Don Rickles was always a hilarious, unpredictable interview guest. He visited ‘The Dick Cavett Show’ in 1972. Don sits, and they greet, and Dick says, “I’m sorry to hear you were ill. I heard you had a little laryngitis.”
Don says, “Well, yes, I’m working in the Copacabana.” He talks about how the guys at the bar laugh at anything, and the cigar smoke gets to him every time.
Dick says he’d never picture Don having laryngitis, and Don says, “I mean, I don’t really care what you pictured.” Don was known for his insult comedy, and he spared no one, even host Dick Cavett.
Dick tells Don, “I’ve always loved to watch you work, but then I’ve always liked Jackie Leonard.” Don laughs at Dick’s joke. Later, Don talks about his show on ABC, describing it as “a complete catastrophe.”
Don explained that even though all the working men were his friends, they couldn’t get any money for the show. He said, “We were appearing in a forest. One guy with scotch tape and a lamp going, “Let’s try it again, Charlie.”
Don talks about how he’s with CBS now, and it’s a big organization. He says if you fail there, a buzzer goes off in your room, and you’re done, as he imitates himself dying.
Don talks about how it’s been a struggle to find a network because he cannot act like a nice, adorable man. Don needs to be true to himself. Dick says, “You’ve managed to act that way a few times on our series.” Don says jokingly, “You’re starting to get on my nerves.”
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