When I was a little kid growing up, one of my favorite shows on TV was Three's Company. The hit show about the silly antics of three apartment dwellers--two girls and a guy--was based on a British sitcom and ran for eight seasons. I watched reruns regularly after school, which I've always thought was interesting because some of the episodes were rather risqué.
The success of Three's Company weighed heavily on John Ritter, who was an outstanding slapstick comedian. This type of physical comedy is often not seen in other situational comedies, which makes Three's Company stand out from other shows.
My family introduced me to some of the funniest people who ever lived--Lucille Ball, Charlie Chaplin, Peter Sellers, Laurel & Hardy, Jerry Lewis, and The Three Stooges. It seems slapstick comedy isn't as prevalent as it used to be in film and television, but I credit some modern-day comic greats who have helped keep it alive, like Jim Carrey, Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), and, of course, Steve Martin.
Directed by the late Carl Reiner, the comedy classic The Jerk provided a breakout role for Steve Martin, who also co-wrote the film. A few years later, they worked together on another movie, All Of Me, with Martin playing opposite another comic legend, Lily Tomlin.
I first saw All Of Me at the theater in 1984, and I will never forget how Steve Martin had the audience roaring in laughter. When I showed the movie to my family, we were dying laughing.
All Of Me is one of the funniest films ever and, in my opinion, features Steve Martin's best comedy role. As a matter of fact, I actually like All Of Me somewhat more than The Jerk.
Carl Reiner and Steve Martin are comedy geniuses. Even though Carl Reiner has passed away, the hilarity they brought to film and TV audiences will be unforgettable, just as other past great comedians have done. Indeed, decades after its theatrical release, All Of Me is still my top favorite comedy movie of all time.
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