Flip Wilson

Like many others, I was saddened to learn of Flip Wilson's passing (Nov. 26). Few people know that Flip was an authority on the Arab American poet, Khalil Gibran. Flip participated in fund-raisers across the country, speaking about Gibran and quoting from "The Prophet," helping raise the money to establish the Kahlil Gibran National Park in Washington. He will be missed. CASEY KASEM Los Angeles

In Sunday's Calendar (and online here ), I review "Flip: The Inside Story of TV's First Black Superstar," a worthwhile new biography of the late comedian by Kevin Cook ("The Last Headbangers," "Titanic Thompson: The Man Who Bet on Everything"). The sprightly Wilson, who died in 1998 of liver cancer at the age of 64, is not exactly unknown today: "The Flip Wilson Show," which aired from 1970 to 1974 on NBC, reran on TV Land from 1997 to 2005 and currently may be seen on Magic Johnson's Aspire network.

It didn't matter, says fellow comedian David Brenner, that Flip Wilson was "the first black man to wear a dress." "He could make any set joke that existed funnier than the original," Brenner said of Wilson, who died Wednesday night of liver cancer at his Malibu home at 64. "That was his brilliance. He could take a 40-second joke and turn it into a five-minute skit."

Though his time in the national spotlight amounted to only about a decade, Clerow "Flip" Wilson was one of the great comic voices of the 20th century, a compact fireball whose early-1970s NBC variety series embedded characters such as the Reverend Leroy of the Church of What's Happening Now and Geraldine Jones (a self-assured bundle of sass whose catchphrases were "The devil made me do it" and "What you see is what you get") in the national consciousness. As portrayed in Kevin Cook's new and overdue biography, "Flip: The Inside Story of TV's First Black Superstar" - which nicks its subtitle from a 1972 Time magazine cover story - Wilson was a more troubled person than his easy and attractive onstage demeanor would suggest.

Flip Wilson, the first black host of a highly rated television variety show and a gifted comic who created "Geraldine" and other humorous characters, died Wednesday night of liver cancer at his Malibu home. He was 64. Wilson had undergone surgery last month for a malignant tumor that was close to his liver. "The Flip Wilson Show" aired on NBC from 1970 to 1974. During its first two seasons, the show placed No. 2 among all programs on television.

The name of Flip Wilson is associated with comedy, not journalism. Nevertheless, more than four years after his death, the comedian is funding scholarships at Cal State Northridge and four other universities for African American journalism students.

The Life After 1: The first collaboration between director Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe was the 2000 epic "Gladiator," which won the best picture Oscar and an Academy Award for the New Zealand-born actor. But their second teaming, "A Good Year," fizzled with critics and audiences last fall.

Comedian Flip Wilson spends a lot of his time singing the blues. But that doesn't mean he's feeling blue. Not in the least. In fact, when Wilson sings the blues, it probably just means he's relaxing in the sauna of his large Malibu beachfront residence, feeling particularly good.

In Sunday's Calendar (and online here ), I review "Flip: The Inside Story of TV's First Black Superstar," a worthwhile new biography of the late comedian by Kevin Cook ("The Last Headbangers," "Titanic Thompson: The Man Who Bet on Everything"). The sprightly Wilson, who died in 1998 of liver cancer at the age of 64, is not exactly unknown today: "The Flip Wilson Show," which aired from 1970 to 1974 on NBC, reran on TV Land from 1997 to 2005 and currently may be seen on Magic Johnson's Aspire network.

Though his time in the national spotlight amounted to only about a decade, Clerow "Flip" Wilson was one of the great comic voices of the 20th century, a compact fireball whose early-1970s NBC variety series embedded characters such as the Reverend Leroy of the Church of What's Happening Now and Geraldine Jones (a self-assured bundle of sass whose catchphrases were "The devil made me do it" and "What you see is what you get") in the national consciousness. As portrayed in Kevin Cook's new and overdue biography, "Flip: The Inside Story of TV's First Black Superstar" - which nicks its subtitle from a 1972 Time magazine cover story - Wilson was a more troubled person than his easy and attractive onstage demeanor would suggest.

Al Gordon, an Emmy Award-winning comedy writer who spent much of his more than 40-year career writing for Jack Benny's penny-pinching, vain and perennially 39-year-old persona, has died. He was 89. Gordon died Wednesday of age-related causes at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said his son, Neil. In a career that began after World War II and included writing for Eddie Cantor's radio show, Gordon soon teamed with comedy writer Hal Goldman . A few months after they met, they learned that Jack Benny needed new material for Rochester, the valet character played by Eddie Anderson on Benny's radio show.

Bob Henry, an Emmy Award-winning television variety-show producer and director who produced Nat King Cole's groundbreaking musical variety program in the 1950s and helped make Flip Wilson a household name as the producer of his hit comedy-variety show in the 1970s, has died. He was 92. Henry died of age-related causes Sunday at his home in Laguna Beach, said his wife, Annette. A TV career that spanned more than 50 years began when Henry became an associate producer on NBC's "The Colgate Comedy Hour" in New York in the early '50s.

The Life After 1: The first collaboration between director Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe was the 2000 epic "Gladiator," which won the best picture Oscar and an Academy Award for the New Zealand-born actor. But their second teaming, "A Good Year," fizzled with critics and audiences last fall.

The name of Flip Wilson is associated with comedy, not journalism. Nevertheless, more than four years after his death, the comedian is funding scholarships at Cal State Northridge and four other universities for African American journalism students.

While driving on the Ventura Freeway on June 3, 1978, I saw a blue Porsche stopped on the roadway. I stopped to help and it was Flip Wilson (obituary, Nov. 26). The FLIP on the license plate told me who it was. I drove him to North Hollywood and he said, "How can I pay you?" I said send me a signed picture. Instead he wrote me a check for $1 for the freeway pickup and on the back said, "You saved my ass, Geraldine--It was great being in your hands." This is because I am an Allstate agent.

It didn't matter, says fellow comedian David Brenner, that Flip Wilson was "the first black man to wear a dress." "He could make any set joke that existed funnier than the original," Brenner said of Wilson, who died Wednesday night of liver cancer at his Malibu home at 64. "That was his brilliance. He could take a 40-second joke and turn it into a five-minute skit."

Love it or hate it, there's no stopping Honey Boo Boo. And the country's most divisive 7-year-old will be back on July 17 with new episodes of her reality series, "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. " To make things just a touch more romantic, it's possible that the new episodes will include Honey Boo Boo's mama's wedding to her longtime beau (and Honey Boo Boo papa), Sugar Bear. Us Weekly ran photos of the newly married couple after their May 5 ceremony, which had the newlyweds wearing camouflage and driving off in a yellow ATV with cans tied to the back.

Flip Wilson, the first black host of a highly rated television variety show and a gifted comic who created "Geraldine" and other humorous characters, died Wednesday night of liver cancer at his Malibu home. He was 64. Wilson had undergone surgery last month for a malignant tumor that was close to his liver. "The Flip Wilson Show" aired on NBC from 1970 to 1974. During its first two seasons, the show placed No. 2 among all programs on television.