Lidsville Interview: Charles Nelson Reilly

Interview shot for the 2006 Lidsville DVD release. Includes digressions into his early career, and a story about Lucille Ball's affinity for mashed potatoes.

[@lewiscleale5236]

Charles was my teacher first (at Burt Reynolds' school in Florida) and later, my friend. I'm still working as an actor 33.5 years after Charles and Burt started me out. Charles used to come see all my Broadway shows and I was so honored. I loved him and nobody on Earth was funnier. One memory: he came over to my tiny apartment one Sunday in the '90's to watch the Tonys on tv. I don't drink so he brought his own. It was the makings of that drink, the Manhattan, no cherry. He made a few I'm sure, but then forgot the booze in my freezer. I left it there for years cause it made me chuckle every time opened the freezer. He was the. best. I watch Match Game many nights a week to relax after my show. He gave me (and the other students) so much. I get real nostalgic missing this icon, who also happened to be my friend, who was proud of my making a living in show biz.

[@scotsmith2391]

What a fantastic set of memories to have of this moment

[@his3033]

Your story is as beautiful as he is! ❤

[@jackiwheeler6963]

What are you up to these days?

[@GlennTillema]

That's an incredible memory, thanks for sharing it! He really stood out to me in media and I knew if he was on at least he would be funny! I love that Weird Al did an homage song to him and that he practically got his own episode of the X-Files, he deserved it.

[@Deutschie]

R.I.P. Charles Nelson Reilly. You brought levity and made people happier. You made a difference !

[@cak561]

It's a responsibility if you entertain children; to be careful." How I love this man. Rest in peace CNR.

[@lauraweiss7875]

This man was a presence in my life in the 1970s. I’m rediscovering his brilliance in my very late 50s. They don’t make people like this anymore.

[@dixonnegron1083]

This is so great!!! Charles was so much fun to watch. Loved him in everything he did. He was so funny in The Ghost n Mrs Muir. Thank you Charles for entertaining us. Be at peace 🌹

[@funzjag]

Charles was great! He made me laugh many, many times.

[@travisn2875]

Always so kind to everybody and funny as hell. RIP

[@sirpoppinchuck]

I love Lidsville as a kid. I had a Lidsville lunch pail I loved it when I was a kid!!! Charles was soooo funny that laugh!!!!

[@ukmedicfrcs]

Can you imagine if you still had that today!? Wow what a collectable. I was laughing at this interview so hard I was crying.

[@hanschristianbrando5588]

I could listen to Charles Nelson Reilly for hours. Couldn't you? No one is unique like Charles Nelson Reilly anymore. And the fact that they don't make kids' shows like "Lidsville" anymore explains a lot about why kids today have so little imagination or sense of humor.

[@presto709]

When I was in middle school my friend and I constantly did our impression of Charles Nelson Reilly's grimace. Uh hnnn. I wish I had met him. He was always funny. His one-man show "Life of Reilly" is on KZbin and it's amazing.

[@nataliee.2183]

I swear he and match game and bugs bunny are responsible for my twisted sense of humor and my smart ass mouth. This is fire!!! Im a huge fan. Thank you for sharing

[@voluntaryismistheanswer]

I stayed after and talked to the stagehands and got one of his blue cards, imbued with his pipe smoke.

[@rkowalik2]

Same here! Ya darn tootin'!!

[@MuniTechnology]

...and M.A.S.H.

[@barbarapaton4005]

Loved him! He had such an endearing personality. RIP brother! 🌹

[@sharonwentlandt6281]

The first time I saw Charles Nelson Reilly on tv, was The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and It was very entertaining. RIP

[@brendalancour9573]

R.I.P Charles,you were an AWESOME Actor Thank you for entertaining us for so many years but I am sure you are Entertaining Everyone in Heaven .

[@retiredmusiceducator3612]

And, just curious, how do you know he would be in heaven, etc.?

[@vilstef6988]

@Brenda Lancour, KZbin has Charles's one man show The Life of Rreilly. If you love Charles, you have to see it!

[@clurkroberts2650]

One of the funniest interviews. Wonderful character actor and performer.

[@frisco21]

What an interesting, fascinating stream-of-consciousness, delivered by a master raconteur. Truly, I would pay cash money to listen to CNR read aloud from a telephone book.

[@rkowalik2]

Yeah, and he would have a story for at least one name out of five! 🤣

[@host_theghost507]

This was absolutely wonderful. Such a marvelous storyteller he was. I will never see Lucille Ball again without thinking of mashed potatoes.

[@Scipio488]

"How would you audition for Hoo-Doo?" made me laugh out loud.

[@kellymcquay2626]

Such a talented and amazing man

[@ms.sonshine8878]

You were very talented and one of a kind. RIP, CNR. ❤

[@davidkublin4446]

He was the best!!!! Thanks for uploading!

[@MEMORIA1316]

Such an entertainer! I could listen to him tell stories for hours. RIP💕

[@PixieyDust]

What a joy to watch! Loved the Lucille Ball story!

[@vilstef6988]

The most magical place I've ever been is on stage. Loved the story of the little girl recognizing Charles as Hodo!

[@bartman898]

You can get lost in his tangents and reminisces.....always a fun person to listen to.

[@kent3523]

Where am I, please? 😂😂

[@tyronebrown8510]

I used to watch Lidsville. It was a typical Saturday morning program.

[@vespervanliving]

yes!!

[@ricj7517]

He was a character..One of the best!

[@eduardo_corrochio]

When he said Herve seemed like he was "six foot twelve", that line had me in stitches! Love it. This video was immensely enjoyable. Charles has so many good anecdotes, and you just wish he wouldn't stop sharing memories and stories. A very wise gent, this man was. And so underrated by the public; he is probably just thought of as a mincing and goofy game show star but he was so much more. I was a kid when Lidsville aired but I preferred other stuff like Land of the Lost. I am going to seek out the show and give it a whirl. And I will think about the hot set; must have been grueling in the makeups and wigs and costumes under the bright lights. I believe the last thing I had seen Mr. Reilly appear in was the funny X-Files episode "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" which was a sci-fi/comedy gem of TV writing and acting. He gave a really nice, understated and nuanced performance in that. I hope now he is in heaven ... somewhere glamorous and fun, sipping a Manhattan sans cherry and making his friends giggle profusely.

[@robertford7810]

One of my all time favourites! God rest him 🙏

[@raulezuleta6629]

RIP.....Charles you were so funny, and the best

[@charlespittsjr604]

Loved this guy . Laughed a million times with him .

[@dennisdivine7448]

I always loved Charles Nelson Reilly. As a small child, I immediately knew that his Hoodoo character on "Lidsville" was the same guy with the witty quips on "The Match Game" on daytime TV in the early '70s. His later hosting of "Uncle Croc's Block" in the mid-'70s was epic and very much overlooked! (P.S. He turned up in the early '90s on the Saturday morning show "Space Cats".) I had read in later years that Reilly was really difficult during the tapings of this program; he didn't want to do the show.

[@stevenklimecky4918]

Love this interview. Favorite part is Lucille Ball and the mashed potatoes. "It's time."

[@Dagreenberg68]

fantastic, great performer!

[@007gunlogo]

I absolutely LOVED watching Charles - any show on which he appeared. He had a great sense of humor, an interesting voice, and his humility was always very endearing. Such a loveable guy...I really miss him.

[@dougshaw6050]

This is so delightful! Thank you for posting!

[@acbenepe]

We did an all nighter to get a monster costume to Mr Reilly's production of "the nerd" a few years before this interview. He took us out to Sardis for lunch.

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

As a child, in the 1970s, he meant so much to me. I only realized I was gay in my late teens, but there was something about him and his personality with which I felt a sense of identity. Thanks, Charles, for being who you were, openly and fearlessly.

[@bobwhite7687]

He was very funny. But why do homosexual men rarely have an upper lip?

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

@@bobwhite7687 I would need to see a statistical analysis to know whether or not that claim is accurate. I'm gay and I've noticed many stereotypes borne out, but that ain't one of them.

[@toygiants8748]

Just saw this interview. I always laugh whenever I hear his trademark "Huh-Hah!"

[@dmax64]

This was a great interview. Thanks for the upload☺

[@jamesnavarro8373]

Cannot thank you enough. Loved him on Match Game. I grew up watching Match Game.

[@0therun1t21]

I had no idea Herve' Villechaize was in this show. I'm happy C.N.R. liked him, I hope it was mutual. I'm a fan of both, I loved Herve' in Forbidden Zone.

[@HoosierMessiah]

Is anybody else watching this in 2024?

[@jackiwheeler6963]

Me! I remember him most on Match Game sitting next to Brett. He'd go on and on and on and Brett would just laugh and laugh.......

[@theneurologist1]

10-7-24 💪🏼

[@kabbey30]

Loved this guy

[@williamensign1408]

Lidsville, my favorite show.

[@lisakwaterski6707]

What a funny guy. I read a book on the horrible Hartford, CT circus fire. He was one of the survivors. I read later on that when in a theater for a production, he sat nearer to the exit in the back because of the memory of it.

[@petervance6777]

Miss him so much..irreplaceable talent😐

[@525Lines]

Like the jacket. I didn't know Lascaux cave had merch.

[@kevinbirge2130]

What a nice fellow. How nice to know this icon of my childhood was a good man.

[@jimlassiter749]

Wonderful!

[@remo1wodmnetwork9605]

Such a wonderful man

[@hairychest7865]

I just love this man.

[@i-a-g-r-e-e-----f-----jo--b]

What a guy! I know someone like Charles, he's a valued friend and really nice guy.

[@ukmedicfrcs]

I was laughing until I was crying. " Someone get a nurse ".

[@phaedrabacker2004]

A gem.

[@rkowalik2]

Thank you for this! What a guy! It took me several years to put him together with the wise guy on "Match Game" sitting next to Brett Sommers.

[@michaeljordan6008]

He was great in Cannonball Run.

[@RedwoodTheElf]

This man could make even the most villainous villain seem so hilarious.

[@theincredibleworldofmendoz7706]

We miss you! You're famous for playing the role of Red Parrot Stan from Tom and Jerry: Shiver Ms Whiskers!

[@markgordon5387]

He was a great actor. He was good as Hoodoo.

[@davelister6085]

I allways lived the episode he did on the x-files

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

I loved Hoodoo, and he drove me crazy (like he was supposed to) on Ghost and Mrs. Muir, but my favourte thing he did was Uncle Croc's Block. I absolutely loved that show and it was cancelled like five minutes after airing. Even as a kid I thought he hilarious on Match Game too. What a silly fun man. RIP good sir.

[@mehboobkm2018]

Hilarious person, I don't think anybody disliked him!

[@Tohgod]

I loved him. He was In everything when I was a kid and he was hilarious. One of my favorite’s was I think he did two X Files just great.

[@obijon2112]

In the middle of the summer…in the middle of a park…👍❤️😢

[@abundantYOUniverse]

Fantastic.

[@georgereynolds3422]

I first saw CNR in "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" and always enjoyed him as the cowardly Claymore Gregg. He could be over the top just enough without going too far, and still be the focus of attention because he was so good at what he did. R.I.P. Sir.

[@oldcountryboy]

Funny guy I loved watching Lidsville The only thing it was missing was a cute girl You did have the genie

[@thomasgriffin8269]

Billie Hayes

[@Zonker66]

Awww... this was only as a year before he died then. Also, I had a childhood nightmare thaT I've only recently found out was based on Lidsville! I forgot it was even a show...

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Very quick witted and a genuinely funny guy. RIP, CNR.

[@WKelleyLucas_KustomScatterguns]

Charles Nelson Reilly is an American treasure

[@robinparr5761]

I love this guy especially as who do him and Lucille Ball were very good friends they used to meet at a restaurant and eat mashed potatoes a restaurant which made the best mashed potatoes Lucille thought

[@MissyFaith1971]

He was so funny on tv! RIP

[@HailAnts]

I think like most Gen-Xers, I discovered him from watching _Match Game_ in the afternoon after school (the one that had the year in its name). That show was like an early SNL!

[@jackiwheeler6963]

I'm still watching it at 62.

[@525Lines]

He had a brilliant career on broadway designing sets, I think, and only got fame doing his kooky character for TV. Kinda puts the nature of fame into a new perspective.

[@dmnemaine]

I grew up in the Fall River area , right near Tiverton, R.I.

[@deus_ZOD]

RIP to a fun entertainer.😊

[@conniepaivo1692]

Rip the best of the best

[@stillaboveground2470]

🎵 "Lidsville is the Koo-Koo-Kookiest Lidsville is the Ki-Ki-Kickiest..." 🎵

[@MsBonzodog]

What a lovely man he was.

[@billplunske5573]

He was a survivor of the 1944 circus fire in Hartford

[@VinnieRattolle]

Whoops, saw the comment and assumed this was on the Sid Krofft video! CNR was a circus performer? Appropriate.

[@billplunske5573]

No,when he was a child he was in attendance at the 1944 circus fire which killed over 140 people. Many were young children

[@VinnieRattolle]

@@billplunske5573Wow, never heard that story, that's terrible. Glad he survived to entertain us.

[@patgoldammer7938]

Wow had no idea.

[@Mike-0201]

My dad was 15 and lived up the street. He and his friends heard the sirens and ran to the fire. As teens they stepped up and help get people away from the fire. His sister/my aunt was there and made it out. Gives me the chills when I hear stories about it. This blows my mind that Mr. Reilly was there too.

[@CoreyChambersLA]

Reilly's Hoodoo is an historic work of performance art.

[@theneverman]

A clever man was he.

[@travishiltz4750]

One of those people who you just stick a microphone in front of and let him talk. Great storyteller

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

Aside from Lidsville I remember him from commercials. Mostly the one for Bic Banana felt tip pens. And him in a giant banana costume. 😂

[@Soundofsilence-j4d]

Wow i didnt know CHARLES PASSED LAST OF GREAT ONES

[@carlr8061]

Funny guy , At almost 59 I use to watch Lidsville with my other hair & teeth too Charles.

[@mikeypuss1967]

[ love this man

[@Da1Dez]

His timing is hilarious! 😂

[@smoothandchunky1]

One of two most underrated and underappreciated actors CNR and Paul Lynde. I can't help but think it was directly related to their sexuality. Back then it was voodoo to be gay.

[@drlock978]

How’s that for a topper?

[@guymorris6596]

I'm sure he was on Hollywood Squares too.

[@fjccommish]

Paul Simon sang a song about CNR, Hoodoo,. "When he was on the TV And CNR would play the zapper. They'd say, "now, Hoodoo" "Hoodoo, are you just fooling?"

[@Owlzindabarn]

It's certainly news to me that Hervé Villechaize was in Lidsville. Mostly because he wasn't.

[@charlesswanson2207]

I never knew that he was on it too, yeah Charles Nelson Reilly says he was. That's weird

[@bryanpalmer9660]

He could have been one of the little people in hats?

[@charlesswanson2207]

@@bryanpalmer9660 I couldn't figure it out. When I looked up his name on the internet nothing came up about him being in Lidsville, go figure

[@FlamingoKicker]

I wouldn't say that Charles might have imagined the whole thing but it's possible his mind wasn't all there? Maybe there never was a show called Lidsville. It was just a hallucination in CNR's mind?

[@michaeljordan6008]

Yes, he was. He also did a couple of McDonalds commercials as well.

[@jackiwheeler6963]

You are missed 😢😢😢

[@lohphat]

CNR may be remembering Hervé Villechaize -- Tattoo from "Fantasy Island", but Hervé's wiki page doesn't mention Lidsville.

[@chrisgreulich]

He was very funny on Match Game.

[@edwinvalenzuela3446]

MACH GAME '73 WITH ASIDE WITH BRETT SUMMERS

[@nightowl5475]

The funny thing about the match game ‘73 cast was Brett Summers died in 1971 but no one had the heart to tell her back then.

[@michaelhband]

👍👍👍

[@c.c.hiliner1065]

He made magic with Edward Mulhare in Mrs. Muir!!