Whatever happened to Arte Johnson anyway? Seems like most of the Laugh-in cast (except Goldie Hawn, who is guesting on the Morning Show on Monday, coincidentally) have kinda disappeared (or died, as is the case with Dan Rowan himself). The show certainly was a precursor for certain components that would be used further in Saturday Night Live, with its topical sketch comedy and weekly news satire. SNL could get away with a lot more, due both to its late-night timeslot and the era in which it was produced, but in its time, Laugh-In was pretty racy, at least for prime-time.
Agreed on all your observations. I guess The Daily Show fills this void/need now.
As for the cast:
Arte Johnson went the game-show circuit, appearing regularly on "The Gong Show" and occasionally on "Hollywood Squares." Pretty much retired since the early '80s, I suppose. (The worst nightmare I ever had, btw, was that I was watching a game show with Arte Johnson guesting, and the contestant that lost reappeared on-air holding the set hostage. They kept airing it live and I couldn't stop watching. Woke up and shivered for a day.)
Ruth Buzzi helped liven up children's education by joining the cast of "The Electric Company." I believe Henry Gibson did the same for a little while, but I know he continued TV guest appearances through the '90s. Joanne Worley did "The Gong Show" and "The Love Boat" like everyone else, and now does a guest appearance on a TV show every five years or so. Theresa Graves, as we discussed a few days ago, did "Get Christie Love," then more or less retired, and died a year or two ago. (I remember this because Mike posted a snarfy headline, 'Cancer Gets Christie Love,' or somesuch.)
No idea what Alan Seus did. Or that silly Goldie Hawn. Or the fantabulous dancer Byron Gilliam. Or whether Judy Carne's still in jail.
