When these were popular, there was only ONE phone company: Ma Bell! One of her monologues ended something like: "So go ahead and complain. We don't care. We don't have to: WE'RE THE PHONE COMPANY!" Lily Tomlin is one of a kind. There will never be another like her.
@@adriennepittman4278 That was a "Telephone Company Ad" from her 1977 Broadway stage show "Appearing Nitely", the soundtrack album (on Arista) was called "On Stage". And the line was "So the next time you complain about your phone service, why don't you try using two Dixie cups with a string? We don't care, we don't have to, we're the Phone Company".
Thanks RU-vid for bringing Lily Tomlin to a wider audience again she is brilliant now when I ring people up now I say one ringie dingie two ringie dingie xx
Absolutely State of Art! There will never be another Ernestine. She single handedly divested Ma Bell. All in good fun, but also in deadly earnest...ine.
I am a fan as well and Grace and Frankie is my favorite show binge. Lily (actually Frankie) and I have a similar liking to Del Taco a kindred spirit of mine!
By the way, this is still one of the funniest comedy albums ever made. What was great about this character were the one-sided conversations that created a very vivid picture of the people on the other end of the line. The Martha Mitchell sequence is the funniest. I think Tomlin said years later she regretted being mean to Mitchell. Everyone thought she was completely nuts, but she really was right about what was happening that led to Watergate.
First heard this in the 70s, when i was about 10 or 11. Still one of my favorites. The genius of this character is that she created these one sided conversations, but you could easily see in your mind who she's talking too, and exactly what's being said on the other end.
If my recall is accurate, as a teenager, I remember Miss Tomlin's appearances on different variety shows and talk shows(such as Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin). These appearances before doing laugh-in. What an incredible lady and talent.
SO AWESOME! This was recorded at the Ice House in Pasadena around 1971. I used to own the LP - but it is available on CD, along with her Edith Ann album. So much fun!
For boomers, there's the Holy Trio (Carlin, Pryor and Tomlin) of Comedy Genius and ...a bunch of second-rans. All three could foster laughs from any topic, add significant poignance and food for thought, and also Dial-soap their acts to an immaculate G-rating and be just as funny on Sesame Street or the Muppet Show. That's the test of true talent. Lily occupies that upper echelon alone now, and alas, there do not seem to be any real fresh rivals on the horizon.
Recorded at the Ice House in Pasadena, CA around 1970-ish; I got the record as a present (birthday or Christmas, don't remember). I still have it, having survived time and some fire damage! Have also had the pleasure of meeting her in person twice. And as tempted as I was to show her how good my Earnestine impersonation was, I resisted lol I was, however a smash one Halloween in Daytona Beach, FL; wish there'd been phone cameras back then!
2:00 Oh lord, Ernestine tears into that woman to get her friend lunch. ROFL "Listen, you! This is Mrs. Tomlin with a lesson on common manners!""You got one minute, now move!" XD
OMG!!! SO CLASSIC! I love you Lily!!! You are absolutely halarious!!!! I watched Laugh In all the time and couldn't wait for you to be on, you are SO talented!! THANK YOU so much for uploading these, you made my day and brought back such wonderful memories of you on the show and that character. Please come back to Toronto! Missing seeing you here! Margaret
@ MyGoingsOn Thank you so much for providing this, Miss Tomlin has always been a favorite, and this character of hers is the best of the best, thanks again.
The name of the album is "This is a recording." It was recorded live at the Ice House in Pasadena, Ca in front of AT&T employees in the very late 60's or 70, 71.
My first experience with Lily was on Laugh In...then some campy drag queen did an excellent impression/show at Dirty Edna's in Atlantic City, N.J. in 1972...you go girl I own this album.
It's the A side of her 1971 album "This is a Recording". According to my copy of the album this was a performance at the Ice House theater in Pasadena, California.
I remember well when this came out. It was a Polydor recording, and it was recorded LIVE at a stand-up comedy club which I think was called “The Ice House.” There was a small introduction at the start of the hour routine. Miss Tomlin made more records of more characters, but her first (this one) was by far the most popular. We must’ve worn out the record, that is how much we played it. I think 10 years after this record was made, a Chicago judge made a ruling that makers of telephone parts didn’t have to sell exclusively to Ma Bell, but could sell to any manufacturer. This breaking down of the Bell Monopoly created the road for what we all have today with the wireless phones.
"This Is a Recording" Recorded 1971 First track "The Repairman" Second track "The F.B.I." Third track "Mrs. Mitchell" Fourth track "Obscene Phone Call" Fifth track "Peeved" Sixth track "The Bordello"
I have this LP too. Not sure of the date but it was recorded at the "Ice House" wherever that was -- a comedy club perhaps? This album is absolutely HYSTERICAL!
Patricia Lytle Everybody hated this job, in fact, all the "girl"jobs. I think thats why we all relate to this bit. Also, I think those awful jobs are what triggered the women's movement!🙊😝
