Michael Davis reminds me of the axiom that 10,000 hours of practice creates the expertise that is very near perfection. What an act this guy has. Amazing skill with added drama, songs, funny commentary and jokes while he does it. Just amazing. Too bad its only 40 min, I could watch 4 hours of this guy.
He had a half-hour Cinemax special in the '80s called, I believe, "Michael Davis: Life of the Party," that was quite something. He throws a party for his showbiz friends, and while he's juggling, "evil" jugglers crash the party and scare everyone with their violent, mean juggling. Michael steps in and defeats them with his "good" juggling. The net effect was like a highly improbable opera with juggling instead of music.
I so addicted to this man. I watch every videos available on RUclips about him. He is so witty clever , talented and skillful juggeler. He has so much Jim Carrey persona. I love that.
I was at.a Michael Davis show in London in the late 80s. He asked for a juggler from the audience. I knew there were other (better) jugglers there, and it took some time, but eventually, I ended up on stage and participated in the 3 food groups number. In my case, the protein food group was a large octopus! So by the end we were having a juggling competitin with a loaf of bread, margarine and a very slippery octopus. Pure chaos - my brain melted and by that point I had completely forgotten how to juggle large objects! I was game enough to catch the margarine on my head though! I've told the story many times, but I never knew the routine had been filmed. This really brought back memories! 😂
He was/is very talented & funny guy. There are a lot of standup comics running around today. And very few of them are very funny. This sort of act is sorely missed.
The irony is, he is right.. I had almost completely forgotten about Michael Davis until I found a random video of his on RUclips, and all those memories came flooding back.
I just got Michael Davis videos in my feed. Love his shows, why did we not hear more of him in earlier years ? Wish we had more of these entertainments today.
When I was in grade 4 or 5 I used to see him on shows like Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin, doing his juggling act. I basically taught myself how to juggle based on his act. I became a very good juggler, btw.
When David asks him if performing in front of the president changed his inner mechanisms, he answers: "Sure, it's gotta David". He sounds just like Hal 9000
BTW: Top circus performers make $3,000 or more a week. Some do extremely well when doing more than one act, changing costumes, and using a different name. They're so talented and skilled, I believe they earn every cent.
Yeah...the very very very top performers may make that (now...not then) But that is like saying the top badminton players can make a nice living. Because for every circus performer than makes anywhere near a six figure salary, there are hundreds that fight for a 5 figure one.
@@KnickKnack07 I was an electrician with Circus Vargas in 1975. Toured US & Canada. The top performers THEN made $3,000 per act; the top three did two acts under different names. That's $6,000 a week in 1975 money! The lion/tiger guy(Pat Anthony) and the elephants guy made a straight $5K a week for one act.
@Topher TheTenth Circus Vargas advertised THE CIRCUS coming to town on such & such date(s). Never advertised the performers. Ever. The performers generally changed each season(yearly), or two at most. The "World's Largest Travelling Big Top Circus" was the ad; you came to see a REAL circus And a 3-ring big top tent. It really was the "real deal". If it rained, the tent leaked in places. You sat on wood boards on bleachers. Straw was thrown on the walkways because animals did their "stuff". The smell and the 3-ring big top was the draw--NOT any one act or performer.
Literally every industry has a handful of "outliers" at the top of their game that earn way more than the average for their profession. Most circus performers do not earn much, but a few get paid very well. It's the same in sport. The top 3 tennis players earn upwards of 30 million a year. The player ranked 100th in the world makes about 50,000. Anyone outside the top 250 is basically an amateur.
32:16 - 32:45 "Dave, The Fumbling Apprentice" transforms into "Dave, The Juggler" in 30 seconds or less! Is anyone else impressed by the complexity of this bit? Borrowing from vaudeville, Michael & Dave use banter, travelling to a new location, Dave's question about the balls, removal of coat jacket and finally Dave's apparent scramble to retrieve the 2 balls that shoot out from inside the black-draped 'table' to establish Dave as The Fumbling Apprentice so he can wow the audience as The Juggler in a split second, making Dave's juggling appear even more impressive than it is. Wonderful! Here's the breakdown as I see it. Feel free to correct me if I've got anything wrong. I appreciate the feedback. 32:16 They begin to travel from Dave's desk. Michael's banter continues. 32:20 Dave feigns being distracted by the guys across the stage, while banter continues. 32:22 Dave 'absent-mindedly' walks right past the black 'table' & Michael! 32:25 "Oh, here you are" as if Dave didn't know where Michael was. (Not especially successful, here?) 32:30 "What are these?" Dave appears to have never seen these balls before, making him seem very much the apprentice, less the juggler. 32:38 "These are dog balls." Michael's left hand secured the 'table', possibly controls the ball shooter with a button under his left hand?? Dave steps on Michael's dog ball joke perhaps due to genuine nerves since he knows he's going to have to nail the juggling on cue (ie. immediately after securing the 2nd ball in hand). 32:42 First ball is ejected out of the 'table', causing the 'table' to recoil slightly. "Oh!" Dave's hand on the table at that moment helps Dave to appear to lose his balance. 32:44 Michael can now stop holding the table down with his left hand because the 2nd ball has just been ejected. 32:45 Fumbler to Juggler in a split-second! Wonderful homage to Vaudeville!
My dad and mom went to a company function for my dad's work when they were still working. She was sitting by herself while my dad was visiting with someone from work and this guy sat next to her. She didn't really pay attention at first but suddenly she turned and realized who it was. It was Michael Davis and he was apparently the entertainment for the event they were at. :) She was so surprised and he smiled at her and said something witty I can't recall now and then got up to go to the stage as they called him up.
@@rewrose2838 I'm old enough to have lived through that time, but I don't know what he's referring to. I suspect it may have been referring to a scandal that was mostly known in the entertainment industry.
During the intro of Michael Davis's third appearance, Dave jokes that Davis rides to work with Clive Barnes. Clive Barnes was a well known theater critic at that time. Davis is riffing on Dave's joke.
He might not have been on TV so much, but he still did corporate shows and performed for at least 3 presidents (up to Clinton) and the Queen. Then he was a resident performer in a circus/vaudeville/restaurant thing that was a bit like Cirque de Soleil. His Wikipedia page is quite detailed. (He's 68 now, and his hands might not be so nimble any more).
Glad to see he is alive and performed as recent as 6 years ago. I do not know if he still does. If anyone knows please @ me. I live in CA and i know he was in SF
very talented and clever. i had to look it up, the otto titzlinger thing was an actual trivial pursuit question, altho they had been tricked since it was invented by humorist wallace reyburn in 1971, reyburn also started the myth of thomas crapper inventing the flushing toilet.
Confirmed. Otto Titzling was entirely fictional. Thomas Crapper didn't invent the flushing mechanism, but was, in fact, a manufacturer of toilets and held patents for the U-bend and the floating ballcock.
Jackie Mason on Ed Sullivan: "I don't know if ya know, I'm looking very continental tonight. I don't know if ya know what continent." Yeah, I'm old enough, Junior. 😂👨🦼
Hey, md fans, help me find his lecture about a corporation director...watched it once...subtly hilarious. Cant find it anywhere regardless, seemingly. Tyvm
Michael Davis has the temperament and timing to be an excellent talkshow host. He listens and responds with wit and understated intelligence.
he probably wouldn't sell his soul to the depraved elites (thus never got a show).
@@monkeyb1820 he was very famous though. Famous enough that he got to perform in front of Ronald Reagan during his presidency.
@@harsinsinquin4032 he was really good. I miss those days.
Non- democrat
😊😊i0i
The second half of his performance for Reagan is one of the funniest things I ever saw. I rewatch it once in a while and every time, it cracks me up.
Damn right, perfection!
This guy was genius. He challenged his audiences and didn’t pander. I always love how uncomfortable he can make the crowd.
Absolutely right.
so much to learn from this guy, his timing and composure is so great.
Michael Davis reminds me of the axiom that 10,000 hours of practice creates the expertise that is very near perfection. What an act this guy has. Amazing skill with added drama, songs, funny commentary and jokes while he does it. Just amazing. Too bad its only 40 min, I could watch 4 hours of this guy.
He has a 888 number. Book him! comediansandspeakers.com
He had a half-hour Cinemax special in the '80s called, I believe, "Michael Davis: Life of the Party," that was quite something. He throws a party for his showbiz friends, and while he's juggling, "evil" jugglers crash the party and scare everyone with their violent, mean juggling. Michael steps in and defeats them with his "good" juggling. The net effect was like a highly improbable opera with juggling instead of music.
What he really needs to do is get a youtube channel or a Netflix special.
I'm surprised he's still alive
Btw is that truly an axiom?
it's*
I so addicted to this man. I watch every videos available on RUclips about him. He is so witty clever , talented and skillful juggeler. He has so much Jim Carrey persona. I love that.
The creativity, warm't and calm are what makes Michael Davis performances so engaging
I was at.a Michael Davis show in London in the late 80s. He asked for a juggler from the audience. I knew there were other (better) jugglers there, and it took some time, but eventually, I ended up on stage and participated in the 3 food groups number. In my case, the protein food group was a large octopus! So by the end we were having a juggling competitin with a loaf of bread, margarine and a very slippery octopus. Pure chaos - my brain melted and by that point I had completely forgotten how to juggle large objects! I was game enough to catch the margarine on my head though!
I've told the story many times, but I never knew the routine had been filmed. This really brought back memories! 😂
That’s so cool mate, jealous of you!
OMG, I had completely forgotten about Michael Davis! He is hilarious...
Omg ,,thanks RUclips, i wasn't born that time,, but now can watch him
Can't believe that I went through the 80,s and didn't see this man. So funny so talented, Brilliant.
I thoroughly loved watching him when i was a kid, his comedy is still a riot! Thanks for putting this here!
I have seen so many of his exact moves and lines duplicated over and over by street performers. A true trend setter!!
Thanks for the video.
This was wonderful. A happier more playful Dave... In complete awe of he, and you the honorable Don Giller.
That's the way he should always be. He is so likeable.
He was/is very talented & funny guy. There are a lot of standup comics running around today. And very few of them are very funny. This sort of act is sorely missed.
The irony is, he is right.. I had almost completely forgotten about Michael Davis until I found a random video of his on RUclips, and all those memories came flooding back.
I used to listen to Michael Davis when I drove long distance, from state to state. Loved him.
Thanks, Don. You are quite the juggler yourself.
Just discovered this guy, very funny. Reminds me quite a bit of Steve Martin around the same time
I just got Michael Davis videos in my feed. Love his shows, why did we not hear more of him in earlier years ?
Wish we had more of these entertainments today.
Michael Davis - if you're out there I hope you are still performing. If not, maybe the time is right for you to :-)
He continued to performin the early 2000s in a vaudeville/circus/cabaret/restaurant thing, but he's 68 now, so he's probably at least semi-retired.
Twelve and a half minutes without commercials. Was TV ever really like that?
I love his acts, but it seems there are only a few on RUclips.. All the same but different settings/ channels. :!!
He always reminded me of Steve Martin.Like they're from the same family.I have to admit I lost track of him.
Okay. I've never heard of Michael Davis and he'sbrilliantly talented
"That makes eight all together.....but why bore you with my problems?"....😂😂😂😂😂☠️
When I was in grade 4 or 5 I used to see him on shows like Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin, doing his juggling act. I basically taught myself how to juggle based on his act. I became a very good juggler, btw.
What a brilliant man.
What a unique act.
When David asks him if performing in front of the president changed his inner mechanisms, he answers: "Sure, it's gotta David".
He sounds just like Hal 9000
perfect save. "its kinda windy in here" lmao
cool thanks for sharing
BTW: Top circus performers make $3,000 or more a week. Some do extremely well when doing more than one act, changing costumes, and using a different name. They're so talented and skilled, I believe they earn every cent.
Matthew you're absolutely right!
Yeah...the very very very top performers may make that (now...not then) But that is like saying the top badminton players can make a nice living. Because for every circus performer than makes anywhere near a six figure salary, there are hundreds that fight for a 5 figure one.
@@KnickKnack07 I was an electrician with Circus Vargas in 1975. Toured US & Canada. The top performers THEN made $3,000 per act; the top three did two acts under different names. That's $6,000 a week in 1975 money!
The lion/tiger guy(Pat Anthony) and the elephants guy made a straight $5K a week for one act.
@Topher TheTenth Circus Vargas advertised THE CIRCUS coming to town on such & such date(s). Never advertised the performers. Ever. The performers generally changed each season(yearly), or two at most. The "World's Largest Travelling Big Top Circus" was the ad; you came to see a REAL circus And a 3-ring big top tent. It really was the "real deal". If it rained, the tent leaked in places. You sat on wood boards on bleachers. Straw was thrown on the walkways because animals did their "stuff". The smell and the 3-ring big top was the draw--NOT any one act or performer.
Literally every industry has a handful of "outliers" at the top of their game that earn way more than the average for their profession.
Most circus performers do not earn much, but a few get paid very well. It's the same in sport. The top 3 tennis players earn upwards of 30 million a year. The player ranked 100th in the world makes about 50,000. Anyone outside the top 250 is basically an amateur.
whats with the booing at 4:55? No one talking about it. I'm so confused.
I wish late night tv still had a sense of humor.
Conan. Conan, Conan, Conan.
@Mitch Connor Yawn. Stop whining.
The Sprawl...no...it is the late night "comedians" today that need to stop whining. Whining isn't funny.
The Woke Tyranny does not allow such things.
Well yeah!
And forget about politics.
He’s a real performer!
32:16 - 32:45 "Dave, The Fumbling Apprentice" transforms into "Dave, The Juggler" in 30 seconds or less! Is anyone else impressed by the complexity of this bit?
Borrowing from vaudeville, Michael & Dave use banter, travelling to a new location, Dave's question about the balls, removal of coat jacket and finally Dave's apparent scramble to retrieve the 2 balls that shoot out from inside the black-draped 'table' to establish Dave as The Fumbling Apprentice so he can wow the audience as The Juggler in a split second, making Dave's juggling appear even more impressive than it is. Wonderful! Here's the breakdown as I see it. Feel free to correct me if I've got anything wrong. I appreciate the feedback.
32:16 They begin to travel from Dave's desk. Michael's banter continues.
32:20 Dave feigns being distracted by the guys across the stage, while banter continues.
32:22 Dave 'absent-mindedly' walks right past the black 'table' & Michael!
32:25 "Oh, here you are" as if Dave didn't know where Michael was. (Not especially successful, here?)
32:30 "What are these?" Dave appears to have never seen these balls before, making him seem very much the apprentice, less the juggler.
32:38 "These are dog balls." Michael's left hand secured the 'table', possibly controls the ball shooter with a button under his left hand?? Dave steps on Michael's dog ball joke perhaps due to genuine nerves since he knows he's going to have to nail the juggling on cue (ie. immediately after securing the 2nd ball in hand).
32:42 First ball is ejected out of the 'table', causing the 'table' to recoil slightly. "Oh!" Dave's hand on the table at that moment helps Dave to appear to lose his balance.
32:44 Michael can now stop holding the table down with his left hand because the 2nd ball has just been ejected.
32:45 Fumbler to Juggler in a split-second! Wonderful homage to Vaudeville!
Even being an incredibly disciplined performer on a national talk show he had trouble concealing his dislike of Mickey Rooney.
What’s up with the beef?
He said he put him in the trunk!
Props to Michael!
For those of you who don't know, the song he is playing during the god song is Wildwood Flower by The Carter Family
How about tye first song ?
Makes 8 all together!🤔🤣🤣 it took me a second 😆😆
Michael Davis licked
Your mom! 👅
balls joke was hilarious "why bore you with my problems"
Best of the best
The act with the "food groups" is pure David Letterman. Only Dave would let anyone be so silly on primetime television.
My dad and mom went to a company function for my dad's work when they were still working. She was sitting by herself while my dad was visiting with someone from work and this guy sat next to her. She didn't really pay attention at first but suddenly she turned and realized who it was. It was Michael Davis and he was apparently the entertainment for the event they were at. :) She was so surprised and he smiled at her and said something witty I can't recall now and then got up to go to the stage as they called him up.
18:43 I'm only 27, can someone who understands his hint please explain to me what he means? Please & thank you.
I'm only 18 and I'd appreciate the explanation too~
@@rewrose2838 I'm old enough to have lived through that time, but I don't know what he's referring to. I suspect it may have been referring to a scandal that was mostly known in the entertainment industry.
@@mrreymundo5383 That would make sense, although I wonder if Davis had any reason to drop that during one of his performances
During the intro of Michael Davis's third appearance, Dave jokes that Davis rides to work with Clive Barnes. Clive Barnes was a well known theater critic at that time. Davis is riffing on Dave's joke.
@@namename4012 Oh thanks for the explanation!
Michael Davis would have been an amazing SNL cast member
MD was really good. I wonder why we never really saw much of him after the late 80s or so? Seems like there's a story there.
First saw him on a disney special, heck, 30 yrs ago, maybe? One of the funniest.
He might not have been on TV so much, but he still did corporate shows and performed for at least 3 presidents (up to Clinton) and the Queen. Then he was a resident performer in a circus/vaudeville/restaurant thing that was a bit like Cirque de Soleil. His Wikipedia page is quite detailed. (He's 68 now, and his hands might not be so nimble any more).
Michael Davis was so amazing
People are not special
They do special things
Wow.
I don't think I can argue with you about that, well said.
@@charlesdoeseverything9716 😂 I didn't mean it to start any arguments.
What a talent!
He looks like a cross between Charles Grodin and Art Garfunkel.
Larry Storch
I could be misreading his crack about, "at least I have a job" but I feel like that's a multiple-layer sarcastic joke.
This is what I needed
that one doesnt see everyday ,,,,,loved it
I don't know if those were boos or what at that "ball" joke. Times sure have changed. 11:35 timestamp
the face he makes when his hat lands... I wanna learn that.
Nice lead out with The Regulator Guy.
Happy Birthday Paul
Dantaye Walker WHOS paul
But whoever he is happy belated birthday
Happy birthday paul 😊
He seems like a very humbling person
Glad to see he is alive and performed as recent as 6 years ago. I do not know if he still does. If anyone knows please @ me. I live in CA and i know he was in SF
When people had actual real Talent
He’s terrific
absolute legend
Never would have heard of this guy if not for RUclips... Whatever happened to him?
Same here
@@ledavuis7914 He's 65 and still performing! Best. Juggler. EVAH. 😎
very talented and clever. i had to look it up, the otto titzlinger thing was an actual trivial pursuit question, altho they had been tricked since it was invented by humorist wallace reyburn in 1971, reyburn also started the myth of thomas crapper inventing the flushing toilet.
Confirmed. Otto Titzling was entirely fictional. Thomas Crapper didn't invent the flushing mechanism, but was, in fact, a manufacturer of toilets and held patents for the U-bend and the floating ballcock.
Michael Davis is the ultimate dry wit humor bomb.
Im 66 and never seen the guy. Do you remember pat paulson for president.
How bout when jackie Mason gave Ed sulavin the finger.
🎼"Ah, yes... I remember that well..." 😉
Jackie Mason on Ed Sullivan:
"I don't know if ya know, I'm looking very continental tonight. I don't know if ya know what continent."
Yeah, I'm old enough, Junior.
😂👨🦼
Funny. I used to watch Letterman back then, but I don't remember seeing him.
so talented 😻🙏🏻
Don, do you know who/about the drunken theatre critic. I didn't get the reference. Tx
Sorry, not my area of expertise. :)
I feel better I am not the only one. Cheers!
Barrettus it's a callback to New York Times theater critic Clive Barnes, who Dave says Michael Davis rides to work with in the introduction at 17:04.
I don't know how I missed that. Thanks.
Barrettus it was so deadpan that the reference was almost subliminal. And you're welcome!
the camera missed the face splat!!!!
Hey, md fans, help me find his lecture about a corporation director...watched it once...subtly hilarious. Cant find it anywhere regardless, seemingly. Tyvm
If Letterman were a singing, juggling comic, I imagine his act would be much like Davis'.
Michael Davis= if Mark Knopfler and Charles Grodin had a baby.
These days bread comes in TWO bags. One inside the other.
Davis is great but Shaffer and the band were killing it
Fascinating point at 19:30 about him juggling a cleaver, an axe, and a machete with President Reagan in the front row.
"and if i miss..." went over peoples heads no pun intended
That Dave kid is funny. He might have a career in TV.
Used to be funny. Now it's all "You damn kids! Get outta my yard!"
This guy's swagger.
He is WaaoW
Legend
I'm following him ❤️
So entertainer clearly
this man know how to recover
First audience reacts to red ball on the nose...Oblivious level: maximal. Painful.
Ha! A twofer - ah been hypotahzed! Another of my many favorite catch phrases from the show. Was this the first time he did it?
I'm relatively sure his first "I been hypnotized" was with Kamarr on the Summertime Sunshine Happy Hour, August 29, 1985.
"They pelted us with rocks and garbage!"
he is a genius
Is Davis still around today?
He’s still alive (if that’s what you mean), but no info on public performances.
Maybe he should play Charles Grodin in the bio-pic. Of Mr. Grodin, o'course.
Back when comedy, and talent in general, were the real deal. Also, he sounds like Neil Young whe he sings, lol.
Гений !
❤️🫠🤙
Brillant 😂😂😂😂😂
David Letterman was a good-looking man back then!!
no doubt why that 1986 show was the very last one with Michael xD
?
Who the fuck laughs after he says
“A room the size of this desk right here”
14:09
The Steven Wright of Juggling...lol.
Guys i know this sounds crazy but i thing that little red ball was a gimmick
thanks einstein
musician song writer too........
What theatre critic does he speak of in the gutter?
Early Dave looks like he might be Michael Shannon's cousin or something lol
"The triple spin end" at 26:30 is actually a double spin. It was easier making a living as a juggler back in the days :)