Date:  Thu, 8 Feb 1996 02:37:36 -0500

From:  Bob Haas <rahaas[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]HAMLET.UNCG.EDU>

Subject: Re: Straight Wo/Man First?



I've always heard them referred to as Tom and Dick Smothers.



>From a fan,



Bob



On Tue, 6 Feb 1996, Tom Uharriet wrote:



> > Maybe the rule is that the straight-man is listed first?

> >

>

> Which Smothers Brother is said first?

>

>

>

> > Martin and Lewis

> > Abbott & Costello

> > or is it the other way around?

> > Laurel & Hardy

> >

> >

> > and how about those classics:

> >

> > Gallagher & Shean (Sheen?)

> > Gilbert & Sullivan

> > and the classic Groucho Marx law firm of

> > Hungerdunger, Hungerdunger, Hungerdunger & McCormick

> >

> > and the slogans:

> > Tippecanoe & Tyler Too!

> > wing and a prayer

> > praise the Lord and pass the ammunition

> > the lame & the halt

> > hops, rice and best barley malt

> >

> > And, what is the politically correct name for the "straight man" in a

> > lesbian comedy team?

> >

> >

> > SETH SKLAREY

> > Wittgenstein School of the Unwritten Word

> > Coconut Grove, FLorida

> > crissiet[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ix.netcom.com

> >

> > ======================

> > >I suppose the traditional male dominance or "power" factor is responsible

> > >for the fixed order of

> > >    Fibber McGee and Molly

> > >    George Burns and Gracie Allen

> > >though when duos like this are announced on stage, typically the master of

> > >ceremonies gives greater prosodic prominence to the second of the two.

> > >

> > >    Rudy

> > >    --Rudy Troike (rtroike[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ccit.arizona.edu)

> > >

> > >

> >

>