On your Marx, get set, and go! This time out the Marx we are honoring is Leonard -- better known to us as Chico whose playful and crafty stage persona was a perfect blend with Groucho, Harpo, and Gummo. The eldest brother of the Marx family, Chico also took on managing the brothers' film career, winning them an unprecedented at the time deal to get a percentage of the gross. Unfortunately, Chico didn't have the same magic with his personal finances as gambling losses forced him to work far longer than his kin. It was our gain, as Chico had a fine late career guesting on tv variety shows and in commercials. And why the nickname "Chico"? Turns out it was a sly tribute to his penchant for womanizing bestowed on him by his brothers. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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Chico got his nickname (short for "chicken chaser") because of his penchant for womanizing. Here is Chico talking with Harpo -- who also had a thing for chasing women -- in the classic film Animal Crackers. https://youtu.be/Dbz02p90CV8?si=aIKFojpXW6XQiilU

Chico was a master of wisecracks and his back-and-forth banter with Groucho was always a highlight of a Marx Brothers film. Here's a nice compilation of some of Chico's best. https://youtu.be/F9L-iQP8O1s?si=h0j3gu08_5loUigT

Chico's gambling habit cost him a fortune and, as a result, he had to keep working after his brothers had retired. A fun show from this time was The College Bowl (not the game show) which featured Chico as a soda-shop proprietor in a small college town. https://youtu.be/iwjSaOwg57w?si=rebZjie33452pDMA

This time out we salute Craig Robinson, who might well have ended up as your high school music teacher had not the comedy bug bit him hard while in college at Illinois State University. Along with hitting the books, Craig also hit the boards at Second City and doing stand up, eventually moving to Los Angeles where he caught the eye of Jimmy Kimmel's show. As these things do, one thing led to another and Craig has carved out a fine career with guest shots in movies and on tv, a role in the hit sitcom The Office, and more. He also is a fine musician and maintains a couple of musical projects where the music is sweet soul and the comedy is sharp and a little risqué. With that combo we think Craig will be entertaining us for years to come. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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Craig's comedy songs usually have a nice romantic intro, then turn a different direction for the payoff as in this clip from the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in 2008. https://youtu.be/I7BMAWwsMBs?si=CvLfOcPrLhD6ztrg

Craig gained mass attention when he took on the role of warehouse foreman Darryl Philbin in The Office. Here are some of his best bits. https://youtu.be/XrHeFFYhd1A?si=jx5UMoY0pobFe2i4

Craig Robinson is a great musical comedian, sometimes with his own band "Nasty Delicious" and sometimes with fellow comic Jerry Minor as in this sensitive ballad. https://youtu.be/pS3WQ-tqntA?si=aEN_ICdKmur1fL2e

An icon of 20th Century American humor, Jack Benny started as a violinist who would use comedy to save himself from bombing. He ended up as a legendary comedian who used the violin as one part of an indelible comic character. Vain, stingy, and eternally 39, Jack became a hit in the 1930s on the then-new medium of radio. He turned that into a stellar movie and television career -- earning himself three stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame -- one each for movies, radio, and television. Benny was also part of Hollywood's comedy old guard with friends ranging from Bob Hope and Johnny Carson to Benny's long-time best bud George Burns. Benny is often cited as the Jedi master of comic timing -- he could bring down the house with just a glance, a shrug, or a perfectly timed "Well!" As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows!

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This is short but worth seeing the visuals as Jack is called out on his age in a delightfully backhanded way. https://youtu.be/qCCzO-9pWls?si=RIi6-QPXUqS4J074

Jack's radio show was fun for some of the byplay between Jack and Announcer Don Wilson. This "marathon" of Benny radio shows has a nice example at the start -- then stick around for more!https://youtu.be/qCCzO-9pWls?si=RIi6-QPXUqS4J074

Jack and Johnny Carson were good friends, dating back to when Johnny was the new kid in town. This bit from Jack's tv show is great fun. https://youtu.be/mUd1-_91YTk?si=3Ob1JIItYTInlxjO

Jack received a rare honor when he was cast in his very own Looney Tunes cartoon. Here's a taste, featuring some of Jack's regular co-stars. https://youtu.be/xB6TSameuYQ?si=XUz2xQuUgOuXrQVS