NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL 2026 REVIEW! There is an artistry to finding quality talent in the entertainment industry. George Schlatter, the famous producer behind Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, embodied that for mid-century Hollywood. Filmmaker Chris Coronado presents a documentary and tribute piece, Sock It to Me: The Legend of George Schlatter. The documentary takes a fast and loose approach to Schlatter’s life and career. It leans into a picaresque tone that straddles between exaggeration and truth.
Schlatter came from humble beginnings. He survived polio and got involved in theatre at a young age. He performed with theatre companies based in St. Louis. Schlatter hustled his way into show business by working in the mailroom at MCA, where he later proved himself by booking Nat King Cole at the famous nightclub, Ciro’s. Before you know it, he was representing Sammy Davis Jr. and getting him booked in Las Vegas. His tenure in television kicked off when he worked on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show. This is where he transitioned from agent to producer, and his ingenuity led to the development of a variety special starring Jonathan Winters and Art Carney. The special was designed as a fill-in for when Dinah Shore’s program was on break. His special featuring Winters and Carney was a success due to its improvisational timing. The secret to Schlatter’s success was his relatability and knack for humoring complicated personalities. He helped make Judy Garland personable on her short-lived program, The Judy Garland Show, by using a trunk filled with personal belongings. The documentary’s second half focuses heavily on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and its influence on American comedy. Some of the show’s key players are spotlighted, like Goldie Hawn’s magnetic energy and Lily Tomlin’s memorable role as Ernestine the Telephone Operator. Jimmy Kimmel notes the show’s hyperactive style predates the overstimulated comedy that is widely seen on the internet. Tom Hanks speaks with sincerity about how the Joke Wall became an often-imitated format. Beyond Laugh-In, Schlatter discovered new talent and created original programming. He put Robin Williams on the map! The final portion delves into Schlatter’s creation of the American Comedy Awards, a long-overdue ceremony to celebrate the finest comedians.
“Schlatter hustled his way into show business by working in the mailroom at MCA, where he later proved himself by booking Nat King Cole at the famous nightclub, Ciro’s.”
Chris Coronado’s documentary is well-made. Greg Meyer’s cinematography is clean, and there are occasional sprinkles of side angles to spice up the interviews. The smooth editing by Alessio Schiazza and Adrian Taylor weaves audiences in and out of Schlatter’s humorous anecdotes. The film comes to life in animated flashbacks. These flashbacks embody the limited animation aesthetic of Ed Benedict, the animator behind the Bewitched title sequence. Leaning into this popular animation style of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s was a smart choice. One of these animated scenes even brought a huge laugh from the crowd. It occurred when Schlatter was retelling a funny incident where Ronald Reagan was booked as a performer in Las Vegas and had to deal with a team of rambunctious chimpanzees.
The interview moments are a mix of nostalgic memories and occasional reflections on American history during the countercultural movement of the 1960s and 70s. Coronado’s blending of the two tones gives the film a vanilla feel. At times, it felt like I was watching a behind-the-scenes featurette from a DVD release. Don’t get me wrong; this documentary approach can help in relaying layers of film history for a mainstream crowd, but here it just felt uneven.
Sock It to Me: The Legend of George Schlatter is recommended for those who are wistful for comedic entertainment from the 60s and 70s.
Sock It to Me: The Legend of George Schlatter screened at the 2026 Newport Beach Film Festival.
"…Some of the show’s key players are spotlighted, like Goldie Hawn’s magnetic energy..."
