Last laugh

Sad note: comic Vic Dunlop has died at age 62 from complications of diabetes. Dunlop had a long and varied career in standup and scripted roles. But he's best remembered for the short-lived game show Make Me Laugh (1979-80).



A remake of an even shorter-lived show from the '50s, Make Me Laugh was simple: comics tried to make contestants laugh. (You might have guessed that from the title.) If contestants resisted, they got a little cash. YouTube offers some clips, including a lady contestant who pinched up her face so tight, she could barely breathe, much less laugh.



The trouble with the show was an all too simple and predictable format. Comedy Central tried another remake in the '90s but it only struggled through two seasons. At least the 1979-80 version featured some terrific comedians early in their careers, like Bob Saget, Howie Mandel and Gary Shandling.



Vic Dunlop certainly had the correct comic's attitude towards his fight with diabetes. When he lost a leg to the disease, he remarked: "I got 10 minutes of new material from it." R.I.P.