Song:Booga, Booga
Album:Comedy Classics
These days David Steinberg is probably best known as a sitcom director. But in the 70s he had some success as a standup comic and he hosted his own variety show and he even recorded a couple of albums. Booga, Booga is his best known routine. He was born Aug. 9, 1942 in Winnipeg. His father was a Romanian born Rabbi so Steinberg grew up in a strict Orthodox Jewish household. While studying English Literature at the University of Chicago, Steinberg was inspired by Lenny Bruce to get into comedy. He joined Second City in 1964. He became known for his satirical sermons on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and this led to comedy albums for UNI and Elektra. Then in 1972 he hosted The David Steinberg Show for CBS as a summer replacement. Then he released the 1974 album Booga, Booga on Columbia Records. On the album, he performs Booga, Booga as a standup comic. But then he turned it into a sketch for his 1976 show The David Steinberg Show for the Canadian network CTV. I think the routine works better as a sketch. You'll note that Joe Flaherty of SCTV plays his patient. SCTV's John Candy, Dave Thomas and Martin Short were also regulars on the show. The CD Comedy Classics seems to be a reworking of the album Booga, Booga from The Orchard. Sony did reissue Booga, Booga on CD but it is out of print. Since the 80s, Steinberg has mostly written, produced and directed sitcoms. He directed many episodes of Newhart, Designing Women and Mad About You and he has also directed episodes of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He has won a couple of Emmys and other awards. Steinberg currently hosts the Showtime series Inside Comedy. But it all started with Booga, Booga. Here's David Steinberg with Joe Flaherty performing Booga, Booga on The David Steinberg Show 1976.
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