Foster Brooks’ portrayal of a drunken airline pilot causes Dean Martin to lose his composure on The Dean Martin Show, a standout in television’s golden era alongside shows like The Danny Kaye Show, The Carol Burnett Show, and Laugh-In.
It’s hard to erase memories of Martin sharing laughs with luminaries such as John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr., Kay Medford, Jimmy Stewart, Jonathan Winters, and many other notable guests.
In this comedic sketch, Foster Brooks, affectionately known as “the lovable lush” for his portrayal of a tipsy character, enters an empty nightclub where Dean Martin and his pianist Ken Lane are conversing by the grand piano during a break. As Brooks, in his stumbling and slurring manner, reveals himself as an airline pilot, the audience erupts with laughter. Even Dino himself can’t maintain his composure and starts chuckling at Brooks’ antics.
Remember, this is all in good fun, as Brooks had actually quit drinking in 1964, despite his convincing performance. Keep an eye out for the moment when Brooks breaks character to take a bow before exiting, reassuring viewers that it was all just part of the act.
Similarly, Martin’s on-screen persona as a suave ladies’ man was always accompanied by a drink and cigarette, though in reality, the whiskey in his glass was simply apple juice.
Despite initially hesitating to take on the series due to his busy schedule with movies and nightclub performances, Martin eventually relented when the network agreed to his extravagant demands. Even though he joked about it, saying, “They went for it, so now I have to do it,” his enjoyment in the sketches is evident.
Fans couldn’t help but sympathize with Martin’s inability to keep a straight face, finding the whole situation incredibly amusing.
“Absolutely the funniest segment ever!” exclaimed another fan. “My dad and I would watch these when they first aired, and we’d end up gasping for air, tears streaming down our faces! Foster just keeps hitting Dean with those jokes, it’s unbelievable! Bless you, Foster.”
Check out Foster’s hilarious routine with Dean and Ken in the video below. You won’t want to miss it, and you’ll definitely want to share it with a friend!