Van Basten II Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 (edited) http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/nyregion/29nielsen.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Edited November 29, 2010 by Van Basten II Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 RIP. He was a favorite of mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 I was never a fan, but I am sorry to see him go. It always seemed to me that Nielsen, in his "second career," was never really in on the joke. When he was cast in "Airplane," it wasn't for his comedic genius. It was because he was just the sort of wooden actor who appeared in disaster movies (and Nielsen did plenty of those). The hilarity grew out of his speaking absurd lines with the same fake-gravitas he used in his dramatic parts. For some reason, he kept getting cast in comedies, and the sad part is that he really seemed to believe that he was a comedian. He did seem to understand that they cast him as a hack actor because he WAS a hack actor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold_Z Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 RIP Leslie - he always made me laugh. I remember seeing him on some late night talk shows and he always seemed like a wacky (in the positive sense)character to me. Going way back - and I may be mistaken here - but was he Mr. Sands on the Ann Southern show? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave James Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 Nielson played the lead in one of the two best science fiction films from the '50's, Forbidden Planet. I first saw him in a Disney show called The Swamp Fox. If I'm recalling correctly, It was one of those Spin & Marty, Hardy Boys, White Shadow serialized adjuncts to the Mickey Mouse Club. I'm not sure I've ever laughed as hard as I did the first time I saw Naked Gun. That scene where he knocks out the real umpire and winds up calling the baseball game is classic. That guy was definitely responsible for some good laughs. When it's all said and done, that's not a bad way to be remembered. Goodnight, Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 Dave, my recollection is that The Swamp Fox was shown on a series called Walt Disney Presents, and alternated with Zorro and The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca (who was Robert Loggia). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 No one could deliver the line "nice beaver" like Neilson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 I was never a fan, but I am sorry to see him go. It always seemed to me that Nielsen, in his "second career," was never really in on the joke. When he was cast in "Airplane," it wasn't for his comedic genius. It was because he was just the sort of wooden actor who appeared in disaster movies (and Nielsen did plenty of those). The hilarity grew out of his speaking absurd lines with the same fake-gravitas he used in his dramatic parts. For some reason, he kept getting cast in comedies, and the sad part is that he really seemed to believe that he was a comedian. He did seem to understand that they cast him as a hack actor because he WAS a hack actor. No, what is sad is that an amateur like you is taking hacks at someone like Leslie Nielsen. "For some reason he kept getting cast in comedies"? Give me a fucking break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 "is this some kind of a bust?" "yes, it's very nice." "now that I'm retired, next time I shoot someone I could get into real trouble." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 RIP, Enrico Palazzo (The opening scene of the first "Naked Gun" is among the funniest cinematic sequences I have ever seen... brilliantly lampooned on Family Guy.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Twizzle Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 My link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardbopjazz Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 (edited) [Frank seems to look up Jane's skirt as she climbs a ladder right in font of him] Frank Drebin: Nice beaver! Jane Spencer: Thanks, I just had it stuffed. [hands him a stuffed beaver] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RIP. Edited November 29, 2010 by Hardbopjazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 The idea that Nielsen wasn't in on the joke (and Robert Stack and Lloyd Bridges in "Airplane," likewise) is absurd. Not only would these guys have to be unbelievably stupid not to get it, but it would have been unbelievably dangerous for them to be cast in these straight-man-in-the-midst-of-farce roles while keeping them in the dark about the farcical nature of the project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 "I just want to tell you both good luck, we're all counting on you." RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 RIP. He made me laugh. A lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted O'Reilly Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 "Police Squad", Neilsen's short-lived TV series which introduced the Frank Drebin character, was a spoof of the earlier Lee Marvin show "M Squad", which also had a great Benny Carter theme, played by the Count Basie band (and released on Roulette). Ira Newborn 'ripped it off' in the same spirit as the whole show. The original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHoisdgnDv8 The spoof: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmonahan Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 Police Squad and its goofy movie follow-ups are comic masterpieces, thanks in large part to Nielsen's wonderful work. What a *great* second career! RIP. gregmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 My brother and I watched Airplane countless times as kids on HBO. Then The Naked Gun series. We grew up on that absurd humor. We thought he was great. Rest in peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 The scene in "Naked Gun" where Drebin forgets to turn off his mike before going to the restroom remains for me one of the funniest scenes ever made. Not in on the joke my ass. He even said so himself when he was hosting Saturday Night Live once. I can't remember exactly what he said, but it was along the lines of "People think I'm funny despite the fact that I really don't do or say anything funny. But people think I'm funny." The only person, ONLY person, who did deadpan better than Leslie Nielsen was the great Margaret Dumont, and she was the first to admit she didn't have a clue what was going on around her. Which made her reactions that much more priceless. THAT is called acting. RIP Leslie Nielsen. Thanks for the many MANY laughs. I guess we can stop calling you Shirley now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 The guy was a hoot. Much love here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 (edited) From here too. edit for thick fingers. Edited November 30, 2010 by Chuck Nessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim McG Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 "And don't call me Shirley." One of the all-time best at his craft. I, for one, will miss him very much. Rest in Peace, Mr. Nielsen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILLYQ Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Police Story, Naked Gun,Airplane- the guy cracked me up for years. RIP and many thanks for the great laughs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasing the Korean Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 In Leslie's honor, I will spin the Louis and Bebe Barron soundtrack to "Forbidden Planet" and also the soundtrack to "Naked Gun" by whoever composed that one (I've forgotten). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 In Leslie's honor, I will spin the Louis and Bebe Barron soundtrack to "Forbidden Planet" and also the soundtrack to "Naked Gun" by whoever composed that one (I've forgotten). Ira Newborn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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