'Rat Pack' member Joey Bishop dies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bad_boy · 10-18-2007, 02:23 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movi...hop/index.html

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Joey Bishop, the stone-faced comedian who found success in nightclubs, television and movies but became most famous as a member of Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack, has died at 89.

He was the group's last surviving member. Peter Lawford died in 1984, Sammy Davis Jr. in 1990, Dean Martin in 1995, and Sinatra in 1998.

Bishop died Wednesday night of multiple causes at his home in Newport Beach, publicist and longtime friend Warren Cowan said Thursday.

The Rat Pack -- originally a social group surrounding Humphrey Bogart -- became a show business sensation in the early 1960s, appearing at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas in shows that combined music and comedy in a seemingly chaotic manner.

Reviewers often claimed that Bishop played a minor role, but Sinatra knew otherwise. He termed the comedian "the Hub of the Big Wheel," with Bishop coming up with some of the best one-liners and beginning many jokes with his favorite phrase, "Son of a gun!"

The quintet lived it up whenever members were free of their own commitments. They appeared together in such films as "Ocean's Eleven" and "Sergeants 3" and proudly gave honorary membership to a certain fun-loving politician from Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy, at whose inauguration gala Bishop served as master of ceremonies.

The Rat Pack faded after Kennedy's assassination, but the late 1990s brought a renaissance, with the group depicted in an HBO movie and portrayed by imitators in Las Vegas and elsewhere. The movie "Ocean's Eleven" was even remade in 2003 with George Clooney and Brad Pitt in the lead roles.

Bishop defended his fellow performers' rowdy reputations in a 1998 interview.

"Are we remembered as being drunk and chasing broads?" he asked. "I never saw Frank, Dean, Sammy or Peter drunk during performances. That was only a gag. And do you believe these guys had to chase broads? They had to chase 'em away."

Away from the Rat Pack, Bishop starred in two TV series, both called "The Joey Bishop Show."

The first, an NBC sitcom, got off to a rocky start in 1961. Critical and audience response was generally negative, and the second season brought a change in format. The third season brought a change in network, with the show moving to ABC, but nothing seemed to help and it was canceled in 1965.

In the first series, Bishop played a TV talk show host.

Then, he really became a TV talk show host. His program was started by ABC in 1967 as a challenge to Johnny Carson's immensely popular "The Tonight Show."

Like Carson, Bishop sat behind a desk and bantered with a sidekick, TV newcomer Regis Philbin. But despite an impressive guest list and outrageous stunts, Bishop couldn't dent Carson's ratings, and "The Joey Bishop Show" was canceled after two seasons.

Bishop then became a familiar guest figure in TV variety shows and as sub for vacationing talk show hosts, filling in for Carson 205 times.

He also played character roles in such movies as "The Naked and the Dead" ("I played both roles"), "Onion-head," "Johnny Cool," "Texas Across the River," "Who's Minding the Mint?" "Valley of the Dolls" and "The Delta Force."

His comedic schooling came from vaudeville, burlesque and nightclubs.

Skipping his last high school semester in Philadelphia, he formed a music and comedy act with two other boys, and they played clubs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. They called themselves the Bishop Brothers, borrowing the name from their driver, Glenn Bishop.

Joseph Abraham Gottlieb would eventually adopt Joey Bishop as his stage name.

When his partners got drafted, Bishop went to work as a single, playing his first solo date in Cleveland at the well-named El Dumpo.

During these early years he developed his style: laid-back drollery, with surprise throwaway lines.

After 3 1/2 years in the Army, Bishop resumed his career in 1945. Within five years he was earning $1,000 a week at New York's Latin Quarter. Sinatra saw him there one night and hired him as opening act.

While most members of the Sinatra entourage treated the great man gingerly, Bishop had no inhibitions. He would tell audiences that the group's leader hadn't ignored him: "He spoke to me backstage; he told me, 'Get out of the way.' "

When Sinatra almost drowned filming a movie scene in Hawaii, Bishop wired him: "I thought you could walk on water."

Born in New York's borough of the Bronx, Bishop was the youngest of five children of two immigrants from Eastern Europe.

When he was 3 months old the family moved to South Philadelphia, where he attended public schools. He recalled being an indifferent student, once remarking, "In kindergarten, I flunked sand pile."

In 1941 Bishop married Sylvia Ruzga and, despite the rigors of a show business career, the marriage survived until her death in 1999.

Bishop, who had one son, Larry, spent his retirement years on the upscale Lido Isle in Southern California's Newport Bay

Cactus Jack · 10-18-2007, 02:51 PM

I thought he'd live to be like 100. RIP Joey

Penny Lane · 10-18-2007, 02:51 PM

Back in the late 60's Joey had a late night talk show. His side kick was Regis Philbin. I liked his show better than The Tonight Show.

RIP Joey

*ClassicPinUp* · 10-18-2007, 06:09 PM

Have to say when I think "Rat Pack" I think Sinatra, Martin and Davis but this is still very sad.. there will never be talent like those men again that's for sure. End of an era but they sure won't be forgotten anytime soon.
RIP Joey

tv star collector · 10-18-2007, 07:11 PM

I liked all the members of the Rat Pack individually (Frank, Dean, Sammy and
Joey). Then, in a dollar store recently I found a CD of highlights of some of
their live performances and found out firsthand what great repartee the guys
had. I don't think we will ever see that kind of camaraderie among superstars
again. P.S. I love Joey's sit-com, having rediscovered it on DVD. Very funny
show and a very funny fellow. "Son of a gun!" Rest in peace, Joey.

Zoneboy · 10-18-2007, 11:27 PM

Joey was also a frequent game show panelist with multiple appearances on Hollywood Squares, Match Game & What's My Line?

Joey

Mr. Television · 10-18-2007, 11:42 PM

R.I.P. Joey

Veigel1776 · 10-19-2007, 11:43 PM

The AP article posted here is wrong about what season the sitcom moved and what network. According to The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network And Cable TV Shows 1946-Present Eighth Edition page 614 by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh where the months, years, and times it ran are listed it shows that The Joey Bishop Show sitcom was on NBC from September 1961 to September 1964 and then moving to CBS in its fourth season in September 1964 and not its third season and not to ABC. I just thought I would bring this information up and put it out there. My sympathies to his family on the passing of Joey Bishop.

10-18-2007, 02:23 PM	#1
bad_boy Member Forum Star Join Date: Sep 18, 2003 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 19,576	'Rat Pack' member Joey Bishop dies http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movi...hop/index.html LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Joey Bishop, the stone-faced comedian who found success in nightclubs, television and movies but became most famous as a member of Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack, has died at 89. He was the group's last surviving member. Peter Lawford died in 1984, Sammy Davis Jr. in 1990, Dean Martin in 1995, and Sinatra in 1998. Bishop died Wednesday night of multiple causes at his home in Newport Beach, publicist and longtime friend Warren Cowan said Thursday. The Rat Pack -- originally a social group surrounding Humphrey Bogart -- became a show business sensation in the early 1960s, appearing at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas in shows that combined music and comedy in a seemingly chaotic manner. Reviewers often claimed that Bishop played a minor role, but Sinatra knew otherwise. He termed the comedian "the Hub of the Big Wheel," with Bishop coming up with some of the best one-liners and beginning many jokes with his favorite phrase, "Son of a gun!" The quintet lived it up whenever members were free of their own commitments. They appeared together in such films as "Ocean's Eleven" and "Sergeants 3" and proudly gave honorary membership to a certain fun-loving politician from Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy, at whose inauguration gala Bishop served as master of ceremonies. The Rat Pack faded after Kennedy's assassination, but the late 1990s brought a renaissance, with the group depicted in an HBO movie and portrayed by imitators in Las Vegas and elsewhere. The movie "Ocean's Eleven" was even remade in 2003 with George Clooney and Brad Pitt in the lead roles. Bishop defended his fellow performers' rowdy reputations in a 1998 interview. "Are we remembered as being drunk and chasing broads?" he asked. "I never saw Frank, Dean, Sammy or Peter drunk during performances. That was only a gag. And do you believe these guys had to chase broads? They had to chase 'em away." Away from the Rat Pack, Bishop starred in two TV series, both called "The Joey Bishop Show." The first, an NBC sitcom, got off to a rocky start in 1961. Critical and audience response was generally negative, and the second season brought a change in format. The third season brought a change in network, with the show moving to ABC, but nothing seemed to help and it was canceled in 1965. In the first series, Bishop played a TV talk show host. Then, he really became a TV talk show host. His program was started by ABC in 1967 as a challenge to Johnny Carson's immensely popular "The Tonight Show." Like Carson, Bishop sat behind a desk and bantered with a sidekick, TV newcomer Regis Philbin. But despite an impressive guest list and outrageous stunts, Bishop couldn't dent Carson's ratings, and "The Joey Bishop Show" was canceled after two seasons. Bishop then became a familiar guest figure in TV variety shows and as sub for vacationing talk show hosts, filling in for Carson 205 times. He also played character roles in such movies as "The Naked and the Dead" ("I played both roles"), "Onion-head," "Johnny Cool," "Texas Across the River," "Who's Minding the Mint?" "Valley of the Dolls" and "The Delta Force." His comedic schooling came from vaudeville, burlesque and nightclubs. Skipping his last high school semester in Philadelphia, he formed a music and comedy act with two other boys, and they played clubs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. They called themselves the Bishop Brothers, borrowing the name from their driver, Glenn Bishop. Joseph Abraham Gottlieb would eventually adopt Joey Bishop as his stage name. When his partners got drafted, Bishop went to work as a single, playing his first solo date in Cleveland at the well-named El Dumpo. During these early years he developed his style: laid-back drollery, with surprise throwaway lines. After 3 1/2 years in the Army, Bishop resumed his career in 1945. Within five years he was earning $1,000 a week at New York's Latin Quarter. Sinatra saw him there one night and hired him as opening act. While most members of the Sinatra entourage treated the great man gingerly, Bishop had no inhibitions. He would tell audiences that the group's leader hadn't ignored him: "He spoke to me backstage; he told me, 'Get out of the way.' " When Sinatra almost drowned filming a movie scene in Hawaii, Bishop wired him: "I thought you could walk on water." Born in New York's borough of the Bronx, Bishop was the youngest of five children of two immigrants from Eastern Europe. When he was 3 months old the family moved to South Philadelphia, where he attended public schools. He recalled being an indifferent student, once remarking, "In kindergarten, I flunked sand pile." In 1941 Bishop married Sylvia Ruzga and, despite the rigors of a show business career, the marriage survived until her death in 1999. Bishop, who had one son, Larry, spent his retirement years on the upscale Lido Isle in Southern California's Newport Bay

10-18-2007, 02:51 PM	#2
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	I thought he'd live to be like 100. RIP Joey
	__________________ Id Love to help you Tracy, but I cant have sex with a black guy, Id lose my endorsement deal with NASCAR-Jenna Maroney,30 Rock April 17,2009 9:02 PM : 100,000th post!

10-18-2007, 02:51 PM	#3
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,338	Back in the late 60's Joey had a late night talk show. His side kick was Regis Philbin. I liked his show better than The Tonight Show. RIP Joey Attached Images
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

10-18-2007, 06:09 PM	#4
ClassicPinUp ***** Senior Member** Join Date: Oct 28, 2006 Posts: 2,246	Have to say when I think "Rat Pack" I think Sinatra, Martin and Davis but this is still very sad.. there will never be talent like those men again that's for sure. End of an era but they sure won't be forgotten anytime soon. RIP Joey
	__________________ Imy firefighter!

10-18-2007, 11:27 PM	#6
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,486	Joey was also a frequent game show panelist with multiple appearances on Hollywood Squares, Match Game & What's My Line? Joey
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

10-18-2007, 07:11 PM	#5
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,487	I liked all the members of the Rat Pack individually (Frank, Dean, Sammy and Joey). Then, in a dollar store recently I found a CD of highlights of some of their live performances and found out firsthand what great repartee the guys had. I don't think we will ever see that kind of camaraderie among superstars again. P.S. I love Joey's sit-com, having rediscovered it on DVD. Very funny show and a very funny fellow. "Son of a gun!" Rest in peace, Joey.

10-18-2007, 11:42 PM	#7
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	R.I.P. Joey
	__________________ Sonny

10-19-2007, 11:43 PM	#8
Veigel1776 Member Forum Cub Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: Coshocton, Ohio Posts: 2	The second network Joey's sitcom was on and the season it moved The AP article posted here is wrong about what season the sitcom moved and what network. According to The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network And Cable TV Shows 1946-Present Eighth Edition page 614 by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh where the months, years, and times it ran are listed it shows that The Joey Bishop Show sitcom was on NBC from September 1961 to September 1964 and then moving to CBS in its fourth season in September 1964 and not its third season and not to ABC. I just thought I would bring this information up and put it out there. My sympathies to his family on the passing of Joey Bishop.