Friday, December 7, 2012

What Might've Been: The Kopykats (1972)

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. What happens when you bring some of the greatest impressionists together under one roof? It's supposed to be classic comedy at its best. Unfortunately, it happened to be on the wrong night of the week.

The Kopykats were the stars of the short-lived ABC Comedy Hour in 1972, a mid-season replacement series that was supposed to be the network's answer to the Kraft Music Hall over on NBC, which had ended its run. The troupe included top talent such as Rich Little, Frank Gorshin, George Kirby, & Fred Travelena. The Kopykats appeared in 7 out of the 13 episodes, and those 7 were repeated during the summer of '72, with the the amended title, The ABC Comedy Hour Presents the Kopykats.

Istash posted the following complilation clip, with Kirby & Marilyn Michaels as Archie & Edith Bunker in an All In The Family skit, which is ironic when you think about it. Next, Kirby & Michaels are Ralph & Alice Kramden, and Rich Little is hysterical as Ed Norton, in The Honeymooners.

I should note that Joe Baker would join Little on his NBC variety show 4 years later, and embark on a brief voice acting career during the remainder of the decade.



This was flat-out hysterical. If you loved the Honeymooners or All In The Family, you'll fall out of your chair laughing. Rating: A+.

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