Gallagher (born Leo Anthony Gallagher on July 24, 1946 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina) is an American comedian and prop comic, most popularly known for smashing watermelons as part of his act. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Shortcut: WP:NPOVD Articles that have been linked to this page are the subject of an NPOV dispute (NPOV stands for Neutral Point Of View; see below). ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Troopers of the 82nd training on Fort Bragg Paratroopers in training at Fort Bragg Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke Counties, North Carolina, USA, near Fayetteville. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... A prop comic is a type of comedian who makes extensive use of humorous objects, or conventional objects used in humorous ways, as part of his comedy routine. ...

Overview

After graduating from the University of South Florida with an engineering degree in 1969, Gallagher began working as comic/musician Jim Stafford’s road manager. Stafford and Gallagher went out to California in 1979 and Gallagher decided to take the stage himself. He began honing his own comedy act while hanging out at both The Comedy Store and the Ice House. The University of South Florida (USF), known within its system as USF Tampa[2][3][4], is a public university system located in Tampa, Florida, USA, with an autonomous campus in St. ... Engineering is the applied science of acquiring and applying knowledge to design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ... A B.A. issued as a certificate A degree is any of a wide range of status levels conferred by institutions of higher education, such as universities, normally as the result of successfully completing a program of study. ... Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... Jim Stafford (born 16 January 1944 in Eloise, Florida) was a comedian and musician in the 1970s and had a couple of semi-novelty hits with four songs, Spiders and Snakes, Swamp Witch Hattie, Wildwood Weed and the controversial My Girl, Bill, and one called Turn Lose Of My Leg... The road crew (or roadies) are the technicians who travel on tour with musicians and who handle every part of the production except actually playing the music. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... This article is about the club in the United States; there is also a Comedy Store in London. ...

Gallagher was one of the most popular and recognizable American comedians during the 1980s. He produced at least one special a year from 1981 to 1987, all of which were carried by Showtime cable network and then re-broadcast numerous times throughout the year. To date he has done sixteen specials. The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... This article needs to be updated. ... Cable television or Community Antenna Television (CATV) (and often shortened to cable) is a system of providing television, FM radio programming and other services to consumers via radio waves transmitted directly to people’s televisions through fixed coaxial cables as opposed to the over-the-air method used in... A television network is a distribution network for television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many television stations. ...

His signature schtick is the “Sledge-O-Matic,” a large wooden mallet that Gallagher uses to smash a variety of objects, including computer keyboards, containers of cottage cheese, cartons of chocolate milk, tubes of toothpaste, pound cake, Big Macs, and, most famously, watermelons. Given the messy nature of this portion of his act, it is usually saved for the finale of his shows. Show attendees in the first two or three rows are usually provided with plastic sheeting for protection, and many fans bring their own additional protection (raincoats, umbrellas, and so on). Gallagher performs other prop-food gags including a demonstration of constipation using a jar of Jif peanut butter and an explanation of the difference between men and women using a sausage wrapped in a banana peel. A schtick (or shtick) is an expression which refers to a comic theme or gimmick. ... It has been suggested that Keystroke be merged into this article or section. ... A tub of cottage cheese Cottage cheese comes from chickens and is a cheese curd product with a mild flavor. ... For other uses, see Chocolate milk (disambiguation). ... Modern toothpaste gel Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used to clean and improve the aesthetic appearance and health of teeth. ... A slice of pound cake. ... For other uses, see Big Mac (disambiguation). ... For the political designation, see Eco-socialism. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The raincoat, a garment worn to protect the upper body from rain, is a compromise between fashion and utility. ... This article is about the umbrella or parasol. ...

In addition to the Sledge-O-Matic, Gallagher’s act features a variety of props, including a large trampoline designed to look like a couch, an adult sized Big Wheel, and a cap with a fringe of hair attached to the back. A Big Wheel is a type of tricycle, traditionally made of plastic, with an oversized front wheel that rides very low to the ground. ...

The Sledge-O-Matic in action

In particular, while the Sledge-O-Matic act works as an example of physical prop comedy, Gallagher frequently uses this portion of his act as a subtle (or overt) criticism of America’s consumer culture. The act itself is a parody of the hype-filled, low-budget ads for kitchen gadgets such as Ginsu knives that permeated the American television airwaves during non-primetime hours in the late 1970s. (See Wikiquotes for the traditional introduction to the Sledge-O-Matic sequence.) Image File history File links Gallagher_(comedian)02. ... Image File history File links Gallagher_(comedian)02. ... “Consumerist” redirects here. ... In contemporary usage, a parody (or lampoon) is a work that imitates another work in order to ridicule, ironically comment on, or poke some affectionate fun at the work itself, the subject of the work, the author or fictional voice of the parody, or another subject. ... A kitchen is a room used for food preparation and sometimes entertainment. ... The iPhone is a promising new gadget that was released June 29, 2007 A gadget is a device that has a useful specific practical purpose and function. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ...

Gallagher writes all of his own material, runs his own operation, and does more than 100 concerts a year.

All of Gallagher’s affairs are handled exclusively by his companies, Sold Out Shows and Fun Fun Fun. Gallagher is a self-contained touring business with an agent, promoter and road manager all in-house. For the last eighteen years, Ruth Ann Hoffman has booked and promoted all of Gallagher’s dates across the country. Gallagher calls Hoffman his “personal promoter.”^{[citation needed]}

The “Gallagher Too” controversy

At some point during the early 1990s, Gallagher’s younger brother Ron Gallagher asked Gallagher for permission to perform shows using Gallagher’s old routines, and also using Gallagher’s trademark Sledge-O-Matic routine. The idea was that Ron Gallagher, who was unemployed, would tour the country working small venues that couldn’t afford a show put on by Gallagher himself. Since Ron bears a strong familial resemblance to his older brother, the show would be almost like having a real Gallagher show. For the band, see 1990s (band). ...

Gallagher granted his blessing to his younger brother on the condition that Ron and his manager would make it clear in their promotional materials that it was Ron Gallagher, not Gallagher himself, that was putting on the show.

After a few years of complying with Gallagher’s conditions, Ron began subtly blurring the line between his act and that of his brother. He would often promote his act as “Gallagher Too,” a moniker Gallagher felt was insufficiently informative. In some instances, Ron’s act was promoted in a way that provided no clue to prospective attendees that they were seeing someone other than Gallagher himself.

Gallagher initially attempted to get his brother to stop these activities by requesting that he stop using Gallagher’s well-known Sledge-O-Matic routine. These efforts proved fruitless, and Ron kept touring as “Gallagher Too” while using the Sledge-O-Matic routine his older brother had made famous. Consequently, in August 2000, Gallagher sued his brother for trademark violations and false advertising. The courts ultimately sided with Leo Gallagher, and an injunction was granted prohibiting Ron from performing any act that impersonates his brother in small clubs and venues. Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...

During the lawsuit, all of Gallagher’s immediate family sided with Ron over the controversy. As a consequence Gallagher is now estranged from his parents and siblings.^{[citation needed]}

The Oregonian interview

In January of 2005, the Oregonian’s entertainment section printed a short interview with Gallagher where he gave scathing reviews about many of the top comedic performers in America. Among the criticisms were the low quality of stand-up performances by David Letterman, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Tom Hanks, and Michael Keaton. Gallagher expressed frustration over Hanks and Keaton’s success, remarking that they were millionaires and someone with his skills and ability was reduced to renting a condo. While criticising Jay Leno and Letterman, he expressed surprise that they never invited him to appear in their shows, citing that Johnny Carson never liked him, but still booked him. October 2, 2004 edition. ... David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA) is an award-winning American comedian, late night talk show host, television producer, philanthropist, and IRL IndyCar Series car owner. ... For other persons named Robin Williams, see Robin Williams (disambiguation). ... James Eugene Carrey (born January 17, 1962) is a two-time Golden Globe Award-winning Canadian-American A-list film actor and comedian. ... Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American two-time Academy Award-winning film actor, Emmy-winning director, voice-over artist and movie producer. ... Michael John Douglas (Better known by the stage name Michael Keaton) (born September 9, 1951) is an American actor, perhaps best known for his early comedic roles in films such as Night Shift, and Beetlejuice, and for his portrayal of Batman in the two Tim Burton directed films in the... James Douglas Muir Jay Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an Emmy-winning American comedian who is best known as the current host of NBC televisions long-running variety and talk program The Tonight Show. ... For other persons named John Carson, see John Carson (disambiguation). ...

Gallagher reserved special wrath for Comedy Central’s list of the greatest 100 stand-up comedians, where he was listed as #100, just below Janeane Garofalo. Gallagher insulted the list as a whole, stating that when reading it he “was trying to find anyone I ever heard of.” He went on to claim that he had invented the concept of the one-person comedy show on cable television.[1] To counter the list, he ran his own top comedians election at his website where he was voted the #9 comedian. Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel in the United States. ... Janeane Garofalo (born September 28, 1964 in Newton, New Jersey), is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist, writer and former co-host on Air America Radios The Majority Report. ...

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items into other sections and removing inappropriate items. (June 2007)

• His childhood nickname was “Butch.”
• Lived in Lorain, Ohio, as a child.
• Biography in: Who’s Who in Comedy by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 175-176. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387.
• Former road manager for 1970s rock group Seals and Crofts (Jim Seals, Dash Crofts).
• Usually wears a bowler hat, striped shirt and suspenders in his performances.
• Gallagher was featured on the E! television channel’s E! True Hollywood Story.
• In June of 2000, Gallagher suffered a mild heart attack despite no previous history of heart problems.
• In 2000, Gallagher was honored by the University of South Florida as one of its famous alumni and by Florida Living Magazine as one of the top “100 Legends” of Florida.
• Gallagher was a candidate for governor in the 2003 California recall election. He placed 16th in a field of 135 candidates with 5,466 votes (see results of the 2003 California recall). Earlier in his career he opined that “California is like a bowl of granola; full of fruits, nuts, and flakes.”
• In 2004, Dave Chappelle parodied his Sledge-O-Matic routine by doing a “Black Gallagher” sketch on his Chappelle’s Show. The sketch featured Chappelle using a handgun as opposed to the Sledge-O-Matic.
• In the Simpsons episode “Marge vs. the Monorail,” Gallagher is mentioned as the celebrity on the maiden voyage of the North Haverbrook Monorail. The train subsequently crashed.
• In The Simpsons episode “Worst Episode Ever,” Homer remembers his first lifetime ban when he takes and starts to eat Gallagher’s watermelon, causing Gallagher to get hit in the head because the mallet bounced off the counter and back at him.
• In the episode of Family Guy “Stuck Together, Torn Apart” while the family is shopping he can be seen at CostMart, stocking up on watermelons. After he smashes one a bystander comments “Is it 1981?”, pointing out that Gallagher’s peak popularity was some time ago.
• Disney/Pixar pay tribute to Gallagher near the end of the 2001 film Monsters, Inc.. Monster George Sanderson is seen walking to his door holding a hammer and a watermelon and humming to himself.
• Gallagher named his daughter Amy as a contributing writer to his act (with her allowance paid out of his salary) for business purposes, when she was still a preschooler. Their talks as father and daughter provided endless raw material, as Gallagher tried to answer Amy’s questions about life.
• In an episode of Zoey 101, during a fundraiser, kids are smashing watermelons with baseball bats in a manner similar to Gallagher.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Seals and Crofts are Jim Seals (born James Seals, 17 October 1941, Sidney, Texas) and Dash Crofts (born Darrell Crofts, 14 August 1940, Cisco, Texas), a popular soft rock duo in the early 1970s, best-known for their hits Summer Breeze and Diamond Girl. ... E! True Hollywood Story is a TV documentary series on the E! Entertainment Television cable and DBS channel that deals with famous Hollywood celebrities, movies, TV shows and well-known public figures. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... The University of South Florida (USF), known within its system as USF Tampa[2][3][4], is a public university system located in Tampa, Florida, USA, with an autonomous campus in St. ... Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (left) and Governor Gray Davis (right) with President George W. Bush in 2003 The Governor of California is the highest executive authority in the state government, whose responsibilities include making yearly State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that... The 2003 California recall was a special election permitted under California law. ... The following are the results of the 2003 California recall election held on October 7, 2003 which unseated Gray Davis and propelled actor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the governorship. ... The following are the results of the 2003 California recall election held on October 7, 2003 which unseated Gray Davis and propelled actor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the governorship. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... David Khari Webber Chappelle (born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up comedian, satirist and actor. ... Chappelles Show is an American comedy television series starring comedian Dave Chappelle. ... Marge vs. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... Worst Episode Ever is the 11th episode of The Simpsons twelfth season, aired on February 4, 2001. ... Family Guy is an Emmy award winning American animated television series about a nuclear family in the fictional town of Quahog (IPA or ), Rhode Island. ... “Stuck Together, Torn Apart” is an episode of the American television series Family Guy, guest starring Jennifer Love Hewitt as herself. ... Disney may refer to: The Walt Disney Company and its divisions, including Walt Disney Pictures. ... Pixars studio lot in Emeryville Pixar Animation Studios is an American computer animation studio based in Emeryville, California (USA) notable for its seven Academy Awards. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Monsters, Inc. ... Zoey 101 is an American live-action situation comedy television show on Nickelodeon starring Jamie Lynn Spears. ...

Specials

• An Uncensored Evening (1980)
• Mad as Hell/Two Real (1981)
• Totally New (1982)
• Stuck in the Sixties (1983)
• The Maddest (1983)
• Melon Crazy (1984)
• Over Your Head (1984)
• The Bookkeeper (1985)
• The Messiest (1986)—contains clips from previous specials
• Overboard (1987)
• We Need a Hero (1993)
• Smashing Cheeseheads (1998)
• Messin’ Up Texas (1998)
• Sledge-O-Matic.com (2000)
• Tropic of Gallagher (2005)

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Leo Gallagher

• Gallagher’s official homepage
• Reprint of the Oregonian interview
• Gallagher interview from last year