In 1989 Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick produced and starred in "Wake Up, Skokie" on cable access in Skokie, Illinois. They made six half-hour
episodes. They were all completely improvised. It's hard to tell how
many people saw them. There was no set time when they were on. They
usually aired between "The Village of Skokie Weekly Meetings" and "The
Village of Skokie Pool and School Closings." We know for a fact that
there were at least two viewers... Steve and Leo. Beyond that, we
imagine an old Jewish couple watching TV and wondering why those two
young men are talking so much. We're now happy to show edited clips
from "Wake Up, Skokie" that haven't been seen in over twenty years.
Enjoy.
"Wake Up, Skokie" Opening Credit Sequence
Steve and Leo were the hosts of a
morning show for people who worked the graveyard shift. The show was supposedly shot at "The Steve
and Leo Studios" in Skokie which was located on Oakton, just west of
Crawford. The opening credit sequence, we believe, is one
of the longest intros to a TV show ever created. Just when you
think it should be over... it goes on... and on... and then it goes on a
bit more. Keep in mind this was the intro for each show... and it
runs two minutes and eight seconds. Fortunately, you only have to
watch it once.
"Wake Up, Skokie"
Mike D'Angelo
"Skokie's Leading Entrepreneur"
Meet Mike D'Angelo, Skokie's most well known business owner.
"Wake
Up, Skokie" Ray Dabachino "Ray's Place"
Ray Dabachino
is Skokie's premiere auto mechanic. Leo has a car.
"Wake Up, Skokie" Peter Rippey "Myth Disspeller"
Peter Rippey has seen it and heard it all. And he has the documentation to back it up.
"Wake Up, Skokie" Professor
Sula "Shakespearean Scholar"
Professor Sula shares his love of Shakespeare with us.
"Wake
Up, Skokie" Sam Charbonneau "Krazo"
From "Wake Up,
Skokie" meet Krazo, the world's most popular prop comic.
"Wake Up, Skokie" Dr. Doug
Hoffman "Nutrition Expert"
Dr. Hoffman knows all there is about health and nutrition and he's
more than willing to share his knowledge with Leo.
"Wake Up, Skokie" John Savitch "Sound Effects Comic"
He's probably the best know Sound Effects Comic in all of Skokie and the Tri-City Area. Now you can see... and hear why.
"Wake Up, Skokie" Don Herbet "Mr. Science"
Yes, it's the Mr. Science. Watch this clip and have some "fun with optics."
"Wake Up, Skokie" Bobby Nierman "Essay Contest Runner-up"
He's eight-years old. He's a writer. And he took second place in the "How I Spent My Winter Vacation Essay Contest."
"Wake Up, Skokie" Johnny Woreczek "Essay Contest
Winner"
Johnny Woreczek took the elementary school literary world
by storm with his winning essay. Now you can see why.
"Wake Up, Skokie" Kevin Labovsky "Skokie Entrepreneur"
This clip, more than any other, is the best representation of the relationship between Steve and Leo.
"Wake Up, Skokie" Shecky Par "Mr. Golf"
Shecky Par is the number one comic on the PGA Tour. See why golfers everywhere love him.
"Wake Up, Skokie" Inis Chang "Martial Artist"
Martial Arts
expert Inis Chang shows why he's Skokie's number one Sensei.