[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN HONOR OF CHARLES SCHODOWSKI AND JOHN RINALDI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 22, 1998

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Charles ``Big 
Chuck'' Schodowski and ``Li'l'' John Rinaldi as they celebrate the 
twentieth anniversary of their television program, ``The Big Chuck and 
Li'l John Show.''
  First launched in 1978, ``The Big Chuck and Li'l John Show'' has 
served as the vehicle to Cleveland's most beloved practitioners of 
broad comedy, providing late night laughs to generation after 
generation of Clevelanders. That the show continues to thrive in a 
competitive late night television landscape dominated by syndicated 
programming attests to the popularity of Big Chuck and Little John's 
crazy antics.
  Charles Schodowski initially entered into Cleveland television as an 
engineer at WJW Channel 8 in 1960. By 1963, he was a writer and 
occasional, if nervous, actor on a popular show hosted by the legendary 
Ernie ``Ghoulardi'' Anderson. Big Chuck's problems with stage fright 
were apparently short lived, however. When Anderson left for Hollywood 
in 1966, the show's producers tabbed Big Chuck to co-host the show with 
popular Weatherman Bob Wells, who was known as ``Hoolihan the 
Weatherman.'' ``The Hoolihan and Big Chuck Show,'' which featured a 
movie interspersed with short skits performed before a live studio 
audience, enjoyed a successful run until Wells' retirement in 1977.
  Making his debut as ``Bridget the Midget,'' John Rinaldi became a 
regular contributor on ``Hoolihan and Big Chuck.'' Li'l John then 
joined Big Chuck as a co-host of ``The Big Chuck and Li'l John Show'' 
in 1978. Today, ``The Big Chuck and Li'l John Show,'' the recipient of 
numerous Local Emmy nominations, is one of the longest running shows in 
the country.
  My fellow colleagues, join me in congratulating Big Chuck and Li'l 
John for twenty wild years of ridiculous blond wigs, coconut creme 
pies, and that distinctive laugh track that is instantly recognized 
throughout the city of Cleveland. Let us all hope that those laughs 
keep on coming for twenty years more.

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