This is a made for TV special from ABC and I found it on YouTube. I was excited to watch it, as Rodney Dangerfield was a very fun comic. However, too often the writers felt they needed lots of celebrity guest appearances and story...and as a result, the best thing about Dangerfield is de-emphasized..his great stand-up routine. When he does do stand-up, the show is great. When he is stuck in silly plots, the routines seem to go on way too long....cute ideas handled very poorly--such as the parody of FLASHDANCE, a horribly unfunny restaurant skit and Rodney's threat to kill himself when the show began...all subjected to an annoying and obviously fake laughtrack. Funny ideas (except for the restaurant) completely mishandled. BUT, when he just stood there and stopped acting but told jokes, he was hilarious. A couple great jokes:
"My wife was afraid of the dark. She then saw me naked...and she's afraid of the light as well."
"For Halloween my wife dressed the kids up as me."
So is it worth seeing? Well, the show has its moments and overall is worth seeing...but still, quite the disappointment due to ham-handed direction and writing. My advice is to look for one of his stand-up only shows...they are amazingly funny and stand the test of time. And, whether you like it or not, his Grammy-winning song "Rapping Rodney" is performed during this show.
"My wife was afraid of the dark. She then saw me naked...and she's afraid of the light as well."
"For Halloween my wife dressed the kids up as me."
So is it worth seeing? Well, the show has its moments and overall is worth seeing...but still, quite the disappointment due to ham-handed direction and writing. My advice is to look for one of his stand-up only shows...they are amazingly funny and stand the test of time. And, whether you like it or not, his Grammy-winning song "Rapping Rodney" is performed during this show.
