Wayland Flowers and Madame--Interview and Cheek to Cheek, 1977 TV

[@jebbie2595]

*I don't know why Wayland Flowers is never mentioned when there's talk about influential comedians. He was absolutely brilliant at improv. Madam had a come-back for everything; never had to stop to think about it. Flowers definitely deserves credit.*

[@kenthuang436]

I’d actually love to see someone impersonate Wayland and Madame on Rupaul’s Drag Race’s Snatch Game.

[@Erzlump]

@@kenthuang436 I was just saying to a friend that Madame would be my first choice for that.

[@markhonerbaum3920]

Spontaneously with every lewd and risqué comeback imaginable, Madame a lady with heart and her hand below your belt,so be alert she might be in you back seat when you're on the road or behind your couch when you're at home, you never never never know!

[@markhonerbaum3920]

I'm beginning to catch on she's a bit risqué but a lot of class,I hope at that age I might turn a head or two in my direction and never never die!

[@royalstudies7367]

@@kenthuang436 wish anything more!

[@lorettalee9131]

What a gift this man had it's amazing how he makes madame come to life and make everyone smile and laugh RIP mr wayans

[@TampaZeke]

What an amazing talent and what a tragic loss. RIP Wayland and Madame.

[@DISCOVEGASGUY]

Wayland Flowers was an absolute genius. His quick wit and ability to create a super-human character in Madame is unparalleled. A talent like his comes once in a lifetime. God bless all of them and RIP.

[@jackieprice6666]

This was one of the best things in my childhood, I loved. Now I can watch them all over again!

[@ET-xj3qq]

Wayland Flowers was so adorable. RIP

[@cattuslavandula]

I love Wayland and Madame. Wayland was so funny and talented. The way Madame moves is so exuberant and bold.

[@KaraLynnJack]

It was so nice to see them again!! It's been so long I'd almost forgotten them

[@rcjr68]

always loved madame as a kid was a treat when on tv, even my grandmother always got a kick out of wayland n madame in the 70s

[@jhhone]

Madame is perfection!

[@MarkHolman]

He was such a talented man, I truly believed that Madame is real ! I have a queeny friend who channels her when he's had a few!

[@tomtalker2000]

Wayland TRULY had a gift in bringing Madame to life. I mean if your not looking at him and only Madame. Which obviously is the majority of the time. You'd really start thinking she's a bit real. Kind of eerie in a way since i hate dolls.

[@TomBacchus]

a fabulous gay icon, and an inspiration for my childhood puppet-making and collecting.

[@andrewvail5458]

Great memories... thanks W&M.

[@robertcarly9183]

Paul Lynde discovered Wayland. Rest In Peace, Wayland Paul and Merv.

[@atis9061]

Amen

[@davidbustamante3816]

I would watch a movie about this !

[@draghags9570]

David Bustamante that would be amazing

[@Jessie_Renfro]

I wish we didn't lose Wayland Flower in 88. It would have been great to see Madame talking with Jeff Dunham and his friends, pure comedy gold I tell you what.

[@glendale6]

The whole package. Witty ,the way he manipulated the puppet. Remarkable

[@allancuseo7431]

Loved the 2 of them... Saw them in PTown many times

[@MontreBible]

i used to love this as a kid

[@trevorthompson7604]

Brilliant I absolutely love madam

[@yoye11]

Wow he was amazing one of the best comedians of American comedy

[@brianhenson8083]

Just loved her in Hollywood Squares !

[@Cantbuyathrill]

How can a puppet have so much carisma!!!!

[@corneliuswhite5139]

"Whaddaya got?" at the end. Priceless!!🤣🤣🤣

[@reaturree3735]

I LOVED MADAM, NEVER MISSED A SHOW. I WAS SO VERY, VERY SORRY WHEN I HEARS "WAYLAND FLOWERS" HAD PASSED AWAY. SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE HAVE PAST AWAY, HOWEVER, THE SCRIPTURES MAKE IT MOST CLEAR REGARDING THOSE THAT OUR FATHER DEEMS WORTHY John 5:28-29 21 KJV "28 Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice 29 and shall come forth - they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

[@joswanell5792]

Merv Griffin was right on. ... Wayland Flowers was a HUGE talent!

[@doublebreasted1422]

So nostalgic. So cute. I used to watch her on a show called Solid Gold. I know. I just dated myself.

[@ericrivera8410]

Loved that show

[@atis9061]

I never thought of this as being “gay” it’s beyond labels , its so entertaining it’s mesmerizing

[@puffeiffer]

When an artist who deserves fame gets it, we all win. Good is good. Talent is talent. Can’t begrudge this man one bit of his massive success. I used to watch Madame’s Place as a kid. And all the jokes have aged like a fine wine.

[@robinmcbroom5994]

Incredible.

[@Jeff-tj4tx]

seems like back in the day there wasn't much to watch but there was huge talent. now there's ton's to watch but very little talent.

[@edbarker8636]

Wayland flowers and madam were absolutely unbelievably awesome and this one with Phyllis diller was absolutely incredible love to Phyllis diller such a shame she's no longer with us nor is Wayland

[@limelightny203]

How time flies

[@philiptonee6334]

Wonderful talent. ;-)

[@yodalayheehoo5447]

AWESOME!!!

[@lohphat]

Wayland censored the jokes because it was TV. The joke about being in a relationship to see if it would ever "work out". Then stops dead and stared at the camera. The joke REALLY ends with: "Yeah, it worked out once....then I worked it right back in!!!"

[@BirdsEyeViewNYC68]

Amazing.

[@denisdooley1540]

He could really bring her to life. Hilarious.

[@MrNashvilleTalks]

I met Madame! Love her!

[@tannawannavannabittannawan7138]

Clean, funny comedy.................where did you go?? God this was brilliant!!!!!!❤️ Real talent isn’t “reality tv”, this is.

[@stclairstclair]

Then you dont know the real Madame.

[@ApartmentKing66]

Funny, definitely, but "clean?" I will admit that Wayland had to "clean" the jokes up considerably for TV appearances (though they could still be off-color), but onstage at a club, yowzah, that was no place for kids.

[@stclairstclair]

rrr ccc , what do you mean, He was saying "clean" comedy, Madame was not clean she could be down right crude, we loved it, please respond.

[@TheSpinDoctor]

Did you not notice how many times Madame’s voice is muted in this clip because she says something too lewd for television?

[@zyxwvut4740]

"Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" , I hope Merv and Freddy were there, "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" . from Madame or Weyland!

[@jaymesguy239]

"I met Maude in New York Citoi years ago. She used to be in show business until her donkey died." Oh, they don't make comedy for tv or for anything like that anymore!

[@davidbustamante3816]

Jaymes Guy I wonder if anyone got those jokes

[@softwater88]

I keep thinking Madame is real. Poor Madame and Wayland Flowers.

[@TheLightFish]

Wow the queen just had her diamond jubilee

[@yodalayheehoo5447]

FAB-U-LOUS!!

[@victoriawunderlich]

❤️love Madame

[@djs2356]

He was Brilliant!

[@allansmith3962]

My friend Ron Lorigo does a great madame impression, you can hardly tell the difference between Ron and Wayland! You can see him on KZbin: Ron Lorigo, or on Facebook: Ronald Lorigo. He has some very cool videos he produced for StarLine Tours!

[@antoniomarcos5321]

When she said "can you keep a secret?", I thought the next thing she was going to say was: "25 turning 26 next month".

[@clivesmith9377]

Someone has to bring Madame back.

[@joannehines7806]

Madame is a gorgeous & classy Sagittarian socialite! Love her & probably will be her when I become a senior!! Too real, blatantly honest, a huge flirt, globetrotting, worldly & wise as heck!! 💘 👗 😍 🎶 🌹💍

[@aussiecoastie72]

Wayland was an exceptionally talented person - taken from us way too soon

[@junkboxxxxxx]

I miss the open-shirt chest hair look of the 70s

[@bluejonathanr]

OMG so good

[@kuriaki71]

Thee Greatest

[@manofmanyinterests]

I just happened to notice that, at the 12:23 mark, there is a brief second of an episode of 'Captain Kangaroo'. Would you possibly have that complete episode, or a portion thereof, and if so, do you plan to post it anywhere?

[@aeichler]

This is an old 3/4 tape recorded over whatever was on the tape, but I do have some "Kangaroo" shows and will look for them.

[@manofmanyinterests]

Thank you so kindly, Alan, for your gracious response. I would love to see those episodes. Thank you again.

[@manofmanyinterests]

Thank you so much. I look forward to seeing them.

[@HauntFreak13]

Wayland is so handsome here!

[@martincatalan1247]

It’s sounds ,,exactly like Ethan Merman . Wow!!

[@xavierdallenmusicuniverse6304]

8:56 Sounds like the music from Disney World’s “Surprise Celebration Parade” 9:38 AAAAAAH Conga

[@gonzalofelixwhartonchavez9224]

lv u grandma

[@allansmith3962]

My roomieis bringing Madame back

[@KevinWhitfield-fb9tc]

I think Madame was modeled after Jeanne Cooper.Ha!

[@scruffyjanny555]

Am I missing something but it seems weird Wayland went on the interview stage barefoot. Was that normal?

[@supachaloopa3611]

Nice interview... but why is Wayland barefoot?

[@Grokford]

Does anyone have an explanation for that interior designer joke, I can not figure out what it’s about. What’s the third thing?

[@LahDeeDah7]

I think it was "bleeped" out for TV. I'm guessing she said hooker lol

[@randycox3232]

To see Wayland speak......

[@Modernaire]

I'm interested in that 'tacky' L.A. Times story they did on Wayland Flowers and Madame. You can't find it in their website. That's a whole library research thing, bastards, talking bad about one of America's greatest acts.

[@jiritichy6855]

This Wayand has a face expression similar to Steve Mc. Queen, doesnt he?! (like in was in 7 magnificent movie)

[@cheenjoopearl]

Ah Madame, fond memories. Her eyes were a little creepy to me as a child though. It's weird how many people in Hollywood getting botox and face work are looking like her.

[@fanorama1]

Why doesn't Wayland have shoes on?

[@mchris65]

love her but can someone explain 'That way I could be all three?"

[@glenngibson9201]

Madame says, "An actress, [then they mute the dialog for the second one], or an interior designer." Since it was a close-up of the puppet with Wayland being out of frame there is no way of knowing what he said. And it's the second one that is key for the joke to work. I'm assuming it was "off-color" else why would they mute his mic or audio? Hope this helps.

[@dollyjones6476]

I'd love to see madame with Jeff Dunham

[@johnbarquinero7726]

I remember watching Madame the puppet when I was a little boy and she always would terrify me. I don't know why. LOL! I was scared of this puppet

[@daconqueror7777]

Valium!!!

[@mxtomituck]

"in bars" >_> lol

[@malvinderkaur4187]

most of the normal layer of society lives life as it comes and doesn't pay attention to how and why of most of systems of our lives. but maybe time to shake things up and do some of deep thinking as to why should you be prison of your instalments... your life has been divided into those, whether you rent or pay mortgages, your insurances, your educations pay off installments, your car installments, your furniture to maybe all appliances clubs everything YOUR LIFE IS IN INSTALLMENTS... Even till death.

[@johnsheppard1491]

Did he always perform without shoes? No judement. I wonder if he needed his feet to move madame and he could feel it better barefoot.

[@gorgiegorgie1172]

Why the editing of the dirtiest jokes?

[@junkboxxxxxx]

This was mid-afternoon television for housewives. They could take it of course, but I guess management couldn't. Seems silly

[@hudsony777]

I'd forgotten how funny and clever and sassy but not bitchy or nasty.

[@limelightny203]

You little devil you 😄

[@carolbennett860]

'

[@ceasarandrepont1243]

Back then it was fun being a Homosexual now is just politically boring!

[@pascalguerandel8181]

Merv Griffan was also gay!

[@TheLightFish]

Is Wayland barefoot? Lol

[@KendraEMoyer]

I feel like in the 1970's everyone was much more comfortable, and it would not have been unusual for a puppeteer to be barefoot at a children's show on on stage like this, but I grew up around hippies. It would not have surprised me back then.

[@albundie6689]

Wait. You can see his lips moving. I mean, is he supposed to be a ventriloquists, or what's going on here? If it's a puppet show shouldn't he at least be behind a screen or something?

[@hankaustin7091]

no.. he's never called himself a ventriloquist... you must be about 12 years old not to know who this guy was or what his act was all about.

[@LarryH54]

It's a different style. If you'll notice, the Muppet puppeteers do the same thing when you see them.

[@scharles91601]

It may be someone handling a puppet like when Mr. Roger's would manipulate King Friday, a character of his PBS children's show, or someone from above pulling the strings of a marronette, very often the success of the act rested on the extent to which the puppet "came to life." Many programs feature puppets with their handlers hidden from camera views purposely to heighten the appearance of animation since the "dolls" or "dummies" look as if they were carrying-on on their own accord. The same goes as to whether the audience can see a ventriloquist (the handler and one providing voice for the puppet) moving his lips while the puppet speaks. The best acts- like Waylan's and Madadme-worked because the character itselft was original, funny, fully realized, and so engaging that it's able to hold the uninterrupted attention of the audience-making the matter of what the handler is doing unimportant since no one is paying attention to the handler.

[@AnahataMaryjane]

when i was a little girl i thought madame was a real person.

[@randycox3232]

To see Wayland speak......