Tony (Ears) Abbott and Peter (The Smirk) Costello performed together as Abbott and Costello and were an important part of the act known as The Howard Government (also known as The Follies). Ears played the talkative dumb one who made a fool of himself in revolving doors and The Smirk played the other talkative dumb one who pretended to be ‘a contender’. Would he take control? Would he leave the stage? Would he sing? Would he dance? If anyone gave a toss, would the toss attract a tax?
Their most popular routine was ‘Who’s on First?’—full of rapid-fire word play, confusion and frustration and ultimately not about anything. Hilarious.