Saturday, August 25, 2007

Better living through television

Howdy y'all from Dallas.

Thought I'd show one of my favorite all-time comedy scenes. This is from THE HONEYMOONERS starring Jackie Gleason (Ralph)and Art Carney(Norton)from the mid 50's. In this classic scene they're about to go on live television and advertise a kitchen utensil they're selling -- their latest get rich quick scheme. Judging by today's informercials not much has changed.

We pick them up rehearsing.

17 comments :

Unknown said...

My love of sitcoms started with Ralph and Norton.

Christina said...

I used to watch this show when I was a kid. I forgot how funny it was... You could put the Two and a Half Men guys in this scene and it wouldn't seem dated at a all.

Anonymous said...

This bit brought tears of laughter and rekindled wonderful memories on this early Sunday morning.

"Ha-Ha."

Priceless and so appreciated...

Thanks.

Workman said...

You're not kidding about the infomercial thing.

The only difference is that the presenters shout just a little louder. But not much louder.

Anonymous said...

Two old pros at their peak. Great stuff.

Max Clarke said...

Brilliant stuff, "core A apple," hilarious.

You look at these guys doing that and you figure that's all they do, comic routines and silly skits, and then you see something completely different, and they are just as good. Art Carney was great with Lily Tomlin in The Late Show, and Jackie could have had a career doing nothing but serious movie roles. What a range these guys had.

Anonymous said...

My favorite was when Ralph was on a Name That Tune type gameshow and Norton was helping Ralph study songs in the kitchen. Every time Norton starts to play the piano he always "warms up" by playing Swany River which infuriated Ralph to no end.

Flash forward to the gameshow and those same familiar notes are played and Ralph is asked "Who composed Swany River?" Ralph stammers in his usual way and answers "Ed Norton."

Dwacon said...

I'm surprised Ron Popeil hasn't made one of those and used the Honeymooner footage to sell it...

VP81955 said...

You could put the Two and a Half Men guys in this scene and it wouldn't seem dated at all.

And some have referred to "The King Of Queens" as "The Honeymooners" for a new generation. It wasn't anywhere as good a series, of course, but it came far closer to reaching that lofty goal than, pardon the phrase, "According To Jim."

Joey H said...

The Great One

Unknown said...

Art Carney and Jackie Gleason had better comic timing in their sweat glands than Kevin James, Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer and Jim Belushi have in their entire bodies.

Anonymous said...

Legend has it that it was not in the script for Jackie Gleason to knock down the wall at the end of the scene. But it happened, and Art Carney just went with it. Brilliant!

Anonymous said...

Funny thing is, no matter how many kudos and awards Edward Norton receives - and there should be many because he is a truly gifted actor - I still think of Art Carney when I hear Edward Norton. Doesn't have to be "Ed" Norton, the connection is that overpowering. I half expect a guy in a t-shirt and rumpled hat to show up on screen

Anonymous said...

One of the greatest, if not the greatest 10-minute scene in the history of TV sitcoms (and it also wasn't in the script for the piece to come flying off, leading to Gleason's walk towards the camera and comment on spear fishing).

Unknown said...


I still think of Art Carney when I hear Edward Norton.


Me, too!

Doug Walsh said...

I wasn't born until the Honeymooners were already off the air save for late night reruns on USA Network, but the Honeymooner's DVD box set is about the only box set we ever watch. And every time we watch an episode or two, my wife and are constantly amazed at how funny they still are after so many decades gone by.

The only sitcom I ever thought to truly approach it in comic value was Married With Children.

TheDennisMorganShow said...

Having struggled with stage
fright my entire life, this
is a perfect illustration of
the terror I suffered delivering countless presentations before small and large groups of people.

One of these days Levine...Pow!

PS Thanx, I think I'll use this
YT on my blog.