esrosedotblog

HOWIE

Today is obit day. Well, this one is a little late. Howard Morris was one of the funniest men a twelve year old could have in his life.

I think I was 12.

A life time of craziness in cartoons, commercials, and on teevee shows could not obscure his work with Sid Caesar in early live television.

It is said that Caesar hired Morris because of his size. He needed someone he could pick up by the lapels, literally. Howie was his man.

I still remember a classic sketch where they did a spoof of Ralph Edward's smarmy This is Your Life, an early 'reality' show. Howie was someone from Caesar's past and he went bananas when he came on stage, hugging and kissing, eventually grabbing Caesar's leg, refusing to be separated. It is one of the longest continuous laugh sequences they ever got.

This photo off the video is of Howie as General Sid's valet. These shows were the funniest of the funniest. I have the tapes to prove it.

There were a lot of guys who worked on these shows who got a bit more fame than Morris; Carl Reiner, Nanette Fabray, Mel Brooks. But the little guy with the nasal cry is the one I remember. So long, Howie.