The Jeff Altman Interview: Comedy Gold from 1989

Step into a comedy time machine with this remarkable bonus episode featuring a blast from the comedy past! Discovered deep in the Laughs Unlimited archives, we present a rare 1989 television interview with comedy legend Jeff Altman, conducted by fellow comedian Jack Gallagher on the local Sacramento show "TV Light."

Jeff Altman, whose face and voice became familiar to millions through his numerous appearances on "Late Night with David Letterman," his memorable commercials, and roles in various TV shows and movies, displays the sharp wit and observational humor that made him a standout performer of his era. The chemistry between Altman and Gallagher creates a masterclass in comedic timing as they riff on shared experiences in the entertainment industry, including a moment when they both auditioned for—and lost—the same role at ABC.

The interview captures a fascinating slice of late-80s comedy as Altman tackles the then-current Jim Baker televangelist scandal with biting impressions and commentary. His hilarious recounting of European travel adventures culminates in his adoption of an alias as "Jeff Altman, the Dog Man of Chamonix" to navigate cultural differences in humor—a story that showcases his brilliant character work and storytelling abilities. For comedy historians and enthusiasts alike, this archival footage provides not just laughs but context for understanding how comedy has evolved while maintaining its essential elements.

Whether you're a longtime Jeff Altman fan or discovering his work for the first time, this episode offers a rare glimpse into comedy history. Remember to subscribe, leave a review, and share your thoughts about which comedy legends you'd like to see featured from our archives next!

Chapters

• 0:00 Scott Edwards Introduces Bonus Show
• 1:26 Jack Gallagher Welcomes Jeff Altman
• 2:34 Jim Baker and Televangelist Tales
• 4:26 Jeff's European Travel Adventures
• 6:25 Interview Wrap and Show Closing

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:04

This is another episode of Stand-Up Comedy, your host and emcee Celebrating 40 plus years on the fringe of show business Stories, interviews and comedy sets from the famous and not so famous. Here's your host and emcee, scott Edwards.

R. Scott Edwards: 0:21

Hi and welcome to this week's bonus show. An audience of one and man. I have something fun and different for you. I like to mix things up. What I found while going through the Laughs Unlimited archives is this terrific interview of professional comic Jeff Altman. You remember him from his many appearances on the David Letterman show. He was on all the talk shows, appeared in TV shows and movies. Jeff Altman, and in this particular interview, was for a TV show called TV Light. It was a local show, produced and directed, and the host was a very funny comic himself, jack Gallagher. So what's coming up in this special bonus show is Jack Gallagher as the host, doing an interview of the very funny headliner Jeff Altman, who was appearing at Laughs Unlimited back in 1989. All right, so, ladies and gentlemen from the TV show TV Light, here's Jack Gallagher and Jeff Altman here's.

Jeff Altman: 1:26

Jack Gallagher and Jeff Altman Welcome back. Thank you, yvonne. Yvonne's always there to point out the camera I should be looking into. We're glad you're with us tonight. We have a very special guest tonight. I'm sure you'll recognize him from the loads of crazy commercials that he does on television. He also works comedy clubs all over the country and is a regular on Late Night with David Letterman. Please welcome, jeff Altman. Ladies and gentlemen, you knew when to end. Hi, jack, good to see you. How are you? I'm great. How are you doing? Last time I saw you.

Jack Gallagher: 2:02

We were at 20th Century. Where were?

Jeff Altman: 2:03

we. I think the last time we saw each other we were at ABC. Yes, both of us were sweating, our palms were sweating, and then both of us laughed. Neither one of us got the job, and now we're both going.

Jack Gallagher: 2:13

I could tell that they didn't like me when the producer looked at me and went.

Jeff Altman: 2:16

Look, creep, that's a giveaway I want to mention you're going to be at Laffs tonight and tomorrow night. Tonight and tomorrow night Downtown.

Jack Gallagher: 2:26

Downtown.

Jeff Altman: 2:26

Laffs Unlimited, and Old Sac, old Sac. So you're like a traveling guy.

Jack Gallagher: 2:29

You're all over the place. Well, you travel a lot and stuff. You get to feel the heartland of America. And everybody's talking about Jim Baker now. You know he's almost. I think he's got a new show and stuff. Did you see them when they were on Nightline? How many saw them when they were on Nightline? Did you see them when they were on Nightline? And she's just sitting. She is horrible. She's just that we don't have no home, we don't have nothing. You know he's sitting there looking at a cop going, shut up, bitch, Don't say anything, and I don't know. I guess they'll get it. I've forgiven him. He made a little mistake, so what?

Jeff Altman: 3:18

Yeah, so he lost a kingdom, so he lost an empire, so he lost $13 or $14 million a year. That's right.

Jack Gallagher: 3:25

You know the guy. I cannot stand those Falwell that pious. He's better than everybody. I have talked to a number of men in the PTL who have told me personally that they have seen Jim Baker give them the check.

Jeff Altman: 3:57

So give them keys to his car, give them directions to the condo. A homosexual look.

Jack Gallagher: 4:06

He accused him of giving him a homo. Not a hug, not a kiss. Just a look Now. Can you imagine that Baker is in the middle of preaching and all of a sudden, I need money, tammy needs money, heritage needs, so you'll have a. He'll be preaching to another 8 billion people soon.

Jeff Altman: 4:26

So now you're not only. I know you work in clubs all over the country, but you're going to Europe, or did?

Jack Gallagher: 4:31

you go to Europe. I actually took one of those giant like the movie, you know, the movie the Summer Vacation or European. I went to Europe. I went to Europe for two weeks and it's just, it's real trouble. You get home and you go. Kennedy Airport. I love you.

Jeff Altman: 4:46

Is it real trouble or?

Jack Gallagher: 4:49

It was in southwestern Germany, a little town called Baden-Baden in Switzerland, and the people are wonderful people, but they're very humorless. And you didn't work while you were there, or did you no?

Jeff Altman: 4:59

Okay, just a little vacation. Well, I don't know. You seem like such a continental kind of guy have you ever heard, really, of a German or Swiss stand-up?

Jack Gallagher: 5:06

They don't do it. They just don't do it. And humor. You know, you get to a hotel, you will check in in 22 minutes, you will get two towels and the phone charges are extra. And so I had to take on an identity. I tried to decide how can I get through to? I try to make jokes and they go not funny, not funny, not funny. So I took on an alias, I told them, I told everyone on my trip that I was Jeff Altman, the dog man of Chamonix.

Jeff Altman: 5:39

And instantly you were welcomed everywhere.

Jack Gallagher: 5:41

No, but I started getting. I'd call up for towel and say I need an extra towel and they'd say I'm sorry, I only have two towels.

Jeff Altman: 5:48

They're coming right up. So have you been. You've probably been invited back by several other countries that you didn't visit that had heard about you being married.

Jack Gallagher: 5:55

Jack, this is true, I swear to God. I went over to one. I tried to translate it into German so I knew the word for dog Hund Herr Aus Schamani. So I said Hund Herr Aus Schamani. And the guy looks at me and he goes no, that would be Mr Dog.

Jeff Altman: 6:08

We've got to wrap it up. Thanks a lot for being here Tonight. Tomorrow night, Laughs Unlimited. No, Sacramento, Jeff Altman, We've got time to get down there. We're coming back with Section 4.

R. Scott Edwards: 6:21

Bill Callen, paul Robbins, nips Explodin' I got to tell you Jeff Altman's always been a little crazy but it was fun to relive that interview. Jack Gallagher, as the host of TV Light, did a great job doing the interview with Jeff Altman and I thought that was entertaining and different and hope you enjoyed it in this week's special bonus show.

Speaker 1: 6:38

Hey tune, in Sunday We'll have another great podcast we hope you enjoyed this episode of Stand Up Comedy your host and emcee. For information on the show, merchandise and our sponsors, or to send comments to Scott, visit our website at wwwstandupyourhostandmccom. Look for more episodes soon and enjoy the world of stand-up comedy. Visit a comedy showroom near you.