Uncle Miltie's April Fool's Sendoff

Milton Berle was never my favourite, though he made me chuckle - he belonged to a generation of televison comedians earlier than the ones I was used to. But I got to tell you - if and when I ever shuffle off this mortal coil, this is the way I want to do it.

Uncle Miltie's Uproarious Sendoff

Setting the tone for the rollicking memorial was the deceased himself--Berle's coffin was swathed in his trademark tan raincoat and black fedora.

Rickles got things rolling, paying his (dis)respects to the departed Mr. Television--who grinned on from an oversized black-and-white photo overlooking the room. Rickles started his eulogy by somberly nodding to the coffin and then to Berle's widow, before cracking, "Milton, Lorna, I would like to be paid for this."