@@murderface3r That's where I know him from. I was a HUGE Dolly Parton fan. I've seen Rhinestone more times than anybody else on the planet. They should give me a certificate.
Dave Letterman, 36 years later (last night), did the Charles Bronson "I DUG 17 TUNNELS WITH MY FACE" bit on his show after coming back from commercial break, and he said "That's my impression of my friend Tim Thomerson doing his impression of Charles Bronson", to great applause. I nearly fell out of bed. It was awesome to see and it made me seek out this video again (and I just watched it recently). This guy is a totally underrated impressionist.
At 55,I can remember watching this on HBO when it first aired,they replayed it a few times,and I watched it more than once,I still quote some of the lines to this day,thought I would never see this again,thanks for posting,love TT
Omg, same! I'm 52. And I never missed the chance to watch it when it repeated back then. I've quoted bits for decades too! "Say man would you like a bowl of dirt?" I'll never forget this routine.
Not me. I'm 55 and I don't remember ever seeing this guy! I only looked him up because some jerk said he punched Robin Williams for stealing his joke and using it on the Mork & Mindy show. I figured anybody that punched Robin Williams has got to be worth looking at. And I was right! Thanks jerk.
@@bradleywiesner3774 "Some jerk", you mean Bill Maher? Bill Maher talking to Bill Burr? I saw a clip on youtube shorts. What show is that clip even from anyway.
@@facerip2222 I don't know all these guys but the jerk was Bill Burr of course. I lived under a rock before I got a supercomputer in my pocket and that rock is looking pretty cozy about now.
I am now 45 and watched this when I was a teenager, and never forgot it. I thought there was no way I would see it again. This is the funniest comic I have ever seen! Everytime I hear David Bowie or person looks like their face was put out by a rake, I think of Tim! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS!!!!!!
I was at a job interview once and the interviewer asked, "Tell me about yourself", and for some unknown I said, "I was raised on a mayonnaise farm." She gave me the strangest look. Didn't get the job.
I can confirm, I saw your comment 5 years ago and I've told all potential employers that I was raised on a mayonnaise farm... some laughed, some stared straight into my soul, trying to kill me for my indiscretion. I'm not sure if you are doing any type of research regarding interview question answers, but I would advise that you should probably only involve mayonnaise in your answer if you are trying to sustain your unemployment benefits. Best Regards,
O.M.G. I never ever thought I would ever see this again - I even audiotaped it off HBO back when I was 12...Groundbreaking stuff and a huge part of my comedy edumication. Thomerson was OFF THE CHART, one of the greatest standup sets I have ever seen. Yay, and stuff! Thanks so much for posting this!
Saw Tim Thomerson for the first time today on a Twilight Zone rerun called "Take My Life...Please!" (22nd Episode, 1985) ... though I had never heard of him until today, I thought gee, what a very good actor he is ... then I read that he was a comedian as well ... so I looked him up on RUclips ... found this video ... and HOLY SHIT is he funny! Damn, very funny in fact. His impressions are WILD. Loved it. Thank you for the post.
Good lord. I saw this opening line 48 years ago and it’s stuck in my brain all those years. Didn’t even remember it was Tim Thomerson. Just now saw this clip. What a great surprise.
"Ground Control to Major Tom… Why am I so Fucking strange?" classic… still have this routine memorized from watching it as a kid… great presence in films also...
Clyde my man, this nearly derailed my TV set off the stand! Laughs, convulsions and complete loss of sanity. THIS is gut wrenching standup at it's best. I've had the routine in my head all these years and I'll never forget it. And Thomerson said he did comedy at this time as a whim. Are you kidding? Pure hilarity.
I also remember seeing this on HBO and absolutely falling out of my chair laughing. Tim could have had a great future as a stand-up, because God knows he just KILLED in this performance. Later on, when I started seeing him in a bunch of REALLY BAD movies, I felt sorry for him. But there's no doubt about it: comedy was his forte, hands down. And I didn't think I'd ever see this clip again; thanks for posting both cuts, Lotus!!!
I remember watching this with my first boyfriend when we were kids in HS. "I was born on a mayonnaise farm." Classic, I always wanted to see this again and never thought I would. Thanks for sharing.
Still so freaking funny after all these DECADES! I actually have this recorded on Beta tape (BETA!). One of the funniest routines ever done. I was in my 20’s when this aired on HBO. Like many others here, I still have most every line of this memorized. I seem to remember that this set ended with Tim T doing a short, two minute HILARIOUS version of the movie STAGECOACH. Damn he was a funny guy and this was one of the funniest things I’ve ever watched.
I couldn't remember his name, but remembered the Charles Bronson impression. "Hey, zitface." I cracked up when I first heard this as a teenager, and it still cracks me up decades later in 2025.
Please somebody tell me if there is or post more stand up of him than whats already on the web.He is one of the most underrated comedians that graced the microphone in many years.Thank you very much for posting him Whatched my father and cousins split their wind pipes when this first came out.
I never knew Thomerson was a comedian! I watched and loved his movies! Looks like ive got some catching up to do. That Charles Bronson bit...WOW! Bronson did have one tough face!🤣
I do remember him when I was a kid . Rumor has it, once in a comedy club he punched Robin Williams in the face for stealing a joke. I do see the similarities. He's like Williams but in slow motion.
I love Tim as an actor but his standup is a lot more miss than hit. Manic energy can’t make something funny that isn’t. It’s like Robin Williams but without an actual punchline. I think his stagecoach bit has some touches of brilliance but still misses the mark a lot. Now I could watch him as Jack Deth and Lester from Cherry 2000 on repeat.
@@flip65515 I don't have to, Tom has a history of doing this and it's okay. Like with him appropriating Dorothy Parker's bottle in front of me/frontal lobotomy line on Fernwood Tonight.
@@whiskeycitydiggers Indeed the "bottle in front of me, frontal lobotomy" was Dorothy Parker. I'm just not sure that makes it a "habit". You say that he stole it from "someone else", I'm not refuting what you're saying. I'm just saying "Who said it first?"
@@flip65515 Who knows. Tom very well may have said it first. It just seemed like the kind of joke he may have copped from somewhere. In favor of your argument, this special came out in '76 and that song in '75. I agree Tim T. took that joke from somebody else, I'm just not completely sure it was from Tom W's song. Definitely possible.
This guy is the man. Just saw him in Trancers on Full Moon Streaming and I had no idea he did stand-up. I am sold.
He is the best
And he also was in rhinestone with Stallone
@@murderface3r That's where I know him from. I was a HUGE Dolly Parton fan. I've seen Rhinestone more times than anybody else on the planet. They should give me a certificate.
I just started Trancers for the 1st time last week - only through a few scenes - but this is him!!!
For the longest time, I had no idea that Emilio Rivera ("Alvarez" in Sons of Anarchy and Mayans MC) was a stand-up comic either.
Dave Letterman, 36 years later (last night), did the Charles Bronson "I DUG 17 TUNNELS WITH MY FACE" bit on his show after coming back from commercial break, and he said "That's my impression of my friend Tim Thomerson doing his impression of Charles Bronson", to great applause. I nearly fell out of bed. It was awesome to see and it made me seek out this video again (and I just watched it recently). This guy is a totally underrated impressionist.
At 55,I can remember watching this on HBO when it first aired,they replayed it a few times,and I watched it more than once,I still quote some of the lines to this day,thought I would never see this again,thanks for posting,love TT
Omg, same! I'm 52. And I never missed the chance to watch it when it repeated back then. I've quoted bits for decades too! "Say man would you like a bowl of dirt?" I'll never forget this routine.
Same here !! Im 60 and we were one of the first on the block with HBO.
I watched it so many times !! Great memories of my dad !!👍
Not me. I'm 55 and I don't remember ever seeing this guy! I only looked him up because some jerk said he punched Robin Williams for stealing his joke and using it on the Mork & Mindy show. I figured anybody that punched Robin Williams has got to be worth looking at. And I was right! Thanks jerk.
@@bradleywiesner3774 "Some jerk", you mean Bill Maher? Bill Maher talking to Bill Burr? I saw a clip on youtube shorts. What show is that clip even from anyway.
@@facerip2222 I don't know all these guys but the jerk was Bill Burr of course. I lived under a rock before I got a supercomputer in my pocket and that rock is looking pretty cozy about now.
I am now 45 and watched this when I was a teenager, and never forgot it.
I thought there was no way I would see it again.
This is the funniest comic I have ever seen!
Everytime I hear David Bowie or person looks like their face was put out by a rake, I think of Tim!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS!!!!!!
You are now 56.
I was at a job interview once and the interviewer asked, "Tell me about yourself", and for some unknown I said, "I was raised on a mayonnaise farm." She gave me the strangest look. Didn't get the job.
I can confirm, I saw your comment 5 years ago and I've told all potential employers that I was raised on a mayonnaise farm... some laughed, some stared straight into my soul, trying to kill me for my indiscretion. I'm not sure if you are doing any type of research regarding interview question answers, but I would advise that you should probably only involve mayonnaise in your answer if you are trying to sustain your unemployment benefits. Best Regards,
O.M.G. I never ever thought I would ever see this again - I even audiotaped it off HBO back when I was 12...Groundbreaking stuff and a huge part of my comedy edumication. Thomerson was OFF THE CHART, one of the greatest standup sets I have ever seen. Yay, and stuff! Thanks so much for posting this!
Those bad movies are cult classics.
Saw Tim Thomerson for the first time today on a Twilight Zone rerun called "Take My Life...Please!" (22nd Episode, 1985) ... though I had never heard of him until today, I thought gee, what a very good actor he is ... then I read that he was a comedian as well ... so I looked him up on RUclips ... found this video ... and HOLY SHIT is he funny! Damn, very funny in fact. His impressions are WILD. Loved it. Thank you for the post.
Good lord. I saw this opening line 48 years ago and it’s stuck in my brain all those years. Didn’t even remember it was Tim Thomerson. Just now saw this clip. What a great surprise.
My God, this is Jack Deth/Dollman as I've never seen him before, I am in tears right now. Of Laughter, mind you.
"Ground Control to Major Tom… Why am I so Fucking strange?" classic… still have this routine memorized from watching it as a kid… great presence in films also...
WOW! I remember this. Tim was nuts!
Thanks for this!
Clyde my man, this nearly derailed my TV set off the stand! Laughs, convulsions and complete loss of sanity. THIS is gut wrenching standup at it's best. I've had the routine in my head all these years and I'll never forget it. And Thomerson said he did comedy at this time as a whim. Are you kidding? Pure hilarity.
THANK YOU for posting this! I remember watching this on an early HBO show!!! Thanks!
I also remember seeing this on HBO and absolutely falling out of my chair laughing. Tim could have had a great future as a stand-up, because God knows he just KILLED in this performance. Later on, when I started seeing him in a bunch of REALLY BAD movies, I felt sorry for him. But there's no doubt about it: comedy was his forte, hands down. And I didn't think I'd ever see this clip again; thanks for posting both cuts, Lotus!!!
This guy was way ahead of his time.
He was ahead of my time, too.
When was he born.. 1712?
I remember watching this with my first boyfriend when we were kids in HS. "I was born on a mayonnaise farm." Classic, I always wanted to see this again and never thought I would. Thanks for sharing.
Still so freaking funny after all these DECADES! I actually have this recorded on Beta tape (BETA!). One of the funniest routines ever done. I was in my 20’s when this aired on HBO.
Like many others here, I still have most every line of this memorized. I seem to remember that this set ended with Tim T doing a short, two minute HILARIOUS version of the movie STAGECOACH.
Damn he was a funny guy and this was one of the funniest things I’ve ever watched.
I couldn't remember his name, but remembered the Charles Bronson impression. "Hey, zitface." I cracked up when I first heard this as a teenager, and it still cracks me up decades later in 2025.
Tim Thomerson was the number one comedian at The Comedy Store in the '70s. At least until Robin, Jay and Pryor showed up.
tim used to be my neighbor. He'd do this shit in the driveway.
fuckyourmother1960 You're a little jealous bitch, aren't yah?
"I dug 17 tunnels with my face." What a clever line. I wish I'd thought of it.
I have almost the entire thing committed to memory from when I was 13. My name is rio...kid rio,,,,
Please somebody tell me if there is or post more stand up of him than whats already on the web.He is one of the most underrated comedians that graced the microphone in many years.Thank you very much for posting him Whatched my father and cousins split their wind pipes when this first came out.
Suddenly his casting in that _Twilight Zone_ episodes makes a lot more sense.
I still have this on a cassette tape I made when it was on way back when!
Me, too !!
I liked him in Uncommon Valor.
I never knew Thomerson was a comedian! I watched and loved his movies! Looks like ive got some catching up to do. That Charles Bronson bit...WOW! Bronson did have one tough face!🤣
Genius! It still holds up!
His Charles Bronson is epic!
Isn't Tim Thomerson also the voice behind Cyrus Temple (STAG) in Saints Row 3 and the opening sequence in SR4?
we've reviewed a few of his films, i didn't know he'd done stand up.
Yeah pretty clear that Jim Carrey found some inspiration here.
Saw it when it came on HBO back on the day ….I was in 5th grade and parents were asleep….my brother and I just about died!!!!!!
If you notice the faux brick wall behind him has a gap. An earlier act did some commentary about the cheesy decor and pulled the wall panels apart
I didn't realize this guy started as a stand-up.
The Charles Bronson impression is killer!!!
He was excellent in Cherry 2000-just now learning he did comedy
The best Charles Bronson line ever is: "Boise."
He always brings up McDonalds in his routines.
Still true today
hard to believe this was the same guy who played the serious sheriff in the movie "St.Helens"
This is still hilarious in 2015. Its almost as if Jim Carey copied this guy, who knew?
Eric Andre and Chris'D Elia
I was just gonna post that i think Jim carey must of loved him!
Robin Williams.
he's still ALIVE!
That beer looks delicious
Bill Maher told Bill Burr that this guy Knocked out Robin Williams over a Joke...Wow
I want him in the upcoming Tex Murphy FMV adventure game.
Who else is here from Dave letterman’s interview with Robert Downey jr on Netflix?
@007Crusoe Same here, now 50,remember like it was yesterday, Take careJohn M.
I do remember him when I was a kid . Rumor has it, once in a comedy club he punched Robin Williams in the face for stealing a joke. I do see the similarities. He's like Williams but in slow motion.
tim tammerson?
Yeah, what sdamon7 said. I've been looking for this and a comedy show hosted by Chevy Chase.
4:40 Charles Bronson
Everyone now does Tim Thomerson’s voice as Charles Bronson
I said: "fuck it"!
Wow he was so modern in his way of talking.
Legend has it he once punched Robin Williams out for stealing his jokes.
hader sent me
Um - anyone else seeing Jim Carey's main inspiration here?
"split up with my future ex-wife" ROFLMAO
I can see Robin Williams took a lot from Tim
This reminds me of a young Jim Carrey.
Robin Williams and Jim Carrey clearly copied Tim Thomerson and Tim copied Johnathan Winters. You can see the circle comedy thru this act.
Is it true Tim punched Robin Williams in the face for stealing one of his jokes?
Jim Carrey anyone?
i can see how Robin Williams was influenced by this guy
I love Tim as an actor but his standup is a lot more miss than hit. Manic energy can’t make something funny that isn’t. It’s like Robin Williams but without an actual punchline. I think his stagecoach bit has some touches of brilliance but still misses the mark a lot. Now I could watch him as Jack Deth and Lester from Cherry 2000 on repeat.
Jim Carey stole so much from this man, it's very sad.
the mannerisms while shouting beef and meat...Jim Carrey all the way
out of 8 min. 10 sec. is funny :(
He plagiarized the "crack of dawn" joke from Tom Waits
And Tom stole it from somebody else.
@@whiskeycitydiggers Yeah, you sure about that? Prove it. Furthermore, google the quote
@@flip65515 I don't have to, Tom has a history of doing this and it's okay. Like with him appropriating Dorothy Parker's bottle in front of me/frontal lobotomy line on Fernwood Tonight.
@@whiskeycitydiggers Indeed the "bottle in front of me, frontal lobotomy" was Dorothy Parker. I'm just not sure that makes it a "habit". You say that he stole it from "someone else", I'm not refuting what you're saying. I'm just saying "Who said it first?"
@@flip65515 Who knows. Tom very well may have said it first. It just seemed like the kind of joke he may have copped from somewhere. In favor of your argument, this special came out in '76 and that song in '75. I agree Tim T. took that joke from somebody else, I'm just not completely sure it was from Tom W's song. Definitely possible.