Chuckles the Clown

Last updated
Chuckles the Clown
First appearance"The Snow Must Go On"
November 5th, 1970
Last appearance"Son of 'But Seriously, Folks"
October 27th, 1973
Portrayed by Richard Schaal (1970)
Unknown walk-on (1972)
Mark Gordon (1973)
Information
AliasGeorge Bowerchuck (real name)
Peter Peanut
Billy Banana
Mr Fee-Fi-Fo
Aunt Yoo-hoo
Occupation Clown
SpouseLouise Bowerchuck (until 1975; his death)
ChildrenBetty
Nationality American

Chuckles the Clown is a fictional character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show [1] (CBS, 1970–1977). His character is best known for his off-camera death in the episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust".

<i>The Mary Tyler Moore Show</i> television series

The Mary Tyler Moore Show is an American television sitcom starring Mary Tyler Moore and created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that originally aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 to March 19, 1977. Moore starred as Mary Richards, an unmarried, independent woman focused on her career as associate producer at the fictional WJM news program in Minneapolis. A central female character who was not married or dependent on a man was a rarity in American television in the early 1970s, leading to numerous publications citing The Mary Tyler Moore Show as groundbreaking television in the era of second-wave feminism. Edward Asner co-starred as Mary's boss Lou Grant, alongside Valerie Harper as her friend and neighbor Rhoda Morgenstern and Cloris Leachman as her landlady Phyllis Lindstrom. Other co-stars throughout the series' run included Gavin MacLeod, Ted Knight, Georgia Engel, and Betty White.

"Chuckles Bites the Dust" is an episode of the television situation comedy The Mary Tyler Moore Show which first aired on October 25, 1975. The episode's plot centers on the WJM-TV staff's humorous reaction to the absurd death of Chuckles the Clown, an often-mentioned but seldom-seen character who starred in an eponymously titled show at the station.

Contents

Chuckles was known for his popular philosophy in verse: "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants". His real name was George Bowerchuck (although Lou Grant refers to him as "Chuck" in the episode "Who's In Charge Here?"). He had a wife named Louise, and a daughter, Betty, who was briefly romantically involved with Ted Baxter.

Ted Baxter is a fictional character on the sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977). Portrayed by Ted Knight, the Baxter character is a broad parody of a vain, shallow, buffoonish TV newsman. Knight's comedic model was William Powell, and he also drew on various Los Angeles newscasters, including George Putnam, in helping shape the character. The role was originally conceived with Jack Cassidy in mind but Cassidy turned it down, although he did appear in an early episode as Ted's equally egocentric brother Hal. Ted Baxter has become a symbolic figure, and is often used when criticizing media figures, particularly news anchors hired for style and appearance rather than journalistic ability.

Character biography

Chuckles The Clown was the popular host of WJM-TV block of children's programming, hosting the cartoons and performing sketches. He portrayed a range of characters on his show, including "Peter Peanut", "Mr Fee-Fi-Fo", "Billy Banana" and "Aunt Yoo-hoo", and was known for his slapstick humor. He was frequently referred to by the newsroom staff, but seldom seen on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Prior to the show's debut in September 1970, Daily Variety reported that Lennie Weinrib had been cast in an episode called "Chuckles the Clown", [2] but it doesn't appear to have been made, and Weinrib never appeared on the series.

Lennie Weinrib, also known as Lenny Weinrib, Leonard Weinrib, and Len Weinrib, was an American actor, voice actor, comedian and writer. He is best known for playing the title role in the children's television show H.R. Pufnstuf, the title role in Inch High, Private Eye, the original voice of Scrappy-Doo on Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, Hunk and Prince Lotor on Voltron, and Bigmouth on The Smurfs. He also was the voice for Timer in the "Time for Timer" ABC public service announcements in the early 1970s.

Chuckles's first on-camera appearance was in the episode "The Snow Must Go On". Richard Schaal [1] [3] portrayed Chuckles when he arrives at TV station WJM the morning after a city election, to find the news staff —having lost contact with City Hall during a blizzard— still on the air. Chuckles has the election results in his newspaper, and announces the winner of the mayoral race on the air in clown character.

Richard Schaal American actor, comedian

Richard "Dick" Schaal was an American film and television actor.

In season 3, Chuckles had a brief non-speaking role in the third season episode, titled "Who's in Charge Here?", where he was portrayed by an uncredited extra. In this episode, Chuckles meets with Lou Grant, who has been temporarily promoted to WJM's program manager. Chuckles is seen arriving for the meeting in full clown makeup. Mark Gordon next played Chuckles in "Son of 'But, Seriously Folks'"; aside from these appearances, Chuckles, like Phyllis Lindstrom's husband Lars, existed only off-stage.

Mark Gordon is an American television and film producer. He is a former President of the Producers Guild of America.

Phyllis Lindstrom

Phyllis Lindstrom, nee Sutherland, portrayed by Cloris Leachman, is a fictional character on the television sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show and subsequent spin-off, Phyllis.

One of the most remembered episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show was "Chuckles Bites the Dust" (October 25, 1975), written by David Lloyd, which involved the death of Chuckles and in which Chuckles, as usual, is never seen on camera. In that episode, Chuckles is hired as the grand marshal for a circus parade (after news anchor Ted Baxter is told to decline). At the parade, he dressed as a popular character, Peter Peanut. Tragedy struck when "...a rogue elephant tried to shell him...," and he died from his injuries. News of Chuckles's demise results in laughter and joking in the newsroom, except for Mary, who is shocked by their response.

David Gibbs Lloyd was an American screenwriter and producer for television.

Mary Richards

Mary Richards, portrayed by Mary Tyler Moore, is the main character of the television sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

However, at the funeral everyone is actually overcome with grief, except for Mary, who stifles laugh after laugh during the following eulogy:

"Chuckles the Clown brought pleasure to millions. The characters he created will be remembered by children and adults alike: Peter Peanut; Mr. Fee-Fi-Fo; Billy Banana; and my particular favorite, Aunt Yoo-Hoo. And not just for the laughter they provided—-there was always some deeper meaning to whatever Chuckles did. Do you remember Mr. Fee-Fi-Fo's little catchphrase? Remember how, when his arch-rival Señor Kaboom hit him with a giant cucumber and knocked him down, Mr. Fee-Fi-Fo would always pick himself up, dust himself off, and say, 'I hurt my foo-foo'? Life's a lot like that. From time to time we all fall down and hurt our foo-foos. If only we could deal with it as simply and bravely and honestly as Mr. Fee-Fi-Fo. And what did Chuckles ask in return? Not much. In his own words, 'A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants.'"

When the minister tells the embarrassed Mary that the laughter was actually keeping with Chuckles' wishes, she suddenly breaks into inconsolable sobbing to her greater humiliation. This episode was ranked #1 on TV Guide's 1997 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.

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Chuckles may refer to:

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References

  1. 1 2 Richard Schaal, TV Actor and Second City Veteran, Dies at 86 - The New York Times, November 6, 2014
  2. ↑ Daily Variety, Aug. 11, 1970, page 11, column 1
  3. ↑ Comic Actor Richard Schaal Dies at 86 - The Hollywood Reporter, November 5, 2014
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