ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON

Political correctness met its match with Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, NBC-TV’s groundbreaking variety series that became a cultural touchstone and part of the fabric of ’60s-’70s era America. Every Monday night at 8pm from 1968-1973, straight man Dan Rowan and wisecracking co-host Dick Martin led a supremely talented comic ensemble through a gut-busting assault of one-liners, skits, bits and non sequiturs that left viewers in hysterics and disbelief. ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON, from the award-winning TV DVD archivists at Time Life, makes its retail debut on July 10 in an uproarious set featuring all 24 re-mastered episodes from the fifth season (September 13,1971-March 20, 1972).

In THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON, after years of shameless name dropping, Dick finally gets his wish when bombshell Raquel Welch kicks off the new season with her first and only appearance on the show. Former Hogan’s Heroes POWs Richard Dawson and Larry Hovis escaped CBS to join the cast. And, along with alumni Judy Carne, Arte Johnson, Henry Gibson, Jo Anne Worley and Teresa Graves, they help to celebrate Laugh-In‘s landmark 100th episode (September 1, 1971). THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON also trots out many of the 20th century’s greatest talents, including Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, Johnny Cash, Carol Channing, Charo, Petula Clark, Bing Crosby, Tony Curtis, Henry Gibson, Gene Hackman, Rita Hayworth, Hugh Hefner, Bob Hope, Arte Johnson, Paul Lynde, Liza Minnelli, Agnes Moorehead, Joe Namath, Carroll O’Connor, Vincent Price, Carl Reiner, Debbie Reynolds, Sugar Ray Robinson, Bill Russell, Vin Scully, Doc Severinsen, Jacqueline Susann, Tiny Tim, John Wayne, Raquel Welch, Henny Youngman, and more!

THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON also includes such classic features as “Cocktail Party,” “Fickle Finger of Fate,” “Joke Wall,” “Gladys and Tyrone,” “General Bull Right,” “Big Al,” Lily Tomlin’s legendary “Ernestine” and “Edith Ann,” “Tasteful Lady,” and “Ruth Buzzi’s Hollywood Report”. Additionally, Mod, Mod World takes on sports, toys and games, families, politics, nutrition, leisure, year’s end, Manhattan, television, small towns, crazy people, and the theater, Robert Goulet, Charo, and Three Dog Night perform the Laugh-In news song and there’s a hilarious “Salute to Santa” and a very modern Christmas Carol.

My Thoughts

Laugh In was a hilarious show that aired until 1973.  Now it's available for the first time on DVD. You can enjoy television legends like Dan Rowan, Dick Martin,  and Tim Conway as they crack jokes and bring to life hilarious skits on the small screen. This season also has tons of amazing celebrity guest stars on each episode including Johnny Carson, Johnny Cash, Rita Hayworth and many more.  Each scene is fun and original, and something you can watch over and over and it never gets old. In addition to the complete fourth season, you can also catch bonus footage including hilarious bloopers.

There are so many amazing aspects of this show. I always loved when they would pop out the boxes and tell jokes. I really miss the old shows with the funny skits like this one. They are so much better then reality shows, and you could watch just one episode and actually be able to follow. TV shows today just don't have the same humor, and the younger generations don't why what they're missing. If you love this television classic, you can grab a copy of Laugh In: The Complete Fifth Season on DVD in stores nationwide or online.