Flying Fickle Finger of Fate

                                                                                                                                                               

Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In was a huge hit from 1968-1973. It was the mod, hippy, psychedelic satiric sketch comedy show that led the way to Saturday Night Live. One of the featured skits had hosts Dan Rowan (on the left) and Dick Martin presenting the Flying Fickle of Fate Award to dubious celebrities and politicians. According to Urban Dictionary, "This perhaps is the first version of 'flipping the bird' on prime time TV.

Some of the actors and politicians who are deserving of the Flying Fickle of Fate Award today may include:

Arnold Schwarzenegger - "I think gay  marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman."

Kim Kardashian - "I hate it when women wear the wrong foundation colour. It might be the worst thing on the planet when they wear their make-up too light."

Donald Trump - "The beauty of me is that I'm very rich."

Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In created unique catch phrases that even had Vice President  Richard M. Nixon deadpanning, "Sock it to me." Other popular sayings included "Verrry interesting...but stupid, Here come da judge, and You bet your sweet bippy."

Cast regular Arte Johnson, and contributing writer Coslough Johnson are my dad's first cousins. Coslough changed his name when he became a successful comedy writer, as his real name Howard Johnson was already taken. Because they had both moved to California before I was born, I never had the pleasure of meeting them.

Then my dad suggested that my brother and I write a letter of introduction to my famous cousin.  He sent us back an autographed picture of  his hysterical WWII German Soldier character with the inscription, "So Julie and Kenny, you are my cousins? Verrry interesting...."  I was quite the hit at show 'n tell that week.

Arte Johnson  on Laugh-In