ࡱ> CEBb c,jbjb $:mmc&.......  s 2  ,R .  .. -  . . BD,.... .. 5> C 0s   .VDVHead: Meet a Comedy Legend Deck: This individualist always kept his jokes clean and put family first. Byline: Fred Minnick Bob Elliott is my friend. Weve traveled thousands of miles together, and hes made me laugh so hard I cried and once, after he cracked a joke, I had to pull off the road so I wouldnt run into a semi-truck. Bob has influenced my humor and changed the way I impersonate people. Hes my wifes long-time pal, too. When she was five, this individualist made her giggle until she fell asleep and cheered her up when forced to make macaroni art. Until I interviewed him for this story, we only knew him through the Best of Bob & Ray CDs and my wifes 25-year-old NPR tape recordings. He and his partner-in-laugh Ray Goulding have long entertained me with their satirical shticks that were so simple, ridiculous and clean, they were absolutely brilliant. Timeless Entertainment Their famous radio format would most likely be as foreign as an Eight Track to most of todays Twittering society, but the Bob & Ray skits are as timeless and wacky as anything available on iTunes. Their fictitious characters, companies and soap operas poked fun at politics, media and the everyday man in a way that was non-offensive or foul, but clever and innocent. There was roaming reporter Wally Ballou, who once interviewed the man in the street about the presidents economic address and learned that the mans underwear elastic never fully dried costing him more in the coin machine dryer; Harlow P. Whitcomb, president of the Slow Talkers of America, who took 35 seconds just to say his name; and E.L Worbly, who learned his hair was falling out because he came down with a bad case of the tree disorder Dutch Elm Disease. Bob & Ray pitched products, too: McGonagall Bath Soap, which contains animal fat, lye and pine tar; Einbinder Flypaper, the brand youve gradually grown to trust over the course of three generations; and Monongahela Steel Ingots, the metal foundry that casks ingots with the housewife in mind. But to truly understand and appreciate this comedic duo, you have to listen to the impeccable writing that greatly influenced many comedians and humorists from Johnny Carson to Garrison Keillor to Kurt Vonnegut. Perhaps this exchange between billionaire lead mine widow Agatha Merchfiled and her lawyer Boden Pardue in the soap opera Garish Summit about a couple foes going moose hunting shows Bob & Rays ability to make you laugh at the silliest things: Boden: Were both men carrying shotguns? Agatha: No. I remember that part distinctly because it struck me as strange. Rodney had a gun, but he told Caldwell just to carry a shovel. You cant bring down a moose with a shovel! Bob & Rays radio and television stint spanned from the 1940s to early 1990s. They were on top of the comedic world, twice hosting Saturday Night Live, appearing on Johnny Carson, Jay Leno and David Letterman countless times, and inducted into the radio hall of fame in 1995. Today, 17 years after Goulding passed away, Bob & Ray can be found on iTunes, YouTube.com and BobandRay.com. Elliotts Keep Family First Unlike many celebrities who let their career define them, Elliott is more than just Bob & Ray or his television shows. Elliott is and always has been a family man. We werent show business in any respect. We were very family oriented, Elliott says. We didnt enjoy our free time sitting around with other people in the business. We never went to the Stage Deli to crack jokes with celebrities, and I think that contributed to our longevity. Bob Elliott has five children and all of themincluding his movie star son, Chris Elliottare coming to his place the day after this interview to celebrate Bob Elliott Jr.s birthday. I pattern my career after hiscertainly in how to view show business, not to take it too seriously, says Chris Elliott, who has starred in such movies as Ground Hog Day and Something About Mary and has written several books including recently released Into Hot Air. Its a completely different feeling to get off a plane in L.A. and go work, and then to get off a plane here {Maine} and come home. You suddenly realize: Oh thats why I am doing thatto raise my family like dad did his. We have always had a real close family. It seems, as I get older, that was always the most important thing in my upbringing, and the business was always kind of joke. Even though all the work my dad did was brilliant, it was sort of like play time for him. Eventually, the two Elliotts would work together on several projects, including Foxs Get a Life and Cabin Boy in which senior Elliott played Chris father. Some of the cameramen didnt know I was his son, Chris Elliott says. The first time we worked together is when he had me on the radio to do Bing Crosby impersonations at 6 years old. Now, Abby Elliott, Chris daughter, is doing the impersonations on Saturday Night Live. When she was cast to the show, she became the first SNL legacy actor. Chris was on the show in the 1990s. That third generation is pretty rare, Bob Elliott says. She does a great {MSNBC Anchor} Rachel Maddow. She does a special off-beat take, but its right on the money. She fits right into any role they give her. For Abby, its an honor to carry on the Elliott comedy legacy. Her grandpa or papa originated the whole deadpan thing. He was so sarcastic and dry, it was fun to watch, she says. Now that she is the center of attention, drawing rave reviews from Vanity Fair and People, Abby says family is still a major priority. My parents are my best friends, Abby Elliott says. Were not extremely joky or show bizzy at all. My dad was very much a dad growing up. Abby remains close with her cousins and her sister, Bridget (Bridey), who interned on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Show and is the funniest person I know. While the Elliott family is full of laughs and talent, there is one sad note. Lee, Bobs wife of 55 years, suffers from Hydrocephalus. He spends every spare moment taking care of her. He says an upcoming birthday party at their Maine cabin will be great because shell get to see everybody. And I think she gets tired of me, he says with a chuckle. Bobs Battle with Technology Bob Elliott is a simple man who cares more about antiques than technology. In Elliotts upstairs loftwhere all the action isare posters from the 1920s, framed letters from past presidents, antique matchbox tins, his beautiful watercolor paintings, stacks of magazines dating back to the 1950s, and enough radio memorabilia to start a museum. To an organized neat freak, this room would be absolute chaos. It is in here where Elliott paints, types on his typewriter and makes phone calls, albeit he hates the phone. I hate were in a society where every two minutes you pick up the phone and you dont have to, Elliott says. Its a habit like laughing at somebody who isnt funny. If he feels that way about making phone calls, imagine his thoughts toward Twitter, where people know what youre doing almost all the time. But hell most likely never know this modern communications method. He doesnt own a computer. Almost every acquaintance and relative has tried to convince Bob Elliott to purchase a computer, pick up this creation called the Internet and maybe send an email here and there. Not owning one has even become a hindrance in writing his book; mailing full manuscripts back and forth for review isnt exactly the industry standard anymore. I cant tell you how many times Ive tried to get him to use the Web, Chris Elliott says. But he wont listen. . He likes his typewriter. In Bobs defense, he is quite the typist. He brags about how he typed 95 words a minute in school. I would become too involved with the Internet. If I learn of a word or fact that intrigues me, I want to physically look it up, not just type something, he says. Professional people compliment my notes because nobody gets them anymore. I like writing letters. Theyre more personal. On Todays Politics, Media and Comedy Because Bob & Rays main shticks were media and political parodies, Bob Elliott is frequently asked how he would make fun of todays media and politics. I think the media is a joke in itself, he says. Its become such a battle for ratings that they dont cover the news like they used to. I dont know where the news business is going. As for politics, its really no laughing matter anymore. Elliott says people seem to have less personal responsibility and expect more from the government. The attitude is a lot different than it used to be, he says. I dont have any great hope that the {Stimulus Package} is going to do much. I am appalled at the connection between the government and automobile industrythat is way off base. But I do think the average American is very patriotic and accepting. So, there is still hope in his non-expert opinion. As for his beloved profession of comedy, he is less optimistic. He believes humor has become somewhat tasteless with radio shock jocks constantly making lewd remarks. He says Bob & Ray never made fun of anybody in particular, just types, and the show followed strict editorial guidelines not practiced on todays radio. We couldnt get a job today, he says. Stand up comedy has been overblown. Over the years, many people have become comedians and theyre not funny. Indeed, its hard to find a comedian who can make you laugh using family language or by ridiculously describing everyday situations or societal archetypes. But then again, not every comedian is as talented, thoughtful and intelligent as Bob Elliott. He is a definite original, just like his unique closing to every show: This is Bob Elliott reminding you to hang by your thumbs. n ':%&AUch| CVcbde""W%%%%&&''(蚐z hh-hh-OJQJ^J_H h-OJQJ^Jhh-5OJQJ^J_H h-5OJQJ\^J_H h-h-6OJQJ^J_H h-6OJQJ]^J_H hh-6OJQJ^J_H h-OJQJ^J_H hh-5h-0f{|7n %&AE1$7$8$H$]gd- 1$7$8$H$]gd-c,Odde 5!""v#$h$%%%G&''(M**1$7$8$H$]gd- 1$7$8$H$]( )w*a,b,c,hh-5h-OJQJ^Jh-OJQJ^J_H  hh-*a,b,c, 1$7$8$H$] 1$7$8$H$]":p-/ =!"#$%<@< NormalCJaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRi@R  Table Normal4 l4a (k@(No Listc& : !z z z z d!c&f{|7n % & A EOdde5"vhG !!"M$$a&b&e&0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@ % & A EOddee& J r Jr{u  jyu yu yu {u   {u yu  ;  @;  @;  @; [; [; Y; {u yu yu yu yu yu yu pHpp(c,*c,c,e&e&@b&b& Tb&b&! Jc& @UnknowngTimes New RomanTimes New Roman5Symbol3 ArialkMTimesNewRomanPSMTTimes New RomanyMTimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMTTimes New RomanuMTimesNewRomanPS-BoldMTTimes New Roman hڪFf,,~4d.&.&Bob Elliott is my friendOffice 2004 Test Drive UserOffice 2004 Test Drive User Oh+'0# ,8 X d p|'Bob Elliott is my friendOffice 2004 Test Drive UserNormalOffice 2004 Test Drive User5Microsoft Word 11.5.5@9"@4 @P GX"PICT"Pb HHb bHH>:>:bb          3wwwwwo{wwww;cRVZVg9^RVcZNsRZg9c^cJRZao{wkZwwwwwwwwwwsws{6cVcVkZRRNsZo{kZR^VkZRNsNsRg9ZV^Zg9Ro{ZRV^ZckZ^VVVZZ^g9kZB^kZg9kZo{kZNs&o{wo{ww/VckZNs^g9kZ^ZVg9NsVo{cV   go{wo{wwswo{wwwwwwswwwwww$VVRVkZRZg9RNsZkZkZVVZckZ^kZ^g9kZNs^kZ^Zg9F1^ZVVZkZNskZo{RZg9Ns^g9F1kZRVZR^ZNsNsZ^NskZ^qwwwwwwwswwwwwwwwwswww?Ns^cRZZRVkZZkZc^^F1VZZVc^RZ^JR^ckZVJR^ZVRV^wkZRVZg9ZZ^kZkZZkZg9R^kZZVZZkZUwwwwo{wwswwwwwwww@VV^kZZVg9kZ^Vo{VNsVZF1^sg9kZ^JRVVRRVZNskZR^Vc^ZNsZR^NsRkZVZcRVc^Zg9R^VRg9kZDwwswwwo{wwwsw?@ADRoot Entry FsR F1TableWordDocument$:SummaryInformation(',$DocumentSummaryInformation8:CompObjX FMicrosoft Word DocumentNB6WWord.Document.8