[ applause ]

talking with a young man by the name of bob speckett, how old are you bob? >> eighteen. >> i heard you just got out of high school did you? >> yeah. >> ok. you're not going to do this for your career are you? >> no. >> ok. uh, the reason we have this camera on over here rather than front one right now is, i understand we have reversed the polarity on this camera, so when we shoot these domino's you will see them. what? yes that's why. boy what a night. [ laughter ] >> you will see them as we see them. right? isn't that the idea? rather than, uh, >> the mirror image.. >> what? >> rather than the mirror image? >> right. hmm. are we all set to go over here? and you're going to let me start these? >> right. >> is there anything i should... >> what a moment. >> now, let's open this curtain very quietly. first. and you will see over seven thousand dominos. [ applause ] bob, do you want to walk over here? [ applause ] now we're going to stand over here, and they're going to have a boom up here. now i, oh you've got my name in there? >> right. >> i don't know whether you can

right in the middle of this entire configuration of domino's you've spelled out my name. you've got ramps here. >> right. >> you've got crossovers over there. where did you start this morning? do you start at one you do it? >> i just-- the first thing i did was your name, and then i worked out from the center out there, and then i did the beginning and then each ramp separately. >> now look at that. do you have to, do you have to etch this out with pencil or something? >> no, i just go with the flow. >> you just go as you go... >> whenever i decide to put a ramp in, or there's two ramps going down at once... >> is there anything special we should watch for out of this? >> um, you can see where the ramps are, they gradually go up then one falls off the end. >> takes off the ramp... >> and intersections, that good, like that and way over on the other end down there's a deoxyribonucleic acid, a double helix. >> dna right? >> yeah. right. >> a dna helix down there. >> it's from biology, that's my favorite thing. >> ok. do these make a specific sound? >> yeah. um at the beginning, it will be pretty loud and in between you'll probably not hear a whole lot because they're different materials and later on, they get loud again. >> now, how do i start?

>> set up. set up a couple of these or just one? >> just one. >> alright, like an inch behind? >> right. ok. >> now, as soon as we get the-- uh, we get a close up. you let me know when you're ready bob. >> i'm ready. >> we are ready. >> right. >> just tip it? >> right. >> uh, i hate to do this! [ laughter ] you spent five hours, can't we just look at it? >> it's to prove the theory of math induction. >> to prove the theory of induction. ready?

[ laughter ] >> here at the intersections, watch this! >> yeah! [ applause ] >> look at that! a triple peel off? >> a triple peel off, like... >> whoa! [ applause ] >> do i got the ramps? under the ramps! that's a flossy cutoff. [ laughter ] it's a little bit like when you put a playing card in your bicycle wheel.. >> yeah...there's your name. >> there goes...oh oh. [ laughter ] look at that.

>> i know but here comes the... >> here comes the double helix? >> yeah. >> the double helix, dna. [ applause ] that's deo-nuclea... >> yes, deoxyribonucleic acid. >> that's why they call it dna. >> right. >> that gives us reasons. what is this all in the middle over here? >> ok, you're going to have eight, eight rows going all at the same time and interweaving like, and you'll see a, here it goes right now. [ applause ] the dueling ramps they call it. >> here comes the duel ramps. get this. up one... both ways huh? >> and this one stops. >> yes!

[ music ] [ cheers ] >> you know what. somebody first came to me and said we're going to have a young man who sets up domino's on the stage and he knocks them over. and i said, "ah, no big deal". i mean if somebody comes to you and says we got to, you say what? >> yeah. >> "who cares". but that is like a work of art. that's a mobile, moving painting or something. >> yeah. >> can you imagine the patience you'd have to have to do that? >> and not one miss. >> not a single one. that young man's name is bob speckett. bob, pick up your domino's and.. [ laughter ] we'll take a short break, joanie rivers will be right with us. but first we have

[ music ] >> uh, starting tonight, and the remainder of this week we have just a little series of mini commercials, now, uh, mini commercials, and although they're televisions bread and butter, uh, you have to admit at times, you get a little tired of some of the commercials on television, they get a little repetitive, but, uh, i'm sure you've all had fantasies sometimes when you watch commercials that might irritate you just a little bit, something you'd like to see happen, so, um, last week we put together a few of them, you're going to have to watch the monitor here in the studio, so tonight to help you with your secret desire we'd like to present a typical commercial that's playing around the country, but as you'd like to see it, just once. watch the monitors please. bobby, you want to roll out our first commercial special. >> now you don't have to worry about america. america will make it. i'm anything but a doom and gloom economist. i have great faith in america... >> this is the voice of elliot painway, one of america's foremost economists, advisor to presidents. >> i'm sure there'll be

but you have to be prepared. you have to be prepared to take advantage when the turnaround comes. the best way to be prepared for the turnaround is to have six months income in your insured savings account. so take my advice-- [ laughter ] [ applause ] [ cheers ] >> whoa there! [ laughter ] >> so, so much for your insured savings account. tomorrow night at about the same time we'll have another in our series of mini, getting it out of your system... >> mini commercials >> secret fantasies. uh, our girl is with us tonight, joanie rivers, she used to be called the queen of domino's... because she was a pushover. but anyway... [ laughter ]

night at the mgm grand hotel in las vegas and she has just signed a motion picture writing contract with columbia, would you welcome miss joan rivers. [ applause ] [ music ] [ cheers ] oh, well, you know.. >> it should've only happened... >> thank you for being here. i understand you had a little yellow cold, and uh, you still were nice enough to come here tonight. and do a show when you're not feeling... >> a buck's a buck! [ laughter ] >> grab it when you can. >> so, when the curtain comes down, it's a motion picture home. >> 10 years from now say i'm feeling lousy, could i come on, they say jay who? >> do you even worry about not being content growing old, saying "oh, people are going to forget me" and then this is such a transitory business we're in that when your show is off, you're not in front of the public, you think. "oh". and you're sitting around those old movies where they're going through their scrap books

a picture in 1918..." >> always, but i know when it happens, i will take it very calmly. and i'm going to have just a >> everything goes out. >> sell the kids, the dog, everything. >> well anyway, thank you for coming. >> no but, i, i, i, a woman doctor made me, made me well. >> i can't imagine you going to a woman doctor because you don't like nurses generally... >> no, and i don't like women doctors after this because she took my thermometer, you know my temperature with a meat thermometer. so originally i didn't... as you get undressed she's going "tacky". [ laughter ] >> yeah, but it's very difficult, because i'm into liberation so much, that i think i'll, yes, one other person out there, then "hooray" and beaten up. [ laughter ] yes, but it's hard you know, because like she put me in the stirrups side saddle, and um, it's just... >> that's a no no huh? >> that's a no no. >> well i don't know much about things. >> and, uh.

used to men, i think i'd prefer to go back to a man doctor, because i would rather be looked at, when i'm naked, by an impersonal man, because then i feel so at home, and it doesn't... [ laughter ]. >> poor edgar. >> poor edgar? poor me. >> well that's true, i never thought about it. >> yoo hoo! wanna have fun? it's a good idea and he leaves the house, you know. [ laughter ] >> the, the love hasn't dropped off in your marriage? >> no, it hasn't dropped off. >> you know nothing can be like the honeymoon forever, when you're people, you don't get married, you know youngsters always think "how great to get married", "wow", we'll be together, you know, uh, well you know... >> a bunch of kissy? >> yeah, it just has to taper off a little bit. >> yeah, but how much can it taper? i mean, you know. he said to me the other day, "i said, i'm not looking so good, i need a little beauty sleep". he said, "you'd have to go into a coma". [ laughter ] >> that's cruel, now he's cruel. >> but also he's doing things like he's cutting back on my, um, expenses. he made me fly, i just played the latin casino in new jersey... >> that's right, the last time you were here you were heading there.

back "no frills" >> oh, i keep reading those ads. >> yeah, oh. >> i've never taken one, tell me. >> don't. no offense to the airlines, but you don't understand, i might, i mean, there's no intercom. >> no intercom? >> the pilot said "we're going to pass a glass, pass it back," i mean no. [ laughter ] no bathroom, it's honor system. [ laughter ] little jewish babies, close your eyes! and they pass back a styrofoam cup that says "occupado". i mean. [ laughter ] >> that's no frills! >> no. the stewardess opened the window over new jersey and screams, i mean that's not right. [ laughter ] you want to see the movie? >> what? which the... >> the movie, the in flight movie? >> you get a movie? >> that was it. >> oh they do a little shadow graph on the... >> yeah. this. two bunnies kissing. [ laughter ] >> that was the movie. >> well, they're all competing. >> and they made me, the stewardesses, um, you know

>> are you kidding? on no frills? you know what's showing up there? uh, uh uh! their knuckles are hitting the ground. [ laughter ] but the men loved them, here we go again, no one laughs but me. i said look at the stewardesses, it's going "arg arg", and it's got a bow. and then...you get it, it'll come down your aisle with a bow. and it's like a monologue... >> you know, aren't males, aren't the males now accusing women of being, um, counter, uh, segre-, because they want to you know, have male flight attendants. but the airlines don't like the idea because they found that uh... >> it's the men, the men want to be, you know...the men end up marrying them so much, you know, and a lot of them are lovely, like shirley fonda is married to henry fonda, and she is terrific, and they are friends of mine, and everything. rich little married is a lovely girl, but most of them are really banana heads. you know. [ laughter ] johnny! a friend of mine, we won't mention names, a very, very well known actor just married a stewardess. the girl is a waitress, she walked down the aisle holding

i mean, you know. [ laughter ] >> old habit. >> you go to have dinner, she buckles you in. [ laughter ] i mean, it's... and isn't she cute? meeeh. >> yeah. >> men are so shallow. >> really. you think so. >> oh yes. yes, i'm sorry. boy i'm glad i'm getting older because i'm getting wiser. oh, you got to find some reasons. >> well you always said you were kind of, you felt you were not bright when you were a child, and now your, melissa is about seven now? >> seven. >> seven. >> is she bright? >> very bright. oh thank god. >> how can you tell when a seven year old is bright? >> well, she says things like, "mommy, you look terrific". [ laughter ] i would say that's... >> good. >> she, well they took a, an intelligence test in school, she came out number one. which in the second grade... but no, um, i was scared she was going to be dumb. i was scared one...first of all, see, people, people don't tell you what you should know through life. like you said they should know about the honeymoon isn't going to continue, right? >> sure. >> now because, everyone tells

gorgeous when it's first born. a baby when it's first born is a mess, i'm sorry to tell you this. >> a little grim. >> a little grim? wet head! [ laughter ] you know, and the nurse says "it looks just like you.". i mean... you're in labor 108 days and that's your first compliment. look, it's just...i hit it with the kid, mind your own-- [ laughter ] [ applause ] >> and they're red. >> red. >> yeah, i think it's kind of a shock for new father's, not new mother's... >> yes! >> the father's, the first time they see them, the first couple hours, because it's uh... >> and hairy! melissa had a lot of hair on i mean they had to put a little sign on that said "human", they gave her the little bracelet. and then...and you feel so...and then it takes like 24, 36 hours, and they pull together, and it's an adorable child, you know. >> but nobody, nobody because when is your kid, when do you know your kid is going to be dumb? i was scared i was going to have a very dumb kid.

simple name. i was going to call her otto so she'd only have 2 letters to remember. [ laughter ] >> does it make sense? >> of course, i never thought of that. >> "o", "t" and she's home free. [ laughter ] >> if she stutters, she'd get the other 2 out. >> so...good. because a friend of mine has a kid, i mean like, dumb, i mean dumb, the kid is 9 years old... >> right... >> and needs 2 hands to brush his teeth, you know. [ laughter ] >> not bright. >> one to hold the toothbrush, the other to push the head. [ laughter ] [ applause ] oh boy. two hands eh? my heavens. would you, do you... >> melissa is, what are your children's names? did you pick the names you want? >> uh...we changed a couple of the boys names after they were born strangely enough, because for some reason in california it used to be a rule that you could not take the baby home unless you had named the child. i don't know whether that still

and uh, yeah, you say, we said "we're not sure...". i have christopher, ricky and cory...richard and cory. but we had 2 of them with different names, but we changed them, but we had to go to court, you know, before they were old enough to really know their names, like in a year, to get them legally changed, because they said "you must give the child a name..." but i, who knows? why? >> you don't, you don't know. uh, a friend of mine wanted to name a child a biblical name, so, uh, she named it serfdom, i mean, you know, because you crave these things.. [ laughter ] >> that's a little too biblical...yes. [ laughter ] >> a catholic friend wanted to give it a religious name, she called it thinga, i mean you just don't know. >> but you'd already decided on... >> melissa... >> beforehand. >> boy or girl, i think, either way... >> melissa was the...oh come on, you wouldn't saddle a child, a boy with melissa would you? >> no, she would have been michael. >> michael... >> see my sister, we had one. either you name pretty, or you should name after the richest relative. [ laughter ] i think it's "oh, don't fool around!" you know, if you have a rich relative and a poor relative, why give the poor kid the poor,

we had one rich relative, aunt alice, and my sister, which still burns me up, grabbed the name first, you know. named the kid aunt alice. [ laughter ] [ applause ] >> think that kid's rich? >> taking no chances, i'll tell you... >> he has, right now... [ laughter ] [ applause ] >> but, um... >> give him a set of blocks for christmas, between 53rd and 58th. uh, but anyway, she is bright. do you work with her at home outside of school? most parents you know, don't really sit and spend too much time with their children, they want the school to do it all. >> oh no, i am, i do the homework every night with her, i really-- i enjoy her so much. >> i can't understand the homework now. we have timmy at home you know, he's 13, and he's doing this math, and i haven't the slightest idea what it's all about. the new math, which is so, there's no way... >> that...melissa is only 7, so i still know about

>> oh yeah, are they still-- >> they changed what they're doing together, but uh, basically... [ laughter ] >> really? >> if you see dick and jane, close the door. you know. [ laughter ] >> i see the rabbit died. [ laughter ] i suppose it's that same book, i don't know. or is that the epilogue. >> see spot takes a picture. [ laughter ] >> ok, we'll be back to this educational channel

this brief interruption. [ music ] >> we are back. [ laughter ] i got caught didn't i? >> you're a laugh. >> i try to keep my cigarettes over here, so they don't, so they don't bother people. >> you know, what were we talking about? >> we were talking about kids growing up. mine are all grown up now but i think back and remember those moments. >> it's funny because it's like it's bicentennial year now, you know? and she's just old enough to understand, and i'm a history buff... >> yeah. >> which you don't know, but i am. 17th and 18th century i'm crazy for. >> i didn't know that.

involved in this whole thing, you know. and we're going around the country and touring some with john davidson, whether it's the liberty bell, we get to see all this stuff. >> stuff you read about in books, now you're taking her to see it. >> now i'm taking her to see it and mrs. ford was out here... >> that's right she was just here for... >> yes! >> wasn't that her birthday, or uh... >> she was picked woman of... >> woman of the year. >> woman of the year, yeah. i like her very much, i really do, i think she should-- >> she seems like a lovely. >> him, it took me a while to warm up to. i tried very hard, but you know... he's not colorful. you know, he's, oh, everyone gets so tight, i'm doing a life size painting of him. i'm going to send to him on velvet, i bought it at thrifty drugs. and i'm...fall it's by number. [ laughter ] >> oh really? >> his face is eleven , very intricate, his whole face. [ laughter ] now all elevens... >> eleven is gray... and, uh...but now that he saved the ship, i'm glad. >> yeah, it did work out pretty good. she said something very interesting that was on the news last night that she was at um,

here and she uh, on the news, she had a lady we'd had on the show before years ago. remember pearl williams? that we had on the show? she was 106 the other day. 106 years old...yeah. [ applause ] she was on the show. yes, she was on the show a couple years ago. she certainly was. not tonight fred, i didn't say tonight. >> that's uh, i like betty ford because you know what, she's snappy, and yet you now basically she's a homemaker. >> right. >> and she doesn't make any pretense to be anything else. >> are you any better with your homemaking? >> are you kidding? that's why i like betty ford, have her picture up in the kitchen. [ laughter ] >> i blow the dirt off it. whoosh. she's a homemaker, you want to see a homemaker? [ laughter ] >> what i served tonight for dinner, for a vegetable i served ketchup. i don't fool around. >> that's a-- [ laughter ] your skills have not... >> not gotten better. spring cleaning, i get that refrigerator, i take out the bulb, whatever glew and glowed, i threw it out. [ laughter ] >> i'm not going to kill myself. >> how's melissa going to learn? >> what? she doesn't have to, we're liberated now, she can go out

>> you're right. >> it's a whole other thing. see? >> or the husband ... >> or let her husband do it. and besides, if you're smart, you don't have to do anything. heidi abromowitz, the school of tramp.,. >> that's the school, of, tramp, i guess tramp, tramp. i was going to say...fast. >> tramp johnny. call it like it is. >> fast. that's what we called it when i was in high school, "she's fast". >> when i was in high school, you just, you know, you did a lot of that, and your mother would say "huh, don't have her to the house,". you know. >> how is heidi? >> well, now? >> yeah. >> good, uh, i don't know, uh, here we go. [ laughter ] >> you probably know better than me because you're a man. >> i haven't seen her, i don't know. >> if any man in this audience sees heidi, she's... ok, but um... [ laughter ] >> she married very well. >> yeah. >> doesn't that get you crazy? i mean the girl, it's after hours, the girl slept around. i mean, i did a "why do you sleep with anybody?" she said "practice makes perfect!" [ laughter ] i mean the girl just didn't stop. >> good old heidi. >> married a rich guy, has foreign help, and you know it's...and i understand that uh, the wedding night, he said "would you take off your brassiere?"

i mean, you know-- [ laughter ] >> and getting it, just very lucky. and her mother in law loved her. >> yeah. >> it's not fair sometimes. >> how are your in laws? >> well my mother in law, i don't think she's crazy about me. >> really? i mean why? >> she never said anything, but you know, my mother wore a cheerleading dress to the wedding. but my mother in law wouldn't even buy a dress, that shows you. showed up in a half slip and a brassiere. i mean, just...after the ceremony, went outside in front of the temple and made the rabbi put her hands on the pillars and then pushed it down. [ laughter ] sounds like a sore loser, yeah. >> that's a sore loser. [ laughter ] >> no boy's mother liked me. i used to go out with a dentist. >> before you met edgar? >> before i met edgar. ugh. >> was it that close or what? >> yeah but i knew it could, um...did you ever eat dinner with a dentist? >> mm, no. >> i mean it's... there's no romance. you hear what i'm telling you? he would take the napkin and

[ laughter ] >> once we were eating little