Shields and Yarnell

Those of us who lived through the 1970s as kids and young teens still sometimes wake up in the night, shrieking uncontrollably and shaking violently. This show is one of the reasons for that.

Imagine, a whole television series built around a husband and wife team of mimes. I'm open-minded enough to admit that there are people who do not immediately reach for a sledgehammer the minute they see a mime, but back in those days when there were only a couple or a few channels to choose from (no cable, kiddies), the mere mention of the name Shields and Yarnell made me want to bludgeon myself to death.

How many times can one behold a scene of people doing "the robot" without wanting to scream...and the fact they took it as oh-so-serious "art" made it somehow more horrifying. My sister insisted on watching this" I fantasized about what I could do with a human-sized blender.

I hate mimes...the standard white-faced, pretensions-to-high-art mimes that we all imagine when we think of mimes. But what Shields & Yarnell were doing was more like old-style physical comedy...and I love old-style physical comedy.

They were offered their own weekly variety show after attracting attention with some very successful guest-spots on shows like "The Sonny & Cher Show" and "The Muppet Show". Although their variety series only lasted a year, it was nominated for an Emmy.

Their "Clinkers" robot characters inspired the Moonwalk and the Robot dance moves. These sketches are still fascinating to watch, because the duo really does move exactly as though they were machines, with servos instead of joints. The illusion is made even more complete by the glassy stares and a total lack of blinking---a feat which requires tremendous muscular control and reflex suppression.

Robert Shields is now a very successful artist, who sells his artwork and a DVD compilation of Shields & Yarnell material and TV news items about the team. Although divorced, he and Lorene still perform together. In fact, they will be starting a nationwide tour in December of 2006.

This show was beloved by me as a child. The best part was when they would perform as the robot couple. Variations on this were very popular when everyone was doing the Robot at discos across the country. Where are they now?

Robert Shields is simply the best mime left in the world. I know, I know, you think you don't like mimes. You haven't seen Robert Shields and Lorene Yarnell perform. Mimes get no respect in America. There are lots of mimes around now, at various skill levels, all imitating the man. I didn't think about mimes much until I watched him perform in downtown San Francisco in the early seventies when I was living there. When he and Lorene had their own show in 1977, they fascinated my twelve-year-old nephew, who would practice for hours in front of the mirror. Since he had already mastered the unicycle, I worried that he was destined for a circus. Instead, he chose music.

Robert Shields is unequaled in physical comedy. The man is brilliant.