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Tolso Sullivan UNITED STATES G ERNMENT Mohr Bishop Memorandum Brennan, C.D Callahan Caspe Conrad. 3-9-71 Dalbe TO Mr. Bishop DATE: Felt . Gale Rosen Tavel Walters FROM M. Soyars Tele. Roon Holmes Gandy "ROWAN AND MARTIN'S SUBJECT LAUGH-IN" WRC-TV, CHANNEL 4 WASHINGTON, D. C. MARCH 8, 1971 During captioned show (beginning 8 p.m. EsT) a skit concerning the FBI was performed using various regular members of this show's cast. This portic was introduced by a shorter skit representing a President and First Lady sitting in the White House chatting. Between them was a large vase of flowers. When their conversation turned to the Director, it was made obvious that one of the flowers wa. actually a bugging device and the President spoke directly to Mr. Hoover by means of this device. The longer skit was unified by means of a production-type number consisting of cheerleaders, complete with sweaters emblazoned with "FBI," who the rest of the skit, was interrupted by various minor skits and short gag situations all, of course, bearing on the FBi. A great deal of what purported to be humor related to the Director and his age. For example, a statement was made,"I don't believe that just because the Director of the FBi is named Hoover that there has be. a vacuum in that Department for years." A particularly vicious attack was made by means of a "knock-knock" joke in which the answer to "who is there?" is answered by "Hoover." In reply to the question "Hoover who?" a play on words is madeinr th statement "Hoover heard of a 76-year-old policeman? ~ Another sick-type joke pertaining to the Director was an announcement that "J. Edgar Hoover retired one- half hour ago but will be back at his desk first thing in the morning." Although, as is common practice in this show, jokes and sight gags were made in rapid fashion, emphasis in terms of subject matter was placed on surveillance-type activities and clandestine-type operations. In one minor skit, conversation with each other with each trying to elicit information from the other. 9y- y- a /3 1 - Mr. Mohr 1 - Mr. Bishop 1 - M. A. Jones paa (5) 57 MAR17 1971