Floyd Vivino
Encyclopedia
Floyd Vivino aka "Uncle Floyd" (born October 19, 1951) is a television, film, and stage performer primarily known for his comedy/variety TV show The Uncle Floyd Show (1974–1998).
. It can be read as a children's show, or a parody of a children's show. Much of the humor has a twist aimed at adults in the style of Soupy Sales
and Pee Wee Herman. The show featured slapstick
comedy, puppetry, some audience participation, and piano music. Floyd's puppet sidekick (actually a ventriloquial figure) was named Oogie. His on-air interaction with off camera staff and sidekicks is somewhat in the vein of what Howard Stern
and Chelsea Handler
would later do. Local New York bands including Ramones
, Bon Jovi
, Peter Tork
and Madonna
also appeared on Floyd's program.
The show first aired on United Artists Columbia Cable of New Jersey on January 29, 1974 then starting in November 1974 on UHF-TV station WBTB-TV, Newark
(broadcasting on channels 68 and 60), later becoming WTVG, then WWHT, as ownership changed hands.
The first cast members were Pat Cupo and Bob D. Caterino. Later members were Scott Gordon , Craig "Mugsy" Calam, "Netto", Jim Monaco, "Looney" Skip Rooney, Charlie Stoddard and Artie Delmar. There was one album from the show, the titular The Uncle Floyd Show Album, released on Mercury Records
, that is much sought-after by collectors, along with several singles self-released by Floyd on his Bioya label (he wanted to call his label "Vivitone", but that name was already being used) around 1980-1983. (Rumors abound that "Bioya" was an acronym for "Blow It Out Your Ass".) Floyd Vivino has also put out numerous CDs of his live performances.
In 1980, The Uncle Floyd Show, as seen on local channel 68 in North Jersey, went into a small syndication circuit which included 17 markets, among them WNBC-TV channel 4 in New York, then WTAF-TV
channel 29 in Philadelphia, WFLD-TV Channel 32 in Chicago
and WSBK-TV
Channel 38 in Boston. It aired right after SCTV
on WNBC. The national syndication deal was seen as a huge step forward for the show, which up until that point could only be viewed (sometimes quite fuzzily) using "rabbit ears" in and around New Jersey on a single UHF channel. The cast and fans alike were very excited about the possibility of "Uncle Floyd" becoming a national phenomenon.
including Law & Order
, 100 Centre Street
, and Cosby
and was a regular on the Sirius Satellite Radio
program The Wiseguys Show on Raw Dog Comedy (channel 104) hosted by former Sopranos
cast member Vincent Pastore
. He has also had bit parts in the movies Good Morning, Vietnam
, Crazy People
and Mr. Wonderful
. He also appeared briefly in One-Trick Pony in a deleted scene.
Since 1987, Vivino has been broadcasting on WVIP-FM
93.5 radio from New Rochelle, New York
, where he plays a wide range of Italian music. He claims to have the largest collection of Italian records in the world.
In the 90's Floyd had a show called "The Silk Dolls and Uncle Floyd" Featured appearance by actress "Cice Rivera" and several other Silk Dolls for approximately 20 episodes.
In 1999, he was placed in the Guinness Book of World Records
for non-stop piano playing, having played for 24 hours and 15 minutes.
, a big fan of the show, recorded the song "Slip Away
" on his 2002 album, Heathen, as a tribute. The lyrics mention Uncle Floyd and his puppets "Oogie" and "Bones Boy". When asked how Bowie learned of The Uncle Floyd Show he replied, "John Lennon
told me about it."
The song "Work for Food" by Dramarama
, on the album Hi-Fi Sci-Fi from 1994, features the Uncle Floyd Show in the lyrics. Footage of Uncle Floyd as Cowboy Charlie also appears in the video for the song. The members of Dramarama were from Wayne, New Jersey
and made their first television appearance on The Uncle Floyd Show.
The Ramones
also recognized The Uncle Floyd Show in their song "It's Not My Place (In the Nine to Five World)", as well as in various live appearances. Ramones
guitarist Johnny Ramone
could often be seen wearing an Uncle Floyd Show t-shirt in pictures of the band.
The Uncle Floyd Show
The Uncle Floyd Show aired in the New Jersey and New York market from 1974 to 1998, for a time airing on the state wide PBS network, New Jersey NetworkNew Jersey Network
The New Jersey Network, or NJN, was a network of public television and radio stations serving the U.S. state of New Jersey. NJN was a member of the Public Broadcasting Service for television and the National Public Radio for radio, broadcasting their programming as well as producing and...
. It can be read as a children's show, or a parody of a children's show. Much of the humor has a twist aimed at adults in the style of Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales was an American comedian, actor, radio-TV personality and host, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television show, Lunch with Soupy Sales; a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his...
and Pee Wee Herman. The show featured slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
comedy, puppetry, some audience participation, and piano music. Floyd's puppet sidekick (actually a ventriloquial figure) was named Oogie. His on-air interaction with off camera staff and sidekicks is somewhat in the vein of what Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
and Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Joy Handler is an American stand-up comedian, humorist, television host, actress, model and best-selling author. She currently hosts a late-night talk show titled, Chelsea Lately on the E! Cable Television Network. In 2009 she won a Bravo A-List Award...
would later do. Local New York bands including Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
, Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
, Peter Tork
Peter Tork
Peter Tork is an American musician and actor, best known as a member of The Monkees.-Early life:Tork was born Peter Halsten Thorkelson in Washington, D.C.. Although he was born in 1942, many news articles report him as born in 1944 in New York City as this was the date and place given on early...
and Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
also appeared on Floyd's program.
The show first aired on United Artists Columbia Cable of New Jersey on January 29, 1974 then starting in November 1974 on UHF-TV station WBTB-TV, Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
(broadcasting on channels 68 and 60), later becoming WTVG, then WWHT, as ownership changed hands.
The first cast members were Pat Cupo and Bob D. Caterino. Later members were Scott Gordon , Craig "Mugsy" Calam, "Netto", Jim Monaco, "Looney" Skip Rooney, Charlie Stoddard and Artie Delmar. There was one album from the show, the titular The Uncle Floyd Show Album, released on Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, that is much sought-after by collectors, along with several singles self-released by Floyd on his Bioya label (he wanted to call his label "Vivitone", but that name was already being used) around 1980-1983. (Rumors abound that "Bioya" was an acronym for "Blow It Out Your Ass".) Floyd Vivino has also put out numerous CDs of his live performances.
In 1980, The Uncle Floyd Show, as seen on local channel 68 in North Jersey, went into a small syndication circuit which included 17 markets, among them WNBC-TV channel 4 in New York, then WTAF-TV
WTXF-TV
WTXF-TV, virtual channel 29 , is an owned-and-operated station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
channel 29 in Philadelphia, WFLD-TV Channel 32 in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and WSBK-TV
WSBK-TV
WSBK-TV is a MyNetworkTV television station for eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire that is licensed to Boston. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter along the Needham and Wellesley town line southwest of the MA 9 and I-95 / MA 128...
Channel 38 in Boston. It aired right after SCTV
Second City Television
Second City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.- Premise :...
on WNBC. The national syndication deal was seen as a huge step forward for the show, which up until that point could only be viewed (sometimes quite fuzzily) using "rabbit ears" in and around New Jersey on a single UHF channel. The cast and fans alike were very excited about the possibility of "Uncle Floyd" becoming a national phenomenon.
Other works
Vivino has appeared on several television shows filmed in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
including Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
, 100 Centre Street
100 Centre Street
100 Centre Street is an American legal drama created by Sidney Lumet and starring Alan Arkin.-Premise:The show takes its name for the street address of the criminal division of the New York Supreme Court for New York County. The show aired in the United States on the A&E Network cable television...
, and Cosby
Cosby
Cosby is a situation comedy television series broadcast on CBS from September 16, 1996 to April 28, 2000, loosely based on the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave. The program starred Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashād...
and was a regular on the Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
program The Wiseguys Show on Raw Dog Comedy (channel 104) hosted by former Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
cast member Vincent Pastore
Vincent Pastore
Vincent Pastore is an Italian-American actor, often cast as a mobster and best known for the role of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos.-Early life:...
. He has also had bit parts in the movies Good Morning, Vietnam
Good Morning, Vietnam
Good Morning, Vietnam is a 1987 American comedy-drama film set in Saigon during the Vietnam War, based on the career of Adrian Cronauer, a disc jockey on Armed Forces Radio Service , who proves hugely popular with the troops serving in South Vietnam, but infuriates his superiors with what they call...
, Crazy People
Crazy People
Crazy People is a 1990 comedy film starring Dudley Moore and Daryl Hannah, and directed by Tony Bill.-Plot:Emory Leeson is an advertising executive who experiences a nervous breakdown. He designs a series of "truthful" advertisements, blunt and bawdy and of no use to his boss Drucker's firm.One of...
and Mr. Wonderful
Mr. Wonderful (film)
Mr. Wonderful is a 1993 romantic comedy film directed by Academy Award winning director Anthony Minghella.The film stars Matt Dillon, Annabella Sciorra, and features one of the few appearances of Vincent D'Onofrio as a romantic character.-Plot:...
. He also appeared briefly in One-Trick Pony in a deleted scene.
Since 1987, Vivino has been broadcasting on WVIP-FM
WVIP
WVIP is a radio station broadcasting a World Ethnic format. Licensed to New Rochelle, New York, USA, it serves the New York metropolitan area. Formerly known as WRTN-93.5 and renamed WVIP, the station is currently owned by Hudson-Westchester Radio, Inc. and features programing from Jones Radio...
93.5 radio from New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
, where he plays a wide range of Italian music. He claims to have the largest collection of Italian records in the world.
In the 90's Floyd had a show called "The Silk Dolls and Uncle Floyd" Featured appearance by actress "Cice Rivera" and several other Silk Dolls for approximately 20 episodes.
In 1999, he was placed in the Guinness Book of World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for non-stop piano playing, having played for 24 hours and 15 minutes.
Tributes
David BowieDavid Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, a big fan of the show, recorded the song "Slip Away
Slip Away
"Slip Away" is a song written by David Bowie for the album Heathen in 2002. This is a tribute to Uncle Floyd and it was originally intended with that name for the unreleased album Toy in 2001.-Live versions:...
" on his 2002 album, Heathen, as a tribute. The lyrics mention Uncle Floyd and his puppets "Oogie" and "Bones Boy". When asked how Bowie learned of The Uncle Floyd Show he replied, "John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
told me about it."
The song "Work for Food" by Dramarama
Dramarama (band)
Dramarama is a Los Angeles, California-based alternative rock/power pop band. The band was formed in New Jersey in 1982 and disbanded in 1994...
, on the album Hi-Fi Sci-Fi from 1994, features the Uncle Floyd Show in the lyrics. Footage of Uncle Floyd as Cowboy Charlie also appears in the video for the song. The members of Dramarama were from Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069....
and made their first television appearance on The Uncle Floyd Show.
The Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
also recognized The Uncle Floyd Show in their song "It's Not My Place (In the Nine to Five World)", as well as in various live appearances. Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
guitarist Johnny Ramone
Johnny Ramone
John William Cummings , better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being the guitarist for the punk rock band the Ramones. He was a founding member of the band, and remained a member throughout the band's entire career...
could often be seen wearing an Uncle Floyd Show t-shirt in pictures of the band.