Editing Dean Martin (section)

===''The Dean Martin Show''===
{{Main|The Dean Martin Show}}
[[File:Dean Martin Florence Henderson 1968.jpg|thumb|right|Martin and [[Florence Henderson]] in ''[[The Dean Martin Show]]'' (1968)]]
In 1965, Martin launched his weekly [[NBC]] comedy-variety series, ''The Dean Martin Show'', which ran for 264 episodes until 1974. He won a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy]] in 1966 and was nominated again the following three years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/dean-martin-show |title=Dean Martin Show, The |website=Golden Globe Awards |access-date=December 26, 2016}}</ref> The show exploited his image as a carefree boozer. Martin capitalized on his laid-back persona of the half-drunk [[crooner]], inappropriately hitting on women, and making snappy if slurred remarks about fellow celebrities during his [[Roast (comedy)|roasts]]. During an interview on the British TV documentary ''Wine, Women and Song'', aired in 1983, Martin stated, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, that he had someone record them on cassette tape so he could listen to them. Martin's TV show was a success. The show's loose format featured quick-witted [[improvisation]] from Martin and his weekly guests. This prompted a battle between Martin and NBC censors, who insisted on more scrutiny of the content. He later had trouble with NBC for his off-the-cuff use of obscene Italian phrases, which brought complaints from viewers who spoke the language. The show was often in the Top Ten. Martin, appreciative of the show's producer, his friend [[Greg Garrison (television producer)|Greg Garrison]], made a handshake deal giving Garrison, a pioneer TV producer in the 1950s, 50% of the show. However, the validity of that ownership is the subject of a lawsuit brought by [[NBCUniversal]].

Despite Martin's reputation as a drinker—perpetuated via his [[Vanity plate|vanity license plate]] "DRUNKY"—his alcohol use was quite [[discipline]]d.{{sfn|Tosches|1992|p=198}} Martin was the first to call it a night and, when not on tour or on a film location, liked to go home to see his family.<ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=Susan |date=December 25, 2015 |title=Newsletter: Classic Hollywood: What was Dean Martin really drinking? |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/classichollywood/la-et-mn-classic-hollywood-newsletter-dean-martin-20151225-html-htmlstory.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=December 26, 2016}}</ref> Martin borrowed the lovable-drunk [[shtick]] from [[Joe E. Lewis]], but his convincing portrayals of heavy boozers in ''[[Some Came Running (film)|Some Came Running]]'' and Howard Hawks' ''[[Rio Bravo (film)|Rio Bravo]]'' led to unsubstantiated claims of alcoholism. Martin starred in and co-produced four [[Matt Helm]] [[spy film|superspy]] comedy adventures during this time, as well as a number of [[Westerns]]. By the early 1970s, ''The Dean Martin Show'' was still earning solid ratings, and although he was no longer a Top 40 hitmaker, his record albums continued to sell. He found a way to make his passion for golf profitable by offering a signature line of golf balls, and the [[Dean Martin Tucson Open]] was an event on golf's [[PGA Tour]] from 1972 to 1975. At his death, Martin was reportedly the single largest minority shareholder of RCA stock.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}

Martin began reducing his schedule once comfortable financially. The final (1973–1974) season of his variety show was retooled into one of celebrity [[Roast (comedy)|roasts]], requiring less involvement. In the roasts, Martin and his panel of pals made fun of a variety of popular entertainment, athletic, and political figures.{{sfn|Tosches|1992|pp=413–414}} After the show's cancellation, NBC continued to air ''[[The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast]]'' as a series of TV specials through 1984.{{sfn|Tosches|1992|p=517}}