Make Me Laugh

Make Me Laugh
Premiere	March 20, 1958
Finale	January 1998
Creator	George Foster Mort Green Pat Weaver
Host	Robert Q. Lewis (1958) Bobby Van (1979-80) Ken Ober (1997) Mark Cohen (1998)
Network/Provider	ABC (1958) Syndication (1979-80) Comedy Central (1997-98)
Style	30-minute game show comedy
Company	Make Me Laugh Productions/Program Services Ltd. Lukehill Productions/Paramount Television Dove/Four Point/Buena Vista TV
Origin	USA

Make Me Laugh was a comedy game show that aired for thirteen weeks on ABC prime time in 1958, followed by a one-season syndicated run in 1979 and another run on Comedy Central in 1997.

Three stand-up comedians in turn attempted to make a contestant, chosen from the audience, laugh with their jokes and schtick in sixty seconds. The contestant received $1 for every second he/she did not laugh. A celebrity was employed in the third round to play for a home viewer. (Musician Frank Zappa was a celebrity player in the syndicated edition and he remained stoic throughout the comedians' performances.)

In the second syndicated show, a contestant could risk money won by predicting whether or not the comedians could make a second contestant laugh. This was played twice with the top scorer vying for an additional $500 by not laughing during a 60-second round-robin performance by the comedians.

In-Depth

At a Glance: Additional information about the series