Hopelessly tired and unamusing veteran Borscht Belt stand-up comedian Manny Schmeckstein succumbs to a heart attack while performing his lousy act on stage. Manny goes straight to hell for a lifetime of telling bad jokes. However, the Devil gives Schmeckstein a shot at redemption: If Manny can get a single laugh from one of his jokes, then he can go to Heaven. Writer/director Jim Goodman makes excellent use of fluid and impressive claymation in this short (Manny's flop sweat during his disastrous last act is especially nifty). Moreover, Goodman adds a few neat touches: Satan is none other than Ed Sullivan, two of Manny's audiences in Hades are made up of Klu Klux Klan members and Nazis (Schmeckstein gets hung by the former and shot by the latter), and there's a deli down below that doesn't serve bagels or rye bread. In addition, there's some great witty dialogue (when Manny moans "I'm dying up here" as he has a heart attack, a heckler retorts, "Tell us something we don't know!"). Dick Rodstein does a fine job supplying the voices for all the characters. Izzie Potage's cornball score likewise hits the spot. A total hoot.
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