News
Steve Martin The Television Stuff 3-DVD Box Set Out September 18
Los Angeles, CA, June 27, in the year of our Lord 2012
-- Steve Martin is one of the most beloved and iconic talents in
American comedy. Until now, however, his body of work on television
has been largely unavailable on DVD. That all changes on September
18, 2012, with the release of Steve Martin: The Television Stuff
from Shout! Factory and SOFA Entertainment. From the stand-up act
that made him a comedy rock star (of which only two complete
performances were ever recorded, both included in this set) to his
four joyfully twisted NBC sketch comedy specials, his
Oscar®-nominated short film and a jewel box of additional comic
bits, The Television Stuff finally delivers one of the most unique
and treasured eras in Steve Martin's celebrated career. The set was
made in collaboration with the celebrated actor, comedian, author,
playwright, producer and musician, and will feature never-before
seen videos.
Shout! Factory has announced an exclusive offer for The Television
Stuff. The first 100 copies ordered from ShoutFactory.com will be
autographed by Steve Martin! Pre-orders can be placed at
http://www.shoutfactorystore.com/prod.aspx?pfid=5257874.
A highlight of the collection will be Homage to Steve, which
includes his Oscar®-nominated short film The Absent-Minded Waiter
and boasts the only footage of Martin’s 1970s legendary stand-up
acts with his LIVE 1979 show at Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheatre.
Also included in the collection are the 1976 HBO television special
On Location: Steve Martin, vintage NBC Specials Steve Martin: A Wild
and Crazy Guy, Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty, All Commercials …
A Steve Martin Special and Steve Martin's Best Show Ever. The box
set features special guest appearances by Dan Aykroyd, Laraine
Newman, Lauren Hutton, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Lynn Redgrave,
Paul Simon, David Letterman, Carl Reiner and Johnny Cash. Bonus
features include a new interview with Martin and a 24-page booklet
with an essay by author Adam Gopnik, liner notes and rare
photographs.
There's an old saying that some people are born to entertain. That
describes Steve Martin to a "T." Growing up in Southern California
-- the heartland of American entertainment -- Martin was a
cheerleader in high school, worked at Disneyland during the summer,
and, at the ripe old age of 15, got a job performing magic tricks at
the theme park’s Main Street Magic shop. While at college he began
acting in comedy productions, joined a comedy troupe at Knott's
Berry Farm, and, by the late 60s was doing stand-up in the L.A.
area, finally then segueing to writing for The Smothers Brothers
Comedy Hour, where he won an Emmy Award. By the mid-seventies he was
making appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Gong Show, HBO's On Location and Saturday Night Live (which he
hosted 15 times). By the end of the decade he co-wrote and starred
in his first full-length movie, The Jerk, directed by Carl Reiner.
From there, Martin's star has never dimmed, with eight albums (both
comedy and banjo), more than four dozen films, and enough awards to
make anyone's mantle sag under their weight.
STEVE MARTIN: THE TELEVISION STUFF DISC 1
On Location With Steve Martin (1976)
Steve Martin's HBO special was recorded as one of the network's “On
Location” series of stand-up comedy specials. Taped on October 31,
1976, at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, this previously unreleased
show provides a rare and uncensored look at Martin's early act.
Steve Martin: A Wild And Crazy Guy (1978)
Steve Martin's first network special for NBC originally featured a
mix of comedy sketches and concert footage shot at the Universal
Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. Because that concert is included in its
entirety on Disc 2, most of it was edited out of this program.
Sketches include: Martin as "Turtle Boy," rodeo-riding a giant
turtle; Martin hosting a variety show on which Johnny Cash discusses
his research in astronomy; and Martin five years later as a drunken
bum.
Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty (1980)
Steve Martin's second NBC special was made up entirely of sketches.
Highlights include: Marty Robbins' "El Paso" with monkeys; "The
Death of Socrates"; and "Bizarre Oddities of the World." With
Special Appearances by Marty Allen, Richard Deacon, Joyce DeWitt,
Phil Foster, Peter Graves, Werner Klemperer, Meredith MacRae, Gary
Mule Deer, Louis Nye, Regis Philbin, Carl Reiner and Dick Schaap.
Bonus Feature: Comments From Steve
Program Running Time: +/- 153 minutes
STEVE MARTIN: THE TELEVISION STUFF DISC 2
All Commercials . . . A Steve Martin Special (1980)
Steve Martin's third NBC special serves as a salute to 1970s
television commercials. Taking shots at everything from "Suzy
Chapstick" to Palmolive to advertising agencies, this special
showcased Martin's genius for physical comedy. Guest stars include
Julie McWhirter Dees, Antonio Fargas, Julann Griffin, Anne Lockhart,
Louis Nye; Pat Proft, Paul Reubens, The Dirt Band and Robert Klein.
Steve Martin's Best Show Ever (1981)
Steve Martin's fourth NBC special was in the spirit of his previous
association with Saturday Night Live. It was broadcast live from
Studio 8H, produced by Lorne Michaels and featured some original
cast members of the show. With special appearances by Dan Aykroyd,
John Belushi, Gregory Hines, Laraine Newman, Lynn Redgrave, Lauren
Hutton, Bill Murray and Paul Shaffer.
Homage To Steve (1984)
Originally released in 1984 but never appearing before on DVD, this
show features Martin's full LIVE performance at the Universal
Amphitheatre from September 28, 1979, marking the only video footage
that exists of his mature stage act from the late 70s. The show also
includes his Oscar®-nominated short The Absent-Minded Waiter (with
Terri Garr, 1977), and "The Comedians Segment" with Paul Simon,
David Letterman, Alan King and Henny Youngman.
Bonus Feature: Comments From Steve
Program Running Time: +/- 170 minutes
STEVE MARTIN: THE TELEVISION STUFF DISC 3
Bits And Pieces (1966-2005)
A collection of Steve's television guest appearances, speeches and
music videos.
Steve's Lifetime Achievement Acceptance Speech The American Comedy
Awards (2000)
Steve Plays the Banjo in his 1st Television appearance - Dusty's
Attic (1966)
Music Video: "What I Believe" from The Steve Martin Brothers Album
(1981)
Music Video: "Freddie's Lilt" from The Steve Martin Brothers Album
(1981)
Las Vegas Act Parody The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson (9/19/74)
Jean-Pierre Louey: The French Johnny Cash The Johnny Cash Christmas
Special (1978)
Steve Martin's Holiday Wishes Saturday Night Live (12/6/86)
Ode to a Loved One Saturday Night Live (5/20/89)
Steve's Penis Beauty Créme Saturday Night Live (9/24/94)
Steve's Tribute to Gene Kelly AFI Lifetime Achievement: A Tribute To
Gene Kelly (1985)
Best Actor In A Comedy Acceptance Speech The People's Choice Awards
(1992)
The Great Flydini The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson (5/6/92)
Steve's Paul Simon Tribute The Kennedy Center Honors (2002)
The Making of The Steve Martin Appearance The Late Show With David
Letterman (12/1/95)
Steve's Acceptance Speech The Mark Twain Prize For American Humor
(2005)
Bonus Feature: Comments From Steve
Program Running Time: +/- 72 minutes