AllMovie

The "machine" on this 42-episode British children's show was "Fearless Fred," a joke-dispensing contraption that looked like a computer with bad hair. Specializing in fast-paced Laugh-In-style visual and verbal gags, the series was hosted by a number of popular British kids' TV personalities. During season one, "the Krankies" handled the hosting chores, followed by Andrew O'Connor in season two and puppet favorites Basil Brush and Jimmy Cricket in season three. Its episodes running anywhere from ten to 25 minutes, The Joke Machine aired from 1985 to 1989.