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| -Obits- |
| Gallagher, Comedian Known for Smashing Watermelons, Dies at 76 |
| 2022-11-13 |
| By Ethan Shanfeld [Variety] Gallagher, the inventive prop comedian known for smashing watermelons as part of his act, died Friday of organ failure, his former manager Craig Marquardo confirmed to Variety. He was 76. Gallagher had been in hospice care in California after suffering multiple heart attacks in recent years. Born Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr., the mononymous comedian became a household name in 1980 with “An Uncensored Evening,” the first standup comedy special to ever air on Showtime. Gallagher would go on to create 12 more hourlong specials for the network, as well as several popular programs for HBO. Gallagher’s signature bit involved a handmade sledgehammer he called the “Sledge-O-Matic,” which he would use to smash food onstage and spray it onto the audience. His hammer’s trademark victim was the watermelon. Gallagher also became famous for his witty wordplay and sharp observational comedy. While his contemporaries went on to host talk shows or star in sitcoms or movies, Gallagher remained on the road in America for nearly four decades, touring steadily up until the COVID-19 pandemic and playing over 3,500 live shows throughout his career. In his later years, Gallagher led a long-running Geico commercial and appeared in his first movie, “The Book of Daniel.” In 2019, he embarked on a farewell tour dubbed the “Last Smash.” Read at the link |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #4 In other Sledge-o-matic news: Sledgehammer execution of Russian mercenary who defected to Ukraine shown on video |
| Posted by: Anomalous Sources 2022-11-13 12:28 |
| #3 Watermelons in Heaven beware. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2022-11-13 08:49 |
| #2 As schticks go, it was simplistic and stupid, but he worked it like a champ. Give me Mitch Hedberg any day (yeah, I know...) |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2022-11-13 08:04 |
| #1 "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! I did not come here tonight to make you laugh! I came here to sell you something! And I want ya to pay particular attention, because The Amazing Master Tool Corporation, a subsidiary of Fly By Night Industries, has entrusted who? -- me! -- to show you! -- the handiest and the dandiest kitchen tool you've ever seen, and don't ya wanna know how it works! First you take an ordinary apple! You place the ordinary apple in between the patented pans! Then you reach for the tool that is not a slicer, not a dicer, not a chopper in a hopper! What in the hell can it possibly be? SLEDGE-O-MATIC!" |
| Posted by: Spike the Hairy6811 2022-11-13 03:43 |