Friday, August 24, 2012

R.I.P. Phyllis Diller.


At TIAH Blog we note the passing of Phyllis Diller on August 20, 2012 at the age of 95.   Her TV appearances on THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW, BOB HOPE SPECIALS, and the like were unforgettable.  
Update: December 2012: Here's Phyllis Diller on GET SMART, as Maxwell Smart's plastic surgery gone wrong!

...And below on FAMILY GUY! 


She also had somewhat of a secondary career in animation, voicing Peter Griffin’s mother on FAMILY GUY, was a rival to ANIMANIACS’ Slappy Squirrel, and even met SCOOBY-DOO! 

Phyllis Diller was a pioneer for women in the world of stand-up comedy – and for that, as well as her unique talents, she is to be admired.  She got that way by being both funny and gutsy.   

…And, given the time she did this (2001), you can’t get much gutsier than her “nude” appearance on the late and lamented FOX sit-com TITUS. 

…Then, she even drops the towel! 

Rest in Peace, Phyllis Diller… generations of comedy practitioners and fans are in your debt.  

My hat's off to you... but my towel stays on!
 

2 comments:

Chris Barat said...

Joe,

Diller also made an appearance on H-B's WAIT TILL YOUR FATHER GETS HOME in the 70's. One can easily understand why her persona was considered a "natural" for adaptation into animated form!

Chris

Anonymous said...

Diller blazed a trail for Joan Rivers, Ellen DeGeneres, Kathy Griffin, Pam Stone, and, really, any other female stand-up comics that I could name.