{{Short description|1977 American comedy short film}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = The Absent-Minded Waiter | image = | caption = | writer = [[Steve Martin]] | director = [[Carl Gottlieb]] | producer = [[William E. McEuen]] | starring = {{plainlist| * Steve Martin * [[Buck Henry]] * [[Teri Garr]] }} | music = [[Marvin Hamlisch]] | cinematography = | studio = [[Aspen Film Society]] | distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]] | released = {{Film date|1977|7|13}} | runtime = 7 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = }}
'''''The Absent-Minded Waiter''''' is a 1977 American [[comedy film|comedy]] [[short film]]<ref>[http://www.shoutfactorytv.com/playlists/551b311769702d04c3973a00 ShoutFactoryTV: Steve Martin]</ref> starring [[Steve Martin]], [[Buck Henry]] and [[Teri Garr]]. It was written by Martin and directed by [[Carl Gottlieb]]. The film was produced by [[William E. McEuen]], who would go on to produce Steve Martin's next six films.<ref>[https://mubi.com/films/the-absent-minded-waiter MUBI]</ref>
The short was screened as part of "The Best of the Shorts" program at [[Filmex]] on March 26, 1977<ref>[https://catalog.afi.com/Film/70244-THE-ABSENT-MINDEDWAITER?sid=f1be14a9-53fc-455e-a39f-aef59be3e33d&sr=13.436537&cp=1&pos=0 AFI Catalog]</ref> and was also shown at Martin's stand-up shows before he went on. It was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film#1970s|Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film]] at the [[50th Academy Awards#Awards|1977 Academy Awards]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4YfsLnZQ3o Short Film Winners: 1978 Oscars]</ref><ref>[https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1978 1978|Oscars.org]</ref>
==Plot== A couple (Henry and Garr) have gone out to dinner at a fancy restaurant the husband claims has the world's most absent-minded waiter. Steven is a poor waiter. He has many mishaps, including pouring water before placing down the glasses, forcing the couple to repeat their order of "two martinis" three times, and subsequently bringing them six martinis. The wife soon becomes angry that she got dressed up, hired a babysitter and then was brought out to a restaurant with such amazingly bad service. The husband pleads with her: "Trust me... trust me." Immediately afterwards, the waiter returns with their "change"—$10,000 worth—before the couple had even paid. As they gleefully get up from their chairs to leave, the waiter comes back to ask, "Two for dinner?" to which the wife quickly responds, "Yes, two please," and the couple then sits right back down at their table.<ref>[https://letterboxd.com/film/the-absent-minded-waiter/ Letterboxd]</ref>
==Cast== *[[Steve Martin]] as Steven, the Waiter *[[Buck Henry]] as Bernie Cates *[[Teri Garr]] as Susan Cates *[[Ivor Barry]] as Carl, the Maitre D' *[[Naomi Stevens]] as Naomi, the Cashier
==Home media== The short was included on the 1993 VHS release of the special ''Steve Martin Live'' and on the 2012 DVD box set ''Steve Martin: The Television Stuff''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlaPT_7Lzmw Steve Martin: The Television Stuff (1/11) Homage To Steve Clip - The Absent Minded Waiter- Shout Factory on YouTube]</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|id=0075626}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MFcMOpiDMI Excerpt on YouTube] *''[https://mubi.com/films/the-absent-minded-waiter The Absent-Minded Waiter]'' on [[MUBI]]
{{Steve Martin}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Absent-Minded Waiter, The}} [[Category:1977 short films]] [[Category:1977 films]] [[Category:1977 comedy films]] [[Category:American comedy short films]] [[Category:Films scored by Marvin Hamlisch]] [[Category:Films directed by Carl Gottlieb]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by Steve Martin]] [[Category:Paramount Pictures short films]] [[Category:1977 English-language films]] [[Category:1977 American films]] [[Category:Films set in restaurants]] [[Category:English-language comedy short films]]