Profile of Floyd Vivino on Famous Like Me

Floyd "Uncle Floyd" Vivino (b. October 16, 1951) is a television, film, and stage performer primarily known for his influential variety TV show "The Uncle Floyd Show." The show has been on the air in the local New Jersey and New York area off and on since 1974, for a time airing on the state wide PBS network, New Jersey Network. It can be read as a children's show, or a parody of a children's show. Much of the humor has a twist aimed at adults in the style of Soupy Sales. The show features slapstick comedy, puppetry, and piano music. His puppet sidekick was named Oogie. The show first aired January 29, 1974 on WWRO-TV, Newark.

There was one album from the show, the titular The Uncle Floyd Show Album, released on Mercury Records, that is much sought-after by collectors, along with several singles self-released by Floyd on his Bioya label around 1980-1983. Floyd Vivino has also put out numerous CDs of his live performances and Italian-language radio work.

Vivino wrote the lyrics for and, under the guise of his country and western character "Cowboy Charley", sang the locally famous parody song "Deep In The Heart Of Jersey" (based on the tune of "Deep In The Heart Of Texas").

Vivino performs live upwards of 300 nights per year, and has appeared in small roles in movies, such as Good Morning Vietnam and Crazy People. His brothers, Jimmy and Jerry, are members of the Max Weinberg 7 band on Late Night With Conan O'Brien since 1993.

He has appeared on several television shows filmed in New York City including Law & Order, 100 Centre Street, and Cosby.

Tributes

David Bowie, a big fan of the show, recorded the song "Slip Away" on his 2002 album, "Heathen," as a tribute. The song "Work for Food" by Dramarama, on the album "Hi Fi Sci-Fi" from 1994, features the Uncle Floyd Show in the lyrics. Footage of Uncle Floyd also appears in the video for the song. The Ramones also recognize the Uncle Floyd Show in their song "9 to 5", as well as in various live appearances.

Bands Who Have Appeared On The Uncle Floyd Show

Part of the variety format of the show included in-studio appearances by many rock and roll acts, sometimes lip-syncing and sometimes performing live, making clear that the show was not aimed only at children.

Among the many acts appearing were the Ramones (multiple appearances, some captured on a recent DVD release), the Misfits, Squeeze, Bon Jovi, Aztec Two-Step, Jan & Dean, Thor (the singer/bodybuilder), the John Earl Walker Band, Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper, Blotto (band), Gary U.S. Bonds, David Johansson (a.k.a. Buster Poindexter), Rachel Sweet, the Smithereens, the Rattlers, the Feelies, Dramarama, Shrapnel, the Bongos, U.S.Ape, Fats Deacon & the Dumbwaiters, the Buttermilk Mountain Revue, Zoogz Rift, Crash Course In Science, the Stickmen, Zeb, Rebecca Williams, the Brains, Rupert Holmes, Eddie Money, Dave Edmunds, Rick Derringer, Chubby Checker, The Marshall Tucker Band, Blue Oyster Cult, Steel Pulse, the Lords of the New Church, the Dead Boys, the Payolas, and Tiny Tim .

There was a chance that the singer Paul Simon would have appeared on the show. But when Simon attempted to call, an employee at the UHF TV station where the show was produced (not believing that the caller was in fact Paul Simon) never took down the telephone number.

Other guests on the show included vaudeville type performers and occasionally some fans of the show from the New Jersey area.

Reportedly many famous personalities were fans of the show, including David Bowie and John Lennon.

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