16/20
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This Tonight Show clip completely slays me.
Watch the way Fred keeps ad-libbing Jack Benny references to crack Jay up.
What a brilliant comedic mind he was.


-Tim


On Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 4:20:13 PM UTC-4, Kevin M. (RPCV) wrote:
So many Willard memories. On Leno’s Tonight Show, Willard was often brought in to salvage a really badly written comedy sketch. I recall one in particular where he played Christopher Columbus in Heaven, and during rehearsal nobody... not even the writers... were laughing. Leno finally turn to Willard and suggested they start ad-libbing. The results were hilarious. The finished sketch was entirely from Willard’s creativity and wit. He was always warm and genial backstage to everyone.

Of course he will always be remembered for his performances in Spinal Tap and Best In Show. I have two ACE Trucking Company vinyl records, and bootlegs of Fernwood Tonight (if they released it on DVD I’d buy it). So lots of his art to cherish. 
On Sat, May 16, 2020 at 12:17 PM Joe Hass <hassg...@gmail.com> wrote:

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Kevin M. (RPCV)

Ben Scripps

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May 16, 2020, 8:26:42 PM5/16/20
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On May 16, 2020, at 4:19 PM, Kevin M. <drunkba...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Of course he will always be remembered for his performances in Spinal Tap and Best In Show. I have two ACE Trucking Company vinyl records, and bootlegs of Fernwood Tonight (if they released it on DVD I’d buy it). So lots of his art to cherish.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to see Fred in person when he was the guest of honor at the Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts** festival. (He was supposed to have been interviewed by Jeff Garlin, but when he couldn’t make it, co-founder Michael Moore stepped in to host.) Fred was a helluva funny guy, and judging solely by the reaction in the room when he just casually mentioned “Fernwood 2 Night”, it’s a wonder it’s never made it to an official release.

**I’ve got another story about this festival, but I’ll save it for the next time someone mentions Dave Foley.

Jon Delfin

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May 16, 2020, 10:01:07 PM5/16/20
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LiveTalksLa pulled this from its archive



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Doug Eastick

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May 16, 2020, 10:56:07 PM5/16/20
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(cough) Dave Foley.

Time to spit it out. You can't tease us like that .  Especially for those like me that watch Kids in the Hall and lived a few blocks from The Stairs.



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Doug Eastick

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May 16, 2020, 11:08:37 PM5/16/20
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Kevin... I'd like to borrow those betamax copies of Fernwood 2 Night.

I hope happy kyne and the myrthmakers are in it.

Please add me to your loan list.



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Kevin M.

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May 16, 2020, 11:32:14 PM5/16/20
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There is a lot of mirth 

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JW

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May 17, 2020, 4:11:50 AM5/17/20
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Joe Hass

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May 17, 2020, 10:57:18 PM5/17/20
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From Last Week Tonight:

"Fred Willard was the best. Neither the Jimmy Stewart line nor the word 'Jefferson' were in the script for this, and you can see just how delighted he was to add them."


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Bob Jersey

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May 18, 2020, 9:10:35 AM5/18/20
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Kimmel tribute tonight, said Sue T.

B

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