During one now-infamous show a fistfight erupted between civil rights spokesmen Al Sharpton and Roy Innis.
Details: This was back around maybe 1987-1988. Mort was broadcasting his show from Harlem at the Apollo Theater that week. He had Al Sharpton on one night and asked Sharpton why he only denounced white racists but never criticized black racists. He challenged Sharpton to prove he was even-handed in criticizing racism by naming an example of a black racist. After some hemming and hawing, Sharpton--then at odds with Innis over the Tawana Brawley case--cited Innis as his example, saying Innis was "a bigot. . .and a sellout". So Mort--who had previously had Innis on his show--invited Innis to come on the show the next night to answer Sharpton face-to-face. Mort asked Sharpton to repeat to Innis' face what he had said the other night and explain to Innis why he was a bigot. Sharpton answered that he wouldn't explain to Innis, but he would tell the audience, and proceeded to repeat what he'd said the previous night. Innis was then given an opportunity to reply. Mort asked him, "How does it feel to be called a bigot after years of supporting civil rights?" Innis shook his head laughing and began to reply. He noted that he had defended Sharpton once on Mort's show despite Sharpton's "shenanigans" in the Tawana Brawley case. . .At this point, Sharpton interrupted, "That's a lot of crap. That's a lot of crap," and began talking over Innis. Innis raised his voice, saying, "Brother, you had your chance." Sharpton continued talking over him. Innis, refusing to be talked over, stood up shouting, "Brother!" Sharpton started to stand up. Wham! Innis shoves him in the chest with both hands and Sharpton goes tumbling over his swivel chair backwards head over heels, looking like a beachball as he bounces off the floor. As Sharpton begins to climb to his feet, Innis starts moving around the fallen chair looking like he's about to throw some punches. Sharpton's bodyguards are beginning to move in and members of the audience are starting to get up, but Mort and his crew intervene and cut to a commercial break. When the show comes back on, Mort is standing between a sullen Sharpton and Innis with one arm around each and explains that during the break they have agreed to settle the matter through a charity boxing match. They shake hands and resume the show. The match never came off, last I heard. . .
Oh I love it. It's gotta be on tape somewhere.