Frank Gannucci
08-15-2008, 07:41 AM
Episode #181
TV: Hour (edited)
DVD: Attached to "Boy Next Door" & "Follow The Boys."
Color Episode Title: “Sleepy Time Gal”
Lost Episode Title: “The Hypnotist”
In the Nick Clooney intro, he says there will be hypnotism in this episode and he brings up a real life story of how AmericanLife TV arranged a dinner with him, his wife, Marylin Gleason, Jean Kean and her husband. At the dinner, he sees Dick Van Patten. He racked his brain to see what part Dick had in any of Jackie's shows. Nick then says he remembers Dick's wife was a June Taylor Dancer and that Dick never had a role in any of Jackie's shows. Nick then says that Nina (Dick's wife), Marylin and Jean Kean all had great stories to tell about Jackie Gleason.
I also have the version of this episode that was recorded from CBS. The reason why I have two versions is because I did a tape trade with a guy in 2005. That guy had the syndie version of this episode and I did a tape trade with Videowack in 2006. Videowack had the CBS version of this episode. The syndication version, as expected, edited out the opening dance number which includes a shot of the Raccoons at the Raccoon Lodge watching dancers (June Taylor Dancers) come out and sing: "Baby Me." As they do this, they grab some Raccoons and put baby bonnets on their heads. They leave. The Raccoons take the bonnets off. The meeting is called to order. They are having the meeting in a big banquet meeting. Ralph tells about the Raccoon convention. Ralph says in choosing the city they had to have three important things. It had to be inexpensive, it had to have free entertainment and they didn't want a city that was going to make a fast book on conventions and tourists. Ralph says it was narrowed down to two cities: Las Vegas, Nevada & Miami Beach, Florida. He is happy to say that the city that is chosen is Miami Beach. They are going to be staying at the same hotel that they stayed at three years ago when they had their convention down there. The hotel name? The Hotel Allegiator. Ralph then says that he was on the phone with the manager's hotel. Ralph says that the manager of the hotel stating that one of the Raccoons went into the bar one night after closing hours. Ralph says that he will severely reprimand the person who did that. He asks for that person to stand up. Everyone (except Ralph and the president of the Raccoons) stand up. Ralph says: "Don't do it again." The president says that they have some entertainment lined up. One of their members, Henry Wranker, is a hypnotist that goes by the name of The Great Fatchomara. He is also from the Bayoone Lodge of the Raccoons. The G.F. makes his entrance (complete with cape). The studio audience applauds. His first act is bringing Ralph and Ed up for hypnotism. He tries to hypnotize Ed by asking him to look at the watch as it swings back and forth. Ed says that the watch is three minutes slow. After a while, Ed is finally hypnotized Ed into thinking he is at his job. Ed walks around in the "sewer" and sees Ralph and thinks that it is Moby. That is funny. He hypnotizes Ralph (who says that he doesn't believe in that stuff) and Norton and tells Ralph he is Norton, and Norton, Ralph. He tells them they're at a bowling alley, and each acts as if he's the other: "Ralph" wants to bowl first instead of "Norton." "Norton": "Gee, what a grouch." "Ralph" gets ready to bowl while "Ed" annoys him. "Ralph" bowls a "strike" and dances in celebration. "Norton" preapres to bowl in typical Norton fashion. "Ed" accidently "hits" "Ralph" in the stomach with the ball. "Ralph" screams in pain in typical "Ralph" fashion. "Ralph" challenges "Ed" to fight, but the G.F. breaks them up and changes them back into their normal identities but before that, he brings them out of their trances, he gives them a posthypnotic suggestion: Whenever they're seated and hear the name Miami Beach, they'll think they're on a bed of hot, socrching sand. After he snaps Ed and Ralph into their usual selves, Ralph says that he can't be hypnotized. When Mike asks everyone where the convention is going to be held, they yell: "MIAMI BEACH!" Ralph and Ed yell because they think that they are on hot sand.
At home, Ralph tells Ed that he is bringing a box of 50 cherry bombs, a trick glass, a shock stick and chattering teeth. When Ralph puts down the chattering teeth, he has some trouble getting it to stop, so he hits it with the shock stick. (I wonder if that was in the original script.) Ralph says that he will also bring paper bags to drop out the hotel window. I think that Ed says that during a Raccoon convention in New York, the police ordered some Raccoons in hotel to stop throwing water bags out the window. Ed didn't obey. He kept on throwing water bags out until he almost drowned (the window was closed.) Ralph: "That figures, with you doing it." Ed told a variation same story in "Unconventional Behavior." A Raccoon convention in New York? Ralph and Ed probably wouldn't have had to travel far for that one considering that they live in BROOKLYN. Ralph also says that he will bring his piece of resistence (a toy gun). When he brings it out, the teeth start chattering again and they have to get it to stop. He says that he will use the gun to tease people to think that he is a robber. Ralph says that he has no money and he will get it from Alice. Alice comes out. Ralph tries the flattery routine to coax some money out of Alice. Ralph: "By the way cupcake..." Ed: "What is it Ralph?" Ralph: "Alice is cupcake. You are a piece of fruitcake." Ralph then syas that the convention is coming up and asks Alice to invite her mother to come by. Alice: "You are not getting a dime." Ralph: "Then that BAT isn't getting in here." Alice says that she's having none of the flattery--she's saving the money. Ralph: "When you save the money, you can't take it with you." Alice: "You are right. I never go anyplace." What about the trip (or two) to Europe, the (two) trips to Fred's Landing and the trips to Atlantic City? She is saving the money to buy furniture. Ralph says that they got more than enough furniture. Sure! Alice says that the Raccoon conventions are crazy and everytime she saves money, he goes wasting it. Alice: "The only thing that is overstuffed around here is YOU." Ralph: "That is the same line that your mother used when I threw her out bodily." Alice goes back into the bedroom. Ralph says that Alice never loved him and was only in love with his uniform. Ralph has one of his all-time-great brainstorms: they will get the Great Fatchoomara to hypnotize Alice so she'll tell Ralph where she's hidden the money. Ralph says that the G.F. will help him since he's a fellow Raccoon member and the Racoon slogan is: "E Pluribus Raccoonibus." Ralph & Ed sing: "It Looks Like We Are Going To The Big Convention."
The next day Alice is in Max's candy store, making a telephone call and in walk Ralph and Norton to call Fatchoomara. They don't know it is Alice in the telephone booth, and while they're waiting for her to hang up. They discuss Ralph's scheme. Ralph: "I may have discovered the greatest boon to married men since the aspirin." They try to get the woman out. Ed concocts a scheme. They will go across the street, call here, and tell this lady that she is wanted home and they will go back here and call the G.F. Ralph says that that idea is stupid because this phone would be busy if they did that (this episode was obviously done before call waiting was invented.) Ed says that they will go across the street to call the G.F., but they don't have to call here. Ralph thinks that that is a good idea. They leave. Alice calls the library and asks for information on hypnotism. She spells it out. Alice: "H-y-n-o-p..." Yes, Shelia slightly flubbed her line when she tried to spell hypnotism.
Time for the middle commercial bumper.
At home, Alice is with Trixie. Alice reveals that what Ralph just said earlier in ther day and that she plans on fighting the hypnotism. They both sing: "The Day A Woman Can't Outsmart A Man." The boys (along with the G.F.) arrive. Ed says that Trixie should leave to get some beef steak for that black eye that she will get if she doesn't go upstairs. She leaves. Ralph introduces Henry Wranker. Ed: "Professionally known as the Great Fatchoomara." Ralph acts as if Ed almost blew his whole plan. Alice asks what does he do for a living. Ed says that he's a lawyer. Ralph says that Henry likes antiques so he wants him to see his stick pen. Alice: "Don't show him that. Show him the ice box." The G.F. shows her the watch. When Fatchoomara tries to hypnotize Alice, Alice is ready for him and fakes being hypnotized into thinking that she is a dog while the boys accidentally get hypnotized into thinking that they are dogs. When Henry sees this, he snaps the boys out. Ralph: "I wish you would hypnotize me. I just want to see how it feels." When Ralph asks Henry to ask Alice where the money is, he says: "All's fair in love and war." Ed: "In this marriage, it's a little bit of both." Ralph then reveals his plan when he gets the money. He will hide it back in the place where Alice put it and take it with him at the last second. When Ed questions him about what he will do when he comes back and finds out that Alice found out that the money is missing, he is stumped. Ed: "Are you (the G.F.) are going to be available in a few weeks?" Ralph says that he will think of something before then. Under hypnotism, Alice shows Ralph where she's hidden the money. As Alice is trying to show the money, she is showing where certain things are in order for her to get the money. Getting agitated, Ralph says, if there is another key, he is going to make sure that she gets hers. The money is shown. Ralph: "There is $180 here. She was going to blow this on furniture. The G.F. tells Alice to go into the bedroom and take a nap and that she won't remember any of this. Alice leaves the room. As Ralph and Ed talk about the convention, Mike says that he can't go because his wife won't let him.
On the train to the convention, the Raccoons are on the bar car and they are drinking and having fun. Ralph relates the whole story to Rocky (the Raccoon with the raspy voice). Ralph then tells the rest of the story to some more Racoons. Ralph says that Alice will have to get up early in the morning to put something over on him. Ed plays the Raccoon National Anthem on the piano which goes:
"From the hallowed streets of Greenpernt,
To the shores of Sheepshead Bay,
From the Verrazano Narrows,
To Canarsie across the way...
We have come together, one and all,
In fellowship to commune,
And to glorify the Grand Exalted
Brotherhood of Raccoons."
All of them sit down. When the bill for the bar comes, Ralph offers to pay it. The tab is $13.89. He opens the money box, but instead of finding the cash he finds some toy snakes and a note -- from Alice. Ed reads it: "Dear Ralph, I may not be a hypnotist like the Great Fatchoomara but I have made a monkey out of a Raccoon." Ralph is upset. All the Raccoons retire for the night. Ralph & Ed sit down. Ed pays the tab for Ralph. Ralph doesn't know what he will do. Just then, a fellow Raccoon (I think) approaches Ralph with an envelope that is from Alice. Ralph opens it to find more than $100 in there along with a note. Dear Ralph: I thought I let you suffer for the dirty trick that you played on me. In spite of everything, I decided to give you the money. I guess any man that works as hard as you do all year is entitled to some fun. Have a good time. Love, Alice." If this episode was going to be shown on TV today, you wold hear the studio aduience say: "Awwwwww!" Ralph says that he doesn't deserve a wife like Alice. He is going to use some of the money to buy Alice a present. What is the present? An Indian head carved out of a coconut. Ralph & Ed leave the car.
At the curtain call, Jackie says: "How sweet it is!" He praises the Miami Beach audience. He introduces the cast. The guy who played the G.F. was played by Richard Deacon. (Jackie said Robert by mistake, I think.) He then introduces the regular cast members. Shelia comes out with striped pajams and tossing dollar bills out for fun.
When the credits roll, the credits are in a different font. I liked the ending of this version of "The Hypnotist" better than the origianl one because of the fact that Alice let Ralph have the money after all. Shelia's Alice was certainly the gentler Alice.
Episode #182
TV: Hour (edited.)
DVD: Attached to "Sleepy Time Gal" & "Follow The Boys."
Color Episode Title: “Boy Next Door”
Lost Episode Title: “Love Letter”
In the Nick Clooney intro, Nick is shown what I think is inside his house as he introduces this episode.
Ralph and Ed are practicing playing golf. You can tell that the background is indeed fake. They are both wearing pretty loud golf attire. Both of them want to go first, so Ralph says that they put their hands on the golf club and the person whose hand that is on top wins Ed wins. Ralph says that Ed didn't win yet and now he has to spin the golf club around three times. He does. Ralph said that he lost because he didn't yell: "Fore!" Yep, Ralph is making the rules as he goes along. Ralph tires to put the golf ball down on the tee but he can't because he's so fat. Ralph then says that Ed should go first. Ed "prepares" in typical fashion. This aggreviates Ralph, so he says that he will go first (since Ed managed to put the ball on the ground). Ralph tries to hit the ball as Ed coughs. This distracts Ralph. Ralph is upset. Ralph "swings" and misses. Ed says that he is too tense so he tells him to loosen himself up by wiggling his arms and waist. After this, Ralph goes to hit the ball and hits himself in the leg. This scene is very similar to the scene in "The Golfer." I thought they should at least have Ed say: "Hello Ball!" Ralph sits down. Ed gets himself and Ralph a soda each. They talk about golf and Ralph mentions that his boss, Mr. Marshall, loves the game so much that he suggested moving the entire bus company down to Miami Beach, Florida just so he can play all year round. Ed says that he is a nut for suggesting that and Ralph agrees which is somewhat strange since Jackie moved his entire TV show operation down to Miami Beach, Florida because one of the reasons is that he wanted to play golf all-year-round. Ralph then says if Mr. Marshall did indeed move the bus company down to Florida, he wouldn't mind since the Miami Beach customers are the best customers in the world. the audience claps. Ed says that in the sewer, they have a saying: "The water is always greener on the other side of the street." Ralph says that Alice has been acting funny. Every time he wants to take her out, she says that she has somewhere to go and won't reveal what she's going. Ed says that he never took Trixie out. Alice has been cooking up great dinners of Ralph. Ed: "Maybe she is trying to fatten you up." Ralph then says that after dinner, she goes down to get Ralph some ice cream and to call someone but she won't say who she is calling. Ralph doesn't ask who she is calling because he doesn't want to get nasty and cause himself to not get any ice cream. Ralph & Ed sing: "When A Woman Treats You Good, That's Bad!"
Alice borrows a cookbook from Trixie and in it finds a love letter that Ed once wrote to Trixie. Alice leaves it on the kitchen table. This whole part was edited out on AmericanLife and I think it's stupid that this channel did that. I'll tell you why later on. Ralph later comes in. Trixie is hiding Ralph's birthday present behind his back. She leaves. Ralph looks at the dinner that Alice made for him. Ralph: "Alice, we are going to have a little talk. What is going on?" Ralph questions all the things that Alice has been doing like cooking all those dinners and calling people. Alice says that she has been calling nobody. Ralph: "Nobody is someone you yell out the window." Alice says that she has been calling her mother. Ralph: "Have you been playing the horses again?" Alice says that her mother has nothing to do with the horses. Alice says that Ralph has been getting suspicious for no good reason. Ralph then asks Alice all the times that he wanted to take her out, but Alice keeps on saying that she is busy. When Ralph wanted to stay home, Alice gave him money to play poker somehwere Ralph can't stand it any longer. Ralph: "Why are you treating me so good?" Alice is happy that Ralph is no idea what Alice is planning. She goes into the bedroom. Ralph goes to eat his dinner. Alice leaves, much to Ralph's chagrin. Ralph goes to eat his dinner. Ralph finds the letter. The audience goes: "Ooooh!" because the edited footage was shown to them and they woner what Ralph is going to do. If a casual fan saw this episode on AmericanLife, they would be wondering why the audience is making that sound. Ralph (reading it): "'I love you! I love you! Signed: Your lover. P.S.: I love you!'" Naturally Ralph thinks that Alice is seeing another man. Ed comes in and says that the reason why Alice has been acting so strange is probably because that she is planning a surprise birthday party for him (since he has a birthday coming up). Gee, this episode episode was shown on Oct. 12, 1968, "Love Letter" (version 1) was shown in '54 a couple of days after Oct. 12. "Love Letter" (version 2) was shown on Nov. 24, 1956 and "Pardon My Glove" was shown on Mar. 17, 1956. In both episodes, Alice prepares for Ralph's birthday. Also, in "King of The Castle" & "Battle of The Sexes", Ralph is a Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) & in "Stars Over Flatbush", Ralph is a Taurus (April 21-May 21). Ralph reads the letter to Ed. Ed: "That is sweet Ralph. Who are you going to send it to?" Ralph tells Ed the whole situation. He says that it all adds up. Ralph: "Everyone in the neighborhood knows about this. I am probably the laughingstock of the whole neighborhood. Am I the neigherborhood's laughingstock?" Ed: "Yeah, and they don't even know about this yet." Ed tries to recognize the handwriting. The audience laughs because they know that Ed wrote it, but the American Life TV audiences don't. Ed tries to find out who wrote it (he doesn't know that he himself wrote it). Ed says he has seen the handwriting before. Ed: "I know this handwriting as well as I know my own." Ralph says he will take the letter to a handwriting expert. Ed says that it is a good idea. Ralph: "When I find out the guy, I will kill him." Ed: "I want to be there to see it." The audience laughs. Ralph: "Don't worry. You will. What would Alice want with another man when she has me?" They both sing: "I Don't Understand Her (Alice) At All" in which Ralph sings: "Believe me, I am not dumb." Sure.
Ralph & Ed go to a Mrs. Paterson (a letter analyst at a newspaper). Ed: "With you on hte trail, I hate to be the guy who wrote that letter. Mrs. Paterson comes in (with the audience applauding.) Ralph tries to explain the whole situation but twists his facts and explains that the man in the spot is a friend but he accidently says that he will find out who stole his (Ralph's) wife. The analyst sees the letter and says that the writer is the romantic type, is not very orderly, is rude, going through life in a sloppy manner and not too bright. The things she notices are that he dotted a T, didn't close his O's and he crossed a L. Ed says that he knows the handwriting from somewhere, but he is stumped. She also notices that he misspelled beauty. He spells it b-u-t-e-y. Ed says that is the way he spells it. Ralph tries to correct him. It's spelled: B-a-t..." Mrs. Paterson: "It's b-e-a-u-t-y." Ralph: "Of course it is. Why did you have to tell him? Why couldn't you let him wallow in his own ignorance? We know that he is stupid, rude and sloppy." The analyst says she is busy and will analyze the letter later and mail it to Ralph. Ed volunteers to write down the address. D'oh! Big surprise coming for Ralph. Ed starts to write down the address but he does his usual warming up which causes Ralph to yell. Yeah, Ralph just embarrassed Ed in front of Mrs. Paterson. Ed writes down the address with his zipcode: 402369. The world's first six digit zipcode. Also, didn't Ed reveal a different zipcode in "We Spy"? Ralph & Ed try to leave. Mrs. Paterson sees the handwriting and asks if she could speak to Ralph alone. Ed leaves. She knows it was Norton who wrote the letter. Ralph doesn't believe it and says he will kill him. Mrs. Paterson says that Alice may not care for Ed and give her the benefit of a doubt. Ralph: "If they do like each other, POW! ZOOM!" Ralph leaves.
At home, Trixie asks Alice for her large mixing bowl. She wants to start on the potato salad for Ralph's party. She asks Trixie if Ed can come along and help her buy a bowling ball for Ralph's birthday (she doesn't know which one is good for Ralph.) She says yes. Alice won't tell Ed about the surprise birthday party because he will blab it to Ralph. Ed comes down. Trixie leaves. Alice talks to Ed and not blab to Ralph her secret. Ed thinks that Alice is seeing another man (but he doesn't tell her that). Alice: "I knew that Garrity couldn't keep his mouth shut or was it the person down at the sporting good store?" Ed doesn't know what to make of all this. Ed: "Does Garrity know anything about the man from the sporting good sotre?" Alice doesn't know what Ed is talking about. Alice asks Ed to help her choose a bowling ball for Ralph. Ed says yes he will. With the ball he is going to get, Ed claims that he will go out every night. Alice says that he will go out one night a week for bowling. Ed & Alice make plans to go out as Ed puts his hands on Alice's shoulders. Ralph sees where Ed's hands are and thinks that Ed & Alice are lovers (but he doesn't hear what Ed & Alice are planning.) Ralph claims that he had a the worst day of his life. Alice will cook him his dinner. Ed says to Ralph that Alice is true blue. Ralph invites him to spend the evening with him and Alice. Ed declines and leaves. Ralph can't believe it. Ralph: "I threw Alice in his arms." Alice comes out. Alice heard him mumbling. Alice: "You must have had a worse day than I thought." Ralph: "On the contarary, today was one of the finest days of my life." Didn't Ralph just say that he had a bad day? Ralph comes back out with a grey robe. Ralph wants to have a night alone just the two of them. Alice has other plans. She wants to go out. She leaves. Ralph: "She is going to meet Norton. She didn't even ask me if I wanted ice cream."
Ralph arrives at Norton's apartment. We finally see what Norton's living room/dining area looked like back then. Trixie says that Ralph looks worried. Ralph has to tell her something and it won't be easy. Ralph tries to tell her, but he can't. Ralph says that nothing is bother ing him. He has the best safety record down at the bus company, the union is going to give bus drivers 4 cents an hour starting next month and the Racoons might send him to Red Bank, New Jersey for a convnetion. Didn't they just have one in the last episode? Ralph says that he has everything to be happy about. Trixie says that he forgot that he ahs a wife in Alice. Ralph cries. Ralph reveals that Alice is seeing another man and is out with another man. Trixie says that isn't true and that she is out with Ed. Ralph: "Exactly!" Ralph gets a hold of himself. Trixie turns on the radio. Announcer: "And now for a change of mood, we have a request for LB down at Jack's Diner and he is hoping that JM is listening." He plays: "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now." Ralph hits the radio (which causes it to turn off). Trixie comes out. Ralph: "I know who's kissing her now and wait until you find out." Ralph shows Trixie the letter that Ed "sent" to Alice. Trixie sees the letter and laughs. Ralph: "Don't you realize the seriousness in this. 'I love you!' 'I love you!' 'I love you!' 'I love you!' 'I love you!'" Ed comes down as Ralph is saying that to Trixie and thinks that he is trying to steal Trixie. Ralph accuses Ed of stealing Alice. Ralph tells Ed to fight. Trixie explains the whole thing. Ralph doesn't believe it. Ralph: "What was it doing in my apartment?" Alice: "I got it from a recipe book from Trixie." Ed: "I knew I recognized that handwriting." Ralph still doesn't believe it. Ralph: "What we you doing with him tonight." Alice won't reveal why. Ralph says that she will and she will reveal all the mysterious phone calls too. Alice explains the reason for all those calls were for his surprise birthday party and Ed was with her to pick out a bowling ball for him. Alice (starting to cry), hands Ralph the wrapped up bowling ball): "Happy Birthday!" I don't like to see Alice crying. Ralph unwraps it. He is very grateful. Ed: "Happy Birthday Ralph! You are a sweet, ungrateful wretch." Ralph is not mad at that. Ralph apologizes to Alice. Ralph says that he is jealous and if he even hears about things like her seeing another guy, he goes nuts. Alice forgives him. Alice: "Not every woman has a husband that is still jealous after 17 years." All of them sing: "Baby, You're The Very Greatest Of All!"
At the curtain call, Jackie introduces Kim Hunter who played "Mrs. Paterson" and the rest of the cast.
During the credit roll, Johnnny Olsen says: "Don't forget to tune in next week for the Jackie Gleson Show."
Credit goes to Yahoo! Groups You're A Riot!
TV: Hour (edited)
DVD: Attached to "Boy Next Door" & "Follow The Boys."
Color Episode Title: “Sleepy Time Gal”
Lost Episode Title: “The Hypnotist”
In the Nick Clooney intro, he says there will be hypnotism in this episode and he brings up a real life story of how AmericanLife TV arranged a dinner with him, his wife, Marylin Gleason, Jean Kean and her husband. At the dinner, he sees Dick Van Patten. He racked his brain to see what part Dick had in any of Jackie's shows. Nick then says he remembers Dick's wife was a June Taylor Dancer and that Dick never had a role in any of Jackie's shows. Nick then says that Nina (Dick's wife), Marylin and Jean Kean all had great stories to tell about Jackie Gleason.
I also have the version of this episode that was recorded from CBS. The reason why I have two versions is because I did a tape trade with a guy in 2005. That guy had the syndie version of this episode and I did a tape trade with Videowack in 2006. Videowack had the CBS version of this episode. The syndication version, as expected, edited out the opening dance number which includes a shot of the Raccoons at the Raccoon Lodge watching dancers (June Taylor Dancers) come out and sing: "Baby Me." As they do this, they grab some Raccoons and put baby bonnets on their heads. They leave. The Raccoons take the bonnets off. The meeting is called to order. They are having the meeting in a big banquet meeting. Ralph tells about the Raccoon convention. Ralph says in choosing the city they had to have three important things. It had to be inexpensive, it had to have free entertainment and they didn't want a city that was going to make a fast book on conventions and tourists. Ralph says it was narrowed down to two cities: Las Vegas, Nevada & Miami Beach, Florida. He is happy to say that the city that is chosen is Miami Beach. They are going to be staying at the same hotel that they stayed at three years ago when they had their convention down there. The hotel name? The Hotel Allegiator. Ralph then says that he was on the phone with the manager's hotel. Ralph says that the manager of the hotel stating that one of the Raccoons went into the bar one night after closing hours. Ralph says that he will severely reprimand the person who did that. He asks for that person to stand up. Everyone (except Ralph and the president of the Raccoons) stand up. Ralph says: "Don't do it again." The president says that they have some entertainment lined up. One of their members, Henry Wranker, is a hypnotist that goes by the name of The Great Fatchomara. He is also from the Bayoone Lodge of the Raccoons. The G.F. makes his entrance (complete with cape). The studio audience applauds. His first act is bringing Ralph and Ed up for hypnotism. He tries to hypnotize Ed by asking him to look at the watch as it swings back and forth. Ed says that the watch is three minutes slow. After a while, Ed is finally hypnotized Ed into thinking he is at his job. Ed walks around in the "sewer" and sees Ralph and thinks that it is Moby. That is funny. He hypnotizes Ralph (who says that he doesn't believe in that stuff) and Norton and tells Ralph he is Norton, and Norton, Ralph. He tells them they're at a bowling alley, and each acts as if he's the other: "Ralph" wants to bowl first instead of "Norton." "Norton": "Gee, what a grouch." "Ralph" gets ready to bowl while "Ed" annoys him. "Ralph" bowls a "strike" and dances in celebration. "Norton" preapres to bowl in typical Norton fashion. "Ed" accidently "hits" "Ralph" in the stomach with the ball. "Ralph" screams in pain in typical "Ralph" fashion. "Ralph" challenges "Ed" to fight, but the G.F. breaks them up and changes them back into their normal identities but before that, he brings them out of their trances, he gives them a posthypnotic suggestion: Whenever they're seated and hear the name Miami Beach, they'll think they're on a bed of hot, socrching sand. After he snaps Ed and Ralph into their usual selves, Ralph says that he can't be hypnotized. When Mike asks everyone where the convention is going to be held, they yell: "MIAMI BEACH!" Ralph and Ed yell because they think that they are on hot sand.
At home, Ralph tells Ed that he is bringing a box of 50 cherry bombs, a trick glass, a shock stick and chattering teeth. When Ralph puts down the chattering teeth, he has some trouble getting it to stop, so he hits it with the shock stick. (I wonder if that was in the original script.) Ralph says that he will also bring paper bags to drop out the hotel window. I think that Ed says that during a Raccoon convention in New York, the police ordered some Raccoons in hotel to stop throwing water bags out the window. Ed didn't obey. He kept on throwing water bags out until he almost drowned (the window was closed.) Ralph: "That figures, with you doing it." Ed told a variation same story in "Unconventional Behavior." A Raccoon convention in New York? Ralph and Ed probably wouldn't have had to travel far for that one considering that they live in BROOKLYN. Ralph also says that he will bring his piece of resistence (a toy gun). When he brings it out, the teeth start chattering again and they have to get it to stop. He says that he will use the gun to tease people to think that he is a robber. Ralph says that he has no money and he will get it from Alice. Alice comes out. Ralph tries the flattery routine to coax some money out of Alice. Ralph: "By the way cupcake..." Ed: "What is it Ralph?" Ralph: "Alice is cupcake. You are a piece of fruitcake." Ralph then syas that the convention is coming up and asks Alice to invite her mother to come by. Alice: "You are not getting a dime." Ralph: "Then that BAT isn't getting in here." Alice says that she's having none of the flattery--she's saving the money. Ralph: "When you save the money, you can't take it with you." Alice: "You are right. I never go anyplace." What about the trip (or two) to Europe, the (two) trips to Fred's Landing and the trips to Atlantic City? She is saving the money to buy furniture. Ralph says that they got more than enough furniture. Sure! Alice says that the Raccoon conventions are crazy and everytime she saves money, he goes wasting it. Alice: "The only thing that is overstuffed around here is YOU." Ralph: "That is the same line that your mother used when I threw her out bodily." Alice goes back into the bedroom. Ralph says that Alice never loved him and was only in love with his uniform. Ralph has one of his all-time-great brainstorms: they will get the Great Fatchoomara to hypnotize Alice so she'll tell Ralph where she's hidden the money. Ralph says that the G.F. will help him since he's a fellow Raccoon member and the Racoon slogan is: "E Pluribus Raccoonibus." Ralph & Ed sing: "It Looks Like We Are Going To The Big Convention."
The next day Alice is in Max's candy store, making a telephone call and in walk Ralph and Norton to call Fatchoomara. They don't know it is Alice in the telephone booth, and while they're waiting for her to hang up. They discuss Ralph's scheme. Ralph: "I may have discovered the greatest boon to married men since the aspirin." They try to get the woman out. Ed concocts a scheme. They will go across the street, call here, and tell this lady that she is wanted home and they will go back here and call the G.F. Ralph says that that idea is stupid because this phone would be busy if they did that (this episode was obviously done before call waiting was invented.) Ed says that they will go across the street to call the G.F., but they don't have to call here. Ralph thinks that that is a good idea. They leave. Alice calls the library and asks for information on hypnotism. She spells it out. Alice: "H-y-n-o-p..." Yes, Shelia slightly flubbed her line when she tried to spell hypnotism.
Time for the middle commercial bumper.
At home, Alice is with Trixie. Alice reveals that what Ralph just said earlier in ther day and that she plans on fighting the hypnotism. They both sing: "The Day A Woman Can't Outsmart A Man." The boys (along with the G.F.) arrive. Ed says that Trixie should leave to get some beef steak for that black eye that she will get if she doesn't go upstairs. She leaves. Ralph introduces Henry Wranker. Ed: "Professionally known as the Great Fatchoomara." Ralph acts as if Ed almost blew his whole plan. Alice asks what does he do for a living. Ed says that he's a lawyer. Ralph says that Henry likes antiques so he wants him to see his stick pen. Alice: "Don't show him that. Show him the ice box." The G.F. shows her the watch. When Fatchoomara tries to hypnotize Alice, Alice is ready for him and fakes being hypnotized into thinking that she is a dog while the boys accidentally get hypnotized into thinking that they are dogs. When Henry sees this, he snaps the boys out. Ralph: "I wish you would hypnotize me. I just want to see how it feels." When Ralph asks Henry to ask Alice where the money is, he says: "All's fair in love and war." Ed: "In this marriage, it's a little bit of both." Ralph then reveals his plan when he gets the money. He will hide it back in the place where Alice put it and take it with him at the last second. When Ed questions him about what he will do when he comes back and finds out that Alice found out that the money is missing, he is stumped. Ed: "Are you (the G.F.) are going to be available in a few weeks?" Ralph says that he will think of something before then. Under hypnotism, Alice shows Ralph where she's hidden the money. As Alice is trying to show the money, she is showing where certain things are in order for her to get the money. Getting agitated, Ralph says, if there is another key, he is going to make sure that she gets hers. The money is shown. Ralph: "There is $180 here. She was going to blow this on furniture. The G.F. tells Alice to go into the bedroom and take a nap and that she won't remember any of this. Alice leaves the room. As Ralph and Ed talk about the convention, Mike says that he can't go because his wife won't let him.
On the train to the convention, the Raccoons are on the bar car and they are drinking and having fun. Ralph relates the whole story to Rocky (the Raccoon with the raspy voice). Ralph then tells the rest of the story to some more Racoons. Ralph says that Alice will have to get up early in the morning to put something over on him. Ed plays the Raccoon National Anthem on the piano which goes:
"From the hallowed streets of Greenpernt,
To the shores of Sheepshead Bay,
From the Verrazano Narrows,
To Canarsie across the way...
We have come together, one and all,
In fellowship to commune,
And to glorify the Grand Exalted
Brotherhood of Raccoons."
All of them sit down. When the bill for the bar comes, Ralph offers to pay it. The tab is $13.89. He opens the money box, but instead of finding the cash he finds some toy snakes and a note -- from Alice. Ed reads it: "Dear Ralph, I may not be a hypnotist like the Great Fatchoomara but I have made a monkey out of a Raccoon." Ralph is upset. All the Raccoons retire for the night. Ralph & Ed sit down. Ed pays the tab for Ralph. Ralph doesn't know what he will do. Just then, a fellow Raccoon (I think) approaches Ralph with an envelope that is from Alice. Ralph opens it to find more than $100 in there along with a note. Dear Ralph: I thought I let you suffer for the dirty trick that you played on me. In spite of everything, I decided to give you the money. I guess any man that works as hard as you do all year is entitled to some fun. Have a good time. Love, Alice." If this episode was going to be shown on TV today, you wold hear the studio aduience say: "Awwwwww!" Ralph says that he doesn't deserve a wife like Alice. He is going to use some of the money to buy Alice a present. What is the present? An Indian head carved out of a coconut. Ralph & Ed leave the car.
At the curtain call, Jackie says: "How sweet it is!" He praises the Miami Beach audience. He introduces the cast. The guy who played the G.F. was played by Richard Deacon. (Jackie said Robert by mistake, I think.) He then introduces the regular cast members. Shelia comes out with striped pajams and tossing dollar bills out for fun.
When the credits roll, the credits are in a different font. I liked the ending of this version of "The Hypnotist" better than the origianl one because of the fact that Alice let Ralph have the money after all. Shelia's Alice was certainly the gentler Alice.
Episode #182
TV: Hour (edited.)
DVD: Attached to "Sleepy Time Gal" & "Follow The Boys."
Color Episode Title: “Boy Next Door”
Lost Episode Title: “Love Letter”
In the Nick Clooney intro, Nick is shown what I think is inside his house as he introduces this episode.
Ralph and Ed are practicing playing golf. You can tell that the background is indeed fake. They are both wearing pretty loud golf attire. Both of them want to go first, so Ralph says that they put their hands on the golf club and the person whose hand that is on top wins Ed wins. Ralph says that Ed didn't win yet and now he has to spin the golf club around three times. He does. Ralph said that he lost because he didn't yell: "Fore!" Yep, Ralph is making the rules as he goes along. Ralph tires to put the golf ball down on the tee but he can't because he's so fat. Ralph then says that Ed should go first. Ed "prepares" in typical fashion. This aggreviates Ralph, so he says that he will go first (since Ed managed to put the ball on the ground). Ralph tries to hit the ball as Ed coughs. This distracts Ralph. Ralph is upset. Ralph "swings" and misses. Ed says that he is too tense so he tells him to loosen himself up by wiggling his arms and waist. After this, Ralph goes to hit the ball and hits himself in the leg. This scene is very similar to the scene in "The Golfer." I thought they should at least have Ed say: "Hello Ball!" Ralph sits down. Ed gets himself and Ralph a soda each. They talk about golf and Ralph mentions that his boss, Mr. Marshall, loves the game so much that he suggested moving the entire bus company down to Miami Beach, Florida just so he can play all year round. Ed says that he is a nut for suggesting that and Ralph agrees which is somewhat strange since Jackie moved his entire TV show operation down to Miami Beach, Florida because one of the reasons is that he wanted to play golf all-year-round. Ralph then says if Mr. Marshall did indeed move the bus company down to Florida, he wouldn't mind since the Miami Beach customers are the best customers in the world. the audience claps. Ed says that in the sewer, they have a saying: "The water is always greener on the other side of the street." Ralph says that Alice has been acting funny. Every time he wants to take her out, she says that she has somewhere to go and won't reveal what she's going. Ed says that he never took Trixie out. Alice has been cooking up great dinners of Ralph. Ed: "Maybe she is trying to fatten you up." Ralph then says that after dinner, she goes down to get Ralph some ice cream and to call someone but she won't say who she is calling. Ralph doesn't ask who she is calling because he doesn't want to get nasty and cause himself to not get any ice cream. Ralph & Ed sing: "When A Woman Treats You Good, That's Bad!"
Alice borrows a cookbook from Trixie and in it finds a love letter that Ed once wrote to Trixie. Alice leaves it on the kitchen table. This whole part was edited out on AmericanLife and I think it's stupid that this channel did that. I'll tell you why later on. Ralph later comes in. Trixie is hiding Ralph's birthday present behind his back. She leaves. Ralph looks at the dinner that Alice made for him. Ralph: "Alice, we are going to have a little talk. What is going on?" Ralph questions all the things that Alice has been doing like cooking all those dinners and calling people. Alice says that she has been calling nobody. Ralph: "Nobody is someone you yell out the window." Alice says that she has been calling her mother. Ralph: "Have you been playing the horses again?" Alice says that her mother has nothing to do with the horses. Alice says that Ralph has been getting suspicious for no good reason. Ralph then asks Alice all the times that he wanted to take her out, but Alice keeps on saying that she is busy. When Ralph wanted to stay home, Alice gave him money to play poker somehwere Ralph can't stand it any longer. Ralph: "Why are you treating me so good?" Alice is happy that Ralph is no idea what Alice is planning. She goes into the bedroom. Ralph goes to eat his dinner. Alice leaves, much to Ralph's chagrin. Ralph goes to eat his dinner. Ralph finds the letter. The audience goes: "Ooooh!" because the edited footage was shown to them and they woner what Ralph is going to do. If a casual fan saw this episode on AmericanLife, they would be wondering why the audience is making that sound. Ralph (reading it): "'I love you! I love you! Signed: Your lover. P.S.: I love you!'" Naturally Ralph thinks that Alice is seeing another man. Ed comes in and says that the reason why Alice has been acting so strange is probably because that she is planning a surprise birthday party for him (since he has a birthday coming up). Gee, this episode episode was shown on Oct. 12, 1968, "Love Letter" (version 1) was shown in '54 a couple of days after Oct. 12. "Love Letter" (version 2) was shown on Nov. 24, 1956 and "Pardon My Glove" was shown on Mar. 17, 1956. In both episodes, Alice prepares for Ralph's birthday. Also, in "King of The Castle" & "Battle of The Sexes", Ralph is a Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) & in "Stars Over Flatbush", Ralph is a Taurus (April 21-May 21). Ralph reads the letter to Ed. Ed: "That is sweet Ralph. Who are you going to send it to?" Ralph tells Ed the whole situation. He says that it all adds up. Ralph: "Everyone in the neighborhood knows about this. I am probably the laughingstock of the whole neighborhood. Am I the neigherborhood's laughingstock?" Ed: "Yeah, and they don't even know about this yet." Ed tries to recognize the handwriting. The audience laughs because they know that Ed wrote it, but the American Life TV audiences don't. Ed tries to find out who wrote it (he doesn't know that he himself wrote it). Ed says he has seen the handwriting before. Ed: "I know this handwriting as well as I know my own." Ralph says he will take the letter to a handwriting expert. Ed says that it is a good idea. Ralph: "When I find out the guy, I will kill him." Ed: "I want to be there to see it." The audience laughs. Ralph: "Don't worry. You will. What would Alice want with another man when she has me?" They both sing: "I Don't Understand Her (Alice) At All" in which Ralph sings: "Believe me, I am not dumb." Sure.
Ralph & Ed go to a Mrs. Paterson (a letter analyst at a newspaper). Ed: "With you on hte trail, I hate to be the guy who wrote that letter. Mrs. Paterson comes in (with the audience applauding.) Ralph tries to explain the whole situation but twists his facts and explains that the man in the spot is a friend but he accidently says that he will find out who stole his (Ralph's) wife. The analyst sees the letter and says that the writer is the romantic type, is not very orderly, is rude, going through life in a sloppy manner and not too bright. The things she notices are that he dotted a T, didn't close his O's and he crossed a L. Ed says that he knows the handwriting from somewhere, but he is stumped. She also notices that he misspelled beauty. He spells it b-u-t-e-y. Ed says that is the way he spells it. Ralph tries to correct him. It's spelled: B-a-t..." Mrs. Paterson: "It's b-e-a-u-t-y." Ralph: "Of course it is. Why did you have to tell him? Why couldn't you let him wallow in his own ignorance? We know that he is stupid, rude and sloppy." The analyst says she is busy and will analyze the letter later and mail it to Ralph. Ed volunteers to write down the address. D'oh! Big surprise coming for Ralph. Ed starts to write down the address but he does his usual warming up which causes Ralph to yell. Yeah, Ralph just embarrassed Ed in front of Mrs. Paterson. Ed writes down the address with his zipcode: 402369. The world's first six digit zipcode. Also, didn't Ed reveal a different zipcode in "We Spy"? Ralph & Ed try to leave. Mrs. Paterson sees the handwriting and asks if she could speak to Ralph alone. Ed leaves. She knows it was Norton who wrote the letter. Ralph doesn't believe it and says he will kill him. Mrs. Paterson says that Alice may not care for Ed and give her the benefit of a doubt. Ralph: "If they do like each other, POW! ZOOM!" Ralph leaves.
At home, Trixie asks Alice for her large mixing bowl. She wants to start on the potato salad for Ralph's party. She asks Trixie if Ed can come along and help her buy a bowling ball for Ralph's birthday (she doesn't know which one is good for Ralph.) She says yes. Alice won't tell Ed about the surprise birthday party because he will blab it to Ralph. Ed comes down. Trixie leaves. Alice talks to Ed and not blab to Ralph her secret. Ed thinks that Alice is seeing another man (but he doesn't tell her that). Alice: "I knew that Garrity couldn't keep his mouth shut or was it the person down at the sporting good store?" Ed doesn't know what to make of all this. Ed: "Does Garrity know anything about the man from the sporting good sotre?" Alice doesn't know what Ed is talking about. Alice asks Ed to help her choose a bowling ball for Ralph. Ed says yes he will. With the ball he is going to get, Ed claims that he will go out every night. Alice says that he will go out one night a week for bowling. Ed & Alice make plans to go out as Ed puts his hands on Alice's shoulders. Ralph sees where Ed's hands are and thinks that Ed & Alice are lovers (but he doesn't hear what Ed & Alice are planning.) Ralph claims that he had a the worst day of his life. Alice will cook him his dinner. Ed says to Ralph that Alice is true blue. Ralph invites him to spend the evening with him and Alice. Ed declines and leaves. Ralph can't believe it. Ralph: "I threw Alice in his arms." Alice comes out. Alice heard him mumbling. Alice: "You must have had a worse day than I thought." Ralph: "On the contarary, today was one of the finest days of my life." Didn't Ralph just say that he had a bad day? Ralph comes back out with a grey robe. Ralph wants to have a night alone just the two of them. Alice has other plans. She wants to go out. She leaves. Ralph: "She is going to meet Norton. She didn't even ask me if I wanted ice cream."
Ralph arrives at Norton's apartment. We finally see what Norton's living room/dining area looked like back then. Trixie says that Ralph looks worried. Ralph has to tell her something and it won't be easy. Ralph tries to tell her, but he can't. Ralph says that nothing is bother ing him. He has the best safety record down at the bus company, the union is going to give bus drivers 4 cents an hour starting next month and the Racoons might send him to Red Bank, New Jersey for a convnetion. Didn't they just have one in the last episode? Ralph says that he has everything to be happy about. Trixie says that he forgot that he ahs a wife in Alice. Ralph cries. Ralph reveals that Alice is seeing another man and is out with another man. Trixie says that isn't true and that she is out with Ed. Ralph: "Exactly!" Ralph gets a hold of himself. Trixie turns on the radio. Announcer: "And now for a change of mood, we have a request for LB down at Jack's Diner and he is hoping that JM is listening." He plays: "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now." Ralph hits the radio (which causes it to turn off). Trixie comes out. Ralph: "I know who's kissing her now and wait until you find out." Ralph shows Trixie the letter that Ed "sent" to Alice. Trixie sees the letter and laughs. Ralph: "Don't you realize the seriousness in this. 'I love you!' 'I love you!' 'I love you!' 'I love you!' 'I love you!'" Ed comes down as Ralph is saying that to Trixie and thinks that he is trying to steal Trixie. Ralph accuses Ed of stealing Alice. Ralph tells Ed to fight. Trixie explains the whole thing. Ralph doesn't believe it. Ralph: "What was it doing in my apartment?" Alice: "I got it from a recipe book from Trixie." Ed: "I knew I recognized that handwriting." Ralph still doesn't believe it. Ralph: "What we you doing with him tonight." Alice won't reveal why. Ralph says that she will and she will reveal all the mysterious phone calls too. Alice explains the reason for all those calls were for his surprise birthday party and Ed was with her to pick out a bowling ball for him. Alice (starting to cry), hands Ralph the wrapped up bowling ball): "Happy Birthday!" I don't like to see Alice crying. Ralph unwraps it. He is very grateful. Ed: "Happy Birthday Ralph! You are a sweet, ungrateful wretch." Ralph is not mad at that. Ralph apologizes to Alice. Ralph says that he is jealous and if he even hears about things like her seeing another guy, he goes nuts. Alice forgives him. Alice: "Not every woman has a husband that is still jealous after 17 years." All of them sing: "Baby, You're The Very Greatest Of All!"
At the curtain call, Jackie introduces Kim Hunter who played "Mrs. Paterson" and the rest of the cast.
During the credit roll, Johnnny Olsen says: "Don't forget to tune in next week for the Jackie Gleson Show."
Credit goes to Yahoo! Groups You're A Riot!