The late Don Rickles was an American treasure. One of the funniest guys who ever lived, he made a great life for himself as a comedian who could and would literally burn people to the ground and have them laughing the whole way he did it. In this case, Evel Knievel (and everyone else he sees) is the target as this was some sort of 1970s televised roast series and boy it is amazing. The amazement for us is twofold because, one, this was an era of humanity where people had a sense of humor and hides thicker than onion skin. It is also amazing because one of the world’s greatest egomaniacs is at the center of attention on this night and not in the glowing light of love he usually was addressed with.
If you are someone that is easily offended by humorous takes on people and life, this is not for you. Everyone in that room and in the home viewing audience was glued to these things. Why? Because the funniest people in the country got to turn it loose on someone that everyone else knew. It is one thing to bust your buddy’s chops at the barber shop, it is another thing to see iconic people slinging verbal rocks at each other with smiles on their faces…and plenty of booze in their guts.
You’ll see Dean Martin and a host of other names from the era in this one. Press play at your own risk.
