Belzer s comedic talents have since been featured in every entertainment medium from offbroadway to radio to film to television. Munch first appeared on the american crime drama television series homicide. The groove tube movie vhs chevy chase 1974 richard belzer. Richard belzer launched his career in the 1970s as a member of an odd new yorkbased comedy troupe called channel one. Some of the best sketches were assembled into an xrated comedy feature, the groove tube, in 1970 that featured belzer, ken shapiro, and a brash newcomer named chevy chase. Richard belzer agent book richard belzer for private. While not brilliant, the film did serve as one influence on the rise of ironic humor in the 70s. Richard belzer, an institution on the new york comedy scene in the.
I thought it was one of the funniest things i had ever seen. The groove tube 1974 ken shapiro, richard belzer, chevy. The groove tube was probably shapiros crowning achievement. Nov 27, 2017 shapiros 1974 independent film, a collection of skits called the groove tube, starring himself, richard belzer, and chevy chase, has been lauded as a template for raw sketch comedy. Just like munch on svu is big into conspiracy theories, richard belzer is super into them too. Special victims unit, as well as in guest appearances on a number of other series. Belzer struggled, starring in a wnbc radio series called brink and belzer, becoming a regular on the thicke of the night and finally getting on the tonight show in 1982. Belzer began his career with a starring role in groove tube, the counterculture film that went on to become a cult classic. Its a set of short stories, commercials, and blackouts, featuring people like richard belzer and chevy chase. Plus rob reminisces on richard belzers comedy career, when he starred in groove tube in the 1970s. Ken shapiro, director, writer, and star of the independent sketch comedy film the groove tube, died on nov. Richard is best known for his role as john munch on the tv shows homicide. He also appeared in films like the groove tube, night shift, girl 6, and scarface.
In addition to ken shapiro it starred chevy chase and richard belzer who was only known as a comedian at that point. Both belzer and chase starred in the cult movie the groove tube 1974, a compilation of the troupes best skits that was directed by ken shapiro. Richard jay belzer is an american standup comedian, author, and actor. Ken shapiro, writer, director and star of the groove tube. Special victims unit, as well as in guest appearances on a number of other. John munch is a fictional character played by actor richard belzer. Svu who has also played munch on a total of 10 different shows, was last seen in the 2014 season 15 finale of the nbc series. Ken shapiro, writer and director of chevy chases debut film the groove tube, died of cancer at age 76, thewrap has learned. Shapiro reads passages from fanny hill, the 18thcentury erotic novel, to children after. Richard belzer broadcaster, celebrity, entertainment, media. Plus rob reminisces on richard belzers comedy career, when he. The veteran standup comic, actor and author began his onscreen career with a starring role in groove tube, the counterculture film that went on to become a cult classic. A collection of skits that make fun of 1970s television, featuring early appearances by chevy chase and richard belzer.
Special victims unit, 3 as well as in guest appearances. Chevy chase, richard belzer, ken shapiro, lane sarasohn, jennifer wells, ken shapiro, ken shapiro, lane sarasohn. Ken shapiro, who directed, produced, cowrote and starred in the groove tube, the seminal 1974 sendup of television that marked the movie. Ken shapiro, director of chevy chase debut film the. How wall street took over washington is available now. Overview of groove tube, the, 1974, directed by ken shapiro, with buzzy linhart, richmond baier, christine nazareth, at turner classic movies. So for people to pay to see television, before cable, it was. Richard belzer, horoscope for birth date 4 august 1944.
Directed by ken shapiro and featuring chase, richard belzer and others, the groove tube mocks tv land and its trappings by spoofing kids shows from a marijuanasmoking koko the clown who resides in make believe land, to safety sam, the penis with a plan who gleefully informs the audience of the perils of casual sex. The film was derived from sketches shot on videotape and shown at the channel one theater. He appeared in the groove tube, a 1972 cult classic that also featured chevy chases movie debut. Richard jay belzer is an american actor, standup comedian, and author. The groove tube was an outgrowth of another shapirosarasohn innovation, channel one, which opened in a theater in new yorks east village in 1967 and later toured colleges. With ken shapiro, richard belzer, chevy chase, buzzy linhart. He starred in the sixpart richard belzer show for cinemax cable, directed by david steinberg and had his. Belzer s debut came with a starring role on the groove tube in the early 70s. Before becoming a tv regular, belzer hosted a sixpart comedy special series for cinemax, simply called the richard belzer show. Richard belzer as rodriguezleo batfishthe presidentthe hooker bill paxton.
Its really ken shapiro and richard belzer that drive the sketches and overall movie. A social misfit, was kicked out of every school he ever attended, due to his uncontrollable wit. Belzer began his career in show business with a starring role in groove tube, the counterculture film that went on to become a cult classic. Belzers debut came with a starring role on the groove tube in the early 70s. May 08, 2017 the veteran standup comic, actor and author began his onscreen career with a starring role in groove tube, the counterculture film that went on to become a cult classic. It features the song move on up by curtis mayfield in its opening scene. Richard belzer ufos,jfk and elvisconspiracies you dont.
The five count recently had the chance to interview actor richard belzer. The groove tube has been ranked 1711 times, wins 42. Nov 27, 2017 ken shapiro, who directed, produced, cowrote and starred in the groove tube, the seminal 1974 sendup of television that marked the movie debuts of chevy chase and richard belzer, has died. When i first saw the groove tube it was playing on hbo and i was in high school. He saw groove tube and got the idea for saturday night live. The groove tube 1974 ken shapiro, richard belzer, chevy chase, comedy.
The veteran standup comic, actor, talkshow host and author was born in bridgeport, connecticut. Hes out with his fourth book on the subject, corporate conspiracies. Academyawardwinning documentary producerdirector alex gibney in richard belzers conversation duration. Since then, belzers talents have been employed offbroadway the national lampoon show with bill murray, gilda radner and john belushi, on radio brink and belzer on wnbc. Svu is bringing back a very familiar face for may sweeps.
On the plus side, its nice to see richard belzer from tvs homicide in his sharptongued, formative stage. The book is billed as an indepth investigation into what some see as the mysterious deaths of people linked to. Starring richard belzer and chevy chase, the absurd film was a benchmark for. Richard belzer wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. He is best known for his role as bpd detective, nypd detectivesergeant and da investigator john munch, whom he has portrayed as a regular cast member on the nbc police drama series homicide. Richard belzer as the president in a comedy bit from the groove tube. Richard belzer as rodriguezleo batfish the president the hooker bill paxton. Shapiros 1974 independent film, a collection of skits called the groove tube, starring himself, richard belzer, and chevy chase, has been lauded as a template for raw sketch comedy. Richard jay belzer born august 4, 1944 1 is an american standup comedian, author, 2 and actor.
Actor richard belzer talks about hit list may 6, 20 at the national press club. May 16, 2017 just like munch on svu is big into conspiracy theories, richard belzer is super into them too. Nov 27, 2017 ken shapiro, director, writer, and star of the independent sketch comedy film the groove tube, died on nov. He portrayed the character for 23 years from 1993 to 2016.
Richard belzer is returning to the longrunning drama as john munch, e. Nov 27, 2017 ken shapiro, writer and director of chevy chases debut film the groove tube, died of cancer at age 76, thewrap has learned. When we wrote it, when we shot it, when we premiered it, and when we realized wed made a movie. The groove tube probably takes a cue from british comedy troupes like monty python. Chevy chase makes his film debut in this riotous collection of live skits. Richard belzer books list of books by richard belzer. From 1973 to 1974, belzer wrote and performed on the comedy radio show the national lampoon radio hour with costars like john belushi, chevy chase, bill murray, gilda radner and harold. In the early 70s, while belzer was between jobs, his first wife mcbride is wife no. He is perhaps best known for his role as john munch, whom he has portrayed as a regular cast member on the nbc police drama series homicide. See more ideas about richard belzer, john munch and law and order. Jul 09, 20 academyawardwinning documentary producerdirector alex gibney in richard belzer s conversation duration.
Richard jay belzer born august 4, 1944 is an american actor, standup comedian, and author. It was truly underground in the sense that before it was a movie, we had a little theater and we showed groove tube on three monitors in a 90seat theater. Belzers comedic talents have since been featured in every entertainment medium from offbroadway to. This has its few moments but really just comes off as low brow as you can get without fart and burp sounds. Dean college expelled the creative coalition board. Released in 1974, the groove tube was a cult hit indie. The groove tube is a 1974 american independent comedy film written and produced by ken shapiro and starring shapiro, richard belzer and chevy chase. The groove tube is a compilation of sketches from channel one, which, according to tv guide was the worlds first television theater, a brash and irreverent enterprise in the east village, new yorks shabby hippie pleasure dome. Richard belzerufos,jfk,and elvisconspiracies you dont have to be crazy to believe1999ballantine booksnew york6 x 9 12229 pageshardcover book with jacketfirst editionsigned by author. An interview with richard belzer about his latest book. There is low probability to book richard belzer for a party with anything substantially less than the published booking cost price range. Released in 1974, the groove tube was a cult hit indie comedy that satirized tv with a series of lewd skits and parodies of commercials. He was the cohost of a morning radio show in new york called. Discount prices on books by richard belzer, including titles like corporate conspiracies.
The groove tube was a precursor to many trends in adult entertainment, including saturday night live. We will negotiate with the richard belzer agent on your behalf, but if your funding is not in place then it will more difficult to book richard belzer, because they get many offers to work events that are at or above asking price. Top 10 best richard belzer movies and tv shows you need to. Among them was the skit koko the clown, a parody of bozo the clown in which shapiro, in full clown attire. Cast and crew credits for groove tube, the, 1974, directed by ken shapiro, with buzzy linhart, richmond baier, christine nazareth, at turner classic movies. Aimed squarely at a mid1970s young adultcollege crowd, the humor is topical, risque, sometimes illicit. The lowbudget movie satirizes television and the counterculture of the early 1970s. He is best known for his role as bpd detective, nypd detectivesergeant and da investigator john munch, 3 whom he has portrayed as a regular cast member on the nbc police drama series homicide. This is a pretty funny sketch called the dealers starring the director ken shapiro as the boss and a young richard belzer as rodriguez. Due to his uncontrollable wit, belzer was politely asked to leave every school he ever attended.
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