Rodney Dangerfield Knocks ‘em Dead on The Ed Sullivan Show (1969)

Rodney performs his classic stand-up on The Ed Sullivan Show on November 23, 1969. He shared the stage that night with The Rolling Stones, Ella Fitzgerald and Robert Klein.
0:59 “My wife just got her license to drive. And I'll tell ya, since my wife is driving, she now has two men in her life. Me, and a body and fender man.”
3:29 “And I'll tell ya, in my apartment, nothing works. I got a radio, I can hardly hear it. I got a television set, I can't make out the picture. But when my wife opens her
mouth, perfect reception.”
5:32 “I tell ya, you know the trouble with me? I appeal to everyone who can do me absolutely no good.”
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[@Jaydoggy531]

Don't let anyone beat you down because you haven't achieved your dreams yet. Two years prior to this taping, Dangerfield was still making his living as a metal worker. He was still doing hell gigs hoping to be discovered. His big break wasn't until he was a last-minute SUBSTITUTE act on Sullivan. He was already in his late 40s. So when you think about putting down that pen, brush, or instrument: don't ever forget why you picked it up int he first place. You only stop being an artist, writer, or performer when you put it down yourself. You ARE an artist. You ARE a creator. You always will be.

[@love-ebikes]

Thanks for the background as I skipped wikipedia once I read he did this gig to watch it. You can see he's not fully confident but relaxed a bit when the audience laughed out loud for the first time. This is still brilliant and stands up in 2022, awesome! Don't know many of his films but apart from Bill Murray, he was the standout in Caddyshack. One of my fav movies :-) Rip Harold Ramis too.

[@adrianpoesiat]

I read about it in his autobiography. When he was doing siding he was always writing jokes and putting them in a duffle bag. After a year he arranged enough for a set then went to the Catskills to try them out at a hotel.

[@foobarmaximus3506]

Old news.

[@isambo400]

Dangerfield was actually talented though, unlike the people reading this

[@vSIG_]

@@isambo400 Talent can be wasted when you lack self confidence.

[@SpaceCadet4Jesus]

Sedate crowd. Should have passed out free drinks first.

[@armandocardona4478]

Rodney was a true original and everything was perfect, the tempo, the voice pitch, the delivery, the mannerisms, plus he really knew how to tailor his jokes to the audience. SORELY MISSED.

[@Male666chauvinist]

Well said

[@greglapointe1311]

"I went to my doctor, he told me I was crazy. I said I want a second opinion. He told me ok, you're ugly too."

[@spitshinetommy3721]

Rodney Dangerfield was still developing his iconic act at this point. It would become more polished (and funnier) as time went on.

[@thommysides4616]

He was cleaner here then he was on Carson years later. Mostly G rated jokes, but they were funny. I'm glad Ed discovered him!

[@darrenthetuber743]

Outside of tightening up the set ups, it was pretty much the Rodney we grew to love.

[@lorettalynndavis9695]

*LOVE love love Rodney Dangerfield! One of THE funniest guys on the Planet!* R.I.P.

[@rusticstonetree]

Rodney was an endangered species and one of a kind - never to be duplicated - the funniest of all time.

[@KenNickels]

My girl friend called me and told me to come on over, no one is home. So I came over. No one was home!

[@paulpagani182]

Ken Nickels that was a really really good joke.

[@pheresy1367]

Yeah... and my wife... not too smart, she actually watched someone steal the car from the driveway, she tells me NOT to worry.... She wrote down the license plate number.

[@mathewgodfrey1517]

😂

[@rimaman8681]

for all the fans of stand up comedy just when you thort it was all over when yoy thourt there were no more goody comediens left serch steve hughs

[@libradacastro5248]

@@rimaman8681 goodbless..,,,

[@markshaggy7914]

This man was simply legendary. Such pure, clever, brilliant comedy. R.I.P to the king 👑 of one liners.

[@SPORTSNUTIM]

They don’t make comedians like they used too. Class act Rodney. RIP

[@sanjayd411]

A legend...RIP Rodney, you’re still just as funny as you were back then....🙏

[@dbkparm]

He's dead.

[@jeffcolorado]

I had a joke I wanted to submit to Rodney, because I think it would have been perfect for him, but sadly he died before I could do so. "I don't get no respect. Last week my car broke down on the freeway. I asked a guy for a tow. He gave me a finger."

[@wkliskey]

that is pretty good.

[@bornetocrywolf5965]

Jeff B I'm stealing that one. Good stuff

[@jeffcolorado]

@Kanga Guru Glad you liked it. I wish I could have heard him telling it. His cadence would be perfect.

[@huskyjerk]

Great one, Jeff B !

[@Kazyman]

LOL....nice! Here's one of mine he could've done something with (right after his, "I attract everyone that can do me absolutely no good,".....I was next in line at The Dollar Store the other day when I hear my cashier's voice over the intercom: Price check on 3, please.

[@MyPenman]

When I visited Boston, I dropped into Cheers - nobody knew my name!

[@robinmcdonald687]

Remember him well....always a class act....rip...

[@lawrencehubbell9397]

I felt honored by his friendly conversation when I found the nerve to speak to him at my NYC gym.

[@anonygent]

I still remember the line that really got Jay Leno... I can't even drive by the gas station without being reminded that I'm 76 and I've got one orange ball.

[@menzamenza6648]

I’ll tell ya.. I get no respect, the other day I found my birth certificate... it was a written apology from the Trojan Rubber Co

[@johngallagher72]

I tell ya no respect . No respect

[@mack3744]

No respect at all

[@nunosoares2329]

RIP Ed Sullivan and Rodney Dangerfield. Long overdue condolences to both families :-(

[@robertmartinez1645]

I went to my Dr, I said Dr. I want to stop aging.... So he gave me a gun!

[@johngallagher72]

Was it Dr. Vinnie Boom Batz?

[@Jett-xz9vu]

😳 My psychiatrist 👔told me that I have a split personality So..I paid him half, and told him to get the rest from the other guy

[@chrisrivera236]

Jett 7276 OK that was funny 😆

[@NeilYockey]

His comedic genius comes through even though he hadn't developed his catch phrase yet.

[@johnwoodruff8639]

"No respect"!

[@michaeljayklein500]

His timing, delivery: a comic poet.

[@DougCameraMan]

He didn't seem to straighten his tie as often as he did in later TV appearances. It became his trademark. He knew what worked. A funny guy ... always made us laugh.

[@ms-vv2gg]

This is the most restricted I've ever seen him.

[@wiseguymaybe]

And yet this was the appearance that started his career as a successful comedian.

[@ollietamuff3340]

Not at his best. He was better on Carson.

[@halc.2899]

@@ollietamuff3340 In 1969 on the Ed Sullivan show the censors were still in control.

[@ollietamuff3340]

@@halc.2899 I suppose you're right. They censored the Stones for Let's spend the night together. Ed Sullivan show wanted them to say Let's spend some time together. So much for freedom of speech. Lol.

[@machineofadream]

The one nice thing is that I hadn't heard most of these jokes before. In most of his other routines there are a few I heard multiple times.

[@animalblack8482]

He was a standalone talent ❤

[@lanceguranovich6299]

I second that.

[@wrclb5242]

He is one of my all time favorite comedians.

[@DanielBusbey]

Rodney was a man who came up from nothing...and brought it along with him !

[@thommysides4616]

lol

[@johnwoodruff8639]

Good one!😅

[@keithjames753]

Man. I was a kid when these videos were on TV. Both my parents were alive (now gone), and we laughed all of the time. The 70s and 80s were the best years of my life.

[@Lerch-zc3ww]

Me too...kinda sad isn't it?

[@Anituer13]

Im jealous...

[@OMGWUNSIU]

Lerch 2013 Yea before political correctness and diversity...

[@GigaBoost]

Life sucks Keith end it you'll never be happy again

[@Crazyweazelbear]

@@Lerch-zc3ww everybody will be there .

[@Blacksheepishot]

Sad that good things last but a short time. Dangerfield is gone miss him...

[@kkampy4052]

Love Rodney, he was the best.

[@shadowpawn]

Amazing how is jokes till translate 50 years later!

[@sammoland9628]

I don't get any respect! Last week, my tie was on fire! Some guy try to put it out with an Ax!! 😋

[@sammoland9628]

I tell You, it aint easy being Me! Last Month, I went to the mall to see if I could buy a pair of pants. I discovered that I lost my reading glasses, so I went to the Lost and Found. They told me to Get LOST!! 😕

[@sammoland9628]

Even when I was a Kid, I didn't get any respect! On my first day, in first grade, when it was time to go home, as I was walking out of the classroom the teacher caught up with me and she said, "Rodney, you don't have to worry about giving me any apples!" I said, "Really?" She said, "Yes! Because You're already driving me Bananas!" 🍌

[@Nebula_Ultra]

he was a jewish cuckold

[@motnosniv]

Rodney was always my favorite. He gets lots of respect from me. God bless you. I took my wife to the beach. People asked me what l used for bait. So many great jokes.

[@scottmiller6495]

Great times 1969, Rodney and Ed Sullivan what a fabulous time this country was and much better than now !!!!!

[@mrmjb1960]

In Billy Joel's Tell Her About it. Ed is recreated and Rodney makes a surprise appearence at its ending!

[@davidcutts9079]

"I called suicide prevention, they put me on hold!!!"

[@tomfaranda]

The Ed Sullivan show, he had to keep it clean.

[@superbrighteye]

and maybe he had slowed down the tempo just a little bit

[@gentlemensedge5503]

@Brown Paw Rude ass!

[@Forevertrue]

Richard Pryor turned comedy into dirty garbage. He burned up too late.

[@brooklynboogie1405]

Ineluctable Smith fuck you 🖕🏽

[@kingcurmudgeon8685]

Nah he hadn’t came into his own yet.

[@kevinshaughnessy2528]

😕 Last week my 👔daughter failed her driv"in test! She couldn't get used to the front seat.

[@anonygent]

I liked his kid jokes. My daughter gets picked up so often she's starting to grow handles. I said to my son, "You're young, you don't have it upstairs." He said, "You're old, you don't have it downstairs." All the boys call my daughter "Federal Express," because whenever she goes to a guy's place, she absolutely has to be there overnight. I said to the boy, "Someday you'll have kids of your own." He said, "You, too!"

[@JayDogTitan-he6wo]

Quite simply the greatest comedian that ever lived.

[@utubelogin1975]

This guy could poke so much fun at himself and come out so suave and clean, we all can learn something here.....if you can't laugh at yourself, don't try to make anyone laugh at all.

[@thomaskomar447]

Best comedian ever His wife asked him Rodney Rodney take me somewhere I never was before I took her to the kitchen

[@dawoool]

Henny Youngman did that joke long before Rodney.

[@dbass9767]

I told my Psychiatrist, I feel terrible, I've got low self esteem and I feel like I'm nothing, he says don't worry about it, you're not worth it!

[@victorbonilla4634]

Still funny..even clean!..down 2 steps..his best joke here..and the souvenir..😂😂

[@arwiviv]

It amazes me how lost the audience was. He was killing it and almost nobody was getting it.

[@carylacamera4731]

Yes, I think he was a bit taken aback that they were somewhat lukewarm. He does the same act on Jackie Gleason, you can see the clip and he was better....maybe less nervous.

[@estebangrijalva2443]

The audience sounds recorded

[@carylacamera4731]

The audience was definitely not sweetened. Jackie Gleason never allowed this...not in NY and not in Miami. I had been in that theater in Miami in those days. It seated a few thousand people.

[@Wickett01]

Probably the cleanest routine from him I’ve ever seen.

[@Dragon43ish]

He was a Gem. The Best of the Best.

[@gwarfiend9717]

The best part is how every one of his appearances had brand new jokes. Hardly ever a repeat. The true king of comedy

[@rimaman8681]

bhahaha, no i thought the opposite same jokes again, the doctor second oppinion one , and the dog teaches his wife to roll over an play dead one , etc, most great stand up comedians do the same gags , steve hughs is very good better than rodney dangerfeild , and he swears and drinks thru out his gig, gota give him a look see steve hughs if you like good stand up hes one of if not the best ive seen them all and laughed but steve is very very good trust me

[@johnszorc7481]

@@rimaman8681RODNEY IS WAY BETTER!

[@thommysides4616]

I've seen many videos of Rodney on Carson from different years. He did repeat his jokes two or three years later on Carsons shows. It sticks out now, because you can view KZbin videos of Rodney spanning several years, but in those days most people didn't have vcrs etc, so he figured he could get away with it. I bet Carson remembered though......

[@lawrencehubbell9397]

This material is not as solid as in later years and the response is sometimes sparse, but he is unflappable staying committed to his jokes and personna.

[@Branden-vl9sl]

@@thommysides4616 not necessarily about getting away with it. You can only come up with so many jokes about anything. No comic is unlimited. He used his best stuff he could come up with.

[@rickmay1434]

Rodney Dangerfield, and Foster Brooks,the best .😆😆.

[@hungfao]

Very wholesome....perhaps too wholesome. Ed was very strict on what he considered allowing on his show.

[@Trainy2]

Rodney's best jokes were certainly not wholesome

[@pheresy1367]

Some of the imagery was extremely tawdry in this set. I'm surprised Ed would have allowed it... I mean "souvenirs" nearly killing him? Followed by Topo Gigio?

[@tyloveland7291]

This video sucks!!!

[@lennyanders1639]

"We were so poor we couldn't afford tinsel on the Christmas tree so we had to wait for my grandfather to sneeze" .

[@janetduncan87]

Just can't believe he went as far back as this.. he was the best if the best..his movies were always funny..

[@ArthurGoodlad]

He was brilliant.

[@Loveismygift]

I often pause his comedy skits so I can laugh more. That bit about like father like son, that actually happens... when I was young, someone told me I had my moms nose and ears. I cried. My mom laughed. I don't mind now that I'm older. Seriously funny.

[@Handiman544]

He had to clean his act up for the Sullivan show...for obvious reasons.

[@mrmjb1960]

Most of this was on the Arista Album.

[@pheresy1367]

Although it was cleaned up for Sullivan, it was still way more lowbrow than what you'd expect to see on an Ed Sullivan show.

[@TheAvenstar]

He never was exactly dirty -- a little off-color at times ...that was about it.

[@y2m226]

Ed Sullivan was a crotchety, old-fashioned jerk. I'm surprised to this day that entertainers had to kiss that square peg's ass to make it

[@dougplein6075]

My girlfriend used to be afraid of the dark. Then she saw me naked, now she's afraid of light.

[@stevenbaer5849]

My parents and I watched the Ed Sullivan Show in the 1970's as a little kid. Mr Sullivan would call it Really Big Shoe. It was a great, clean, family oriented TV show episodes back then. So called nowadays need a great TV show episodes like that back then but yet they don't.

[@PitchToTheRhino1]

Very tame. he can't let loose on Ed's show.

[@DannyChan131]

sportster1988 - that's not fair, Morrisons a different breed hahaha

[@justinb954]

im not sure you'd call Morrison letting loose. only if you watched the Oliver stone version were he dramatized it. now in New Haven & Miami he let loose.

[@justinb954]

They actually got paid for Ed's show. Not like today.

[@Mxyzptlksac]

Not on 1969 tv at all.

[@archie34734]

Rodney's delivery here was much more relaxed and less frenetic than his performances later in his life. I liked the more relaxed style and delivery of this performance.

[@junjungatbos3548]

"Nunzio's..i mean, the star of the show was a rabies infected dog act"

[@pjabrony8280]

"The kind of shades, you want 'em to go up, you got to pull 'em down." Yeah, I remember those.

[@jacksagrafsky4936]

Remember on Sunday nights always watching the Ed Sullivan show. That was when I first saw Rodney. His routine was funny and I laughed, and knew I had found a great comic. The years went on and he would get funnier. Rest in Peace you have my and many others respect.

[@darthdrow4148]

Best stand up bar none

[@mekrabj2901]

How'd I get here? I was watching puppy videos next thing I know I'm watching Rodney Dangerfield clips. R.I.P Mr Dangerfield.

[@sammoland9628]

Mekrab J check out the very funny videoclip titled, "Retarded Dog Remix" with the sound of the news broadcaster being hijinxed by jim carrey from, "Bruce Almighty"!

[@CARDUELIS999]

I love how nervous he was when he came out, and then... he got The Rodney.

[@mariovision705]

I know my wife cheats on me.... Eveytime i come home the parrot says "Quick out the window!"

[@davidnieve6444]

Rodney was funny from the day he was born to the day he died! And after!

[@reg5381]

How cool to have the Stones warm up an audience for Dangerfield.

[@mariaorsic9763]

Really bad! And I love Rodney! He felt confined on the Ed Sullivan show! Carlin had the same problem.

[@alhillx]

It''s clear he has a sophisticated perspective. It leaks out sometimes. But there is also an amazing universality to his jokes. Both of those things are authentic. Also his pace...modern comics tell a funny joke, then strut around the stage for 15 seconds laughing at their own joke. Rodney loads up the next one before you're even ready for it. He's playing with his food out there.

[@hushmoney2058]

What's a Fat Girl and a Moped have in Common ???? There Both fun to ride Till you get caught on one ....True Story

[@albertdemarco9324]

Hello! A spider hang crawl down his web where a man sit on his house steps. Spider say hello. Man say hello. Man shake hand of spider. Spider say hey that not my hand or leg you shaking. Duh was my joke silly and funny?! 💈🚝🚓🚦🚠🌝☄️

[@richardbowes6897]

as time went on, he got a bigger crowd, and more respect.

[@samuelcheverez7100]

He was hilarious for someone who had such a tragic life.

[@mrkenz7566]

Great man really enjoy watching him!!

[@JohnLeePedimore]

The other day my wife told me to take out the garbage....I told her I already did.....she said "Well go keep an eye on it".....

[@PitchToTheRhino1]

You cooked it. You put it out.

[@kerryincolumbus]

John that's great!!

[@funch357]

Pitch's is better.

[@ltdan5922]

As for me, when I was born I was so ugly, the doctor slapped my mother instead of me!!!

[@pedenmk]

Rodney is one of the funniest men ever

[@jasonoakley6608]

I was lucky enough to see him make a surprise visit to the Laugh Factory on Sunset circa 2003. He was in failing health and carried a cheat sheet but was funny as hell nonetheless.

[@brsbrs799]

Still makes me laugh

[@kennethmcinturff8712]

P

[@roserey9064]

I love him ♥

[@detamanage204]

Rodney, you will always be remembered as one of my favorite Comedians of all time.Rest in peace.

[@WichitaGuy56]

I agree. When I think of Rodney, I'll say to myself ... "He was one of Deta Manage's favorite Comedians".

[@Dante-fk3ku]

Like Rodney. But Red Skelton is my fav.

[@dmmchugh3714]

"I asked my father why we don't go to the zoo anymore. He said 'If they want you, they'll come get you' ".

[@chrismei8580]

"I tell ya I've played some tough places. Aldo's...formerly Vito's....FORMERLY Nunzio's....tough place, Nunzio's I had dinner there once...they served me broken leg of lamb...😜"

[@Trainy2]

It's funny what the audience laughed at back then. It seems they appreciated the delivery more than the joke.

[@vinyltapelover]

Trainy I learned that"the delivery" can be everything. Some years back, I saw a documentary with Ron White. He, like a lot of comedians, had been working at his craft, but what pushed his act to a new level was a suggestion from one of his pals, maybe Foxworthy, I'm not sure. He knew Ron White was funny , experienced and good. An idea hit him to suggest to Ron White to make a small change in where and when to deliver his jokes' punch lines. He's been golden ever since. I guess we could consider these folks as actors doing a one person show. It's a tough business with no safety net.

[@estebangrijalva2443]

this was probably before he went with his iconic one liners - but none of the less, Rodney Dangerfield was funny no matter what

[@abc456f]

Too tame. And his timing was too slow. On Johnny Carson he fired out the jokes like a machine gun.

[@Jesse11P]

He was already 46 when he appeared here. He was late but still great

[@SeekingHisWill]

Love Rodney! My favorite comedian.

[@drzoidberg844]

Ken D Black Negro

[@AdrianMutu87]

this had a really good melancholy feel to it, less funny than his later acts but pretty deep

[@beltwaybandit5333]

Al Gore is now the spittin' image of Rodney: poor Rodney !

[@aldemardelapuy8997]

Beltway Bandit Al Whore does look like Rodney!

[@darknitethunder]

Careful Aldemar Delapuy, or ya might wake-up Rodney.

[@funch357]

Hey, Al Gore was pretty damned funny when he was on Saturday Night Live shortly after the Supreme Court decided he lost the presidential election. Did you see that one? The skit he did w wife Tipper and now *Sen.* Al Franken as Stuart "I'm good enough; I'm smart enough, and doggonit people like me" Smalley was *fantastic*!

[@darlenevicars3988]

Gore is nowhere near Rodney... Rodney worked for a living Gore lied and screwed over America... and joined hollyweirds idiots..

[@waynefletcher9884]

I had a joke that would have been great for Rodney. “My friends family was so poor, after dinner I helped him wash the hubcaps!” But hell being 57 you’d have to be my age to know what hubcaps are anyway! 👀🤔😆

[@milansasich4613]

The best comedian in the world 🌎.

[@Mark-yy2py]

It seemed Rodney may have had a discussion with Ed beforehand, to keep it clean. Rodney is best with his no respect and sex jokes...

[@tjmctube]

I think that's how my wife passed her driver's test. Two weeks later she had her FIRST speeding ticket.

[@StyrbjornStarke]

I dont often laugh at stand ups but this actually made be laugh out loud a few times.

[@canadianroot]

He hadn't learned how to tailor his act for TV at this stage. He really got better later, and when he was allowed to be raunchy, he was on fire.

[@TheAvenstar]

I didn't even know he was nationally recognized in 1969! I never heard of him until well into the mid- 70's. "I told my dentist my teeth are getting yellow ...He told me to wear a brown tie."

[@ralphmoore7812]

No respect. On my birthday my dad gave me a picture of a cake. Classic.

[@arkdecanine5782]

Pretty tame for Rodney. It must be the venue.

[@moondogaudiojones1146]

Brilliant stuff! Have always loved this guy!

[@botwitaprice]

back then he was still King of the One-Liners

[@woody7999]

Is this crowd sleeping or what?

[@josephmarkley7536]

This is probably the least funny I've ever seen him.......this kinda sucks