The Toucher, Jimmy, and Leslie Show reminds me of Old Time Radio, specifically the Jack Benny Show in the 1940s to 1950s. You might ask, how could this be? There are numerous parallels I’ll bet even Toucher isn’t aware of. (Although Jimmy was undoubtedly present for the show.)
TJ&L is a live, unscripted comedy radio show. It is not completely improvised though—much of it is planned out beforehand. Jack Benny was scripted and performed live before a studio audience and broadcast coast-to-coast on network radio. Many shows involved the characters simply interacting with each other on stage, telling jokes and stories, and getting into the details of their character lives. Oftentimes they performed skits and other staged “bits” just like TJ&L.
A mainstay of any radio morning show is discussion, parody, and satire of current local and national events. The Jack Benny Show was highly topical, always poking fun at current celebrities and employing a high degree of social satire in funny and entertaining ways, just like TJ&L.
Current music is a part of TJ&L; there are three or four song breaks an hour with commercials. Jack Benny had two live musical performances and live commercials. Fred Toucher himself frequently does live spots for Brite Smile and Cingular.
The characters are closely similar:
- Both Fred Toucher and Jimmy make up the character of Jack Benny. Like Jack, Fred is the “star” of the show, and can also be the butt of the others’ jokes. Jack always claimed to be 39. Jimmy is much older than the average listener thinks. Plus, Jimmy is Jewish, just like Jack.
- Wally, as show director, can be compared to announcer Don Wilson. Don Wilson announces the show, and Wally produces all the intros and other elements for the show. Don is continually the butt of Jack’s jokes, just like Wally is always poked at by Fred.
- Crash Clark was similar in personality and style to bandleader Phil Harris. Both were hard-drinking, party animals and self-absorbed ladies’ men.
- Leslie Fram is 99X’s equivalent of Mary Livingstone. Both Leslie and Mary are on their respective shows to offer a female perspective to a male dominated environment. Both have equal
- Fat Kid reminds me of the naïve Dennis Day, who was a frequent thorn in Jack’s side, much like FK is to Toucher. Dennis Day, an Irish tenor, sang a song every episode. FK sings sometimes and is Irish too, I think.
- Although Rochester doesn’t have a TJ&L equivalent (Donshay does not count), Fred once did an impersonation of a “1940s radio announcer” with a vocal impression that sounded dead-on to Rochester.
