MY TOP 7 FAVORITE DEAN MARTIN SHOW VOL.2 DVD MOMENTS

Well, I've done a few SNL lists, I think now would be a good time to revisit one of my all time favorite variety shows with the coolest and most charming host ever Dean Martin. Get ready Dean fans, because here are...

"MY TOP SEVEN FAVORITE DVD MOMENTS FROM THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW VOL.2".

   ("MY TOP 7 FAVORITE DEAN MARTIN SHOW VOL.2 DVD MOMENTS" for short!)

NUMBER 7

THE BARBERSHOP WITH DEAN, NIPSY RUSSELL, DOM DELUISE, AND PETER SELLERS



Deluise and Russell, were already regulars on the show during a Season, and there would be a recurring skit where they would play as barbers, and have a special guest as a customer. While, the skit was written in advance, and that the stars would read from the Cue Cards, there was indeed plenty of improversation while filming it live on TV, and the stars goal was to see who would break character and start laughing out loud first. Well, instead of it being, Dom, Nipsy, or Dean, it was one of my all time favorite comedic actors Peter Sellers. With Peter Sellers, you didn't know what he was going to do, say, or act; and the minute when Peter Sellers starts acting gay, with his voice, mannerisms, and improv dialogue; everybody in the cast started bursting out in laughter. I'm not kidding, Seller's really sells out at playing a flaming over the top stereotypical gay guy; and the best part is, you have Dean, Dom, and Nipsy (Who calls himself the "Tolken Straight of the bit") acting all feminine, as well as talking about hair and loss of weight. In today's standards, many wouldn't find this skit PC, but personally, I didn't think it was that insulting or mean. The reason why the skit's low on the list is because this volume sadly chops the skit up into pieces, instead of showing the full run of the skit. It's a funny skit; it's one of Peter Seller's best performances; it has a great supporting cast; I just wish this volume showed the whole entire thing.

NUMBER 6

THE DIVORCE SKIT WITH DEAN, BOB NEWHART, & PETULA CLARK


If you thought the last skit was gay, here's another one. Dean (Dressed as Abraham Lincoln) and Bob Newhart (In a Bride costume) gets drunk at a costume party, and get married. However, after finding out that the two are both men, the two go to Petula Clark for a divorce. However, Newhart has some second thoughts about it. I think telling you the plot of the skit explains why I put this skit on the list, it's just incredibly funny. With great casting (Especially seeing Dean and Newhart together, doing another crap your pants funny skit); hilarious writing; and laugh-out-loud gay puns; this skit is truly one of the best skits on the show with Dean and Newhart together.


NUMBER 5

DEAN AND FLORENCE HENDERSON


This is probably one of my all time favorite duets with Dean, and a leading lady. The lady Dean sings with is Florence Henderson, and man do the two have such perfect chemistry together. As the two sing a dance melody, Florence goes from singing loud, to constantly grabbing Dean, then everything goes smoothly until the two fall on the floor, and start laughing. However, instead of stopping or redoing the number, the two begin to passionately sing to each other, while sitting on the floor, as Florence cuddles with Dean. The two then get up, sing to each other, and then dance together. This duet is to me one of the best duets in the entire show. It has energy, charm, humor, and a mistake or a two which was indeed part of the fun of the show.

NUMBER 4

OPENING MONOLOGUE AND NUMBER


This is the first time in the volume series when we actually see one of the famous recurring sketches in its entirety, and that's his opening sketch for the show. After Dean slides down the fire pole singing "Everybody Loves Somebody"; he would give an opening monologue; and then I guess after commercial break, he'd walk down a flight of stairs and sing an opening song. His monologue is him talking about his home life, and the new dressing room that NBC gave him, which has kept me laughing ever since I first saw this monologue. The song he sings is "If You Know Susie", and just like how he sung "My Kind Of Girl" in the opening of the show in my first list of this show, it's just as catchy and fun to sing-along too.

NUMBER 3

DEAN'S LYRIC JOKE WITH KANE LANE ON PIANO; THE MYSTERY CLOSET DOOR; AND A SONG ON THE COUCH


This is another famous recurring sketch that this volume also shows in its entirety. It's the skit where Dean would sit on top of the piano and as his friend Ken Lane plays it, he'd try to make Ken laugh; sing a lyric joke on the song he's singing; then he would open his Mystery closet door; and end the skit with him sitting on the couch singing, while the lights are dim. During this skit, Dean climbs on the piano, then jump on it as he usually does;  makes a joke on his wife Jeanne; sings a lyric joke of the song "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon"; tells Ken that he's his favorite piano player, resulting with Ken giving a rose to Dean; opens up the mystery closet door to find a Nudist Colony standing in there censored; and sings the straight version of "Pennies From Heaven" on the couch. It's a beautiful skit, and Dean always, and I mean always shines whenever he does it. Don't be surprised if you find this skit on future lists!

NUMBER 2

DON RICKLE'S STAND-UP



Don Rickles was given his first network break by Dean and the Director, Greg Garrison, and instead of appearing in a 5 or 7 minute sketch, they gave him an over ten minute stand-up act. They got as many popular celebrities they can find; they made the stage look like a Las Vegas Night Club; and Dean and Greg told him to pretend that it's a Night Club, and do what he would usually do. The payoff, is overwhelmingly hilariously epic. He mercilessly insults any celebrity he sees in the audience; he has a few celebrities participate in his Stand-Up act; he insults some of the celebrities by using his classic catch phrase "Dummy"; his humor is not only insulting, but it's not P.C. either (With, or without curse words); and as his act ends, he acts all nice and tells Dean how grateful he is to be on the show. I love Don Rickles, I think he's really funny and to me he is the true king of insults; and watching him in this Stand-Up act on the show is probably one of his best performances in his entire career.

AND MY NUMBER 1  FAVORITE DVD MOMENT FROM THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW VOL.2 IS...

DEAN MARTIN AND HIS SON, DINO

Dean Martin's son Dino Paul Martin, was the fifth of Dean's seven children, and was the eldest of Dean's second wife Jeanne. Dino was a good Tennis player; sung in a Pop group called "Dino, Desi, and Billy"; acted in a few films and TV Shows, as well as being nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in the film "Players"; and was Captain of the California Air National Guard. Sadly, on March 21st 1987, he died in a plane crash in his Air National Guard F-4 Phantom jet fighter in California's San Bernardino Mountains during a snowstorm. He died along with Weapons Systems Officer, Captain Ramon Ortiz. I bring this up because in this skit (Which takes place after my 3rd Favorite Skit), we actually get to see Dean and his son together on the show. The two sit on top of Ken's Piano pretending to go fishing; talk to each other for a short bit; and then sing the song "Small Fry" together (Which, that song was a childhood favorite of mine, that my Dad would sing every once and awhile). This skit is so sweet, so cute, and so heartwarming that you can feel that Father and son relationship between the two, and It doesn't feel corny or phoned in; it's basically just Dean and his Son bonding on his classic show, which to me is what makes this skit so special.

Other skits and guests you'll find on the DVD, is Dean singing a duet with Tony Bennett; Johanthan Winters as different sports stars with Dean as a sports reporter; Phil Harris and Dean sipping tea doing a takeoff of "Mr.Gallagher & Mr. Shan,"; Milburn Stone says a dirty word that had to be bleeped on the show; and the "Wonderful Television" skit with Henderson, Bennett, Newhart, and Dean. I hope you enjoyed the list, and hopefully check out some of the skits out yourself. Tune in soon, for a special review, and remember "Everybody, loves somebody sometimes".