Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy with Randy and Steve

Randy Hodgins and Steve McLellan

Details

Randy Hodgins and Steve McLellan’s lifelong love of comedy was kindled when they met more than 40 years ago in graduate school in Seattle. While managing family and professional work responsibilities, they hosted a one hour comedy radio program on Saturday mornings for 10 years on a small radio station in Olympia, WA and also co-authored two books on northwest popular culture – Seattle on Film (1995) and Wet and Wired (2000). Stuck at home during the early days of the pandemic with hundreds of comedy albums, cassettes and CD’s gathering dust on their shelves, they launched Laugh Tracks Legends of Comedy in May 2020, a weekly mini-program featuring a different comedy icon, with biographical bits and a nice slice of the comedy that made them famous. From standup stars, to stellar sketch teams, to novelty music maestros -- they are all part of our Legends.

Recent Episodes

OCT 13, 2026
Ronny Chieng
Meet Ronny Chieng, one of the brightest standup stars and comic actors to emerge from the Daily Show in recent years. Trained as a lawyer, Ronny didn't feel the legal love (poor grades will do that) so he began performing standup in Australia back the early 2000s, winning awards right from the start. Ronny's sharp wit, combined with his pithy cultural observations won him a growing fan base. A meeting with Trevor Noah at the 2013 Just for Laughs Festival led to him being hired as a correspondent when Trevor took the Daily Show helm. Ronny has continued as a correspondent and host since Jon Stewart returned, as well as building a formidable comic acting career. Standup also remains on Ronny's plate with sold out tours and Netflix specials attesting to his popularity. As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Ronny Chieng? Ronny has become a stalwart of the Daily Show, first under Trevor Noah and then continuing after Jon Stewart returned to take the helm. https://youtu.be/i9EJPcb36ws?si=9EYLMG8enQyvW8w4 Here's some early standup from Ronny at the 2013 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. https://youtu.be/5UmYwBTWoL8?si=xSJr9i6qWFizvMtW Ronny had a juicy role in the film Crazy Rich Asians playing an obnoxious banker with a "punchable face". https://www.tiktok.com/@ronn.../video/7381940360550829354... Ronny's acting chops were on full display when he played a waiter in the Hulu series Interior Chinatown. Make sure to order correctly! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC-GlAcpROi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&dlrf=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
3 MIN
OCT 6, 2026
Jo Anne Worley
Listen closely and you'll hear a voice getting louder and louder and LOUDER. Since we are talking comedy, that must be the voice of Jo Anne Worley who charmed America with a brash and bawdy persona -- and who has continued to be an audience favorite for 7 decades. Jo Anne hopped in the rocket to stardom after she moved to Los Angeles and came to the attention of producer George Schlatter who was then casting his new Laugh In show. Jo Anne was a smash with her loud singing, over the top punchlines, and crushing on attractive mail guest stars. After Laugh In she became a regular on talk, game, and variety shows, along with making nightclub appearances. Later in her career she provided the voice of the Wardrobe in Disney's Beauty and the Beast and she returned to the stage in 2008 playing Madame Morrible in the LA production of Wicked. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows. Want more Worley? When Disney wanted a familiar voice for the Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast who better than Jo Anne? https://youtu.be/l4y2IoAqWZQ?si=Fca8uDJCJqLbg-eG Love American Style (like the Love Boat) was stuffed with guest spots and this one had both Jo Anne and fellow Legend Sandy Baron! https://youtu.be/FMTE3VHO0cU?si=7D31U0xlbd4aJ8fT On Laugh In, Joanne would shamelessly flirt with the attractive male guest star of the week -- here James Garner. https://youtu.be/MQbVBfWybRI?si=ScxV72dC1mXwC5Sr OK, we said Jo Anne could be LOUD. Here's evidence! https://youtu.be/kHTvgfj5-RY?si=jXX7gVisbvt0-elV
3 MIN
SEP 22, 2026
Jay Leno
After Johnny there was Jay -- Jay Leno that is, who took over the helm of the Tonight Show when Johnny Carson retired back in 1992. No pressure there! But Jay was used to pressure having ascended from class clown, to scrapping standup working the clubs, to guest host,and finally to the big chair. Jay put his own spin on the show, eventually leaving for a prime time slot only to return in a few months (much to Conan O'Brien's consternation). Along the way there was a feud with David Letterman (humorously addressed in a classic Super Bowl ad), a spectacular interview with Hugh Grant, and a slew of awards. After leaving The Tonight Show, Jay has hosted a show on classic cars, a reboot of You Bet Your Life, and -- still a workhorse on stage -- weekly comedy gigs in the LA area. And if you live near Burbank you might just see him tooling around in one of his beautifully restored vintage cars. As always, find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Jay Leno? Here's a bit of Jay's interview with Hugh Grant shortly after Hugh MADE A BIG MISTAKE! https://youtu.be/LtItMwwoiVY?si=mlT1qdY87Mwt90Ob Jay's first Tonight Show appearance is a real time travel experience -- dig the suit! https://youtu.be/rxmXpzcl4MI?si=g4TxU02ptFE2vT-T Jay had a lot of fun on the Tonight Show with Don Rickles who would come out in full flamethrower mode -- only this time Jay got the better of it. https://youtu.be/NUAnbLPAJPE?si=ulYR3_plHmuITeld They say Tostitos, we say Doritos. We name-checked the wrong snack (oops), but this Super Bowl commercial is just as fine as ever.https://youtu.be/ls8d5Kw9qAQ?si=mE5PhTNqrDgPm1Cy
3 MIN
SEP 15, 2026
Tig Notaro
Tig Notaro will always be known for the fearless way she dealt with a tough cancer diagnosis -- by including it in her stand-up act just four days later. Of course, that was just an extreme example of Tig's deadpan but sharply pointed style which she has turned into a stellar comedy and acting career. A native of Mississippi, Tig first came to Los Angeles as a musician and music promoter, but soon discovered standup -- and standup crowds soon discovered her. In 2015, Tig co-wrote, produced, and starred in a semi-autographical Amazon Prime show (One Mississippi). And in 2019 she began a role that guarantees her a slot at any ComicCon she wants to attend -- that of Jett Reno, a deadpan but delightfully snarky engineer on Star Trek: Discover and Starfleet Academy. No doubt that will continue to take her career and "boldly go where no one has gone before." As always find extra clips below and thanks for sharing our shows! Want more Tig Notaro? Tig has also established a fine acting career including a recurring role on Star Trek: Discovery and Starfleet Academy. https://www.tiktok.com/@star.../video/7543667167225597198... Tig's breakout moment was a true exercise in comic courage as she took a devastating diagnosis and immediately worked it into her act. https://youtu.be/9Kz-lV4t-3w?si=7NNX-1YBJq_UbsQQ Tig's style was evident from the start -- as in this early appearance on Comedy Central Presents. https://youtu.be/sRjjNC85Cjo?si=FZ29uRLTaCg9AVLX Here's a longer clip of Tig discussing how she went from class clown to standup star. https://youtu.be/i17O1YK2AJA?si=3N7VMzVRq84PVm3c
3 MIN