Laugh Trax

I remember this TV show from 1982 and it was hysterical. I can't remember exactly what night it was on, either Friday or Saturday night but I made sure that I didn't go anywhere until I watched the show. The first time I ever saw Howie Mandel was on this show playing chicken man with his rubber glove on his head. I was in tears with the humor behind that. I also remember Jim Staahl playing refrigerator man, that was one of the funniest skits that I can remember on the show. What happened ? One minute it was on the air and the next minute it was gone. I couldn't believe that it was that short lived. Hey Jim Staahl, this was your TV show and you need to know that your fans would love this show on DVD, the entire season in one package. I have friends who never saw this show but I have mentioned it a thousand times especially when I see Howie Mandel on TV. Please make all your fans extremely happy by putting this show on DVD. I would buy quite a few for my friends and family. If I loved this show that much, I know they will too. We need to bring back the good old shows that brings out the best in us and that would be Laugh Trax.

This was one of the first shows I worked on in Hollywood. I was a production assistant and moved up to location scout, then production coordinator. Carolyn Raskin, who was a producer on the classic- "Laugh-In"series, was the Executive Producer.

Jim Fisher and Jim Staahl, writing and performing partners headed up a pretty strong wiring staff. It was Howie Mandel's first show --he "killed" on it and kept us laughing on-and off the set. Gail Mathius, from Saturday Night Live, was also on the show--she was awesome and another talent was Frank Welker, who could do amazing voices and did voice work on big movies as well (including Star Wars, I think).

I also booked the short films on the show and Cold Cows, by Frank Miller which is mentioned below was one of my favorites. It can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW6XbgtNDHU

In the early 80's this show came on in NC on Saturdays after the 20 minute workout. My husband and used to try to tape some of the skits and when I say tape I mean audio. Our favorite was Jim Staahl doing "Billy Rock". His impression of Billy Graham was right on the mark and to this day we still remember a skit that he talked about going up the river to prison because of taping "Joanie loves Chachi." It was hysterical and we can still quote it after all these years. Another skit was about Genenral Hospital and the overacting of Tony Geary and how people on soaps sit around and eat cafeteria food. It was such a great show with the shades of SNL and the great cast. I would love to be able to see these great gags again. Please put these shows on DVD. Thanks

I was so sorry this show only made it through one season. It deserved more. Things I remember from the show that don't seem to be mentioned in the other reviews. The sometime low budget nature of the show made for the occasional odd setting. I remember Nicolette Larson singing on a dirt road. One time Jim Stahl was doing a fake funny music award bit. (again, standing on a dirt road somewhere). The winning song was "Disco Duck" by Rick Dees. To Jim's surprise, Rick Dees walks on to accept the award. A recurring bit was a 50s/60s style girl group called The Dinettes. It consisted of Lucy and Gail in 50s style dresses and Jim in drag. They would lip-sync songs like "Leader of the Pack" and "Foolish Little Girl". A couple of times they did a sketch that took place at "The Existential Cafe". Jim and Howie would be customers and Lucy was their waitress. Jim and Howie would frame their orders as deep, philosophical questions to which Lucy would always reply, "The bacon burger is really good." There was a sketch with Howie and Lucy as a couple splitting up and Howie just wasn't getting it, him asking if they could go have sex at one point. Fond memories. As others have said, I wish it was available on DVD.

I loved this show! It was the first time I ever saw Howie Mandel, too. My friend and I couldn't wait to see it every week. We laughed so hard, tears filled our eyes. Howie Mandel was hilarious playing the not so intelligent, "this is my first time" guy. And also, the giant rooster with the rubber glove on his head. And I don't know who the blond guy was, but I'll never forget when he was doing a skit where he was documenting a parade, and at the end he said "This is (whoever), on the lookout for horse doo" and when he was a country boy and he always said in a Southern drawl, "Howdy to your face". (I still say that to my sister when I call her.) I was hoping I could find it on DVD, but my hopes are failing. Maybe someday I'll find something on it...Just like Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories. It would be so fun to see reruns of these fantastic 80's shows.