I loved it as a child. Named a family of blue Jays , Jay, Ray , and Ray Jay. And the baby was Johnson. I forgot the other names . Guess I was really young. Good fun for a kiddo in the 70s. 😊 May your dad rip. Hugs.
I'm sure your dad was awesome, but in 2024, I'm searching my soul for why this bit it supposed to be funny. If you can, please explain it to me. In any case, returning to the original point, I'm sure your dad was a great guy.
I'm 61 years old now and I find it as non- funny now as I did then. But when I saw Bobby laughing rolling around on the floor, I just figured I couldn't stand the suspense. Comedy went vaudeville, to burlesque. But I guess when things were depressing back then, just about anything was funny. I've been sick with that damn virus type thing and so please excuse me if I get this all wrong. But back in the day, you had the movies that were talkies and then you had the talkies. And of course a zillion years before that you had Shakespeare and things like that and of course we still have Broadway.I guess it's whatever floats your boat but I am very happy for this man that he is still alive and that people watched the King of the Hill episode enough times to comment on it and think that he's still funny in his way.
@@robocop2283 I had it in December before the Western World knew anything about it.About 2 and 1/2 weeks prior to falling ill, I had given a tour to the Prime Minister of Singapore and his wife and about 30 of his colleagues. I definitely had it and I definitely got it from somebody in the group. It is natural when you are with world diplomats that they have also been with diplomats from all over the world, shaking hands, in some countries kissing on the cheek, and standing right next to each talking about whatever it is they're looking at. I was with this group for about 5 hours. I'm not looking for somebody to blame, I'm just saying that it's logical. I almost died,and that's no joke! I don't know who you think you are to call me a liar, but if you knew anything about me and what it is I do and who the different people I do it with are, you would be apologizing to me very profusely. This is not a boast; this is a fact. Of course I don't have it right now, the thing is that I am having some secondary problems because of it. I have been an archaeologist for 42 years and I have very fine dirt and spores from all the excavations and explorations I did both in deserts and jungle areas of Mexico. The lack of being able to breathe and the coughing that followed once that part was gone just dislodged a lot of it, and now I have a light COPD. I'm still having trouble breathing but not anywhere like it was when I had the Covid-19. I forgive you for your ignorance because you do not know me and that is not your fault, so you think you can take any opportunity to ridicule those you don't know. But believe me, it was one of the worst things that ever happened to me and I pray for you, your family, and your friends, and whatever country you are in so that none of you ever get it.
@@MexicoDigDoctor I guess there's always one idiot on every YT thread. Probably a Trump supporter who believes it's all going to go away on November 4th! I do hope you're feeling better now. 'Long Covid', post-viral syndrome, Covid-related organ damage, and ME/CFS are no joke!
Memorable character. Only recently realised what Johnson was American slang for! He looks older, delivery is slower, but essentially still as funny as ever!
I remember Bill Saluga doing this act on the Redd Foxx Show in the late '60's. I always thought it was funny, and I'm glad he decided to post it here. Thanks, Bill Saluga.
No, he was on all kinds of shows, this one included, as well as Johnny Carson Tonight Show, commercials, and so forth. He did other bits & skits, but this one won America around 1976
I remember when Bill was part of The Ace Trucking Company improv comedy team. They were brilliantly funny and I used to LMAO whenever they were on TV long before SNL or any of the other "comedy" skit shows.
This guy is mostly remembered as an "I don't get it" punchline from Simpsons and Koth. [at least from reading the comments]. And yeah I don't get it either.
@@Eltrio2 not really, but the comment seems like something that an 'after boomer' would say. Any Baby Boomer does remember this, along with the Gas Crisis, Nixon, and other defining moments of the 70s.
I remember he had slightly more in some versions, such as adding "or you can call me Ronny, or you can call me Johnny". What made it funny was his rat-a-tat delivery, and the endless nicknames. Maybe the suit, hat, and cigar made it funny too. I'd always assumed he had more material, but if the "You can call me" bit is all he had, then that makes it even funnier.
yeah, no kidding. It sneaks up on you. In the King Of The Hill Episode, that's what happened to Bobby, then Peggy put it succinctly "Johnson got another one."
I'm fortunate to have experienced 'Ace Trucking Co.' sensational improv comedy in Chicago many, many, many moons ago. After nearly two decades of huge success as a comedy troupe, they disbanded and each of the 5 followed independent performance careers.
Funny how some things stick in memory and culture. I was thinking of this routine when mentioning it to a friend. Sure enough, I found this on the net. Nice to hear and see it again.
This routine is really only funny after seeing it at least once! It's the second - and third, and fourth, and fifth, and sixth - times that really make it funny!
No one does it like the original, Bill Saluga. He will always be the original Raymond J. Johnson, Jr. A classic....and it doesn't matter how many times I hear the routine, it's still hilarious.
RJJ, Jr. was a favorite walk-on character for me when I was kid listening to, I believe, the Jack Benny show. This is first time I've seen him. I visualized him as a hayseed kinda guy. Another character occasionally on the show was John L. C. Sivoney, played by Frank Fontaine.
Everybody, this is actor Bill Saluga doing his somewhat famous "Raymond J. Johnson" character; a character that was essentially what one would call a short lived "meme" now, but on TV in the late 70's, early 80's. His fame was very, very brief as basically *this* was really the character's only bit. It was somewhat amusing/annoying and Mr. Saluga was showing up everywhere for a brief moment of time on TV in commercials, sketch comedy shows, sitcoms, talk shows, variety shows, etc. Think the Simpsons episode where Bart becomes "The I Didn't Do It Boy." It was funny for a minute, and I'm sure the guy made a little bank, but it was gone as quick as it came. This video appears to be Mr. Saluga donning the character and his signature clothes for an encore later in life. And yes, the character is referenced in both The Simpsons and in King of the Hill.
The problem with take my wife please is that it outlived "take (something) for example" as a commonly-used phrase, so it stopped working. we do the same joke now, but updated for the way people still talk. Hack comedians who don't understand humor just repeat and regurgitate.
@@KairuHakubi People still use take (something), usually it's take (something), for example, probably how it originally was also, shortened to just take something. So how do you update *Take my wife...please* , and still retain the pun?
Back in the late 70's, 5th grade, our school was going a student skit show. My friends asked if we could do the Lite beer knock off commercial with Ray. They said no because it was beer, but we could do it with Dads root beer. We did the root beer skit and I was Ray, hat an all. Ha, good stuff.
Wow. I have not seen this routine since he appeared on The Flip Wilson Show in the early '70s. He's gotten old - I remember him as a young man doing this routine.
Love it! For nearly 57 years since 'The Ace Trucking Company' first emerged upon the entertainment foray, this bit has survived successfully and with perpetuity! It is best appreciated and enjoyed when done in its original context as an interview being conducted by Fred Willard when 'Ace Trucking Company' was in its heyday..
What a great solo piece! If anything it wasn't long enough. Odd that some people think it "got old fast". Ray never repeated anything, he gave many variations of his name, but did not repeat. A witty piece and I salute his career. We need more awards for supporting actors. The stars would be nowhere without them.
Prior to becoming known for his Ray Jay character, Bill Saluga was part of the improv group The Ace Tucking Company along with such talented folks as Patti Deutsch & Fred Willard.
Were they a group that tucked people into bed at night, or do you mean the Ace Trucking Company? (you misspelled) here is one of their bits: czcams.com/video/wIs3mcyrK7o/video.html
Rick, That guy was everywhere as a guest on TV shows, especially variety shows. I remember him on one of Mary Tyler Moore's failed shows and I'm sure you're right about Cosby. He had a funny routine that eventually ran its course.
This is also in memory TO Mr Raymond Neil Johnson (my step-dad, who worked at an Anheiser Busch affiliated branch). My family got a special kick out of this because he would on, this is where be came to be known as, "MR J"
Me & kin loved this bit back in the 1970s. For a short peiod of time maybe two or more years this was almost a weekly event on comedy shows, maybe Friday's. Always thought of this through the decades. We my mom, dad & sister loved mr johnson
First saw Bill do this routine on the David Steinberg Show in 1976. This was before the beer commercial. The thing that made it funny was he'd go through the long spiel and David would say something like "thanks, Mr. Johnson," and Bill would start over again. He looked much funnier doing this as a young man dressed like a 1920s wise guy. Thank you, Youngstown, OH, for producing this funny man!
@MyAnimations- Those of us lucky enough (and old enough) to have seen his rendering in an 'interview' bit with Fred Willard addressing him as 'Mr. Johnson'. almost 60 years ago, will never forget the the comedic impact especially in the final line !
The whole phenomenon of Ray J. Johnson is interesting. The character was in several commercials for vastly different products like beer and board games, but didn't originate from a movie or television show. You don't see that much, a fictional character who exists mainly in commercials. In that sense, Ray J. Johnson is actually pretty unique and innovative.
Flo from Progressive The Michelin Man Mr. Whipple Mark from Holiday Inn The Baroness from Red Baron The Geico Gecko The Geico Cavemen Jake from State Farm The Maytag Repairman Tony Sinclair from Tanqueray Ernest P. Worrell and tons more You were saying?
@@James-if3kc Uhm, did you even read the original post, “several commercials for vastly different products”, and to challenge his claim, you list a series of single-company mascots, who were only in commercials for *one* product (many of them have their company of origin, the product, in their title), and Ernest, the closest comparison you gave, at least… ?
It wasn't considered great comedy then either. It was a running gag, nothing more. Nobody split their sides laughing at this, (unless they were really stoned, 'cause that lowers the bar a lot!) BTW I remember this from watching Sanford and Son.
Why all the hate, folks? Bill Saluga (NOT "this guy") was pretty famous back in the day, and everybody loved it when he went into this routine. In fact, they expected it.
No! Dude, he wasn't trying to pidgin hole you. He said you DOESN'TS has to call him Johnson! So don't do it. And don't be such a dick. I rather see Bill Saluga than Abbot or Costello any day. They were whores who ripped off The Three Stooge's material according to Moe Howard. So just shut up.
What's funny about this is that he's literally telling you that you can call him anything, but that you don't call him by his last name, cause he's a 'friend' to everybody, and anybody (and is not insecure of status quo barriers brought on by formality titles).
Homer: You can call him Ray, or you can call him Jay. Or you can call him Ray Jay, but you doesn't have to.. Lisa: I'm sick of him already! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Now I see what they were talking about! x'D
The best part is when he says, "but you doesn't have to call me JOHNSON!!" Then, he just takes a puff from his cigar, like nothing happened. ROTFLOL You just can't teach comedic genius like that. It's either there or it's not.
*GENIUS* COMEDY.what he does in less than 30 seconds beats the hell out of these Punks who TRY to be funny for a half hour on stage, The "Doesn't" bit NAILS it!
You can't really appreciate the comedy of this in this video. I just remember the bit from years ago. When it was done as part of a sketch, it was funny, especially if some people were talking, and someone just happened to mention the name "Johnson", and he would pop out of nowhere and start doing the bit. It was funny enough that I remember it all these years later. What I don't think is funny is YT commenters just repeating what somebody else has already said. What's up with that??
+Danz The bit is based around the social convention when you formally, out of respect, refer to someone as Mr. or Mrs. and then they will “give you permission” to call them something more casual or intimate. (e.g. “Mr. President, what is your opinion on the economy?” “Please, call me Barack”) The bit occurs in the context of a conversation where a straight man asks Mr. Johnson a simple question of some urgency using Johnson’s name and then Johnson replies by providing this exhaustive list of the options of what he may be called and never getting around to answering the question. Throughout, the straight man is flummoxed trying to get back to the question at hand and enduring the insanely long list. Later in the scene, someone else enters and makes the same “mistake" and then Johnson repeats the same bit again much to the chagrin of the original person who has to listen the whole thing again, etc. The set-up in this video is missing the crucial ingredient. With no frustrated straight man to play off of, it isn’t funny. Mr. Johnson, here, is recreating this monologue out of context for us baby boomers who are filling in that missing element that became a running gag on some variety show. I no longer remember which one. His bit became so popular they used it in a beer commercial. It is funnier when you see the reactions of the other guys, “Enough already!” “Oh no, not again!” czcams.com/video/LztZu5s0-QU/video.html
Thumbs up if you're here from King of the Hill!
Can't believe he he actually real.
I just got done watching the episode
I'm here from The Simpsons.
I'm here from Sanford and Son
im here form the simpsons
This guy used to make my Dad laugh til tears rolled down his cheeks. My Dad is gone now so seeing this clip is bittersweet.
May God rest the soul of a man with well-rounded humor.
I loved it as a child. Named a family of blue Jays , Jay, Ray , and Ray Jay. And the baby was Johnson. I forgot the other names . Guess I was really young. Good fun for a kiddo in the 70s. 😊 May your dad rip. Hugs.
My dad cracked up off this guy.
Same here. I came looking for him because I remember my Dad cracking up. Years later this same guy was on Seinfeld for a cameo.
I'm sure your dad was awesome, but in 2024, I'm searching my soul for why this bit it supposed to be funny. If you can, please explain it to me. In any case, returning to the original point, I'm sure your dad was a great guy.
Imagine how many times this man has done this bit
This routine is timeless. It's just as un-funny now as it was 40 years ago.
I'm 61 years old now and I find it as non- funny now as I did then. But when I saw Bobby laughing rolling around on the floor, I just figured I couldn't stand the suspense. Comedy went vaudeville, to burlesque. But I guess when things were depressing back then, just about anything was funny. I've been sick with that damn virus type thing and so please excuse me if I get this all wrong. But back in the day, you had the movies that were talkies and then you had the talkies. And of course a zillion years before that you had Shakespeare and things like that and of course we still have Broadway.I guess it's whatever floats your boat but I am very happy for this man that he is still alive and that people watched the King of the Hill episode enough times to comment on it and think that he's still funny in his way.
@@MexicoDigDoctor You don't have Covid-19, stop lying.
@@robocop2283 I had it in December before the Western World knew anything about it.About 2 and 1/2 weeks prior to falling ill, I had given a tour to the Prime Minister of Singapore and his wife and about 30 of his colleagues. I definitely had it and I definitely got it from somebody in the group. It is natural when you are with world diplomats that they have also been with diplomats from all over the world, shaking hands, in some countries kissing on the cheek, and standing right next to each talking about whatever it is they're looking at. I was with this group for about 5 hours. I'm not looking for somebody to blame, I'm just saying that it's logical. I almost died,and that's no joke! I don't know who you think you are to call me a liar, but if you knew anything about me and what it is I do and who the different people I do it with are, you would be apologizing to me very profusely. This is not a boast; this is a fact. Of course I don't have it right now, the thing is that I am having some secondary problems because of it. I have been an archaeologist for 42 years and I have very fine dirt and spores from all the excavations and explorations I did both in deserts and jungle areas of Mexico. The lack of being able to breathe and the coughing that followed once that part was gone just dislodged a lot of it, and now I have a light COPD. I'm still having trouble breathing but not anywhere like it was when I had the Covid-19. I forgive you for your ignorance because you do not know me and that is not your fault, so you think you can take any opportunity to ridicule those you don't know. But believe me, it was one of the worst things that ever happened to me and I pray for you, your family, and your friends, and whatever country you are in so that none of you ever get it.
@@MexicoDigDoctor I guess there's always one idiot on every YT thread. Probably a Trump supporter who believes it's all going to go away on November 4th!
I do hope you're feeling better now. 'Long Covid', post-viral syndrome, Covid-related organ damage, and ME/CFS are no joke!
@@MexicoDigDoctor kim i hope you are ok .stay safe
Ray: "You can call me.........."
The Rock: "IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU CALL YOURSELF!"
Yeah, BUT if you do, you doesn't have to call him Johnson. That's the point.
Homer "You can call me Ray or you can call me Jay but you better not call me..."
Lisa "I'm sick of him already"
"Better not call me Ray Jay". Homer had it wrong! Apparently you can also call him Ray Jay. Just not Johnson.
"You can call me Ray or you can call me Jay. Just don't call me washed up, I do three shows a day"
That's about how long it took me to be sick of The Simpsons .
@@pegbars nice opinion doofus
You doesn't has to call me Johnson
Memorable character. Only recently realised what Johnson was American slang for! He looks older, delivery is slower, but essentially still as funny as ever!
Dang it, Bobby
I remember Bill Saluga doing this act on the Redd Foxx Show in the late '60's. I always thought it was funny, and I'm glad he decided to post it here. Thanks, Bill Saluga.
1970s not 60s
He was a one hit wonder of comedy.
But what a hit it was. A half-century later still makes you smile.
No, he was on all kinds of shows, this one included, as well as Johnny Carson Tonight Show, commercials, and so forth. He did
other bits & skits, but this one won America around 1976
I like the part when he told me what I could call him.
... and the slight speech-impediment and intonation that Bill effected for this delivery made it even funnier,
I remember when Bill was part of The Ace Trucking Company improv comedy team. They were brilliantly funny and I used to LMAO whenever they were on TV long before SNL or any of the other "comedy" skit shows.
How many comedians are remembered and quoted 40 years after their time based on one routine? Ray J. Johnson, Jr. WAS funny, and doesn't you forget it.
This guy is mostly remembered as an "I don't get it" punchline from Simpsons and Koth. [at least from reading the comments]. And yeah I don't get it either.
@@Eltrio2 The dude is called a lot of things except for Johnson because that's "too formal". And that's funny because... I guess it just is.
My Father in law went to school with Bill Saluga, he just passed evidently... he will be missed.... RIP RJJ jr. :)
@@Eltrio2 not really, but the comment seems like something that an 'after boomer' would say. Any Baby Boomer does remember this, along with the Gas Crisis, Nixon, and other defining moments of the 70s.
Good Lord, do I love this guy.
Glad to see he is still around.
Keep up the good work, Bill.
Oh, you doesn't have to call him Bill!
His name is William......blah, blah, blah, yak, yak, yak.....
RIP 😞
@@ResistingDeath OH man.... thanks for letting me know.
RIP Mr. Bill Saluga. Your career lives on thanks to old classics that have since been restored 🎥🎬📽️🎞️
Synopsis: The "Wasssuuuuuuup" of the mid 70s.
WADERDOSE!
More like the David S Pumpkins
*Where's the beef?*
This guy had exactly :37 seconds of material.
For 40 years
And not even :37 seconds of funny material.
Scott Sanders that's 32 more seconds than Rich Vos
I remember he had slightly more in some versions, such as adding "or you can call me Ronny, or you can call me Johnny". What made it funny was his rat-a-tat delivery, and the endless nicknames. Maybe the suit, hat, and cigar made it funny too. I'd always assumed he had more material, but if the "You can call me" bit is all he had, then that makes it even funnier.
Troy Wilson that’s dope.
After I watched this 100 times, it became funny.
yes
At first I thought this was utter pish, but after about the 20th watch I now find it rather funny
yeah, no kidding. It sneaks up on you. In the King Of The Hill Episode, that's what happened to Bobby, then Peggy put it succinctly "Johnson got another one."
I'm fortunate to have experienced 'Ace Trucking Co.' sensational improv comedy in Chicago many, many, many moons ago. After nearly two decades of huge success as a comedy troupe, they disbanded and each of the 5 followed independent performance careers.
Some commercials you NEVER forget,, and this is one of them lol
Ray J Johnson Jr.! Where have you been? The world needs you!
Bill passed recently... more info when available... RIP RJJJR.
Funny how some things stick in memory and culture. I was thinking of this routine when mentioning it to a friend. Sure enough, I found this on the net. Nice to hear and see it again.
One of the all time great routines of the ACE Trucking Co.
So that's where he's from? I seem to remember him bothering bill cosby on occasion. Am Iwrong?
This routine is really only funny after seeing it at least once! It's the second - and third, and fourth, and fifth, and sixth - times that really make it funny!
I will have to take your word on that; once was one time too many for me.
Someone gets it!
I’ve seen/heard this but a thousands times and it remains as unfunny as it was the first time so idk
This is one of those comedians who's humor never gets old!!!!
@Goodluck Jonathan Comedic genius!! You doesnt have to call him Johson haha lol!!
...this is a classic! I remember those beer ads back in the 70s
'-'
You Can Call Me Ray or You Can Call Me J.. haha comic GOLD!!
That was his entire shtick. I don't know why, either, but he has always cracked me up.
OMG!! I remember this guy!! So funny.
I love Mr. Johnson! Still makes me laugh.
But you know, you doesn't have to call him Johnson
No one does it like the original, Bill Saluga. He will always be the original Raymond J. Johnson, Jr. A classic....and it doesn't matter how many times I hear the routine, it's still hilarious.
I'VE ALWAYS LOVED HIM! GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN... "MR. JOHNSON". SALUTE TO YOU...ON REDD FOXX'S BIRTHDAY!
I watched this as a kid. I still smile when I see this routine.🙂
RJJ, Jr. was a favorite walk-on character for me when I was kid listening to, I believe, the Jack Benny show. This is first time I've seen him. I visualized him as a hayseed kinda guy. Another character occasionally on the show was John L. C. Sivoney, played by Frank Fontaine.
Now thats some serious quality material.
Everybody, this is actor Bill Saluga doing his somewhat famous "Raymond J. Johnson" character; a character that was essentially what one would call a short lived "meme" now, but on TV in the late 70's, early 80's. His fame was very, very brief as basically *this* was really the character's only bit. It was somewhat amusing/annoying and Mr. Saluga was showing up everywhere for a brief moment of time on TV in commercials, sketch comedy shows, sitcoms, talk shows, variety shows, etc. Think the Simpsons episode where Bart becomes "The I Didn't Do It Boy." It was funny for a minute, and I'm sure the guy made a little bank, but it was gone as quick as it came. This video appears to be Mr. Saluga donning the character and his signature clothes for an encore later in life. And yes, the character is referenced in both The Simpsons and in King of the Hill.
The problem with take my wife please is that it outlived "take (something) for example" as a commonly-used phrase, so it stopped working. we do the same joke now, but updated for the way people still talk. Hack comedians who don't understand humor just repeat and regurgitate.
man, you are one pissed off loser Bessie D.
@@theonlyegg- YIPES! Who is this "Bessie D."?
You doesn't have to call me Bessie...you can call Bess...or you can call me...BD...or you can call me...
@@KairuHakubi People still use take (something), usually it's take (something), for example, probably how it originally was also, shortened to just take something. So how do you update *Take my wife...please* , and still retain the pun?
Wow, what a treat to see you again. I remember when you had those cameos on the Smothers Brothers tv show. We had a blast watching you. God bless...
The guy made a Disco single. He was everywhere!
“Who are you?”
“I’m Rey”
“Rey who?”
“Rey J Johnson Jr”
I remember this from way back in the day! My first husband used to imitate him all the time!Total blast from the past!
You eventually poisoned him, right? I would have!
Did you call him Johnson?
Back in the late 70's, 5th grade, our school was going a student skit show. My friends asked if we could do the Lite beer knock off commercial with Ray. They said no because it was beer, but we could do it with Dads root beer. We did the root beer skit and I was Ray, hat an all. Ha, good stuff.
Wow. I have not seen this routine since he appeared on The Flip Wilson Show in the early '70s. He's gotten old - I remember him as a young man doing this routine.
Ohhhh, you doesn't has to know WHY it's funny, it's just FUNNY!
Love it! For nearly 57 years since 'The Ace Trucking Company' first emerged upon the entertainment foray, this bit has survived successfully and with perpetuity! It is best appreciated and enjoyed when done in its original context as an interview being conducted by Fred Willard when 'Ace Trucking Company' was in its heyday..
This bit is enough to cause the Ace Trucking Company to jack knife into a ditch.
@@MrTruckerf - Ya doesn't have be so rude!
Imagine this video looped 10 hours ?
You mean heaven?
Use this to interrogate ISIS!
You'd have my whole youth in the 70s. (Shudder.)
Ik what I'm doing my next acid trip
I think that contravenes several provisions in the Geneva Convention.
My mother used to love this! As she put it: "it's so stupid...it's funny". You were right mom, it's stupid and I still laugh at it, just a little.
94 people had to call him Johnson.
But, ... they doesn't has to call him Johnson!
What a great solo piece! If anything it wasn't long enough. Odd that some people think it "got old fast". Ray never repeated anything, he gave many variations of his name, but did not repeat. A witty piece and I salute his career.
We need more awards for supporting actors. The stars would be nowhere without them.
You sir, are a legend. Really glad to see you're alive and kickin' Johnson.... ur, I mean [cue famous response]!
Awesome. It Brings back Memories
My 10 year old son learned this from an old Redd Foxx Show sound byte...he knows it word for word! Good to have ya back Bill!
your 10 year old son is now 24, how time flies
Prior to becoming known for his Ray Jay character, Bill Saluga was part of the improv group The Ace Tucking Company along with such talented folks as Patti Deutsch & Fred Willard.
Were they a group that tucked people into bed at night, or do you mean the Ace Trucking Company? (you misspelled) here is one of their bits: czcams.com/video/wIs3mcyrK7o/video.html
Rick, That guy was everywhere as a guest on TV shows, especially variety shows. I remember him on one of Mary Tyler Moore's failed shows and I'm sure you're right about Cosby. He had a funny routine that eventually ran its course.
"I'd like to hear more from the guy who said 'Hey Johnson!'"
I loved this routine so much I named my dog RJ! Ace Trucking Company was hilarious. The seventies were really special for comedy.
The legend himself...
This is also in memory TO Mr Raymond Neil Johnson (my step-dad, who worked at an Anheiser Busch affiliated branch).
My family got a special kick out of this because he would on, this is where be came to be known as, "MR J"
Saw this cat on Laugh In when I was a kid (damn I'm old).
I *need* the Laugh-In footage. He was hysterical...
Me & kin loved this bit back in the 1970s. For a short peiod of time maybe two or more years this was almost a weekly event on comedy shows, maybe Friday's. Always thought of this through the decades. We my mom, dad & sister loved mr johnson
Mark Stengel ...I remember him on Laugh in...
this gave me a good laugh
This video is amazing, it made my day.
Just had to come back for more. Ray J is addictive stuff.
I was in the 8th grade in 1978 and I remember a lot of my friends thought this routine was a riot.
Thanks to King of the Hill for introducing me to the best joke ever.
Wat
Great comedian. Thanks for the reminder of how funny the routine still is.
This litany of monikers was this guy's sole shtick, and I always loved it.
First saw Bill do this routine on the David Steinberg Show in 1976. This was before the beer commercial. The thing that made it funny was he'd go through the long spiel and David would say something like "thanks, Mr. Johnson," and Bill would start over again. He looked much funnier doing this as a young man dressed like a 1920s wise guy. Thank you, Youngstown, OH, for producing this funny man!
I love the fact that just because of this ONE line, he got so famouse! XD
@MyAnimations- Those of us lucky enough (and old enough) to have seen his rendering in an 'interview' bit with Fred Willard addressing him as 'Mr. Johnson'. almost 60 years ago, will never forget the the comedic impact especially in the final line !
Y'all are likely not old enough to remember this guy when he did the bit on the Johnny Carson show. He was VERY amusing back then.
What happened?
This joke changed my life!!!
After watching this almost 150 times... I FINALLY GET IT!!!!!!!!!
The whole phenomenon of Ray J. Johnson is interesting. The character was in several commercials for vastly different products like beer and board games, but didn't originate from a movie or television show. You don't see that much, a fictional character who exists mainly in commercials. In that sense, Ray J. Johnson is actually pretty unique and innovative.
Flo from Progressive
The Michelin Man
Mr. Whipple
Mark from Holiday Inn
The Baroness from Red Baron
The Geico Gecko
The Geico Cavemen
Jake from State Farm
The Maytag Repairman
Tony Sinclair from Tanqueray
Ernest P. Worrell
and tons more
You were saying?
Only other one I can think of is Ernest P. Worrell, but he went from a character on random commercials to entertainment. So kind of the opposite.
@@shrimpvendor9911 Hey Vern!
@@James-if3kc Uhm, did you even read the original post, “several commercials for vastly different products”, and to challenge his claim, you list a series of single-company mascots, who were only in commercials for *one* product (many of them have their company of origin, the product, in their title), and Ernest, the closest comparison you gave, at least… ?
@@JoeServo GO TO HELL!!!
thank the lord that today we have better comedy
BTW I'm here from king of the hill
It wasn't considered great comedy then either. It was a running gag, nothing more. Nobody split their sides laughing at this, (unless they were really stoned, 'cause that lowers the bar a lot!)
BTW I remember this from watching Sanford and Son.
what season and episode?
theseus yo
You can't be serious. I have no idea. Somewhere between the first and last. Does that help?
Michael Lashinsky sure. thank you so so much.
You've got carlos mencena the joke thief, and larry the cable guy! You tool.
Love this classic!
My friends loved this guy but I worked the night shift and never got to see it till now. I am now laughing with them .
Why all the hate, folks? Bill Saluga (NOT "this guy") was pretty famous back in the day, and everybody loved it when he went into this routine. In fact, they expected it.
No! Dude, he wasn't trying to pidgin hole you. He said you DOESN'TS has to call him Johnson! So don't do it. And don't be such a dick. I rather see Bill Saluga than Abbot or Costello any day. They were whores who ripped off The Three Stooge's material according to Moe Howard. So just shut up.
Um, i'm pretty sure this is saluga
Rafael hit the nail on the head! Saluga was on all the top shows back in the day - and he was hilarious!
Rafael Storm
What's funny about this is that he's literally telling you that you can call him anything, but that you don't call him by his last name, cause he's a 'friend' to everybody, and anybody (and is not insecure of status quo barriers brought on by formality titles).
🙄
[... tru ... surname / LEGAL NAME fraud ... folks just roll their-'blind'-eyz lik the-guy abov N IGNORANCE of-self 💯 ...]
🤔☹️
perhaps the unfunniest schtick of all time.
Making more of it than there actually is.
Idc I find it funny hahahahahaha lolololol I finally got it 30 years later great memory raymond Johnson
When it's late at night, and you're overtired, this is funny!
It never gets old!
It also never gets funny!
When I go on CZcams, I don't expect to see JOHNSON!
Man In Magenta Wig now you don’t have to call him Johnson..
Rest in peace, Bill. Thanks for the laughs.
Lol, it took me a long time to understand the joke here. Once I did I couldn't stop laughing.
I'm 45 and this guy looked the same when I was like 11 lol
zamp6969 weird how little he changed, I even thought it wasn’t the same person until I heard the voice
That's the devil's real form
This is an actor playing Ray Jay.
Ha The Original Ray J.
The Natural Light commercials were the best ever!
I dont understand fully why this is funny but its hilarious
Is this guy still around? He needs to do another beer commercial for the next super bowl. this year's super bowl commercials SUCKED!
The King of the Hill episode they gave last night brought me here.
I remember first seeing you doesn't has ta call me Johnson on the Redd Foxx Show in the 70's
My toddler just asked me to do this routine - I think it could be a hit! Now you can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay...
Homer: You can call him Ray, or you can call him Jay. Or you can call him Ray Jay, but you doesn't have to..
Lisa: I'm sick of him already!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Now I see what they were talking about! x'D
The best part is when he says, "but you doesn't have to call me JOHNSON!!" Then, he just takes a puff from his cigar, like nothing happened. ROTFLOL
You just can't teach comedic genius like that. It's either there or it's not.
Lol Brooks this is the funniest comment here what a tool this Ray Jay is, his puff of the cigar and the look on his face is the cringiest part...
Billy made a lot out of very little. It's still funny today. abuiltmale, I appreciate the background. Hilarious.
*GENIUS* COMEDY.what he does in less than 30 seconds beats the hell out of these Punks who TRY to be funny for a half hour on stage, The "Doesn't" bit NAILS it!
sorry I missed it, what exactly did he do in less than 30 seconds
You can't really appreciate the comedy of this in this video. I just remember the bit from years ago. When it was done as part of a sketch, it was funny, especially if some people were talking, and someone just happened to mention the name "Johnson", and he would pop out of nowhere and start doing the bit.
It was funny enough that I remember it all these years later.
What I don't think is funny is YT commenters just repeating what somebody else has already said.
What's up with that??
So I saw this episode of King of the hill where Bobby finds this old record of this and tries to understand what was so funny. I dont get it either.
+Danz The bit is based around the social convention when you formally, out of respect, refer to someone as Mr. or Mrs. and then they will “give you permission” to call them something more casual or intimate. (e.g. “Mr. President, what is your opinion on the economy?” “Please, call me Barack”) The bit occurs in the context of a conversation where a straight man asks Mr. Johnson a simple question of some urgency using Johnson’s name and then Johnson replies by providing this exhaustive list of the options of what he may be called and never getting around to answering the question. Throughout, the straight man is flummoxed trying to get back to the question at hand and enduring the insanely long list. Later in the scene, someone else enters and makes the same “mistake" and then Johnson repeats the same bit again much to the chagrin of the original person who has to listen the whole thing again, etc. The set-up in this video is missing the crucial ingredient. With no frustrated straight man to play off of, it isn’t funny. Mr. Johnson, here, is recreating this monologue out of context for us baby boomers who are filling in that missing element that became a running gag on some variety show. I no longer remember which one. His bit became so popular they used it in a beer commercial. It is funnier when you see the reactions of the other guys, “Enough already!” “Oh no, not again!” czcams.com/video/LztZu5s0-QU/video.html
+Randy Craig Thank you for explaining that. I too saw that episode of King of the Hill and didn't get it.
+Randy Craig Exactly right. I first saw the skit on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Without the proper setup, the dialog means nothing.
I always thought that this guy was doing this skit just to annoy the hell outta talkshow hosts
in which case, I approve
RIP Ray. You were funny and I remember his many TV appearances growing up in the 70s. I would laugh at my parents laughing.
I've been breaking my head trying to get it...... for years.... until now! I finally laughed cause it's so stupid! 😂.... yay KOTH!!
Humor is a matter of personal taste.