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11-4-2007 4:46 AM1399 views
Rasmus says:

"Who's On First?" is descended from turn-of-the-century burlesque sketches like "The Baker Scene" (the shop is located on Watt Street) and "Who Dyed" (the owner is named Who).
By the early 1930s, a "Baseball Routine" had become a standard bit for burlesque comics across the country.
After Abbott and Costello teamed up, they adopted the routine and kept adding to it until it became the team's signature skit. (They even copyrighted it.) Below is a transcript of what is considered their finest rendition of the routine, from their 1945 film The Naughty Nineties.
In 1956, "Who's On First?" was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
In 1999 Time magazine voted it the Best Comedy Sketch of the 20th Century.
members.aol.com/ACQtrly/who.html
See also this video (Who is the Chinese president).
6 Comments   | Add a Comment
11-5-2007 12:29 PM
Rasmus
LOU: I love baseball. When we get to St. Louis, will you tell me the guys' names on the team so when I go to see them in that St. Louis ballpark I'll be able to know those fellows?

BUD: All right. But you know, strange as it may seem, they give ball players nowadays very peculiar names.

LOU: Funny names?

BUD: Nicknames, pet names. Now, on the St. Louis team we have Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third---

LOU: That's what I want to find out; I want you to tell me the names of the fellows on the St. Louis team.

BUD: I'm telling you: Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third.

LOU: You know the fellows' names?

BUD: Yes.

LOU: Well, then, w...
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11-5-2007 12:33 PM
Rasmus
BUD: Well, don't change the players around.

LOU: I'm not changing nobody!

BUD: Now, take it easy.

LOU: What's the guy's name on first base?

BUD: What's the guy's name on second base.

LOU: I'm not askin' ya who's on second.

BUD: Who's on first.

LOU: I don't know.

BUD: He's on third. We're not talking about him.

LOU: How did I get on third base?

BUD: You mentioned his name.

LOU: If I mentioned the third baseman's name, who did I say is playing third?

BUD: No, Who's playing first.

LOU: Stay offa first, will ya?!

BUD: Well, what do you want me to do?

LOU: Now what's the guy's name on third base?

BUD: What's on second.

LOU: I'm not asking ya who's on second. ...
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11-5-2007 12:38 PM
Rasmus
LOU: And the left fielder's name?

BUD: Why.

LOU: Because!

BUD: Oh, he's center field.

LOU: Wait a minute. You got a pitcher on the team?

BUD: Wouldn't this be a fine team without a pitcher.

LOU: I dunno. Tell me the pitcher's name.

BUD: Tomorrow.

LOU: You don't want to tell me today?

BUD: I'm telling you, man.

LOU: Then go ahead.

BUD: Tomorrow.

LOU: What time?

BUD: What time what?

LOU: What time tomorrow are you gonna tell me who's pitching?!

BUD: Now listen, Who is not pitching. Who is on---

LOU: I'll break your arm if you say who's on first!

BUD: Then why come up here and ask?

LOU: I want to know what's the pitcher's name?

BUD: What's on second.

L...
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11-5-2007 12:46 PM
Rasmus
BUD: Well, that's all you have to do.

LOU: Is to throw it to first base?

BUD: Yes.

LOU: Now who's got it?

BUD: Naturally.

LOU: Who has it?

BUD: Naturally.

LOU: Naturally?

BUD: Naturally.

LOU: O.K.

BUD: Now you've got it.

LOU: I pick up the ball and I throw it to Naturally.

BUD: No you don't, you throw the ball to first base.

LOU: Then who gets it?

BUD: Naturally!

LOU: O.K.

BUD: All right.

LOU: I throw the ball to Naturally.

BUD: You don't! You throw it to Who!

LOU: Naturally!

BUD: Well, that's it. Say it that way.

LOU: That's what I said!

BUD: You did not.

LOU: I said I'd throw the ball to Naturally.

BUD: You don't. You throw it to Who.
...
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11-15-2007 7:52 PM
BartendingBear
As many times as I have seen this it's STILL FREAKIN' HILARIOUS!!! Great clip.
1-7-2008 12:54 AM
Jorjor
I had a real-life "Who's On First" moment back in '78 when I picked up a friend of mine for morning classes; a song by The Who was playing on the car radio. He pointed at the radio and asked, "Who is that?"

I couldn't resist, and said, "Yes".

"It's Yes?"

"No. Who."

We went back and forth a couple more times before it sunk in.

Sometime later a couple of DJs somewhere did a routine about a concert featuring Yes, The Who and Guess Who.
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