Make Me Laugh

This little syndicated game show gem was a staple of my senior year in high school TV viewing. If memory serves, CH39 in Houston, Texas had this show at 9:30 on week nights. Perfect stuff to end the day with.

You got to see some pretty funny comics do the best to get people to laugh at their stuff. If contestant didn't laugh, after a couple of tries by comedians, they won money. If they laughed, they lost.

I recall it had ran for only a year or so, and the host, Bobby Van, passed away in 1980. In the 1990's there was an attempt to revive the show, but the magic just wasn't there. Well for me, at least.

This is one of the funniest shows I remember from my misbegotten youth. The thing I really look back at is the fact that so many great young comics got their start on this show. Franklin Ajaye, Bruce Baum and, of course, Mister Sledge-o-matic himself, Gallagher. Too bad this show still isn't on the air.