Rodney Dangerfield  8/7/1984
Universal Amphitheatre, Section 29, Row A, Seat 1, 2

In retrospect, it's amazing how popular Rodney Dangerfield eventually became. For a span of about 15 years, he was the reigning king of comedy. He starred in hit motion pictures (Caddyshack, Easy Money, Back to School), he had hit records and albums (his "Rappin' Rodney" single was the novelty smash of 1983), and was a fixture on both broadcast TV and the cable channel HBO. Throughout this highly productive time, Dangerfield focused attention on his outside business efforts, including nightclubs in New York and Las Vegas, as well as helping out then unknown comedians. Responsible from bringing such talents as Sam Kinison, Andrew "Dice" Clay, Jerry Seinfeld, and Roseanne Barr to the forefront of international celebrity, he was both a fixture on the scene and a mentor to others.
But make no mistake about it—in the pantheon of funnymen, Rodney was, and still is, without equal. In an era of observational and ironic humor, he used a single set persona (black suit; red tie; "no respect") and a plethora of well-honed jokes to rule the rib-tickling roost. He was the last of the traditional gag tellers, standing bug-eyed before an audience, mixing pathos with pain to create a truly captivating and hilarious caricature. When he was on, he was magnificent. When he was off, he was still sensational.