Comedian Bill Dana died at the spry age of 92.
Made famous for his small stint in the 1983 film, “The Right Stuff,” Dana was known for doing a fairly racist impression of a Mexican in skits that always began with him saying “My name… Jose… Jimenez.”
I say fairly racist because 1) the impression would never have legs today and b) Dana was embraced by the Latino community. He was honored by the National Hispanic Media Coalition and worked, largely behind the scenes, as an activist.
Dana did not think of his creation as racist. He said that Jimenez “was a perfect example of a person that wanted to be assimilated into American culture, learn the language, always looked spiffy … not a bit of the racist stereotype about the unkempt Mexican.”
In “The Right Stuff,” Dana is seen on TV doing his character, much to the delight of Alan Shepherd.
Shepherd loved doing this impression himself. Much to the behest of hospital orderly Gonzalez, who, along with his friends, thought that his Jose Jimenez imitation is A-OK.
Dana getting his first prostate exam.
But what he was doing with it is B-A-D.
Shephard got one hell of a barium enima out of the whole ordeal.
Dana did more than just appear on “The Right Stuff.” He contrived the trademark “Would You Believe?” line of jokes that Don Adams employed in standup and on “Get Smart.”
He and penned one of the funniest episodes in “All in the Family” history where Sammy Davis Jr. plants a kiss on Archie Bunker.
Dana’s greatest writing credits are for “Chico and the Man,” Donny and Marie Osmond’s variety hour and “Matlock.” That was some quality shit.
This hit goes to: Jodi & Husband! They get their very 1st hit in the ghoul pool! Congratulations! I’m sure you’ll want to hold a party to celebrate. I’ll have a free weekend in September!
Happy pooling,
SPMI
Current Standings:
Josh: 140 – (Florence Henderson – 20, Grant Tinker – 10, Gordie Tapp – 10, Terry Edwards – 60, Chuck Barris – 20)
Wes: 140 – (Holly Dunn – 50, John Glenn – 10, Debbie Reynolds – 20, David Penrose Buckson – 10, Erin Moran – 50)
Jami: 100 – (Fidel Castro – 10, Bernard Frost – 20, Zsa Zsa Gabor – 10, George Michael – 50)
Team Sushi: 70 – (Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka – 30, Roger Moore – 20, Manuel Noriega – 20)
Tailgating w/ Jesus: 70 – (Ralph Branca – 10, Craig Sager – 40, Sam Ard – 30)
Lee Kwang Soo!: – 60 (Alice Drummond – 20, Dr. Henry Heimlich – 10, Hashemi Rafsanjani – 20, Lola Albright – 10)
Morrigan’s Mirror: 60 – (William Christopher – 20, Mary Tyler Moore – 20, Moulton “Pete” Marston – 20)
Joanne: 30 – (Judge Joseph Wapner – 10, Helmut Kohl – 20)
M: 30 – (Sir John Hurt – 30)
Jodi & Husband: – 20 (Bill Dana – 20)
Gianna: 20 – (Leonard Cohen – 20)
The Mumblers: 10 – (Don Rickles – 10)
Nathaniel: 10 – (Peter Sallis – 10)
Mary: 10 – (Chuck Berry – 10)
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