Written and performed by actor/comedian and acclaimed celebrity impersonator, Michael Airington, and featuring voiceovers from Master of The Hollywood Squares himself, Peter Marshall, the legendary comedian is brought back to life in a one-man show based on his 1976 live theater production The Paul Lynde Show.
Using Lynde’s own words, performance pieces, and comedic monologues, Airington brings to life the actor’s comic genius, taking the audience on a fun and laugh-filled trip through the highs and lows of Lynde's turbulent life. From his childhood as an overweight kid to his big-screen debut in New Faces of 1952, through his Broadway turn in Bye Bye Birdie to his 13 legendary years as the center square on The Hollywood Squares, Airington makes the man all the more unforgettable to a whole new generation of audiences and fans alike.
Airington has performed in character as Lynde since 2004, with sold-out and critically-acclaimed one-man shows in Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, Puerto Vallarta, and most recently, headlining the show at Ballys on the Las Vegas Strip. Throughout the years, many of Lynde’s friends have helped Airington perfect the character, including Peter Marshall, Cloris Leachman, Kaye Ballard, Karen Valentine, Jan Forbes, and Andy Williams. Additionally, the show is produced with the full approval and cooperation of the estate of Paul Lynde.
The Paul Lynde Show will bring existing fans back to the glamour and style of a bygone era where he was on their TV sets every night, but also resonate with new fans.
The inimitable “master of the slow burn,” Lynde is best remembered as one of America’s most honored comedians, and was one of the most sought-after popular stars on network TV during the ‘60s and ‘70s. His witty, wisecracking one-liners and novel line delivery made him one of Hollywood's funniest and best loved entertainers. He starred in such hit television series as The Perry Como Show and as Uncle Arthur in Bewitched, and such movies as Son of Flubber, Send Me No Flowers, and as the voice of Templeton, the rat, in the beloved Charlotte’s Web.
"Very few people have the ability to command an audience for 90 minutes, alone on stage. A very funny man. I stayed the whole show."
Neil Simon
Cloris Leachman
"Michael Airington is brilliant! He made my buddy come back; I couldn’t stop laughing"
Todd David Schartz, CBS Radio
"FOUR STARS. Screamingly funny!
Spit-out-your-drink uproarious"
"An evening for EVERYONE who ever loved the sardonic humor of PAUL LYNDE"
Peter Marshall, the master and original host of the Hollywood Squares