Who’s on first? For most folks – at least those of us of a certain age – that phrase conjured up memories of one of the all-time classic comedy sketches which sprung from the comedic team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.

Many, many years ago, my son Jeremy and I went through an obsessive Abbott and Costello phase, which began with a random viewing of “Who’s on First?” I don’t know how we ran across that. I was familiar with it, of course. Jeremy, who was maybe eight years old, was convulsed by the whole thing.

This was back in the Blockbuster days, when you could go to the local store and find all sorts of random things on VHS (remember that?) I did a little digging, and found that Abbott and Costello made 36 movies. I think our first movie was Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, and we worked through several more over a period of months: In the Navy, Hold That Ghost, The Naughty Nineties come to mind. Good times and great oldies!

Those guys were huge stars in the 40’s and 50’s. That “Who’s On First” routine? They never memorized it. They just played off each other. Over the years it was tweaked and fine-tuned, and it was always fresh.

Lou was the physical comedian, a real clown, a master of slapstick. Bud was the straight man. Their first appearance I’m aware of was on The Kate Smith Hour (thank you, Wikipedia) March 24, 1938. They were off and running from then on. Check this out: Over the next 20 years, they worked in radio, TV, and movies, and at the height of their careers their income averaged $1.75 million a year, which in the 1940’s was definitely not chump change. Film distributors ranked them as the top box office draws in the country in 1942.

As is often the case, unfortunately, there was a lot of hurt that went on out of the limelight.

The duo had a weekly radio show on NBC which broadcast every Thursday. On November 4, 1943, Bud Abbott (who had been very ill with rheumatic fever and had been bedridden for six months) shared with a shocked radio audience that Lou’s infant son Butch – one year old – had drowned in the family’s swimming pool that day.

He said, “In the face of the greatest tragedy that can come to any man, Lou Costello went on tonight so that you, the radio audience, would not be disappointed. There’s is nothing more that I can say except I know you all join me in expressing our deepest sympathy to a great trooper. Good night.”

The show must go on, indeed.

Both men faced severe health issues and wrestled with personal demons. Both gambled heavily. Bud was epileptic; he would have a seizure and Lou had to carry him off the stage. Bud went on to self-medicate with alcohol. Lou had bouts of rheumatic fever, and by some accounts never completely recovered from the death of his son.

And – Universal dropped the comedy team in 1955 after they could not agree on contract terms. In the early 1950s, the IRS charged them for back taxes, forcing them to sell their homes and most of their assets, including the rights to most of their films.

Lou Costello died in 1959. Bud Abbott died of cancer in 1974. His niece asked him before his death, “How much did you make in your career?”

“Ten or twenty,” he replied.

“Ten or twenty what?”

“Million.”

By now you may be wondering, “Why this ruminating on two comedians who have long since departed?”

Two things:

• People find themselves in tough spots all the time. It happens to the rich and famous, and it happens to ordinary folks like us, too.
• It’s understanding “Who’s on first?”

Abbott and Costello were professional funny guys. It might be that humor is one of your defense mechanisms (it for sure is one of mine.) It might be that you hide your struggles behind a happy face. Your default answer to the question “how you doing?” is “fine.” Maybe you’re fine, maybe you aren’t.

Part of the whole human experience is understanding that it’s okay to struggle. It should actually be anticipated, because it’s going to happen. How we respond is very self-revealing.

I’m not advocating whining and complaining, and when someone asks “how you doing?” giving them a long, uncomfortable answer. I am advocating keeping it real, and sharing with those safe people in your life. You need those folks.

And second, it’s knowing “Who’s on first,” as in “Who is first in your life?”

Jesus, right? I pray that it’s so.

Here are my marching orders:

• Get honest with God. It’s not like He doesn’t understand what you’re facing.
• Get honest with trusted other Christians. Find at least one person you can be authentic with.
• If you’re lonely, brokenhearted, anxious, or depressed, remember  – you’ll never walk alone.
• Just be real. If you can’t be real, you won’t get help.
• Be encouraged. Hopelessness is not an option.

Be well. Comments are, as always, welcome.