Amos 'n' Andy (was: PC and Dialects in fiction)

[Dennis R. Preston]

Yes, Redd Foxx was a good deal more risque that that mild detergent
joke would suggest (in personal appearance as well as his very famous
"party" records, the best of which was, as I recall, "You got to wash
your ass"). I also suspect that the Fuggit joke is older that Foxx
(or not original with him). The form in which I have it from
childhood (Louisville, late 1940's) was a little chant: "Try the new
laundry detergent Fugg. If Rinso won't rinse it, and Duz won't do it,
then Fuiggit."

dInIs



>  >  Even Redd Foxx was considered to be risque, solely
>>  because he did a bit involving two brands of household
>>  detergent, "Fuggit" and "Suggit," with the punch line, "If
>>  you can't Fuggit, then Suggit!"
>
>Having heard some of Redd's old "party records", I can say
>with some confidence that this is not the sole reason to
>consider Redd Foxx "risque".


--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor of Linguistics
Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic, Asian, and African Languages
A-740 Wells Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 432-3099
Fax: (517) 432-2736
preston at msu.edu