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Comedy has had a substantial impact on this year’s presidential election discourse, as evidenced by Kamala Harris’ recent Saturday Night Live cameo, Tony Hinchcliffe’s racist Trump rally jokes and, most recently, an endorsement from one of the supporting cast members of Newsradio (Andy Dick’s silence is deafening).

But this isn’t the first time that the worlds of comedy and politics have overlapped during a presidential election. In fact, it’s been argued that a TV comedy was responsible for helping elect one of the shittiest presidents of all-time: Richard Milhous Nixon.

As any Boomer will tell you, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In was a freewheeling sketch series that paired the absurdity of the vaudeville era with the contemporary politics of the late 1960s counterculture movement. It was very much the hippie aesthetic packaged and sold for mass consumption. It also helped launch the careers of Lily Tomlin and Goldie Hawn.

Lynn Loring, who appeared as a young actress on Search for Tomorrow, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and The F.B.I. before becoming one of the highest-ranking female executives in Hollywood at the time, has died. She was 80.

Loring died Dec. 23 at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center after a series of chronic illnesses, her son, Chris Thinnes, told The Hollywood Reporter. Her family chose not to make public her death until now.

Loring also acted in a few movies, including Elia Kazan’s Splendor in the Grass (1961), Pressure Point (1962) and, alongside then-husband Roy Thinnes, Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969).

When she was 7, Loring joined the new CBS soap opera Search for Tomorrow in September 1951 for the first of its 35 seasons. She would portray Patti Barron, daughter of Mary Stuart’s Joanne Gardner, for a decade until she graduated from the Calhoun School for Girls and entered Barnard College...

Si Litvinoff, the executive producer of Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange and Nicolas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell To Earth, died Dec. 26 in Los Angeles. He was 93.

His death was confirmed to Deadline by his friend Shade Rupe. A cause of death has not been announced.

Litvinoff was a practicing lawyer for more than a decade before pivoting to film production. He acquired the rights to the now-classic 1962 Anthony Burgess dystopian sci-fi novel A Clockwork Orange and developed the project with Burgess and writer Terry Southern. Litvinoff eventually recruited director Kubrick, who signed on as both producer and director.

The film, starring Malcolm McDowell as the leader of an “ultra-violence” gang in a futuristic Britain, was released by Warner Bros. in 1971 and would be nominated for four Oscars, including best picture, the following year.

Also in ’71, Litvinoff produced the drama Walkabout, set in the Australian Outback and directed by Roeg.

Si Litvinoff, the visionary producer behind Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange and the Nicolas Roeg-directed films The Man Who Fell to Earth and the Australian New Wave classic Walkabout, has died. He was 93.

Litvinoff died peacefully Dec. 26 in Los Angeles, his friend Shade Rupe announced. Rupe interviewed him for the Blu-ray release of Litvinoff’s groundbreaking 1968 film The Queen, which revolves around a national drag queen contest.

Litvinoff also produced the London-set All the Right Noises (1970), starring Olivia Hussey, Tom Bell and Judy Carne, and executive produced a Roeg-directed documentary about the 1972 Glastonbury Fayre music festival that featured performances by Traffic, Fairport Convention, Melanie and Arthur Brown.

In 1965, Litvinoff optioned Anthony Burgess’ 1962 novel A Clockwork Orange for a reported 500 and sent the book to Kubrick. While paying for screenplays by Burgess, Terry Southern and Michael Cooper, the producer sought Mick Jagger to star in it, all while Kubrick...

Bernard Slade, the Oscar-nominated writer who created The Partridge Family and wrote the enduring romantic comedy Same Time, Next Year for Broadway and the big screen, died Wednesday. He was 89.

Slade died peacefully at his Beverly Hills home from complications of Lewy body dementia, a family rep announced.

In the 1960s and '70s, Slade also developed ABC's The Flying Nun and created NBC's The Girl With Something Extra, two comedies starring Sally Field; created ABC's Love on a Rooftop, featuring Judy Carne, Pete Duel and Rich Little, and CBS' Bridget Loves Bernie, starring David Birney and Meredith Baxter; and served ...

Bernard Slade, the Oscar-nominated writer who created The Partridge Family and wrote the enduring romantic comedy Same Time, Next Year for Broadway and the big screen, died Wednesday. He was 89.

Slade died peacefully at his Beverly Hills home from complications of Lewy body dementia, a family rep announced.

In the 1960s and '70s, Slade also developed ABC's The Flying Nun and created NBC's The Girl With Something Extra, two comedies starring Sally Field; created ABC's Love on a Rooftop, featuring Judy Carne, Pete Duel and Rich Little, and CBS' Bridget Loves Bernie, starring David Birney and Meredith Baxter; and served ...

When Princess Diana was having marital problems with Prince Charles, she received a lot of negative backlash from the media. But luckily for her, the late Burt Reynolds took the attention off of Diana by announcing his separation from his wife of five years, Loni Anderson, in 1993. In Burt's 2015 memoir, But Enough About Me, the late actor recalled receiving a special thank you note from Princess Diana for diverting the media's attention away from her. Burt wrote that after "we announced the separation, the press went into high gear." He continued, "Princess Diana sent me a thank you note for keeping her off the cover of People magazine." Burt and Loni. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Although Burt was once in love with Loni, 73, he previously told People that after the divorce, he regretted marrying her. "I should have known that you don't marry an actress," he said at the time.

So heartbreaking. Burt Reynolds tragically died after going into cardiac arrest at age 82 on Thursday, Sept. 6, and now, his ex-girlfriend Sally Field has shared her reaction to his untimely death. "There are times in your life that are so indelible, they never fade away," Sally said in a statement to People. "They stay alive, even forty years later. My years with Burt never leave my mind. He will be in my history and my heart, for as long as I live. Rest, Buddy." (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Sally and Burt previously started dating in the late 1970s after co-starring in several movies, including Smokey and the Bandit, The End, Hooper, and Smokey and the Bandit II. However, they split after five years together and went on to marry other people. Burt was married to actress Loni Anderson from 1988 to 1994 and Sally was hitched to Alan Greisman from 1984 until 1993. So, why did they split?...

Jupiter, Fla – When I met Burt Reynolds in 2011, I knew I was meeting Hollywood royalty… he filled the room as a Movie Star King. He was frail at that time, complaining of the injuries he endured in the over 90 films in his career, but nothing stopped his stardom until it was over. Reynolds died on September 6th, 2018. He was 82.

Burt was age 75 at our meeting, and he still had that the charm bearing that audiences adored in his heyday in the 1970s and early ‘80s, when he was the King of the Box Office. He started in 1950s TV, bounced around in that and B-movies in the ‘60s, and found his niche as a humor-motivated “good old boy” in a series of films in the ‘70s, culminating with “Smokey and the Bandit” in 1977, his most memorable hit. But even in his later years, he broke ground with “Boogie Nights,” and worked up to the end…...

Princess Diana was grateful to Burt Reynolds for taking the attention off of her following his explosive split from second wife Loni Anderson.

In his 2015 memoir, But Enough About Me, the late actor — who died Thursday at the age of 82 — wrote that after “we announced the separation, the press went into high gear.”

Continuing, he added that “Princess Diana sent me a thank you note for keeping her off the cover of People Magazine.”

In his memoir, he went on to explain that Anderson “bought everything in triplicate, from every day dresses to jewelry to china and linens” and that...

With his passing, one of filmdom's greatest icons is gone, but what an incredible Hollywood success story! The career of Burt Reynolds spanned an incredible 60 years, beginning with guest-starring roles on TV series and a couple of shows of his own. But with an eye always locked towards the big screen, he made that leap and over the course of a decade became one of the most popular movie stars in the world. In the latter part of his life, as leading man roles eluded him, he transitioned over to becoming more of a character actor — and it's an amazing legacy he's left us. Burt is Smokey and the Bandit. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Today's moviegoers may not realize it, but Burt — born Burton Leon Reynolds on Feb. 11, 1936, in Lansing, Mi — starred in some truly amazing movies that really connected with audiences. Among them are the still-disturbing Deliverance, the ultimate...

Did you know Burt Reynolds was a collegiate athlete?! Though the late 82-year-old actor was most known for his acting roles in classic movies including Deliverance, The Longest Yard, Smokey and the Bandit, and Boogie Nights, Burt was also once an accomplished jock! Scroll down to find out which sport Burt played in college, plus learn more fascinating facts about the late Hollywood star. What sport did Burt Reynolds play in college? Burt first began receiving athletic scholarship offers for football in the mid-1950s as a 10th grader at Palm Beach High School in West Palm Beach, Fl. After graduating, Burt attended Florida State University on a football scholarship and played halfback. Burt at Florida State University in 1950. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Though Burt aspired to join the NFL, he was injured during the first game of his sophomore season. A subsequent car accident worsened his injury and Burt...

Rest in peace, Burt Reynolds. The iconic actor has died at age 82, Us Weekly confirmed on Thursday, Sept. 6. The Smokey and the Bandit star passed away after going into cardiac arrest at a Jupiter, Fl hospital with his family by his side, a source revealed to the news outlet. Fans have been concerned about Burt's health in recent years after he stepped out looking unrecognizable on multiple occasions even though his manager recent claimed it's been "perfect." Years ago, Burt broke his jaw and lost 30 pounds by not eating and reportedly became addicted to painkillers for several years. In May 2009, he underwent back surgery and in February 2010 had a quintuple heart bypass. Credit: Getty Images However, Burt never wanted sympathy from anyone through all his ups and downs. "Burt is one of the last of his era — a genuine tough guy," an insider once told Closer. "The last thing he...

Rest in peace, Burt Reynolds. The iconic actor has died at age 82, Us Weekly confirmed on Thursday, Sept. 6. The Smokey and the Bandit star passed away after going into cardiac arrest at a Jupiter, Fl hospital with his family by his side, a source revealed to the news outlet. Fans have been concerned about Burt's health in recent years after he stepped out looking unrecognizable on multiple occasions even though his manager recent claimed it's been "perfect." Years ago, Burt broke his jaw and lost 30 pounds by not eating and reportedly became addicted to painkillers for several years. In May 2009, he underwent back surgery and in February 2010 had a quintuple heart bypass. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) However, Burt never wanted sympathy from anyone through all his ups and downs. "Burt is one of the last of his era — a genuine tough guy," an insider once told Closer. "The last thing...

Rest in peace, Burt Reynolds. The iconic actor has died at age 82, Us Weekly confirmed on Thursday, Sept. 6. The Smokey and the Bandit star passed away after going into cardiac arrest at a Jupiter, Fl hospital with his family by his side, a source revealed to the news outlet. Fans have been concerned about Burt's health in recent years after he stepped out looking unrecognizable on multiple occasions even though his manager recent claimed it's been "perfect." Years ago, Burt broke his jaw and lost 30 pounds by not eating and reportedly became addicted to painkillers for several years. In May 2009, he underwent back surgery and in February 2010 had a quintuple heart bypass. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) However, Burt never wanted sympathy from anyone through all his ups and downs. "Burt is one of the last of his era — a genuine tough guy," an insider once told Closer. "The last thing...

Though it's been years since Burt Reynolds and Sally Field called it quits on their five-year Hollywood romance, the 82-year-old actor still hopes he might reconnect with the woman he's called the love of his life sometime in the future. "Burt and Sally ended on a bad note when they split in 1982, but he’d love a visit from her," a friend of Burt's exclusively told Closer Weekly in the magazine's latest issue, on newsstands now. "He would be incredibly touched if she came and they could talk over old times — the good times." (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Lucky for Burt, a long-awaited reunion with Sally, 71, could actually happen. According to his close pal, the Emmy winner is considering a move to La from Tequesta, Fl where he's lived at Valhalla, a Spanish Revival–style mansion on waterfront property, for the past 30 years. Not only would the West Coast bring him physically closer to Sally,...

For George Schlatter, the creator of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, there was a key moment when the Classic TV comedy sketch series had gone from an oddity to cultural phenomenon: Sammy Davis, Jr., an old friend, was making a guest appearance on the show. They were joking around with comedy bits involving a judge, when, according to George, Sammy came up with the phrase, "Here come da judge!", which would lead into a sketch about the banter between a defendant and a judge dressed in black robe and oversized wig (becoming a national catchphrase in the process). "We taped 'Here Come Da Judge' at two in the morning," says George exclusively. "It was so funny that we put it on the next show. Suddenly people were walking down the hall saying, 'Here come da judge.' The show went on that Monday night, and Tuesday or Wedneday morning when the Supreme Court came into the courtroom,...

When Neil Patrick Harris returns to TV next week, he won't be cracking jokes in another sitcom. Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris (debuting on September 15th on NBC) marks the return — overdue or not — of the variety show, that long-dormant format in which kooky skits, musical guests, and frenzied production numbers are jammed into an hour of family-friendly entertainment. "When you think of the variety shows we all grew upon — Sonny and Cher and Donny and Marie — those [programs] all said, 'Sit on the couch, be entertained with a little song,...

British actress Judy Carne, who was best known for starring on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, died last week. She was 76. Judy Carne Dies Carne’s passing was confirmed on Tuesday. She died at Northampton General Hospital on Sept. 3 after suffering from pneumonia, according to USA Today. Carne rose to fame on Laugh In during […]

The post Judy Carne, ‘Laugh-In’ Star, Dies At 76 appeared first on uInterview.

British actress Judy Carne, who perhaps was best known to American audiences for her role as the “Sock it to me!” girl on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, died on Sept. 3 after a reported battle with pneumonia. She was 76.

After starting her career in England, Carne made her Stateside TV debut on the 1962 CBS sitcom Fair Exchange, playing an exchange student. She went on to guest-star on such series as Bonanza, The Baileys of Balboa, Gidget, Love on a Rooftop and Big Valley. During this time, she also had a two-year marriage to Burt Reynolds.

As part of the Laugh-In ensemble...

Judy Carne, best known to fans as the Sock It to Me girl on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” has died at the age of 76, according to multiple media reports. Carne was born in Northampton, England. Her first role onscreen came in 1961 when she guest starred on an episode of the British spy series “Danger Man” opposite Patrick McGoohan, according to her official IMDb page. She became endeared to American audiences, however, when she was a regular performer on the first two seasons of the NBC sketch series “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.” She would often use the phrase “Sock it...

Judy Carne, the British actress best known for the phrase "Sock It to Me" on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, has died. She passed away after suffering from pneumonia at Northampton General Hospital in the same U.K. town in which she was born in 1939. She was 76. Carne's death was announced on Facebook by her cousin Marnie Butcher, according to the Northampton Herald and Post. "Rip Judy Carne, you're not suffering anymore," Butcher wrote. The daughter of two greengrocers, Carne rose to fame on U.K. television screens in the early 1960s, starring in Danger Man (1961)

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Update Tuesday morning with more information throughout. Carne, the gamine actress who became famous as “the sock-it-to-me-girl” on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In died Thursday at age 76 following a brief hospital stay where she was being treated for pneumonia. The Telegraph first reported the news. Born Joyce Audrey Botterill in Northampton, England in 1939, she began her acting career on television, making her debut in 1956 on The First Day Of Spring. She would go on to…...

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has written — well, dictated — a memoir called Rocks, which will be out on October 7. As you might expect, it’s filled with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The rock-and-roll stuff will be mostly of interest to Aerosmith superfans. The drugs stuff ends about halfway through, when he gets to the part about kicking his various habits. But the sex? The sex is pretty memorable. His recollections of copulation and the flirting that precedes it run the gamut from the lurid to the vaguely illegal. The best of which is his dalliance with former Laugh-In girl Judy Carne, excerpted here. It’s unknown whether Carne, who turned 75 this year, has the same fond recollections.The months before the fall of 1972, when we actually started recording our first album, were wild. I had my first and only affair with an older woman who, in many ways,...

Hollywood has given us many sensational witches over the years, with a long list of historic performances from the finest actresses. In celebration of the impending release of Nicolas Cage’s epic new blockbuster ‘Season of the Witch’, we celebrate cinema’s all-time top five witches. Hop on our broomstick and let us guide you through the expert star selection…

Susan Sarandon, Jane Spofford, The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

It is a challenge to pick the brightest light in the trio of star witches from this eighties classic. However, Sarandon just edges the pick ahead of Cher and Michelle Pfeiffer with an alluring portrayal of Jane Spofford. An understated power in the performance from the always-classy Sarandon conveys believability ahead of her sexy rival co-stars. Her on-screen electricity with Jack Nicholson rather helps as well.

The Witches of Eastwick caused controversy upon release, its misogynistic undertones left critics with easy ammunition for attack.