John Pinette | April 27, 1987

In perhaps his first ever TV appearance, this was one of two John Pinette made on The Cable Comedy Show starring Mike McDonald (#17). See his second and final appearance here: • John Pinette | January...

[@antoniod]

This is from the era when I was trying to break into Boston comedy. John Pinette was the envy of all of us open mikers because he moved right up onto headliner status after a very brief time. It usually took years. Too bad he's gone.

[@joeydoink-doink742]

30 likes three years later and nobody is suspecting this guy did the deed done dirt cheap? " Yeah he was great, we all hated him but now he's gone. Took us awhile" wow paraphrase. Lol.

[@tinaroberts5858]

?​@@joeydoink-doink742

[@doberman1ism]

An incredibly talented man. Let’s get in the car. We’re driving to Italy. The motherland!

[@tric5122]

I knew JP did a ton of different voices, never realized he did impressions early in his career. Guy could do just about anything and be funny.

[@keithjames753]

His career took off when he started getting into his weight, foods, exercise etc. Nay Nay was awesome. Watched it like 20 times...

[@guynorth3277]

Nearly forty years later seeing this, and darn is this guy incredible, so very talented.

[@RonJammin]

I had no idea he could do so many impressions. Fan of his since first seeing him in THE PUNISHER. May him & Joan rest in peace.

[@tonydine1732]

XXxX xe

[@FMHammyJ]

I heard Paul Mooney say that true comics are born.....I think John Pinette was one such comic.....

[@vova47]

I just discovered John recently and now I can't get enough of him.

[@louisg99]

Oh boy you are in for sadness

[@rogersiples3335]

John was one of a kind. I really miss him. He is still my favorite comedian.

[@nathansmith5331]

The good always die young. RIP John pinette thanks for all the laughs

[@theothertroll]

Dead at 50 of obesity, liver and heart disease is young and good ? STFU ~ Dead people don't rest, they're dead stupid -

[@theresaastley3459]

Thank goodness for videos. It is SOOOOOOO NICE to be able to see him when he first started....as well as the rest of his career. R.I.P. John. We miss you. It's been almost 10 years since you've been gone.💔😢😢😢

[@jadefire2817]

It's always crazy to hear him sing so beautifully. I mean you KNOW he can do it, because he works it into his routine so flawlessly, but your jaw drops anyway. Every . Single. Time. I love hearing him sing as much as I love his comedy. In his performance, "I Say Nay Nay", he does this incredible bit, "Don't cry for me , buffet people! The truth is , I never left you!" It's mind blowing. What a gorgeous soul.

[@robertgrisanti]

jade fire I agree wasn't he amazing

[@bkurtz8770]

I would have loved to met jack clugman. Everytime I need a good laugh when I'm depressed, I just play any John Pinette routine I feel better and laugh so hard I cry no matter how many X's I've seen it.

[@bcallahan3806]

So talented that got better with age. Sorry missed.

[@baz810]

When I die, I wanna meet this guy.

[@justinjoseph6966]

Still can't believe he's gone.:-(

[@gz08002]

What a joy to see this! John at 23 years old! What a sweet baby face. Always talented. I had the great joy to see him perform in person 3 times, and met him twice. A true gentleman, kind, sweet, and gracious. Funny as all heck. My ribs still hurt after all this time from laughing. Rest in peace John. You will be missed.

[@maevebrain]

I'm still in love with this wonderful man. He's the most precious person who ever stood up on stage. I hope to hang with him in the next life.

[@joeywomer]

His Joan Rivers impersonation was spot on.

[@johnperepchuk4483]

He really was an incredible comedian. He did too soon. I hope he is resting in peace

[@suzanne9637]

I really miss John. I never saw this one and I thought I saw them all. He was the best of the best!

[@laneyhexx1009]

The legends always die, but that's how they become true legends. Rest in Peace John.

[@cuddles6938]

+Laney Hexx He was taking 2 different meds for liver and kidney issues. His Dr told them not to do an autopsy, would make me raise some questions.

[@MarciaMerry]

I thoroughly enjoy your reviews of John's work on Wow, What, Hmm. His talent and ethics will be sorely missed. I mostly enjoy his "Nay, Nay" as my eldest daughter enjoys this as a nickname due to her sister not being able to say her name when she was a little girl. 😊 Please keep us laughing and enjoying John's wonderful moments in your forum, which I watch for at least 3 hours each night. Thank you. Marcía Merry

[@rugerkidd2076]

just naturally funny with good wit-no bad language needed like some others

[@markevan1]

You haven't heard all his stuff obviously.

[@noam65]

I miss him. What a talent!

[@edwardlewis1963]

"he used to be fat but now he's gay" cracked me up

[@arimfshapiro7907]

John is only 23-y-o here; just after he graduated from UMASS. Early on he was known as an impression comic. The penny ante Cable Comedy Show with long-haired, gap-toothed Mike Macdonald should have been aware enough to get a large enough chair to accommodate Pinette. Poor guy was trying to look relaxed while holding on to that flimsy director's chair.

[@jiggs416]

Wow... Thank you Bill for posting this. God bless John Pinette... I wish we could've had more of him

[@A.C31]

More? Wasn't he large enough??! I know, poor attempt at humor on my part but I couldn't resist.

[@adamakoroma1611]

This man was really good, sad to hear he passed. Rip💖🙏.

[@jodylomel8103]

Wow! He was working so hard for a laugh in the beginning. And it was really funny. But he was funny no matter what he did.

[@milo.7892]

Clean and very funny, love you mate, rip. 😅.

[@WellbredNfedKembleTV]

I became aware of John Pinette about 5 years ago. HOW DID I MISS HIM? Like so many BRILLIANT comedians, his talents as a singer & actor were "in my opinion" under-utilised. And maybe that's what he wanted. Carole Burnett was the same ...magnificent voice but seldom could play a torch song straight. Very sad John is gone ...and poignant, that the thing that killed him was also what made his career. A lovely sensitive man.

[@patrickmcgourty5602]

Mike McDonald hosted this show in the 80s on Boston Cable TV on Sunday nights. He would have different comedians every week. Was a good show

[@tomitstube]

i hate putting people on a pedestal because the always let me down, but john seemed like such a sweet guy, funny, clever, modest, unassuming.

[@mule666]

All of the frustration of loosing weight ganing weight an loosing again ..all his frustration in comedy this made him so good he is missed..

[@ohyousooners]

No doubt this video gives off that 1987 feel!

[@timetowakeup6302]

I was 5 years old and I remember it well

[@joangravitz3280]

He was sooooo young.

[@LeoLove77]

I never knew he was this funny at stand up . I dont know I missed this in the eighties. R.i.p john pinette

[@michelleouellette7616]

I wish I knew about him before he passed!!!

[@MrAdomus]

Ladies and Gentlemen, John Pinette, aged 23

[@bigwillietheb]

he was only 23 here & just getting started & at this point in time I never heard of him until 3 years later he made a guest appearence on ALF

[@michaelwargo5702]

RIP you big beautiful man❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@frysause934]

Hilarious without any curse words. And some deep incite which most people will not understand.

[@markevan1]

He swore plenty. F bomb and all. You haven't heard all his stuff I guess. And.... it's insight, not "incite".

[@billlodovico8310]

RIP Mr Pinette! He was a very funny man.

[@theothertroll]

and very fat, now he's very dead ~

[@cawilliams355]

Amazing comic! Even though he's gone, he's still making people laugh :) rip mr Pinette

[@pjhimself252]

“If he’s not gay, he’s pretty happy”. John just being funny and good at it. Pure laughs the only goal.

[@lgl5701]

Wow, so different. I knew he did accents, I didn't know he did impressions! Thanks for the post.

[@LeenaStark]

No other comic during that era could ever claim that they had worked w/ the *Chairman of the Board* himself, Frank Sinatra. John was the last of them. Rest in eternal Love Johnny Boy ❤

[@GESSO217]

I saw him perform live. He was absolutely amazing.

[@Surferjo]

Very funny I’ve never seen or heard these jokes from him thank you for posting it anymore

[@drexmaverick]

Never get enough that Miami Sound Machine Chipmunk style

[@petereasy1973]

My goodness. How young he is. He doesnt look yet 20

[@NoteFromSELF]

I was a Senior in high school in 1987 so he would be 23 here. He was 5 years older.

[@michelemahone]

Thank you so much for posting this, I just loved him. RIP

[@jonrosenlof3536]

One of the few true funny men.

[@jamesmanzano5231]

His comedy changed so much from his earlier time.

[@FreethinkingSecularist]

That was good. I see some of the passion existed early in his career.

[@theothertroll]

passion for crap food that made him fat and dead at 50 ~

[@fbboringstuff]

theothertroll revel in being feckless I see

[@iwanaGoFast2010]

It’s good to see him doing something besides I’m fat jokes.

[@LizardoiL]

but his fat jokes are the cream of the crop

[@debrarobinson4152]

:-( so sad he's gone just think how much material he would have now

[@supposedly1-2]

well he hadn't come up with a new joke since the 1990's so not much lol i love the guy he was hilarious but you can watch his stuff from 1997 and its exactly the same jokes as he did in his last two 1 hour specials. maybe with a tweak here and there for where he was but it was all the same jokes in about the same order. a lot of comedians use their old stuff mixed in but his was not a single new joke in the bunch.

[@rdean400]

I've been hoping to find a video with the chipmunk bit. One of my favorites.

[@davidkoehler3696]

Nay nay “no more buffet for all of us” post Coronavirus era

[@sweetwa089]

may you eat in heaven. RIP

[@GeorgeZ213]

you go nowwww!

[@theothertroll]

Satan is pleased you said that ~

[@davidgigac4430]

He left us too soon....It's great to see some of his early comedy...

[@theothertroll]

Obesity, liver and heart disease does that ~

[@YDNTK-ui4uc]

A Very Young John Penette

[@markevan1]

Pinette is spelled correctly in the title. Were you trying to improve on correct?

[@FishGuyDudeBroski]

I was never alive while he was bit damn hes gotta be the best comedian ive ever seen

[@shellyortiz1977]

Oww I found this old tape of jhon I was 6 ..this guy was unique always had me laughing he made so many people laugh ....rest in peace Johnny. .

[@meirwise1107]

RIP John Pinette. Funny, funny man. Gone too soon.

[@LemoTetson]

Hell of a talent. I’ve seen the same guy who introduced Pinette, introduce Barry Crimmins at a different Boston show. Wonder if they knew each other.

[@kendawa2918]

Rest In Peace, Sir.

[@tshirtjay]

That is a monster mullet!

[@massapower]

He was amazing at the beginning and that's how long it takes to become a great comedian. He reinvented himself as the Buffet man and the rest is history. Montreal comics better wake up and work on their set and get a manager :)

[@54jeanmarie]

Incredibly fabulous!! Terrible loss!!

[@PhilGeissler]

I'd hate to be the comedian following John. You'd better bring your A-game!

[@johnsexton4250]

Love John Pinette, but felt so uncomfortable when he tried to sit in the chair. They should have had a bigger chair.

[@sharontaylor4148]

He...always...made me laugh!

[@BarbieDoll-hj6qr]

he was really good ... so sad he didn't marry... RIP .

[@Arkeagood]

its funny they actually did some of thoughs songs with the chipmunk movies

[@WichitaGuy56]

LOL You actually used "thoughs" for "those"? That's probably the funniest, and worst, fuckup I've ever seen.

[@samstarr7125]

Ironically, The Chipmunks have sung Bon Jovi once and Conga twice in the later years.

[@neilparmar5705]

Comedic Gold

[@russellpensonjr.7136]

Miss him

[@phrannogirl]

He is a natural.

[@theothertroll]

naturally fat and dead at 50 from liver and heart disease ~

[@timothyyates6130]

I couldn't get past the guy with the ........ Teeth.

[@nomadiavan6560]

Why didn't they plan ahead and have a bigger chair for John? He looks uncomfortable.

[@johndolan513]

What's with the haircut in the beginning? Holy Crap!

[@CmcAFirebane]

I'd buy that Chipmunk album. Mostly just for the Funk.

[@cindycox218]

Fabulous!!!

[@maevebrain]

Who was/is Mike McDonald! Good on him for giving JP a shot.

[@TechGorilla1987]

Possibly this guy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_McDonald_(comedian)

[@michaelpryor78]

@@TechGorilla1987 Nooooo lmao. That Michael Mcdonald's from Mad TV. He's freaking hilarious though.

[@bradleyvantassal8328]

Don't know, but he looks like Rocky Dennis.

[@jfayiii]

www.comedianmikemcdonald.com/ No wiki entry, but he's an active performer still.

[@WichitaGuy56]

You probably know him by his real name .... Snaggle Puss.

[@louisg99]

Fluffy stole his act !

[@Under_Sky_Third_Gaia]

For reals

[@georges3263]

in the audience: dem mullets dogh

[@Drchainsaw77]

Wow. I haven't seen a mullet that brazen and ridiculous in a *long* time..

[@jlarose23]

Wow that was awesome!

[@boaterbil]

@ Christia... me too RIP John

[@NateB1976]

This guy looks like Marky Ramone.

[@ReneeandJimmyG]

Lets hope theres a Chinese Buffet in heaven!

[@LeeEricsson]

I’m shocked he didn’t open with his buffet jokes

[@blacquesjacques7239]

A yellow pages joke ... 1987

[@manusk40]

he was 23 in this

[@evrena5210]

So long ago!

[@jeanettecook1088]

Great video... can someone please tell me the name of the host?

[@TheBillGonzalez]

Mike McDonald...as noted in the video description...

[@jeanettecook1088]

@@TheBillGonzalez Yes I read that, but when I Googled him another person came up. Was just trying to find a biography on him. Thanks!

[@TheBillGonzalez]

@@jeanettecook1088 Yes, this Mike is NOT the Canadian Mike. Not aware of any bios of this Mike on line but you can at least start at his website: comedianmikemcdonald-dot-com​​

[@jeanettecook1088]

@@TheBillGonzalez thank you!

[@handidrummed]

It's kind of a strange that Joan outlived John, at least by a few months. They both died in 2014.

[@steveco191]

I spotted Jerry Seinfeld in the audience

[@videowatcher0975]

Several of them.