Exclusive: Comedy Dynamics announces Jonathan Winters box set
August 12, 2020 Andrew Buss Jonathan Winters, News
Exclusive: Comedy Dynamics is announcing that they’ve partnered with the estate of Jonathan Winters to release a box set full of both rare and never before heard material from the comedy giant. They also have additional plans to deliver the untitled box set digitally as well.
Some of the material in the set, which is being executive produced by Dan Pasternack’s Obsessive Comedy Disorder, will include his 1958 novelty record Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu, a one of a kind demo recorded for Verve with two never before released routines, his complete performance from The Arthur Godfrey Show on CBS Radio in 1960, his first record for Verve The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters (which will be curated from the original master tape), an unedited performance from the Bob Crane Radio Show in Los Angeles, and his uncut performance at the famed Hollywood nightclub the Crescendo in 1960 which was later edited to become his second Verve LP, Down To Earth.
Winters, who passed away in 2013, is fondly remembered and revered today for his sharp witted, improvisational comedy style and his unmatched ability to turn anything into comedy gold. Over the course of his career, he was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards, and was the second recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. As an actor, he appeared in such films as It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Loved One, and The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming. On T.V., he made appearances on The Tonight Show (both with Jack Paar and with Johnny Carson), The Twilight Zone, Mork & Mindy, and Davis Rules, for which he won an Emmy Award, among countless others.
“We are thrilled to be working with Comedy Dynamics on this first package since my father’s passing,” said Lucinda Winters, president of Jonathan Winters, Inc., in a statement. “These are just a few of the treasures dad left in my care and now is the perfect time to re-introduce his brilliant brain to a world that needs a few laughs.”
“Jonathan is one of the most revered legends in the comedy world because he had the talent to do it all. We’re excited to strike a deal with the wonderful people at his estate and release a box set celebrating his life’s work,” said Brian Volk-Weiss, Founder and CEO of Comedy Dynamics.
This is the latest in line for Comedy Dynamics releasing box sets of comedy trailblazers. Some of the others include Eddie Izzard, Bill Hicks, Lenny Bruce, Sam Kinison, as well as a recently announced Joan Rivers box set.
