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Posted May. 29, 2007, 9:58 p.m. PT
R.I.P. Charles Nelson Reilly
By Ann Magnuson
We are genuinely very sad to hear of the passing of comic legend Charles Nelson Reilly. Those of a "certain age" will also share our fond memories of coming home from school and losing ourselves (and probably many brain cells) to Match Game (after Dark Shadows and/or The Mike Douglas Show).
Charles Nelson Reilly was a zany anarchist -- Bugs Bunny in human form. Yet he was also a very serious actor who taught folks like Lily Tomlin and Christine Lahti how to hone their craft. Even so, we'll remember him mostly for his inspired nuttiness. Reilly never failed to entertain with his wacky banter. His "relationship" with Match Game co-panelist Brett Somers was a shrouded in mystery - yet did two people ever seem more right for each other? Here Reilly is taking over the host duties from Gene Rayburn. Ah, those were the days!
We also loved him in the Sid & Marty Kroft freak-out known as Lidsville (see video below). Reilly also performed in a one-man show "Life of Reilly", in which we learned that the best comics usually do spring forth from a very deep, dark well of familial angst. I often wonder if the kookiness that Reilly delivered to American children everyday under the radar (or gaydar for that matter!) helped fan the flames of the counterculture spirit as much as the hippies burning their draft cards? What could be more threatening to the status quo than CNR on a roll? Or more appealing to future punk rock or new wave arty types?
R.I.P. Charles. Hope your trading zingers with Paul Lynde up there in comedy heaven!
Comments
i loved match game. it seemed like everybody was drunk on that show.
i just heard charles nelson reilly's voice recently as "the dirty bubble" character on spongebob. what a funny guy!
Posted at 1:56 p.m. PT on May 29, 2007 by jesse
Thank you for the fond rememberance of CNR, your thoughts were so sweet. I jadore the matchgame AM and PM. A real flashback.
-All my Love Elliott
P.S.
Looking forwards to seeing you at gayday Sat.
Posted at 11:12 a.m. PT on Jun 05, 2007 by elliott Siegel
hi, i just thought i'd share this anecdote with you..i had the pleasure of meeting mr. riley about 2 years ago..he was doing a one-man show at the little local playhouse up the street from the restaurant i cook at..i had been mentioning his name to co workers all week, to see if anyone besides me even knew who he was..it was a friday night when a waiter came back and said that "that guy you keep talking about"is here..so, celebrity whore that i am, i grabbed a pen and paper, put on a nice, clean chef jacket and headed for the dining room..i ntroduced myself and shook his hand, which i'll never forget as i feared i broke a bone in his hand as i could actually hear them(finger bones)popping..yikes!he was dining with a very pretty twentysomething young man of apparent indian descent whom he introduced as his grandson (!?!) i had to stifle a chuckle when he said this..as anyone who knows who he was would have to know he was flamboyantly gay(and more power to him,if hes still bagging beauties like that at his age)..he also said that the food was wonderful..anyhoo he was a very polite, funny, and charming man and ill always remember that encounter..godspeed to you mr.riley...and thanks for the blog ann..i love you and your work....joel
Posted at 12:42 a.m. PT on Jun 18, 2007 by joel
Thanks Joel! I too encountered Mr. Reilly in a restaurant. I think it was the early 90s. He kept looking over at me with this beaming face like we were the two naughty kids in the room!When we were finally introduced it was like we had known each other for years! what a nice guy! I wish I had gotten another opportunity to see him and his one man show which I sadly missed. More evidence that you must ALWAYS attend shows or concerts put on by these legends when you have the opportunity. Chances are there won't be a 'next time'.
Posted at 10:52 a.m. PT on Jun 21, 2007 by ann magnuson
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