Babbling Brooks

Once upon a time Albert Brooks did stand-up -- admittedly bizarre, unique stand-up, but stand-up, nonetheless.  In some ways, it pre-dated Andy Kaufman in taking the concept of screwing around with the audience and making them unsure if something was actually supposed to be funny.  Kaufman took it in a completely different direction, sometimes doing things that weren't funny and making that the joke, while Brooks would create embarrassing characters trying to be funny, but simply weren't.  Basically making fun of cliches of entertainment.  And the joke was at his desperate ego's expense.  Or some combination thereabout. 

I would say that this is one of his looniest, but that covers a lot of group.  But I've always liked this one.  And admire a guy who's willing to look so foolish.  It comes from the Flip Wilson Show.