Picture this: Joey Bishop, a sharp-witted comedian, is on stage at the iconic Copacabana in New York when Marilyn Monroe walks in, draped in a stunning white ermine coat. Without missing a beat, Joey quips, "I told you to sit in the truck," and the audience bursts into laughter. That's Joey for you—quick on his feet and always ready with a joke.
Back in the 1960s, Joey Bishop was the guy every young comedian aspired to be. He was the epitome of success, the ultimate entertainer. But as they say, what goes up must come down. Joey's career reached dizzying heights, only to take a nosedive later in life. By the time he was in his 50s, Joey found himself back where he started—playing nightclubs. But hey, that's showbiz for you.
Joey's Big Break
Joey Bishop wasn't always the big shot he became. The Bronx-born performer got his big break when Frank Sinatra, the king of cool himself, invited Joey to open for him in the early 1950s. According to William J. Birnes, co-author of Deconstructing the Rat Pack: Joey, the Mob and the Summit, Joey was a "scowling comedian who bellyached about things in a funny way." In other words, he was a natural-born entertainer who knew how to make people laugh.
Read also:Heidi Klum Shines Bright In Breathtaking Bikini Videos Postagt
The Rat Pack Era
Fast forward to 1960, and Joey was part of something truly legendary. He joined Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Peter Lawford in Las Vegas for an event that would go down in history as the Summit. During the day, they worked on the movie Ocean’s 11, and at night, they put on two electrifying shows at the Sands casino. The act was a smash hit, turning Las Vegas into the entertainment capital of the country and giving the group their unforgettable nickname: the Rat Pack.
After two decades of honing his craft as a stand-up comedian, the Vegas gig brought Joey new opportunities. His sitcom The Joey Bishop Show debuted in 1961, and he became a frequent guest host on The Tonight Show. But success can sometimes go to a person's head. According to Richard A. Lertzman, another author of Deconstructing the Rat Pack, Joey "developed a swelled head" and started thinking he was untouchable.
The Fallout
When Frank Sinatra asked Joey to fill in for him at the Cal-Neva Lodge, a resort Frank partly owned, Joey made a fatal mistake. He started throwing demands around, asking for $50,000 and a private jet. Not exactly the move of a grateful protégé. Frank, who felt personally responsible for Joey's rise, was not amused. He hung up on Joey and promptly cut him out of the Rat Pack. Ouch.
Joey's role in the 1964 film Robin and the 7 Hoods went to another actor, and he was replaced as the host of a charity performance in St. Louis, with Johnny Carson stepping in instead. But Joey wasn't about to give up without a fight.
In 1967, Joey's dream came true when he landed his own 90-minute late-night talk show. Even though other members of the Rat Pack appeared on The Joey Bishop Show during its three-year run, Frank Sinatra was notably absent. Unable to compete with The Tonight Show, Joey's show was canceled in 1969, leaving him crushed.
Though Joey outlived the other members of the Rat Pack, he always felt he didn't get the respect he deserved. As he once complained, "One guy wrote that I worked with the Rat Pack occasionally. Occasionally! I know I sound bitter, but I have a right to." And who could blame him?
Read also:Phil Collins And Lily Collins A Closer Bond Amid Lifersquos Challenges
