Tim Reid and Tom Dressen perform a routine about race relations in the '70s

Reid, who turns 70 today, is best known as Venus Flytrap on "WKRP in Cincinnati," but before breaking into sitcoms, he was half of "Tim and Tom," one of the (if not the) first interracial comedy duo with fellow stand-up Tom Dressen -- a partnership that started when both met at a Junior Chamber of Commerce meeting in Chicago.  Here's one of their '70s-era routines, presenting potentially touchy race issues with an ease and a sense of humor few have managed since.

Dick Shawn performs his routine on "The Judy Garland Show"

Comedian Dick Shawn may be best known today for his roles in THE PRODUCERS and ANGEL, but the talented performer never really found a good share of film parts to suit his abilities.  In this clip from a 1963 episode of "The Judy Garland Show," you can see his diverse, frenetic array of impressions and screwball comedy.  Shawn's energetic nature and random sense of humor (very similar to the style of Robin Williams two decades later) are pretty amazing to watch.  He would have turned 91 today, had he not made the ultimate comedian sacrifice by actually dying on stage in 1987.