The Guy with the Distinctive Laugh - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Larry Surrell · 04-15-2009, 10:06 PM

PGood97041 referenced this guy in the Ted Baxter thread. I didn't want to hijack it so I figured I'd start a new one.

Years ago my friends and I noticed this guy laughing in a lot of episodes; the laughs became more pronounced in later seasons. If you haven't noticed it the closest thing I can compare his laugh to is Ricky Ricardo's big belly laugh, although it was different than that; kind of hard to describe. Sometimes it sounded forced, like if you're laughing at a friend's bad joke just to be kind.

We surmised he was a paid laugher. Maybe someone brought in to let the audience know where the really good lines were, or maybe he was just someone on the staff who had a large laugh. I was in the studio audience for one of Bob Hope's TV specials in the 80s and there was a lady behind us who laughed at every single thing he said. They had a technical problem and Bob began yelling at the crew. This lady was even laughing at that! Maybe Mary's distinctive laughing guy was like that; a superfan who thought everything everybody said was hilarious.

Anybody have a theory about this person or know who he is?

GrandGame1440 · 04-15-2009, 11:50 PM

Yeah, I've actually heard the exact same guy in the audience of "Rhoda". Who is this guy?

PGood97041 · 04-16-2009, 12:30 AM

i'd always heard it was one of the producers, which would also make the rhoda connection make sense
but anybody who has any info, feel free!

PGood97041 · 04-16-2009, 12:36 AM

just found this in a review on amazon.com!:

The above Ted Baxter outburst, of course, is ratcheted up on the "funny meter" by the ever-present inclusion of the guy I refer to as "The MTM Honker", whose distinctive laugh can be heard many times throughout several MTM episodes. "The Honker", btw, is none other than MTM Producer/Creator/Writer James L. Brooks (he sounds like he's "honking" all the time; it's hilarious). Brooks' unique "honk"/laugh is audible on the soundtrack of many episodes of some of the TV series that were produced under Mary Tyler Moore's "MTM Enterprises" label -- including Mary's own series, plus "Taxi" and "Rhoda" (and probably other shows as well). He's especially noticeable and audible with his "honks" on the "Rhoda" series, which was a very good spin-off of Mary's own series, featuring "Rhoda Morgenstern" out on her own in New York City.

Actually, I think the presence of the "Brooks honk" (which certainly stands out from the rest of the live studio audience laughter) is a good idea from a production standpoint. Because every time I hear Jim honking away (sometimes when the rest of the audience is dead quiet), it makes me want to laugh even harder -- which, I imagine, was exactly what the producers of these shows wanted.

scotsguy · 04-16-2009, 05:09 PM

Yes you hear Jim Brookes really clearly in "Rhoda's Wedding".

ClassicTVGal · 04-16-2009, 09:59 PM

Oh, yeah, I know the guy you're talking about!
Very obvious! lol

LittleRickyII · 04-26-2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin S. Aldridge

Yeah, I've actually heard the exact same guy in the audience of "Rhoda". Who is this guy?

It's the late Lorenzo Music, who was both a writer and production assistant for "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and producer of "Rhoda," but probably best known as Carlton, the Doorman on "Rhoda." He also served as the audience warm-up guy, which is one reason he could be heard out in the studio audience. In later years, he supplied the voice of Garfield, the cat in the TV cartoons.

ThomasE · 04-27-2009, 12:43 AM

That same laugh is also heard in Taxi. The laugh is heard in the Rhoda's wedding episode when Rhoda is trying to enter the room in her wedding gown. LOL. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!

LittleRickyII · 04-27-2009, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotsguy

Yes you hear Jim Brookes really clearly in "Rhoda's Wedding".

It's not Jim Brooks, but Lorenzo Music.

treky · 04-27-2009, 02:42 AM

no, no, no, you're all wrong. According to a book I have about the show "TAXI" (where the laugh is also heard) it was Ed Wienberger, one of the producers. Besides "MTM", "RHODA", & "TAXI" he's also heard on "THE BOB NEWHART SHOW", "NEWHART", and "PHYLISS".

LittleRickyII · 04-28-2009, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

no, no, no, you're all wrong. According to a book I have about the show "TAXI" (where the laugh is also heard) it was Ed Wienberger, one of the producers. Besides "MTM", "RHODA", & "TAXI" he's also heard on "THE BOB NEWHART SHOW", "NEWHART", and "PHYLISS".

Books can be wrong. For years, one book after another reported that Vivian Vance was younger than Lucille Ball, that there was a clause in Vivian Vance's contract that she had to be 15 pounds overweight, that Lucie Arnaz appeared on the last episode of I Love Lucy, and many other things that all turned out to be untrue. I do remember some 30 years ago reading that this was Lorenzo Music's laugh. It was in TV Guide or something like that. That of course could be wrong, too, but I've never heard otherwise. And I've seen it reported elsewhere that it was Lorenzo Music's laugh. Also, I do know that I have heard this laugh in almost every episode of Rhoda, and Ed Weinberger was never involved with that show.

treky · 04-28-2009, 02:19 AM

well; until I get a definate answer I'll say it's Ed Wienberger.

PGood97041 · 04-28-2009, 02:50 AM

this is turning into quite the mystery!

treky · 04-28-2009, 02:56 AM

McGillicuddy · 05-04-2009, 08:31 PM

I'm pretty sure its either Jim Brooks or Lorenzo Music. Jim Brooks made a cameo in Rhoda's Wedding (in the subway station) and Lorenzo Music was of course Carlton the Doorman. They both seem like they could have such a laugh.

04-15-2009, 10:06 PM	#1
Larry Surrell Ed M. 1918-2006 RIP Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 27, 2003 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 702	The Guy with the Distinctive Laugh PGood97041 referenced this guy in the Ted Baxter thread. I didn't want to hijack it so I figured I'd start a new one. Years ago my friends and I noticed this guy laughing in a lot of episodes; the laughs became more pronounced in later seasons. If you haven't noticed it the closest thing I can compare his laugh to is Ricky Ricardo's big belly laugh, although it was different than that; kind of hard to describe. Sometimes it sounded forced, like if you're laughing at a friend's bad joke just to be kind. We surmised he was a paid laugher. Maybe someone brought in to let the audience know where the really good lines were, or maybe he was just someone on the staff who had a large laugh. I was in the studio audience for one of Bob Hope's TV specials in the 80s and there was a lady behind us who laughed at every single thing he said. They had a technical problem and Bob began yelling at the crew. This lady was even laughing at that! Maybe Mary's distinctive laughing guy was like that; a superfan who thought everything everybody said was hilarious. Anybody have a theory about this person or know who he is?

04-27-2009, 12:43 AM	#8
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	That same laugh is also heard in Taxi. The laugh is heard in the Rhoda's wedding episode when Rhoda is trying to enter the room in her wedding gown. LOL. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!
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04-27-2009, 02:42 AM	#10
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	no, no, no, you're all wrong. According to a book I have about the show "TAXI" (where the laugh is also heard) it was Ed Wienberger, one of the producers. Besides "MTM", "RHODA", & "TAXI" he's also heard on "THE BOB NEWHART SHOW", "NEWHART", and "PHYLISS".
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

04-15-2009, 11:50 PM	#2
GrandGame1440 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 24, 2003 Posts: 557	Yeah, I've actually heard the exact same guy in the audience of "Rhoda". Who is this guy?

04-16-2009, 12:30 AM	#3
PGood97041 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 747	i'd always heard it was one of the producers, which would also make the rhoda connection make sense but anybody who has any info, feel free!

04-16-2009, 12:36 AM	#4
PGood97041 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 747	just found this in a review on amazon.com!: The above Ted Baxter outburst, of course, is ratcheted up on the "funny meter" by the ever-present inclusion of the guy I refer to as "The MTM Honker", whose distinctive laugh can be heard many times throughout several MTM episodes. "The Honker", btw, is none other than MTM Producer/Creator/Writer James L. Brooks (he sounds like he's "honking" all the time; it's hilarious). Brooks' unique "honk"/laugh is audible on the soundtrack of many episodes of some of the TV series that were produced under Mary Tyler Moore's "MTM Enterprises" label -- including Mary's own series, plus "Taxi" and "Rhoda" (and probably other shows as well). He's especially noticeable and audible with his "honks" on the "Rhoda" series, which was a very good spin-off of Mary's own series, featuring "Rhoda Morgenstern" out on her own in New York City. Actually, I think the presence of the "Brooks honk" (which certainly stands out from the rest of the live studio audience laughter) is a good idea from a production standpoint. Because every time I hear Jim honking away (sometimes when the rest of the audience is dead quiet), it makes me want to laugh even harder -- which, I imagine, was exactly what the producers of these shows wanted.

04-16-2009, 05:09 PM	#5
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	Yes you hear Jim Brookes really clearly in "Rhoda's Wedding".

04-16-2009, 09:59 PM	#6
ClassicTVGal Traveler Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 26, 2004 Posts: 3,457	Oh, yeah, I know the guy you're talking about! Very obvious! lol

04-28-2009, 02:19 AM	#12
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	well; until I get a definate answer I'll say it's Ed Wienberger.

04-28-2009, 02:50 AM	#13
PGood97041 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 747	this is turning into quite the mystery!

04-28-2009, 02:56 AM	#14
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490

05-04-2009, 08:31 PM	#15
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I'm pretty sure its either Jim Brooks or Lorenzo Music. Jim Brooks made a cameo in Rhoda's Wedding (in the subway station) and Lorenzo Music was of course Carlton the Doorman. They both seem like they could have such a laugh.