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Sam Levenson

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Comedian

The Resume

    (December 28, 1911-August 27, 1980)
    Hosted 'Two for the Money'
    Panelist on 'Masquerade Party'
    Substitute host on the 'Price Is Right'
    Wrote 'Sex and the Single Child,' 'Everything But Money' and 'In 1 Era Out the Other'
    Hosted 'Sam Levenson Show' (1959-64)

Why he might be annoying:

    He almost always wore a bow tie.
    Sometimes he would get too involved in his story that it was hard to wait for the punch line.
    He looked more like a school teacher (his former profession) than an entertainer.
    He quit teaching to become a comedian.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His fatherly image made him extremely likeable.
    He was a favorite guest on chat shows.
    His home spun humor was based on reminiscing about his family life.
    He took pride in being born into poverty, telling others: 'Any kid who has two parents who are interested in him and has a houseful of books isn't poor.'
    His classic statement on Anti-Semitism was published in many newspapers and still appears today.
    During the '50s and '60s, he was called 'America's Storyteller.'
    He took pride in having immigrant parents and challenged other children of immigrants to not be ashamed that parents were not born in America.
    He mused: 'When I was a boy I used to do what my father wanted. Now I have to do what my boy wants. My problem is: When am I going to do what I want?'
    He joked; 'Insanity is hereditary; you get it from your children.'
    He contributed so much to the recital hall at Brooklyn Center that after he died they named it in his honor.
    He was roasted by the Friar's Club.
    AN ANSWER TO AN ANTI-SEMITE
    It's a free world.
    You don't have to like Jews, but if you don't, I suggest that you boycott certain Jewish products like insulin, discovered by Dr. Minkoski; the vaccine for hepatitis, discovered by Baruch Blumberg; chlorhydrate for convulsions, discovered by Dr. J. Von Liebig; the Wassermann test for syphilis; streptomycin, discovered by Dr. Selman Abraham Waxman; the polio pill by Dr. Albert Sabin; and the polio vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk.
    Good! Boycott!
    But humanitarianism requires that my people offer all these gifts to all the people of the world.
    Fanaticism requires that all bigots accept diabetes, hepatitis, convulsions, syphilis, infectious diseases and infantile paralysis.
    You want to be mad? Be mad!
    But I'm telling you, you ain't going to feel so good.

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 84 Votes: 48.81% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 21 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 29 Votes: 51.72% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 32 Votes: 31.25% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 89 Votes: 43.82% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 86 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 202 Votes: 45.05% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 242 Votes: 47.11% Annoying