Thicke of the Night

This show was ahead of its time and featured some brilliant comedy. Belzer was Alan Thicke's co-host, and their banter was quite witty. The show did poorly in the ratings and didn't last long. But it took chances and made an impression on many young people. There was a Beatles' sketch that was pretty well known. You have to remember there was no Comedy Central, or original programming on HBO to nurture creative minds like those in this show. If this show had started on Comedy Central it would have been a huge hit.

I remember it, anyway. I'm not sure whether or not Chloe Webb was the one who did this sketch on the show, but I recall an actress doing a recurring role as a street walker being interviewed. She would describe herself to the interviewer as "a working girl" and he would ask "Oh really? What kind of work do you do?" She would then give him a devastating are-you-for-real look that was hilarious. (Sorry, no one could put across this payoff without a picture.) Guests included Liza Minelli and, I think Michael Sembello (hit song "Maniac"). Since they were kept from getting many big celebrities, they tried making their own such as Joy Browne, then a local radio-talk-show-host-psychologist, but more qualified than "Dr." Laura or Joyce Brothers. Another guest was Thicke's wife-at-the-time, Gloria Loring, who was a soap actress, lovely singer and singular beauty.