(NORFOLK, NE.) – “It doesn’t take a village, but close,” is how Lisa Wattier describes the effort to stage the Great American Comedy Festival every year.
Wattier, executive director of the 13th festival this Thursday through Saturday, June 16th-18th, at the Johnny Carson Theatre in Norfolk, says the “to-do list” for the three-day event is nearly endless and it takes dozens of volunteers to stage the festival.
The festival has been presented by Nucor Steel Nebraska, Nucor Cold Finish Nebraska, Nucor Detailing Center, and Vulcraft Nebraska for several years. Dozens of Norfolk area businesses also provide financial support to stage the three-day event. “Without those sponsors, we have no festival,” Wattier said. “We absolutely could not do it without them. I hope they know how much they are appreciated.”
The 2022 Great American Comedy Festival includes the family Comedy Magic Show Thursday, the Comedy Showcase Friday with David Koechner as headliner and four other comics, and the Festival Gala Saturday night with headliners The Smothers Brothers and four other stand-ups. Friday night’s entertainment includes the /Sparklight Adults Only, Late Night Show at 10:30 at The Stables in Norfolk.
“The responsibilities of our planning committee are many and we pull in many volunteers from the community to present the festival,” she said.
After a two-year Covid hiatus, planning for the 2022 festival began early last winter. One of the
key challenges is finding headliners for the Friday Comedy Showcase and Saturday Gala. The committee works with a talent agency in Omaha to find those headliners. Magician Ben Seidman, who performed at the Comedy Magic Show here in 2018 and 2019, assists with finding magicians for the Thursday magic show.
This year’s magician line-up includes Matt Marcy, Alexander Boyce and Andrew Goldenhersh.
Then the work turns to finding four other comedians for the Comedy Showcase and Festival Gala. “This year, we have had great, great help from our Friday and Saturday night host, Pat Janssen,” Austen Hagood, comedy festival Board of Directors president, said. “He has worked in the entertainment industry and knows many in the entertainment realm.”
Janssen is a Nebraska native and has appeared in several commercials and TV shows. He also appeared on an album cover and music video for the Grammy-nominated indie band, Glass Animals.
He was named New England's Best Bar Comic by Jack Daniels.

Janssen assisted in booking comedians Cat Alvarado, Sophie Buddle, Chris Lewis, and Glen Tickle for the Friday Comedy Showcase and Emmy Blotnick, Eric Owusu, Taylor
Williamson, and Adam Yenser for the Saturday Festival Gala.
Once all the entertainers are secured, other aspects of festival planning continue. One Great American Comedy Festival committee member works with a local travel agency to book flights to and from Omaha and provide ground transportation from Omaha to Norfolk.
“Because Norfolk does not have a major airport, we go out of our way to welcome and accommodate all guest needs and wishes,” Hagood said. “That includes transportation from the Omaha airport and chauffeur services by volunteers for all activities in Norfolk.”
“The arrival schedule to pick up all entertainers at the Omaha airport over four days is mind boggling,” Wattier said. “The magicians come in on Wednesday and some Gala entertainers don’t arrive til Saturday. There are lots of trips by volunteers back and forth to Eppley Airfield.” A chartered mini-bus takes most back to the Omaha airport on Sunday.
“Many of our airport drivers have very interesting rides back to Norfolk with their comedians/passengers,” Wattier said. “For example, three live doves will travel with one of the magicians this year. The driver for the magicians and doves hopes the birds travel well.”
Hagood said many drivers and comedians remain friends for years. “We have comedians from past festivals who still keep in touch with their Norfolk friends,” he said.
The festival committee also schedules special activities to entertain their guests while in Norfolk. This year, a Runza luncheon is planned at the Elkhorn Valley Museum so the comedians can enjoy the Johnny Carson exhibit there. “And, of course, a visit to the Johnny Carson mural downtown and his
childhood home on 13th Street is a must. Homeowner and festival director Jim McKenzie makes many trips to the house over the four days to give tours of Johnny’s home,” Hagood added.
“We keep the magicians and comedians busy while they are in Norfolk,” Wattier said. “They are all so appreciative and have such fun in northeast Nebraska. In all the years I have worked on the festival, I can honestly say we have only had one difficult, unhappy comedian.”
One comedian who appeared at the 2014 festival, Michael Somerville, was asked when departing Norfolk if he had had a good comedy festival experience. “Oh, if only every weekend I spend on the road could be as much fun as this weekend was.” Many comedians include their participation in the Great American Comedy Festival on their website bios.
Other committee members and volunteers are needed for fundraising, marketing/publicity, stage and technical crews, program design, ticket sales and scanners, green room furniture/food for the entertainers, and picnic food for the magicians and comedians. The list goes on and on,” Wattier said.
The Great American Comedy Festival opened in 2008 to honor the legacy of Norfolk’s favorite son, Johnny Carson, who was host of NBC’s “Late Night Show Starring Johnny Carson” for 30 years.
The Great American Comedy Festival is also made possible with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. For tickets and information, visit www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com

(NORFOLK, NE.) –Tom and Dick Smothers, better known as the Smothers Brothers, will be honored with the Johnny Carson Comedy Legend Award at the conclusion of the Great American Comedy Festival Saturday, June 18th.
The 13th comedy festival is Thursday through Saturday, June 16th-18th, at the Johnny Carson Theatre. All shows are at 7 p.m. except the /Sparklight Adults Only, Late Night Show Friday at 10:30 p.m. at The Stables in Norfolk.
The Great American Comedy Festival opens Thursday with the family Comedy Magic Show featuring three world-class magicians. The Friday Comedy Showcase welcomes David Koechner as headliner and four other stand-up comedians. The Smothers Brothers headline the Festival Gala Saturday night. Four other stand-up comedians will also take the microphone at the theatre Saturday night.
The 13th festival is presented by Nucor Steel Nebraska, Nucor Cold Finish Nebraska, Nucor Detailing Center, and Vulcraft Nebraska.
The Johnny Carson Comedy Legend Award pays tribute to the impact Norfolk's favorite son had on comedy. The award honors individuals for their contributions to the world of comedy over the course of decades.
The Smothers Brothers join Dick Cavett, Bill Dana, Ed Asner, Cloris Leachman, Jimmie “J.J.” Walker, Stephen Wright, David Steinberg, Kevin Pollack, Fred Willard, Robert Klein, Rich Little, and Paul Reiser as recipients of the prestigious Johnny Carson Comedy Legend Award.
The Smothers Brothers debuted their unique brand of humor at the Purple Onion in San Francisco in 1961. The two began performing together while college students at Santa Clara University. Their entertainment style set them apart from both music and comedy in the early 1960s.
The half dozen years that followed saw a string of hit albums, TV appearances and a brief sitcom, “The Smothers Brothers Show.” In February 1967, the curtain rose on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS as a mid-season replacement. The Comedy Hour immediately rose to number one and edged out the long-time leader, “Bonanza.”
“The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” established a beachhead for topical and satirical content and featured long-established stars and cutting-edge rock groups of the 1960s. That satire and controversy came with a price as they pushed the envelope for three seasons with political and anti-war content.
According to their biography, their success was cut short by White House pressure and a contrived firing by CBS. The brothers then took their show on the road for five decades, performing regularly to capacity audiences at concert venues throughout the country.
The Smothers Brothers chose to retire in 2010, but their induction into The National Comedy Center spurred their interest in returning to the stage. They consider connecting with audiences a priceless gift.
The Great American Comedy Festival opened in 2008 to honor the legacy of Norfolk’s favorite son, Johnny Carson, who was host of NBC’s “Late Night Show Starring Johnny Carson” for over 25 years. Carson retired on May 22, 1992.
This year’s festival is also made possible with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. For tickets and information, visit www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com

(NORFOLK, NE.) – The iconic Smothers Brothers will conclude the 13th Great American Comedy Festival at the Festival Gala Saturday, June 18th.
Set for Thursday through Saturday, June 16-18, at 7 p.m. at the Johnny Carson Theatre in Norfolk, the festival is presented by Nucor Steel Nebraska, Nucor Cold Finish Nebraska, Nucor Detailing Center, and Vulcraft Nebraska.
It kicks off Thursday with the family Comedy Magic Show. Friday night’s entertainment includes the Comedy Showcase with David Koechner as headliner and four other stand-up comics at the theatre. The /Sparklight Adults Only, Late Night Show follows at 10:30 at The Stables in Norfolk. Saturday’s Festival Gala, with the Smothers Brothers as headliners, concludes the three-day event at the Johnny Carson Theatre.
The Smothers Brothers of the #1 rated “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” in the 1960s will be joined on the stage with four other stand-up comedians: Emmy Blotnick, Eric Owusu, Taylor Williamson, and Adam Yenser.
Emmy Blotnick is a stand-up/actress/writer based in New York. She has appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” where she was also a staff writer, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Conan,” and in her own Comedy Central “Half Hour.”
Her Comedy Central “Half Hour” premiered in 2018 and was followed by the release of her debut comedy album, “Party Nights,” in 2019. “Party Nights” is now available on live stream. Previously, Blotnick was head writer for the Comedy Central series, “The President Show.” Currently, she is a writer and co-executive producer on HBO Max’s “Pause with Sam Jay.”
Her recent writing credits also include Mel Brooks' “History of the World: Part 2” for Hulu and “Bust Down” for Peacock. She is a also a panelist on NPR’s “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” Blotnick was featured in the New York Times as a “Savvy Comic” who shines. She has also been recognized as one of Comedy Central’s Comics to Watch and as a New Face at Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal.
Eric Owusu is a Los Angeles-based comedian, writer and dessert enthusiast from Maryland. He's an optimist who loves to laugh and enjoys the occasional heated debate where he gets to show how much of a bleeding-heart liberal he is.
He has written for The Disney Channel and CBS and performed stand-up comedy all over the United States.
Comedian Taylor Williamson placed second on season eight of “America’s Got Talent! (AGT).” He was featured on the NBC series, “AGT: The Champions,” and was named one of the top five favorite acts of all time on the “10-Year AGT Anniversary Special.”
He started performing stand-up comedy while a senior in high school in Del Mar, CA. He now lives in Los Angeles and entertains around the world. He’s performed at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada, and he was the youngest comedian to ever perform on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” He has also appeared on MTV’s “Total Request Live (TRL),” Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham” and “Last Call with Carson Daly.” He was also a semi-finalist on NBC's “Last Comic Standing.”
Williamson has a comedy album titled, “Laughter? I Hardly Know Her!” and a comedy special titled, “Please Like Me” on Amazon Prime.
Comedian and Emmy-Award-winning writer Adam Yenser wrote for “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” for 10 years and starred in the segment, “Kevin the Cashier Played by Adam.” He has appeared on “Conan,” “Gutfeld!” and “FOX Laughs.”
He has been a freelance contributor to “SNL’s Weekend Update,” has written for The Academy Awards and co-produced the web series, “Laugh Lessons with Kevin Nealon.” He mixes sharp, observational humor with a uniquely conservative political perspective and has had sketches featured by The Daily Wire and The Babylon Bee.
Yenser’s first half-hour “Dry Bar Comedy” special will be released in 2022.
The Great American Comedy Festival opened in 2008 to honor the legacy of Norfolk’s favorite son, Johnny Carson, who was host of NBC’s “Late Night Show Starring Johnny Carson” for over 25 years.
The Great American Comedy Festival is also made possible with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. For tickets and information, visit www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com

(NORFOLK, NE.) – Plans continue for the return of the Great American Comedy Festival presented by Nucor Steel Nebraska, Nucor Cold Finish Nebraska, Nucor Detailing Center, and Vulcraft Nebraska.
The 13th festival is set for Thursday through Saturday, June 16-18, at 7 p.m. at the Johnny Carson Theatre in Norfolk. The festival opened in 2008 to honor the legacy of Norfolk’s favorite son, Johnny Carson, who was host of NBC’s “Late Night Show Starring Johnny Carson” for over 25 years.
The festival kicks off Thursday with the family Comedy Magic Show. Friday night’s entertainment includes the Comedy Showcase at the theatre and the /Sparklight Adults Only, Late Night Show at 10:30 at The Stables in Norfolk. Saturday’s Festival Gala with the Smothers Brothers as headliners and four other comics concludes the three-day event.
David Koechner, best known for his roles as Todd Packer on “The Office” and Champ Kind from “Anchorman” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” will headline the Comedy Showcase Friday. Stand-up comedians Cat Alvarado, Sophie Buddle, Chris Lewis, and Glen Tickle will also perform at the Comedy Showcase.
Stand-up comedian and activist Cat Alvarado covers relatable topics like parents and dating. She also dives into her views on Latin American geopolitics, including the current crisis in Nicaragua.
Alvarado has over two million views on the YouTube Channel, “The Reel Rejects.” She has also been featured on Buzzfeed's Tasty channel for Facebook and has entertained on the PBS show, “First Nations Comedy Experience.”
Alvarado hosts the comedy podcast, “Villains of History” @villainsofhistory and has performed in some of the top comedy festivals in the country, including Laughing Skull in Atlanta and Big Pine in Flagstaff, AZ.
Canadian Sophie Buddle is a stand-up comedian, TV writer and podcaster. She has appeared as a correspondent and a staff writer on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC’s) “This Hour Has 22 Minutes.” She has also been featured on Just for Laughs (JFL) “All Access,” Kevin Hart's Laugh Out Loud Network, the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and the Halifax Comedy Festival.
Buddle recently released her first album, "Lil Bit of Buddle,” found on iTunes in the “easy listening" genre. Her podcast, “Obsessed with Sophie Buddle,” was an instant hit and can be seen live at JFL42 in September.
She is also a two-time runner up for Canada's biggest stand-up contest, SiriusXM Top Comic, and headlines across the country.
Chris Lewis, from Los Angeles, is a graduate of the Yale of improv, Second City. He also studied at Upright Citizen’s Brigade (the Harvard of improv schools) and has written and performed in over 100 improv shows and festivals.
A trained actor who studied at the prestigious John Ruskin School of Acting, Lewis is proficient in the Meisner technique of acting. He has been seen at The Comedy Store, The Hollywood Comedy, The Pasadena Comedy, and Improv City, to name a few.
Lewis stars in the short film, “Not Just Meena,” and has been in many local and national commercials. He performs often with his improv group, Bernie Mac and Cheese, which some have called the “In Living Color” of improv groups. He describes himself as a fan of comedy and a lover of good times!
Glen Tickle is a comedian based in New Jersey, where he says he lives with his wife, children and, for some reason, a bunch of chickens. His work has appeared on Dry Bar Comedy, SiriusXM and Cozi TV.
Tickle describes his comedy as a focus on his family life, pop culture and how good he is at the video game, “Dr. Mario.” His favorite movie is “Buckaroo Banzai.” He said he would like to play the character "New Jersey" in the eventual remake of the film.
The Great American Comedy Festival is also made possible with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. For tickets and information, visit www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com

Billed as world-class magicians, three men will show off their skills on the Johnny Carson Theatre stage with the Great American Comedy Festival’s family Comedy Magic Show next month.
The Comedy Magic Show will be Thursday, June 16, in Norfolk, beginning at 7 p.m. and featuring Matt Marcy, Alexander Boyce and Andrew Goldenhersh.
The Great American Comedy Festival will continue Friday, June 17, with the Comedy Showcase and David Koechner as headliner, and Saturday, June 18, with the Festival Gala and the Smothers Brothers as headliners. Both shows are at 7 p.m. There is also an adults-only Late Night Show Friday at 10:30 at The Stables in Norfolk.
The 13th Great American Comedy Festival is presented by Nucor Steel Nebraska, Nucor Cold Finish Nebraska, Nucor Detailing Center and Vulcraft Nebraska.
A graduate of Brown University, Marcy has appeared 12 times on “Masters of Illusion” on the CW Network and twice on “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” over his 20-year career. Acclaimed for his combination of magic and storytelling, he has performed more than 1,000 shows at the world-famous Hollywood Magic Castle.
Marcy is also the creator of the award-winning comedy web series, “Disillusioned,” and the author of “Magic for the Business World.” He entertains around the world as a comedy magician, emcee and keynote speaker at theaters, casinos, cruise ships and private and corporate events.
Boyce has appeared on the McKittrick Hotel’s long running “Speakeasy Magick” in New York City. He also has appeared at The Magic Castle in Hollywood and Harvard A.R.T.’s “The Conjuror’s Club.”
He recently served as the magic consultant for the Lincoln Center, NBC’s “New Amsterdam” and the Netflix feature, “The Week of Bizarre Brooklyn,” which he co-created and starred in. “The Week of Bizarre Brooklyn” was featured by The New York Times as a selection for best theater of the year.
Boyce has performed for clients like Amazon, Google, and NASDAQ. He lives in Brooklyn and considers himself lucky he gets to share his passion for magic with audiences all over the world.
Goldenhersh was voted Parlour Magician of the Year two years in a row and has been nominated for both Close-up Magician of the Year and Parlour Magician of the Year twelve years in a row. He has entertained audiences from Hollywood to the Far East and been prominently featured on several national TV shows in the United States, Japan and China.
A perennial honoree at the legendary Magic Castle, he has also received accolades from the prestigious Academy of Magical Arts.
Respected by his peers, Goldenhersh has entertained A-listers in entertainment like Dustin Hoffman, Nicolas Cage, Jason Alexander, Demi Moore, Teri Hatcher, Tony Shalhoub, Steve Carell, Jane Fonda, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow, Michael Ovitz, and the late Aaron Spelling and Robin Leach .
Las Vegas superstar Lance Burton calls Goldenhersh a "genius." The world-renowned David Copperfield recently licensed one of his routines.
The Great American Comedy Festival is also made possible with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. The annual festival opened in 2008 to honor the legacy of Norfolk’s favorite son, Johnny Carson, who was the longtime host of NBC’s “Late Night Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

(NORFOLK, Neb.) - Two comedy icons will headline the closing night Gala of the 13th Great American Comedy Festival Saturday, June 18th, at Johnny Carson Theatre in Norfolk.

Tom and Dick Smothers, also known as The Smothers Brothers, will entertain at the Gala. David Koechner will headline the Friday night Comedy Showcase on June 17th. Koechner was scheduled to appear at the 2020 Comedy Festival that was postponed because of Covid-19.

Presented by Nucor Steel Nebraska, Nucor Cold Finish Nebraska, Nucor Detailing Center, and Vulcraft Nebraska, the festival kicks off Thursday, June 16th, with the traditional family Comedy Magic Show. All shows are at 7 p.m. at the Johnny Carson Theatre except an Adults-only Late Night Show at The Stables Friday, June 17, at 10:30. The Stables is located at 1909 Vicki Lane in Norfolk.

Billed as “An Evening with The Smothers Brothers,” the Smothers’ appearance will include an evening of memories and laughter with classic “Comedy Hour” clips and an interactive audience Q and A.

The Smothers Brothers debuted their unique brand of humor at the Purple Onion in San Francisco in 1961. The two began performing together while college students at Santa Clara University. Their entertainment style set them apart from both music and comedy in the early 1960s.

The half dozen years that followed saw a string of hit albums, TV appearances and a brief sitcom, “The Smothers Brothers Show.” In February 1967, the curtain rose on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on CBS as a mid-season replacement. The Comedy Hour immediately rose to number one and edged out the long-time leader, “Bonanza.”

“The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” established a beachhead for topical and satirical content and featured long-established stars and cutting-edge rock groups of the 1960s. That satire and controversy came with a price as they pushed the envelope for three seasons with political and anti-war content.

According to their biography, their success was cut short by White House pressure and a contrived firing by CBS. The brothers then took their show on the road for five decades, performing regularly to capacity audiences at concert venues throughout the country.

The Smothers chose to retire in 2010, but their recent induction into The National Comedy Center spurred their interest in returning to the stage. The brothers consider connecting with audiences a priceless gift.

Actor, writer and producer David Koechner’s Norfolk appearance is one stop on his 2022 “Blue Skies and Dirty Lies” comedy tour. He is well known for his roles as Todd Packer on “The Office” and

Champ Kind from “Anchorman” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.” He currently co-hosts A&E’s “American Top Dog,” plays Bill Lewis on ABC’s “The Goldbergs” and recently appeared on ABC’s “Bless This Mess.”

He has also appeared in CBS’s “Superior Donuts,” Showtime’s “Twin Peaks,” Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” and IFC’s “Stan Against Evil.” His recent film work includes “Then Came You,” “Braking for Whales,” “A Week Away,” “Vicious Fun,” and “National Champions.”

An alumnus of Chicago’s Second City Theater, Koechner got his first break as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” and has since appeared in more than 200 films and television shows.

When not filming, Koechner performs live stand-up comedy across the country and creates original content videos for his YouTube channel, “Full On Koechner.” He also co-hosts Big Slick Celebrity Weekend, an annual charity event benefitting Children’s Mercy Hospital of Kansas City.

“We are beyond thrilled to bring back the Great American Comedy Festival after Covid-19 forced us to postpone the 2020 and 2021 festivals,” said Lisa Wattier, executive director. “Our past audiences were extremely disappointed when we postponed those two festivals. We all agree it is time to put those two years behind us and get back to living again.

“And living means laughing and there will be an abundance of laughter at this year’s Great American Comedy Festival with headliners David Koechner and The Smothers Brothers, several other stand-up comedians and three fantastic magicians.”

The Great American Comedy Festival is also made possible with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. The annual festival opened in 2008 to honor the legacy of Norfolk’s favorite son, Johnny Carson, who was host of NBC’s “Late Night Show Starring Johnny Carson” for over 25 years. For tickets and information, visit www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com

Special to the Daily News
Officials with the Great American Comedy Festival in Norfolk have announced that the 2022 festival has again been awarded a grant of $6,990 from the Nebraska Arts Council.

This grant will support the 13th Great American Comedy Festival, which will return June 16-18. Because of the pandemic, there was no comedy festival in 2020 and 2021.
“The Great American Comedy Festival contributes a great deal to the advancement of the arts in Norfolk,” said Suzanne Wise, executive director of the Nebraska Arts Council. “We commend the work being done by organizations such as the Great American Comedy Festival because the arts are important to the education and quality of life for all Nebraskans.”

The 2022 festival will kick off Thursday, June 16, at 7 p.m. with the family Comedy Magic Show at the Johnny Carson Theatre. Friday’s Comedy Showcase is at 7 p.m., and the Festival Gala will conclude the 2022 event Saturday, June 18, at 7 p.m. at the theater.
“We again extend our sincere thanks to the Nebraska Arts Council for their generous grant,” said Lisa Wattier, executive director of the comedy festival. “Even though we had to cancel the 2020 and 2021 festivals, generosity such as this will help us bring laughter back to our audiences at the Johnny Carson Theatre. And, we all certainly need that laughter after the past two years.”

The annual festival opened in 2008 to honor Norfolk’s favorite son, Johnny Carson, who was host of NBC’s “Late Night Show Starring Johnny Carson” for more than 25 years. The festival is presented by Nucor Steel Nebraska, Nucor Cold Finish Nebraska, Vulcraft Nebraska and Nucor Detailing Center.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cloris Leachman, an Oscar-winner for her portrayal of a lonely housewife in “The Last Picture Show” and a comedic delight as the fearsome Frau Blücher in “Young Frankenstein” and self-absorbed neighbor Phyllis on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” has died. She was 94.
Leachman died in her sleep of natural causes at her home in Encinitas, California, publicist Monique Moss said Wednesday. Her daughter Dinah Englund was at her side, Moss said.
A character actor of extraordinary range, Leachman defied typecasting. In her early television career, she appeared as Timmy’s mother on the “Lassie” series. She played a frontier prostitute in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” a crime spree family member in “Crazy Mama,” and Blücher in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein,” in which the very mention of her name drew equine commentary.
Leachman was the recipient of the Johnny Carson Comedy Legend award at the Great American Comedy Festival in Norfolk in 2011.
“Every time I hear a horse whinny I will forever think of Cloris’ unforgettable Frau Blücher,” Brooks tweeted, calling Leachman “insanely talented” and “irreplaceable.”
Salutes from other admiring colleagues poured in on social media. Steve Martin said Leachman “brought comedy’s mysteries to the big and small screen.” “Nothing I could say would top the enormity of my love for you,” posted Ed Asner of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” “Applause on every entrance and exit,” said Rosie O’Donnell.
“There was no one like Cloris. With a single look she had the ability to break your heart or make you laugh ’till the tears ran down your face,” Juliet Green, her longtime manager, said in a statement.
In 1989, Leachman toured in “Grandma Moses,” a play in which she aged from 45 to 101. For three years in the 1990s she appeared in major cities as the captain’s wife in the revival of “Show Boat.” In the 1993 movie version of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” she assumed the Irene Ryan role as Granny Clampett.
She also had an occasional role as Ida on “Malcolm in the Middle,” winning Emmys in 2002 and 2006 for that show. Her Emmy haul over the years totaled eight, including two trophies for Moore’s sitcom, tying her with Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the top Emmy winners among performers.
In 2008, Leachman joined the ranks of contestants in “Dancing With the Stars,” not lasting long in the competition but pleasing the crowds with her sparkly dance costumes, perching herself on judges’ laps and cussing during the live broadcast.
She started out as Miss Chicago in the Miss America Pageant and willingly accepted unglamorous screen roles.
“Basically I don’t care how I look, ugly or beautiful,” she told an interviewer in 1973. “I don’t think that’s what beauty is. On a single day, any of us is ugly or beautiful. I’m heartbroken I can’t be the witch in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ But I’d also like to be the good witch. Phyllis combines them both.
“I’m kind of like that in life. I’m magic, and I believe in magic. There’s supposed to be a point in life when you aren’t supposed to stay believing that. I haven’t reached it yet.”
During the 1950s, Leachman became busy in live TV drama, demonstrating her versatility, including in roles that represented casting standards of that era.
“One week I’d be on as a Chinese girl, the next as a blond cockney and weeks later as a dark-haired someone else,” she recalled. In 1955, she made her film debut in a hard-boiled Mickey Spillane saga, “Kiss Me Deadly” — “I was the naked blonde that Mike Hammer picked up on that dark highway.”
She followed with Rod Serling’s court-martial drama, “The Rack,” and a season on “Lassie.” She continued in supporting roles on Broadway and in movies, then achieved her triumph with Peter Bogdanovich’s “The Last Picture Show,” based on the Larry McMurtry novel.
When Leachman received the Oscar as best supporting actress of 1971, she delivered a rambling speech in which she thanked her piano and dancing teachers and concluded: “This is for Buck Leachman, who paid the bills.” Her father ran a lumber mill.
Despite her photogenic looks, she continued to be cast in character parts. Her most indelible role was Phyllis Lindstrom on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”
Phyllis often visited Mary’s apartment, bringing laments about her husband Lars and caustic remarks about Mary and especially about her adversary, another tenant, Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper). Phyllis was so unexpectedly engaging that Leachman starred in a spinoff series of her own, “Phyllis,” which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1977.
With “Young Frankenstein,” Leachman became a member of “the Mel Brooks stock company,” also appearing in “High Anxiety” and “History of the World, Part I.” Her other films included Bogdanovich’s “Daisy Miller,” and “Texasville,” repeating her role in “The Last Picture Show.” In 2009, she released her autobiography, “Cloris,” which made tabloid headlines for her recounting of a “wild” one-night stand with Gene Hackman.
Cloris Leachman grew up on the outskirts of Des Moines, Iowa, where she was born in 1926. The large family lived in an isolated wooden house with no running water, but the mother had ambitious ideas for her children. Cloris took piano lessons at the age of 5; since the family could not afford a piano, she practiced on a cardboard drawing of the keys.
“I’m going to be a concert pianist,” the girl announced, and her mother encouraged her with bookings at churches and civic clubs. She arranged for Cloris to ride on a coal truck to Des Moines for an audition for a Drake University student play. She was given the role and appeared in other plays at a local theater. After high school, she won a scholarship to study drama at Northwestern University.
Admittedly a poor student, Leachman lasted only a year. As a lark while in the Chicago area, she tried out for a Miss Chicago beauty contest and was chosen. She competed in the 1946 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, qualifying as a finalist. Her consolation prize: a $1,000 talent scholarship.
With new ambition, she went directly to New York, where she worked as an extra in a movie and understudied Nina Foch in the hit play “John Loves Mary.”
More understudy jobs followed, and she enrolled at the Actors Studio to hone her craft. “I finally quit because of the smoking,” she said later. “I couldn’t stand that blue haze.”
In 1953, Leachman married George Englund, later a film director and producer, and they had five children: Adam, Bryan, George, Morgan and Dinah. The couple divorced in 1979. Son Bryan Englund was found dead in 1986 at age 30.

​(NORFOLK, Neb.)  – Magician Ben Seidman has been featured on Netflix, the Travel Channel, the CW and twice at the Johnny Carson Theatre in Norfolk. And for one very special night, he'll perform live in Norfolk area living rooms.
            Through the magic of technology, the family Comedy Magic Show portion of the Great American Comedy Festival will come to living rooms on Wednesday, July 22nd, at 7 p.m.  Seidman’s virtual “Camera Tricks” will use the Zoom platform.  His virtual show is sponsored by Wattier’s Auto Body.
            The 13th Annual Great American Comedy Festival, to be presented by Nucor Steel Nebraska, Nucor Cold Finish Nebraska, Nucor Detailing Center, and Vulcraft Nebraska, was postponed until 2021 because of Covid-19.
            Guests at Seidman’s “Camera Tricks” will be part of an interactive performance full of magic, but he advises there will be a catch. Throughout the evening, one of his miracles will use a camera trick and viewers will be asked to figure out which routine is tainted.  
            Seidman says this virtual experience will combine his acclaimed magical creations with secrets that are over 200 years old, passed down to only a select few conjurors. “The result is a delightful and awe-inspiring night that will remind you there is still magic in the world,” he said.
            Seidman guest stars on the Netflix Original Brainchild and appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us on the CW network. He has also starred in Magic Outlaws on the Travel Channel.  He was the highest rated performer for Princess Cruises and won its Entertainer of the Year award in 2015.
            He is the only person in history to be named the Resident Magician at Mandalay Bay, Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. His residency at Mandalay followed three-seasons consulting for Mindfreak on A&E, during which he worked full-time, designing illusions for Criss Angel.
            He has also been voted Best Small Venue Artist by Campus Activities Magazine. 
            “While extremely disappointed that we had to postpone this year’s Great American Comedy Festival, we are thrilled we are able to offer a portion of the festival virtually,” Lisa Wattier, executive director said. “Ben’s appearances on the Johnny Carson stage here in Norfolk in 2018 and 2019 were extremely well received. Children loved him.  And children will love watching his show virtually in their own homes too.
            “He leaves his audience shaking their heads and often asking, ‘How did he do that?’” she said.
“His hour-long virtual show promises to bring some joy and amazement in a time when we all need a lift.  We encourage area residents to gather around their smart TV’s, computer, tablet or phone and settle in for some great fun brought to you by the Great American Comedy Festival.”   
            For tickets and information, click here.