I was wondering/hoping that there are fans of this iconic 60's tv show on this forum. I grew up watching it and became a big fan.

Laugh-In was a very funny show in its first four seasons but when most of the cast left to go on to bigger and better ventures the show took a big shark jump and was canceled after the fifth season. You bet your bippy.

Yeah, you're right. The final season was very disappointing. They changed the news segment--no more singing girls!--and added things they didn't need to add. Perhaps it was time to end it.
Sock it to me!

I have the complete series of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In on DVD, but the first two seasons are clearly my favorites because those are the seasons with Judy Carne and she is my favorite one on the show. Judy still appears in season 3 episodes up to about the half way point of the season, but after that she is gone.

It's very sad Judy Carne chose to leave the show because it basically put an end to her career on American TV. She was cute looking and had a spunky personality, she was perfect for a show like Laugh-In but I believe she said that she chose to leave because she was just getting bored with it all. Too bad. :(

Lily Tomlin replaced Judy Carne on Laugh-In, she was funny and had some funny characters, but she didn't have the same type of charm that Judy Carne had. I do occasionally watch episodes from seasons 4, 5, and 6, they are OK but just not the same without Judy Carne.

Yes, I also really liked Judy Carne, and was sad to see her go.
I sometimes wonder how she felt about often getting drenched with water!

During the 1st season of Laugh-In, Judy Carne was the "sock it to me" girl and they did all sorts of goofy stunts with her. I imagine she probably got tired of it after awhile because as the 2nd season went along, they did fewer of those sock it to me gags and eventually stopped doing them completely.

In a way, I don't blame Judy Carne for leaving because I think her talents were underutilized. The original cast of Laugh-In had many talented people, but in my opinion Judy Carne was the best. After Judy left the show, it gradually went downhill in the ratings but NBC stayed with it thru the 1972-73 TV season.

I recently became aware that the pilot episode of Laugh-In from September 1967 is edited on the DVD from Time Life. Some fool edited out the Timex sponsor references, and two of the three Timex commercials are also edited out.

The complete pilot episode, including the Timex sponsor references and the three Timex commercials, is currently on You Tube and can be seen using the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9x-6Im29rs&list=ELAlVzt8uzh7BWAiLA3jJw-Q

I think the show deteriorated after 1970. Once Carne, Hawn, Worley, Johnson and Gibson left in the '70-'71 time frame it became, in retrospect, just another standard issue comedy-variety show.

Decades started showing these again last week, 5 pm ET weekdays.

I think the show deteriorated after 1970. Once Carne, Hawn, Worley, Johnson and Gibson left in the '70-'71 time frame it became, in retrospect, just another standard issue comedy-variety show.

I pretty much agree with your assessment. Seasons 1-3 is when the show was at it's peak. Seasons 4-6 is when it gradually went into decline.

The Dream Cast:

Hosts: Dan Rowan, Dick Martin

Announcer: Gary Owens

Ladies: Ruth Buzzi, Judy Carne, Goldie Hawn, Jo Ann Worley, Pamela Rodgers, Lily Tomlin, Patti Deutsch

Gents: Arte Johnson, Henry Gibson, Dave Madden, Alan Sues, Dennis Allen, Willie Tyler & Lester

Dancers: Janice Pennington, Wanda Bailey, Byron Gilliam

Cameo: Sammy Davis, Jr as The Judge

Guest star: John Wayne

(Edit) Friendly Drelb: Morgul

Laugh-In was the show of the late 1960's no doubt about it. The original cast was the best, it probably came down to what almost everything comes down to, money. Those folks wanted to be paid for the success and the producers felt they could get along with replacements. With the exception of Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin the rest were at their peak and would never come close to achieving the same success again. The show had a great start, in season 2 it was the number 1 show in the country, and then the trouble started. Season 3, again number 1, but with 5 million fewer viewers, season 4 it dropped to 13 losing 4 million more viewers, in those two seasons (3,4) the show lost a third of its audience, season 5 it leveled off a bit, although it fell to number 22. The show went through a number of changes for what would be the final season, and a big drop in audience, 4.7 million.

I was not quite 2 years old when the seried ended however I have seen eps of the show as a matter of fact I watched one last week and its still a lot of fun to watch

Decades started showing these again last week, 5 pm ET weekdays.

These moved to the early morning, 7 am ET.

Currently toward the end of Season 3, Johnny Brown just joined, billed as "John Brown." Lily Tomlin came on a few episodes ago, so she and Goldie are both on for about half a season. The Farkle Family has appeared, Alan Sues as Uncle Al, and Lily has her characters (minus Edith Ann).

I am one who was born in the 80s, but 99% of what I watch, listen, music/movies/stand-up/literature is pre-me, and I guess I like it afar, especially the creativity in this skit.. The regulars on the show address the guest by the more popular and provocative ... well, I'll let you see it.

https://youtu.be/7Xybtb4Aasc

The first four seasons were the best. Loved the musical numbers.

It's pretty obvious who my favorite was from the show.

I remember my parents and siblings watching it in the early '70s. I was drawn to it by the psychedelic designs and colors.

One of the local channels reran it in '84 and I absolutely fell in love with it
because I was in high school and could understand and appreciate it.

I think the show deteriorated after 1970. Once Carne, Hawn, Worley, Johnson and Gibson left in the '70-'71 time frame it became, in retrospect, just another standard issue comedy-variety show.

I wonder who (https://poe.com/s/KdLoz9h7PkdPLUg4aa4c) agrees (https://chatgpt.com/s/t_6922cccd6ac4819188052dd5b87e941a) with this assessment (https://x.com/i/grok/share/jkB382hA6lobHQyuUM6wHABss) about Laugh-In (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125331/http://www.jumptheshark.com/r/laughin.htm) through a "modern" (https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-other-television-series-a-0scsldwsTtatkg1NgLiHyA#1) lens:
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/54478-rowan-martins-laugh-in-general-discussion/)

A 1960s–1970s hit known for its rapid-fire sketches, catchphrases ("Sock it to me!"), and guest stars like Richard Nixon, it captured the counterculture vibe with bawdy humor and brevity, topping ratings for years. But as societal fatigue set in (https://www.google.com/search?q=I+wonder+who+agrees+with+this+assessment+about+Rowan+%26+Martin%27s+Laugh-In+through+a+%22modern%22+lens%3A+A+1960s%E2%80%931970s+hit+known+for+its+rapid-fire+sketches%2C+catchphrases+%28%22Sock+it+to+me%21%22%29%2C+and+guest+stars+like+Richard+Nixon%2C+it+captured+the+counterculture+vibe+with+bawdy+humor+and+brevity%2C+topping+ratings+for+years.+But+as+societal+fatigue+set+in+after+Vietnam+and+Watergate%2C+its+frenetic+style+aged+into+perceived+corniness.+Today%2C+it%27s+critiqued+for+reinforcing+stereotypes+%28especially+around+race+and+gender%29+and+feels+like+a+relic+of+network+TV%27s+desperate+bid+for+relevance%2C+far+outpaced+by+more+sophisticated+sketch+shows.&sca_esv=e60bbe627df6c182&sxsrf=AE3TifPxDzMejhM1ZBPVRwb0ryMGtiNlMg%3A1763888839021&udm=50&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ59Aj-dkSgmXWKpa2HWaBZDtyvvIn4PVHl081BMOU6hp6YaHRFFPF4r3t5pwyj224SFGOstfE4iAReGIywjsb16eqhuGHAZgINzL_i23TUmjKNdE4Xf9eRa_2rHTlKqYbMUFX5OW5GeTzuwzMxlqVLAfVbGmzwtlqDu1a5MFu2pQ9YMBroScHRIPp2ihlafDFwio3sw&aep=1&ntc=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjC_bD99YeRAxURSDABHe1SJiMQ2J8OegQIEhAE&biw=1600&bih=739&dpr=1&mstk=AUtExfC_mIllr2Nx8O_apqOK5LJxl6KBsfXVsMfFJ54_00l3RqRu7F7V6Trx1sHPczVwK3VECA8hqjP_dKj4qbuBsghvI_lngyA078LlfqFI27s4n-h9p1Zcptr7nuRu6dNx6Y3MsycmQqjjoYR9GUtviCJKXhSQozcs45QV-DitgGm1KqN-xCE3CmGTxokLc0Hsb-cN3Pf91cXdMj37an2zYLuN1bMcRSDEI-W4z2OwXsax8pQXzot4kt9J4qWxqvijeClqL8zwFNsriT9C70IDapaFoI-ZyKwKD6VcGXRzDjHXbt7vynY7LRU0WwOdNVW3qkIBFsHUjz-p9gdaVbBcZYpDMwTr-cNUh_C9ql8mLwRAJEPH_Xc7-T61OZiOqrIAQjjxyDpjLwjVk6Z8j0bKkvov7Pd1TCwVNCGf9YqTcZJciCyv1mVLgR2DL1sL8l7giz-E_X2zVB4&csuir=1&mtid=BM8iabXoJuCRwbkP2I_0yAs) after Vietnam and Watergate, its frenetic style (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/YMMV/RowanAndMartinsLaughIn) aged into (https://www.quora.com/Why-has-Rowan-and-Martins-Laugh-In-aged-so-poorly#:~:text=dated%20and%20slow.-,The%20show%20used%20canned%20laughter%20and%20applause%2C%20which%20viewers%20today,double%20entendre%20or%20smirking%20innuendo.) perceived corniness. Today, it's critiqued (https://www.google.com/search?q=I+wonder+who+agrees+with+this+assessment+about+Rowan+%26+Martin%27s+Laugh-In+through+a+%22modern%22+lens%3A+A+1960s%E2%80%931970s+hit+known+for+its+rapid-fire+sketches%2C+catchphrases+%28%22Sock+it+to+me%21%22%29%2C+and+guest+stars+like+Richard+Nixon%2C+it+captured+the+counterculture+vibe+with+bawdy+humor+and+brevity%2C+topping+ratings+for+years.+But+as+societal+fatigue+set+in+after+Vietnam+and+Watergate%2C+its+frenetic+style+aged+into+perceived+corniness.+Today%2C+it%27s+critiqued+for+reinforcing+stereotypes+%28especially+around+race+and+gender%29+and+feels+like+a+relic+of+network+TV%27s+desperate+bid+for+relevance%2C+far+outpaced+by+more+sophisticated+sketch+shows.&sca_esv=e60bbe627df6c182&sxsrf=AE3TifMLb5tXgTA9uLa29Vo0qX8Ncbb7pw%3A1763888760759&ei=eM4iab-JLt6WwbkPoIjcsAk&ved=0ahUKEwi_pYjY9YeRAxVeSzABHSAEF5YQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=I+wonder+who+agrees+with+this+assessment+about+Rowan+%26+Martin%27s+Laugh-In+through+a+%22modern%22+lens%3A+A+1960s%E2%80%931970s+hit+known+for+its+rapid-fire+sketches%2C+catchphrases+%28%22Sock+it+to+me%21%22%29%2C+and+guest+stars+like+Richard+Nixon%2C+it+captured+the+counterculture+vibe+with+bawdy+humor+and+brevity%2C+topping+ratings+for+years.+But+as+societal+fatigue+set+in+after+Vietnam+and+Watergate%2C+its+frenetic+style+aged+into+perceived+corniness.+Today%2C+it%27s+critiqued+for+reinforcing+stereotypes+%28especially+around+race+and+gender%29+and+feels+like+a+relic+of+network+TV%27s+desperate+bid+for+relevance%2C+far+outpaced+by+more+sophisticated+sketch+shows.&gs_lp=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-AEBmAIAoAIAmAMAkgcAoAcAsgcAuAcAwgcAyAcA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp) for reinforcing stereotypes (especially around race and gender) and feels like a relic of network TV's desperate bid for relevance, far outpaced by more sophisticated sketch shows.