© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Remembering Legendary Comedian Jackie Mason

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JACKIE MASON: There's a guy - keeps staring at me. I don't care if you laugh or not. I got enough money to last me the rest of my life.

(LAUGHTER)

MASON: Unless I want to buy something.

LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:

Jackie Mason followed a path from rabbi to Borscht Belt comedian. He died yesterday at the age of 93. Taking a risk, he left his family's rabbinical tradition, writing jokes, performing in the Catskills and eventually Broadway.

Jackie Mason's Jewish identity was a big part of his indignant comedic routine. His sharp observations were usually at his own expense. And he was also known as the voice of Krusty the Clown's father, Rabbi Hyman Krustofski, on "The Simpsons."

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "THE SIMPSONS")

MASON: (As Rabbi Hyman Krustofski) Oh, clown is not a respected member of the community.

DAN CASTELLANETA: (As Krusty the Clown) But I want to make people laugh.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Mason's career was not without controversy. He had to apologize for using a racial Yiddish slur against a Black politician and was kicked off "The Ed Sullivan Show" after insulting the host. Jackie Mason died yesterday in a hospital in Manhattan.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.