Does anyone really care for the Color Honeymooners?

Yes, I know it's somewhat made to be like a carry-on of the original Honeymooners but, I don't know I can't can't really get in to them like the originals.

The originals to me just have more of a fun and older feel, also without Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph, I just don't feel the same way about Alice and Trixie as I did.

Does anyone really enjoy the Color Honeymooners?

I just don't feel they can really compare to the originals.

I've stated my opinion on these episodes several times in the past, so to save myself the extra typing, I'll just link you to an old post of mine:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=3110122&postcount=6

Does anyone really care for the Color Honeymooners?

Yes, I know it's somewhat made to be like a carry-on of the original Honeymooners but, I don't know I can't can't really get in to them like the originals.

The originals to me just have more of a fun and older feel, also without Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph, I just don't feel the same way about Alice and Trixie as I did.

Does anyone really enjoy the Color Honeymooners?

I just don't feel they can really compare to the originals.



I do! I do!

No, they're not the Classic 39, but I like to think of them as mini Broadway musicals. The acoustics of the auditorium and the thunderous applause really give the impression of watching a filmed stage production as opposed to viewing a sitcom. As for Sheila and Jane, they're not Audrey or Joyce, to be sure. Then again, Audrey and Joyce weren't Pert or Elaine. I think Ms. Meadows and Randolph are certainly the duo that owns the parts and made them their own, but I also think that has been influenced by the fact that during my childhood, they were the only versions of the characters I would see. For many of us, those classic 39 were the Gospel of the Honeymooners According to Gleason, and as I always point out, what other show lasted in constant syndication for some thirty years with only 39 episodes? So, for what they are, I enjoy the color shows a lot, though I think they were starting to run out of steam in the final season. The world was changing and I think the last episode, "Operation Protest" was more than a passing nod that Ralph Kramden was becoming a fish out of water.

I do! I do!

No, they're not the Classic 39, but I like to think of them as mini Broadway musicals. The acoustics of the auditorium and the thunderous applause really give the impression of watching a filmed stage production as opposed to viewing a sitcom. As for Sheila and Jane, they're not Audrey or Joyce, to be sure. Then again, Audrey and Joyce weren't Pert or Elaine. I think Ms. Meadows and Randolph are certainly the duo that owns the parts and made them their own, but I also think that has been influenced by the fact that during my childhood, they were the only versions of the characters I would see. For many of us, those classic 39 were the Gospel of the Honeymooners According to Gleason, and as I always point out, what other show lasted in constant syndication for some thirty years with only 39 episodes? So, for what they are, I enjoy the color shows a lot, though I think they were starting to run out of steam in the final season. The world was changing and I think the last episode, "Operation Protest" was more than a passing nod that Ralph Kramden was becoming a fish out of water.


I totally agree with you MrBand... I don't think it's a matter of "comparing" them to the older shows because nothing really compares to those... but I like them because they are a different... in my collection, it's really nice to have the three versions of the Honeymooners (The Lost, The Classic 39, and The Color)... they're just different, that's all, and I really enjoy seeing Jackie and Art do the musicals together...

and on a personal note, since I was born in the late 60's myself, it's really nice to see what Jackie and Art were doing around the time I was born, not to mention that I was born and raised in Miami, and currently still live only the next county over... but most importantly, I believe that the comedy was still hilarious in The Color Honeymooners... Jackie and Art showed us that they STILL had it!

I've stated my opinion on these episodes several times in the past, so to save myself the extra typing, I'll just link you to an old post of mine:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=3110122&postcount=6

That was a great post Bill S... I agreed with everything you explained... like you said, they're nice to watch, and they're not something that you would watch as often as the Lost or Classic, but the Color episodes are definitely nice to watch from time to time... it's a nice change, and I'm glad Gleason did them so that we would have another little twist in our Honeymooners collection to enjoy.

That was a great post Bill S... I agreed with everything you explained... like you said, they're nice to watch, and they're not something that you would watch as often as the Lost or Classic, but the Color episodes are definitely nice to watch from time to time... it's a nice change, and I'm glad Gleason did them so that we would have another little twist in our Honeymooners collection to enjoy.

I don't care for them...notice I didn't say I 'hated' them. I watched them once or twice and didn't feel the 'hook' that I do with the original show. I have never been big on theatre productions. Yes, I love a musical movie, but plays no. Gleason and Carney have always had the carisma when they worked together as they did in Izzy & Moe.

Audrey Meadows had something special to play Alice. She was beautiful, but her acerbic tongue and delivery couldn't be matched with any other actress that took the part of Alice. And the extent that she went to to originally get the part is legendary. Yes, she was beautiful and that's why Gleason turned her down the first time. But once she made Jackie realize that she was perfect for the part...the rest was history. Alice was supposed to be beautiful, but no one was really supposed to notice except Ralph, but of course the audience noticed. Sheila MacRae was attractive as was the whole MacRae family, but she just was not Alice to me.

I'm glad others enjoy the color Honeymooners and I'm glad they are available for the fans. But seeing that we got rid of cable, I don't have to worry about watching them. And until I get my health straightened out and get a job. My priority with be to get the Lost episodes on DVD first. They were, in my opinion the best. The ideas were at their freshest and Gleason was at his funniest.

Take care!
Carol

That was a great post Bill S... I agreed with everything you explained... like you said, they're nice to watch, and they're not something that you would watch as often as the Lost or Classic, but the Color episodes are definitely nice to watch from time to time... it's a nice change, and I'm glad Gleason did them so that we would have another little twist in our Honeymooners collection to enjoy.
Thanks. I will admit, it is fun to compare the remakes to the original versions, but from what I've seen up until this point, I prefer the originals. I've said this before, and I'll say it again, I've always looked at the black & white shows and the color shows as two completely different series (like what "The Lucy Show" and "Here's Lucy" are compared to "I Love Lucy.") Even though with the Honeymooners, the characters remained the same, it was just a whole different feel overall. The switch from New York to Miami played a pretty big role in this as well...it's hard to imagine the characters being in a small Brooklyn apartment when their voice echoes and they all have Miami sun tans.

I don't care for them...notice I didn't say I 'hated' them. I watched them once or twice and didn't feel the 'hook' that I do with the original show. I have never been big on theatre productions. Yes, I love a musical movie, but plays no. Gleason and Carney have always had the carisma when they worked together as they did in Izzy & Moe.

Audrey Meadows had something special to play Alice. She was beautiful, but her acerbic tongue and delivery couldn't be matched with any other actress that took the part of Alice. And the extent that she went to to originally get the part is legendary. Yes, she was beautiful and that's why Gleason turned her down the first time. But once she made Jackie realize that she was perfect for the part...the rest was history. Alice was supposed to be beautiful, but no one was really supposed to notice except Ralph, but of course the audience noticed. Sheila MacRae was attractive as was the whole MacRae family, but she just was not Alice to me.
I really enjoyed this post, I couldn't have said it better myself. And you're so right about Audrey Meadows, I believe her sister Jayne said it best..."Audrey was born to play Alice." Not to discredit Sheila MacRae, or Jane Kean for that matter, but I find it very difficult to accept anybody as Alice and Trixie besides Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph.

My priority with be to get the Lost episodes on DVD first. They were, in my opinion the best. The ideas were at their freshest and Gleason was at his funniest.
I'm a pretty big Lost Episodes fan myself, but I just had to comment on this. The more I see fans expressing interest in purchasing the Lost Episodes on DVD, the angrier I get at MPI. See, you're new to the board, so you probably haven't heard much, if anything at all, about MPI's "plans" to re-release these episodes. Since the "Love Letter" sketch was discovered in 2004, this re-release is something MPI's been "working on." Yet, as of late, there haven't been any updates. On the current DVD set (which is highly overpriced for the amount of episodes per disk), you will find 76 episodes. Interestingly, the VHS collection has a total of 78. As if that weren't enough, in addition to those 78, there's actually 25 episodes that have NEVER been released in any set. Take a look at these links from my website for more information on the 27 sketches that are missing from the DVD collection:
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/honeymooners/Stillost.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/honeymooners/europe.html

I’ve only watched a few and for me, that was enough. There were several reasons I found the color episodes hard to watch or enjoy. Naturally, the lack of Audrey and Joyce gave the show a totally different feel and to be honest I thought Sheila MacRae and Jane Kean were terrible actresses (and yes I gave them a fair chance). Then there was the physical appearances of Jackie and Art. Let me just start by saying I KNOW physical appearance isn’t everything and that it’s all in the energy and chemistry these two shared on stage. With Jackie looking aged and tired from all the weight he had lost and no doubt his heavy drinking catching up with him and Art who was at the time suffering uncontrollably with his drinking, looking heavy and just run down, that energy they had in the 50’s, in my opinion, was lacking and that made it incredibly hard for me to watch. I remember the first time I saw one of these color episodes, the first thing that came to my mind was “my God, where did all the magic of this show go?” Maybe some still saw it but I didn’t. Lastly the new “tone” of the 60’s episodes weren’t my thing but I realize some may actually have enjoyed that.
Please don't misunderstand me---I respect the work of both Jackie and Art but I do think Jackie should have known better. He had a wonderful show in the 50’s, a show people today still adore and IMO he should have left well enough alone and focused on something different.

Please don't misunderstand me---I respect the work of both Jackie and Art but I do think Jackie should have known better. He had a wonderful show in the 50’s, a show people today still adore and IMO he should have left well enough alone and focused on something different.
I agree, a reunion special every few years or so (like the 1966 "Adoption" remake) would've been nice, but a whole series of hour-long musicals wasn't really necessary.

Also, is it only me, or does the color episodes, really seem COLORFUL?

I mean sometimes it feels hippy or something. I mean I knew Norton was in to wild clothes, but all that purples and plaid and everything, is just like woah. Then the remake of Little Man Who Wasn't There was like, a weird green to me for a pool room's curtains.

Also, why is it, I've always noticed this, if you watch color from like the 60s or around that time, it always is like the color is bright and everything, then it's like when you watch something from today, it's like the color is more neutral or just not as bright.

I'm watching the Color Honeymooners and sometimes it's feels like an explosion of colors, that are like holy heck, and sometimes you see the colors of now of day shows, and it's like boring or depressing.

Why do the older shows seem to have an explosion of colors, sometimes the colors seem so bright, it's as if the cause issues with tint or something, and the new shows seem so boring with colors as if they are actually the old shows?

Also, is it only me, or does the color episodes, really seem COLORFUL?

I mean sometimes it feels hippy or something. I mean I knew Norton was in to wild clothes, but all that purples and plaid and everything, is just like woah. Then the remake of Little Man Who Wasn't There was like, a weird green to me for a pool room's curtains.

Also, why is it, I've always noticed this, if you watch color from like the 60s or around that time, it always is like the color is bright and everything, then it's like when you watch something from today, it's like the color is more neutral or just not as bright.

I'm watching the Color Honeymooners and sometimes it's feels like an explosion of colors, that are like holy heck, and sometimes you see the colors of now of day shows, and it's like boring or depressing.

Why do the older shows seem to have an explosion of colors, sometimes the colors seem so bright, it's as if the cause issues with tint or something, and the new shows seem so boring with colors as if they are actually the old shows?

People were buying color sets and were anxious to see color programming,
so I would imagine producers went to extra lengths to be certain that they took advantage of all the palette possibilities. When the old shows are remastered today, the "pop" factor increases even moreso.

I actually like all three versions of the Honeymooners (Lost Eps, Classic 39, and the Color shows) but I would definitely put the "Classic 39" in first place.

I'm a pretty big Lost Episodes fan myself, but I just had to comment on this. The more I see fans expressing interest in purchasing the Lost Episodes on DVD, the angrier I get at MPI. See, you're new to the board, so you probably haven't heard much, if anything at all, about MPI's "plans" to re-release these episodes. Since the "Love Letter" sketch was discovered in 2004, this re-release is something MPI's been "working on." Yet, as of late, there haven't been any updates. On the current DVD set (which is highly overpriced for the amount of episodes per disk), you will find 76 episodes. Interestingly, the VHS collection has a total of 78. As if that weren't enough, in addition to those 78, there's actually 25 episodes that have NEVER been released in any set.

Hi Bill S... I understand your frustration, but I have an update for you with a recent personal story... I have had the set on VHS for the longest time, and just about three months ago or so, I decided to buy the entire DVD set in one shot (all six boxed sets)... there is one particular MPI distributor on eBay who sells the entire brand new six boxed sets of the Lost Episodes as one package price (well, at a very reasonable starting bid) including shipping, which if you end up getting it at the starting bid or near it (which I did), ends up being only $30 per boxed set INCLUDING shipping... that's the BEST deal I have seen so far for this entire set... if anyone out there wants details on this particular seller, please send me a private message and I will more than happy to give you the information...

anyway, when I was reading your post here (of which I quoted), I got confused because you mention that "Love Letter" is not part of the DVD set from MPI... however, in the new entire six boxed set that I received, 'Love Letter' is in Boxed Set Collection #3, Volume 12 to be exact as a "Bonus Episode"... after counting all the episodes in my new boxed set a few times to make sure I had an accurate count, there are 77 total "Episodes"... this is EXCLUDING any "Bonus Features" such as 'My Man Norton', 'Gleason's Honeybloopers', etc... I would then assume that 'Love Letter' must be a new addition to the MPI DVD set, and the reason why there are 77 total "Episodes" in my new collection, as opposed to the 76 that you had mentioned... so I just wanted to bring this to your attention, and update you... but you're right, there are those 25 episodes that have never been released in any set, so I hope that they will eventually get those out to us too...

Ralphie Boy

ps - for those of you out there that would want 'Love Letter' on DVD in addition to your DVD set that currently has 76 total episodes, I have a direct contact email to the customer service person at MPI (not the eBay seller I mentioned) that could take your order and get that one new volume/disc (Volume 12) to you that includes this episode.

I actually like all three versions of the Honeymooners (Lost Eps, Classic 39, and the Color shows) but I would definitely put the "Classic 39" in first place.

Hey Mike... I couldn't have said it better myself... I know that a lot of fans out there put the Lost Episodes first as their favorite of the Lost, Classic 39, and the Color, but the way I personally feel about it is this... I believe that the earlier shows (The Lost) was Gleason and the rest of the gang getting a feel for each other, and working on their timing of the comedy... you do have to admit that in some of the really early Lost Episodes, some of Gleason's timing on his, "One of these days, one of these days!..." toward Meadows was a little off, and didn't get the laughs that he expected (as compared to later shows)... in my opinion, all the writing was still pretty good in the earlier shows, and I love the situations that they were in, but in my opinion, the Classic 39 shows were flawless in all respects (acting, timing of the comedy, and the writing)...

I just think that all those years of doing the sketches on the Gleason show was, if you will, like practice for the Classic 39... now I know that some of the Lost Episodes were from the "What If" season of the latter part of 1956 into the summer of 1957, which would contradict my personal theory of the earlier years of being like "practice" prior to the Classic 39... but there is just something I couldn't put my finger on about these Lost Episodes that followed the Buick-sponsored season, which made them very similar to the feel of the episodes prior to the Classic 39 season... I believe this Prior Classic 39 feel was nailed on the head in Crescenti McCrohan book "The Honeymooners Lost Episodes"... they said:

These post-Classic Thirty-nine sketches are funny, often hilarious. Just like their immediate predecessors. But Strangely enough, in at least one obvious way they are more like the sketches that preceded the half-hour shows: back in use are Ralph's stock phrases and some Ralph-Alice shtick used in the variety-show version of The Honeymooners that were abandoned for the half-hours. And mysteriously missing--except once--is Ralph's most famous signature "Bang! Zoom!" It's almost as if the Classic Thirty-nine had never happened.

I LOVE ALL The Honeymooners episodes/sketches that Gleason ever produced, however I just believe and feel that those Classic 39 shows were, if you will, the "Platinum Collection" of The Lost, The Classic, and The Color episodes.

Also, is it only me, or does the color episodes, really seem COLORFUL?

I mean sometimes it feels hippy or something. I mean I knew Norton was in to wild clothes, but all that purples and plaid and everything, is just like woah. Then the remake of Little Man Who Wasn't There was like, a weird green to me for a pool room's curtains.

LOL!!!... I was thinking the same thing RedPenguin when I watched them for the first time... like you said, I thought the colors were so much brighter than even today's color television... with this very colorful showing, I truly believe that Gleason was trying to make a statement with that when he created these shows... I think it was quite obvious in the, as you said it, explosively colorful costumes that the actors and actresses were wearing... Gleason went without color with his Honeymooners show for the longest time, and I just think that he was trying to make up for lost "color time"...

This is the best analogy I can think of why he took this approach with the color... it's like locking someone up in a pitch black windowless room in a straight jacket for a month, taking it off of the person, and then throwing them into Disney World to do whatever they want for as long as they want... lol!... that's the best way I can explain it, but I think you know what I'm trying to say... anyway, good observation! :wave:

The Honeymooners in color just seems wrong - I can't picture it being anything but B&W. Audrey Meadows to me is the ONLY Alice. She had amazing timing and her put-downs were gold. :lol:

Why were musicals so common in the older days?

Even Red Skeleton had some musical to it. Even if many people I talk to never heard of the Skeleton.

Many never even heard of Mr. Jack Benny. I love the episode where he plays the Landlord, and they say he pinches a penny so tight, that heads and tails end up on the same side. Unless you really know what Jack Benny stood for, at least in his shows, I don't really think you can take that episode to it's fullest funniness, sure it's funny without even knowing who on Earth Jack Benny is, but it's so much funnier knowing who he is.

I mean come on, how many people know 19 year olds, that are into Jack Benny, Red Skeleton, The Honeymooners, I love lucy, etc. Most people want American Idol, Americas Got Talent, and deez reality shows. I do not like really any reality show except Dog The Bounty Hunter once in a while and these new SWAT shows on A&E. I want to break down someones door. ;). HeHe.

To the previous poster, yeah I know what you mean. Though I am curious, it's that the actual old set they used on the old honeymooners or just a recreation? I don't care for the paint on the walls if it really is.

I do enjoy some of the new stuff like, when Norton hung the laundry, he put on a fake nose and stuff, LoL.

I enjoy the remake of Little Man Who Wasn't There, but I really miss the beginning where Norton just walked in and ate some cookies and put water in the milk, then Ralph eventually puts in the letter, I forgive you for putting water in the milk, LoL. I think that added more funnyness to the episode. But it's weird, it feels like sometimes their window got bigger or something, LoL. I also miss the part where Ralph tells the doctor he was hitting his leg with a hammer, and not to get the wrong idea, he had Norton hit him. That was priceless. I do like when Ralph tells Alice, he's insane because his leg will not go up. LoL.

I guess I'm just not used to a new color look to everything, it feels as if it's like comparing the 90s to the 50s even though it was only the 50s and 60s. LoL.

anyway, when I was reading your post here (of which I quoted), I got confused because you mention that "Love Letter" is not part of the DVD set from MPI... however, in the new entire six boxed set that I received, 'Love Letter' is in Boxed Set Collection #3, Volume 12 to be exact as a "Bonus Episode"... after counting all the episodes in my new boxed set a few times to make sure I had an accurate count, there are 77 total "Episodes"... this is EXCLUDING any "Bonus Features" such as 'My Man Norton', 'Gleason's Honeybloopers', etc... I would then assume that 'Love Letter' must be a new addition to the MPI DVD set, and the reason why there are 77 total "Episodes" in my new collection, as opposed to the 76 that you had mentioned... so I just wanted to bring this to your attention, and update you... but you're right, there are those 25 episodes that have never been released in any set, so I hope that they will eventually get those out to us too...
The "Love Letter" on your Volume 12 is the 1956 version, I'm talking about the original version from 1954, which hasn't been officially released yet. As for there being 77 episodes in your set, it only seems that way because MPI, instead of releasing "What's Her Name" (1953) and the remake, "What's The Name" (1954), accidentally released "What's Her Name" twice. All in all, there are 27 episodes missing from the collection...nearly half of which I've seen and can confirm the existence of. If you're still confused, let me know, I'll do my best to help clear things up for you.

I mean come on, how many people know 19 year olds, that are into Jack Benny, Red Skeleton, The Honeymooners, I love lucy, etc. Most people want American Idol, Americas Got Talent, and deez reality shows. I do not like really any reality show except Dog The Bounty Hunter once in a while and these new SWAT shows on A&E. I want to break down someones door. ;). HeHe.

Well if you're saying that you're 19 years old RedPenguin (your profile is blank, so I couldn't verify it that way... lol), my response is... NOT MANY!... there is one frequent posting member, and friend of mine, in The Honeymooners section of this message board here that recently turned 20 (her age is in her profile, so I'm not breaking any privacy rules here lol) who is a HUGE Honeymooners fan ("AndAwayWeGo")... so I would have to say that you and her are the only two in that age group that I know who are such big fans of the show... you're obviously two old souls who have awesome taste in Television shows!...

I'm 40 (will be 41 near the end of this month), and the original airing of the Classic 39 ended 10 years before I was even born... so in reality, I'm not really supposed to be a huge fan either, since all that was ever showed when I was little were re-runs of the Classic 39 here and there... and I was just graduating Highschool when Gleason released the Lost Episodes in 1984... so you guys being 19 and 20, and having such a knowledge/passion of the show is definitely a rarity and GREAT to see!... which goes to prove ONCE again... age is ONLY a number! :D

HeHe. Yeah. I am 19.

My mother got me into them, when she bought some CBS Video tapes of The Honeymooners where they had two episodes a piece on them, and I would watch them over and over, especially since there was almost never anything on here.

She had some of the priceless episodes in my opinon, Something Fishy, Oh My Aching Back, The Babysitter, Hello Mom, TV or Not TV. I watch these over and over and feel very close to these episodes, but I'm glad I eventually went to watch the rest on TVLand and on WPIX from New York, but I'm mad my cable company got rid of WPIX from New York, so I can't even watch the New Years Eve marathons anymore, but oh well, I can make my own marathon any time I want.

Until I finally saw The Sleepwalker, I was like, what sleepwalking attack that Norton had a while ago? It was like an eye opener, then after seeing it, when I watch Oh My Aching Back again, I was like, oh now it makes sense, and it suddenly became funnier. LoL.

The old time TV stars just seemed like they new how to do it. It's funny because in most new shows, I could care less who the director is, who each actor is, but when I watch old TV shows, I want to know every characters history and how they got into the show and into show business.

Now of days, it's like anyone can be replaced so easily on TV, like in Three's Company, look how easily they replaced the third roommate, yet, to this day, I have never met another Lucille Ball, another Jackie Gleason, another Art Carney, another Desi Arnaz, etc. I love Lucy's ewwwww and Jackie's eyes, when he gets scared or something shocks him, it's like he makes his eyes almost come out of his head, like in Suspense when he hears Trixe say "But you couldn't resort to Murder" LoL.

I don't think any of the old shows have a chance of being replaced, at least in my mind. You never people, can keep your American Idol, So you think you can dance, and these other shows, but I'm going to keep on The Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, etc.

Some people now of days need drugs and alcohol, but just give me TVLand and Nick-At-Nite and AOL In2TV, and I'm high the whole night, naturally, LoL.

I mean come on, how many people know 19 year olds, that are into Jack Benny, Red Skeleton, The Honeymooners, I love lucy, etc.
Okay, none of my friends (or me for that matter) know anything about Jack Benny, or Red Skelton but I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners are actually pretty well known among people in my age group (20). Mostly I Love Lucy though as that's still shown on TV a lot but all in all it's young people enjoying the classics just as our parents did. And I know there's one or two 19 year olds that have posted on the ILL board before.


I do not like really any reality show except Dog The Bounty Hunter once in a while and these new SWAT shows on A&E. I want to break down someones door. ;). HeHe.

LOL, my best friend is hooked on Dog The Bounty Hunter...it's a good show I just wish someone would tell him the 80's are long over and give his wifey a proper top so her "girls" aren't always spilling out.
Eh, give me Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe over anything on TV today and I'm a happy girl :grineyes: :lol:.

The "Love Letter" on your Volume 12 is the 1956 version, I'm talking about the original version from 1954, which hasn't been officially released yet. As for there being 77 episodes in your set, it only seems that way because MPI, instead of releasing "What's Her Name" (1953) and the remake, "What's The Name" (1954), accidentally released "What's Her Name" twice. All in all, there are 27 episodes missing from the collection...nearly half of which I've seen and can confirm the existence of. If you're still confused, let me know, I'll do my best to help clear things up for you.

Hi Bill S... ok thanks so much for clearing that up... when I was watching my boxed set for the first few times, I THOUGHT that there was a double episode in there... you're right, those two are in boxed sets 3 and 6... in print (on the box and in the insert) they have "What's The Name" on boxed set 6, but when you play the episode, everything is identical to "What's Her Name" including the beginning title before the episode itself... it just didn't register as I was watching the episodes boxed set by boxed set... wow, now I feel as though I was gypped!... lol!... I did hear from a very good friend of mine (a frequent poster on this message board) that there was some mix up within MPI's DVD set, but he couldn't tell me specifically... I'm glad you cleared it up for me... thanks again! :wave:

HaHa Mike Rowe is crazy in Dirty Jobs but just plain crazy anywhere.

Mythbuters is wicked also though.

If you don't like either show, don't hate the playa, hate the game.

HaHa, I love the Color Honeymooners.

I like the Hollywood Trip, when the guy says, "Who do think you are, Jackie Gleason?" to Ralph. LoL. I like when Ralph says, I'm not that nuts.

That reminds me of the episode, where Ralph wants to get Jackie Gleason to go to the Racoon Lodge, and Ralph says Gleason is funnier in the Jackie Gleason Show and Norton says Carney is funnier. Only old shows seem to be able to pull of this kind of comedy, LoL.

HaHa Mike Rowe is crazy in Dirty Jobs but just plain crazy anywhere.
Yeah, he is! He's actually pretty laid back in person though.

Mythbuters is wicked also though.
I forgot about this one too! I was watching one the other day where they were trying to put out fires with the human voice.

Oooo and Mind Freak's Criss Angel...I'm so gonna meet him one of these days :p ...Oh, wait, what was this thread about...

That reminds me of the episode, where Ralph wants to get Jackie Gleason to go to the Racoon Lodge, and Ralph says Gleason is funnier in the Jackie Gleason Show and Norton says Carney is funnier. Only old shows seem to be able to pull of this kind of comedy, LoL.
"Catch A Star" That's one of the best ones IMO.

"Catch A Star" That's one of the best ones IMO.

Awesome episode... I'm so glad that Gleason agreed to have himself play himself, and Carney to play Carney in at least one of the episodes... which brings me back to what this thread was about... oh yeah AndAwayWeGo, The Color Honeymooners... lol!... in one of the Color Honeymooners episodes when they travel to Ireland, 'Curse of the Kramdens', one of the Irish guys there in the hotel mention that Jackie Gleason has a large suite that he usually reserves upstairs at the hotel they're staying at since he was Irish too... and in conversation, in response to a funny remark Norton makes regarding Jackie Gleason's weight, Ralph responds while chuckling, "That Gleason is a little chubby, isn't he?"... then Norton says, "Oh yeah he is!"... and starts laughing a little too much about it, when Ralph says to him in a serious tone, "You know, that Art Carney put on a few pounds too, you know!"... LOL!... I have to say that was my favorite Color Honeymooners moment.

Hi Bill S... ok thanks so much for clearing that up... when I was watching my boxed set for the first few times, I THOUGHT that there was a double episode in there... you're right, those two are in boxed sets 3 and 6... in print (on the box and in the insert) they have "What's The Name" on boxed set 6, but when you play the episode, everything is identical to "What's Her Name" including the beginning title before the episode itself... it just didn't register as I was watching the episodes boxed set by boxed set... wow, now I feel as though I was gypped!... lol!... I did hear from a very good friend of mine (a frequent poster on this message board) that there was some mix up within MPI's DVD set, but he couldn't tell me specifically... I'm glad you cleared it up for me... thanks again! :wave:
No problem. MPI did release "What's The Name" on VHS though, along with the 1957 version of "Manager Of The Baseball Team," which is mysteriously absent from the DVD release. They did screw things up with "Manager" originally though, by releasing the original version twice on the VHS collection, the same mistake they made with "What's Her Name"/"What's The Name" on DVD. Another episode MPI's had some trouble releasing is the 1954 remake of "Halloween Party For The Boss," which has been mistaken for it's original version on more than one occasion. But, if I remember correctly, the "Halloween Party" remake is one of two episodes MPI has confirmed will be on the upcoming re-release, along with the original version of "Love Letter." If you'd like to get your hands on the two episodes that were released on VHS, but not on DVD, you can purchase them from Amazon.com by clicking on the following links:
VHS Volume 10: "Cupid" & "Manager Of The Baseball Team" (1957 version) (http://www.amazon.com/Honeymooners-10-Manager-Baseball-Jackie-Gleason/dp/B00000F440/sr=1-2/qid=1171258123/ref=sr_1_2/104-4699305-2002369?ie=UTF8&s=video)
VHS Volume 27: "The People's Choice" & "What's The Name" (http://www.amazon.com/Honeymooners-27-Peoples-Choice-Whats/dp/6302345081/sr=1-1/qid=1171258150/ref=sr_1_1/104-4699305-2002369?ie=UTF8&s=video)

in one of the Color Honeymooners episodes when they travel to Ireland, 'Curse of the Kramdens', one of the Irish guys there in the hotel mention that Jackie Gleason has a large suite that he usually reserves upstairs at the hotel they're staying at since he was Irish too... and in conversation, in response to a funny remark Norton makes regarding Jackie Gleason's weight, Ralph responds while chuckling, "That Gleason is a little chubby, isn't he?"... then Norton says, "Oh yeah he is!"... and starts laughing a little too much about it, when Ralph says to him in a serious tone, "You know, that Art Carney put on a few pounds too, you know!"... LOL!... I have to say that was my favorite Color Honeymooners moment.
Yes, that was a very funny moment. Unfortunately, that whole bit was missing from the original 1957 version, obviously because the whole "Art Carney put on a few pounds too," joke wouldn't have made sense back then.

No problem. MPI did release "What's The Name" on VHS though, along with the 1957 version of "Manager Of The Baseball Team," which is mysteriously absent from the DVD release. They did screw things up with "Manager" originally though, by releasing the original version twice on the VHS collection, the same mistake they made with "What's Her Name"/"What's The Name" on DVD. Another episode MPI's had some trouble releasing is the 1954 remake of "Halloween Party For The Boss," which has been mistaken for it's original version on more than one occasion. But, if I remember correctly, the "Halloween Party" remake is one of two episodes MPI has confirmed will be on the upcoming re-release, along with the original version of "Love Letter." If you'd like to get your hands on the two episodes that were released on VHS, but not on DVD, you can purchase them from Amazon.com by clicking on the following links:

Thanks again Bill S... that's great to know!

Hey Mike... I couldn't have said it better myself... I know that a lot of fans out there put the Lost Episodes first as their favorite of the Lost, Classic 39, and the Color, but the way I personally feel about it is this... I believe that the earlier shows (The Lost) was Gleason and the rest of the gang getting a feel for each other, and working on their timing of the comedy... you do have to admit that in some of the really early Lost Episodes, some of Gleason's timing on his, "One of these days, one of these days!..." toward Meadows was a little off, and didn't get the laughs that he expected (as compared to later shows)... in my opinion, all the writing was still pretty good in the earlier shows, and I love the situations that they were in, but in my opinion, the Classic 39 shows were flawless in all respects (acting, timing of the comedy, and the writing)...

I just think that all those years of doing the sketches on the Gleason show was, if you will, like practice for the Classic 39... now I know that some of the Lost Episodes were from the "What If" season of the latter part of 1956 into the summer of 1957, which would contradict my personal theory of the earlier years of being like "practice" prior to the Classic 39... but there is just something I couldn't put my finger on about these Lost Episodes that followed the Buick-sponsored season, which made them very similar to the feel of the episodes prior to the Classic 39 season... I believe this Prior Classic 39 feel was nailed on the head in Crescenti McCrohan book "The Honeymooners Lost Episodes"... they said:

These post-Classic Thirty-nine sketches are funny, often hilarious. Just like their immediate predecessors. But Strangely enough, in at least one obvious way they are more like the sketches that preceded the half-hour shows: back in use are Ralph's stock phrases and some Ralph-Alice shtick used in the variety-show version of The Honeymooners that were abandoned for the half-hours. And mysteriously missing--except once--is Ralph's most famous signature "Bang! Zoom!" It's almost as if the Classic Thirty-nine had never happened.

I LOVE ALL The Honeymooners episodes/sketches that Gleason ever produced, however I just believe and feel that those Classic 39 shows were, if you will, the "Platinum Collection" of The Lost, The Classic, and The Color episodes.

Wow! Well said. I should have taken the time to write a more detailed comment with my first post but definitely I could not have said it better than you. I like how you worded everything because those are my exact thoughts and feelings about the "Classic39".

The Honeymooners in color just seems wrong - I can't picture it being anything but B&W. Audrey Meadows to me is the ONLY Alice. She had amazing timing and her put-downs were gold. :lol:

Thank you for saving me some typing.;)

Thank you for saving me some typing.;)
Anytime, my friend. :thumbsup:

Wow! Well said. I should have taken the time to write a more detailed comment with my first post but definitely I could not have said it better than you. I like how you worded everything because those are my exact thoughts and feelings about the "Classic39".

Thanks Mike!... yeah, I just wanted to lay out my exact thoughts on that... and also I believe that if you're a Honeymooners fan, you're a Honeymooners fan, and whether it's The Lost, The Classic 39, or The Color episodes, they're ALL great in their own way... I know that some Honeymooners fans put a red "X" through the Color shows because Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph weren't there, but EVEN JANE KEAN AND SHEILA MACRAE KNEW THEMSELVES THAT THEY COULD NEVER REPLACE THOSE TWO TV ICONS, and were JUST doing their jobs as actresses, so I HOLD NOTHING against them, Gleason, or the show itself...

hey, Gleason wanted to do the Honeymooners again in the 60's from his new home in Miami, but in a different flavor, if you will...so be it!... it just wasn't in the cards for Meadows and Randolph to be there, so Gleason hired Kean and MacRae as his best FILL-INS and NOT REPLACEMENTS... I'm NOT going to sit here and hold the absence of Meadows and Randolph in the Color shows against Gleason and/or The Honeymooners... IT IS WHAT IT IS, and I think that The Color episodes have their moments... I enjoy the musical parts because it's just a totally different style format... yeah, they weren't in their prime then (that's a given), but I still think Gleason and Carney were VERY entertaining singing together like that in those shows, even at the age they had attained then... I know that the Color episodes are obviously a lot different in comparison to The Lost and The Classic 39 Episodes, but no matter what way you look at it, it's STILL a nice and enjoyable performance from the masterful Carney and The Great One.

The Honeymooners in color just seems wrong - I can't picture it being anything but B&W. Audrey Meadows to me is the ONLY Alice. She had amazing timing and her put-downs were gold. :lol:
:yeahthat

Quick questions- Did Jackie actually pick Sheila and Jane for the roles? Or was that out of his hands?

Quick questions- Did Jackie actually pick Sheila and Jane for the roles? Or was that out of his hands?

Hi AndAwayWeGo... Gleason had the FINAL say on everything, and ESPECIALLY on something as critical as who were to play major roles such as Alice and Trixie... as you remember, he originally turned down Meadows because he thought she was too pretty, but she tricked him into hiring her by making herself look more rugged (a lot less glamorous) and sending a picture over to his office without him knowing it was the same girl he turned down the first time... he was the boss of the entire operation, so he definitely had the final say so on every actor who was hired and ultimately performed.

My priority with be to get the Lost episodes on DVD first. They were, in my opinion the best. The ideas were at their freshest and Gleason was at his funniest.
I so agree with that! I love the classic 39 but the Lost Episodes are the ones I look to when I want to watch the show. They seemed to really have a good time doing these and there's more bloopers in the Lost Episodes and that -to me- is the best! I also like that a lot of the episodes are over 30 minutes.

Someone was speaking of ages a few posts ago. Don't forget about me, I'm 28 now but I've been an active member/participant of the original 'Mooners board and now this one for what is probably close to 10 years.

I think it all depends on not just what is on TV reruns, but what you're raised on. Some of my best memories growing up were watching reruns of these shows with my Dad, and he's the one who's responsible for my love of the old comics.

As far as reruns go, I just wish TV Land and Nick at Nite actually were TV Land and Nick and Nite, and not "let's rerun the hell out of the same series over and over 10 times a night because we know everyone loves The Fresh Prince!" Right now, the channel that has close to my taste in reruns is American Life. Not because of the color episodes but also because of the Monday night block with Mary Tyler Moore, WKRP, and both of Bob Newhart's series.

I know that some Honeymooners fans put a red "X" through the Color shows because Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph weren't there, but EVEN JANE KEAN AND SHEILA MACRAE KNEW THEMSELVES THAT THEY COULD NEVER REPLACE THOSE TWO TV ICONS, and were JUST doing their jobs as actresses, so I HOLD NOTHING against them, Gleason, or the show itself...
Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't put a red "X" through the color shows, it's just, like I said, I don't really look at them as the same series. I still watch shows like "Here's Lucy" and "The Lucy Show," but I think any Lucille Ball fan would admit that they aren't as good as "I Love Lucy." The fact of the matter is, the color shows are just destined to stand alone. For example, if they were to release every version of the show in one set, the color episodes would stand out like a sore thumb. The Classic 39 & Lost Episodes could be released together, they're even broadcast together in syndication, but there were just too many changes made in the 60's for those shows to blend in with episodes from the 50's. That's most likely why they were given the name "The COLOR Honeymooners," instead of just simply "The Honeymooners."

it just wasn't in the cards for Meadows and Randolph to be there
Might I just add, Audrey turned Jackie down in the 60's, but I believe Joyce said in a more recent interview that nobody ever asked her to come back, even though she probably wouldn't have anyway. I also remember reading somewhere, I'm pretty sure in Audrey's book, that Jackie made a comment to Sheila about being more like Audrey, and that Audrey had told Sheila to just be herself and make the part her own.

As far as reruns go, I just wish TV Land and Nick at Nite actually were TV Land and Nick and Nite, and not "let's rerun the hell out of the same series over and over 10 times a night because we know everyone loves The Fresh Prince!"
At least TV Land still has shows like "I Love Lucy," "The Munsters," "All In The Family," and "The Jeffersons." If it didn't, I would probably never watch it.

I also remember reading somewhere, I'm pretty sure in Audrey's book, that Jackie made a comment to Sheila about being more like Audrey, and that Audrey had told Sheila to just be herself and make the part her own.

See that's why I kind of have a hard time believing Jackie had full say over who played Alice and Trixie. Jackie had almost a "radar" for quality actors/actresses (as we saw with Art and Audrey) so it always confused me as to how Sheila and Jane ended up with the roles...they were B-list actresses at best.

See that's why I kind of have a hard time believing Jackie had full say over who played Alice and Trixie. Jackie had almost a "radar" for quality actors/actresses (as we saw with Art and Audrey) so it always confused me as to how Sheila and Jane ended up with the roles...they were B-list actresses at best.
In Sheila's defense though, I think she made a better Alice than Pert Kelton and Sue Anne Langdon did. And you have to remember, Audrey didn't have many acting credits prior to The Honeymooners, and as somebody else mentioned, Jackie originally turned her down.

In Sheila's defense though, I think she made a better Alice than Pert Kelton and Sue Anne Langdon did. And you have to remember, Audrey didn't have many acting credits prior to The Honeymooners, and as somebody else mentioned, Jackie originally turned her down.
Oh yeah, no argument there about Pert Kelton.
Yes, but wasn't she turned down only because she was pretty? I'm pretty sure I read (in her book) that he thought she was good but because she was beautiful it was a no go at first.

Oh yeah, no argument there about Pert Kelton.
Yes, but wasn't she turned down only because she was pretty? I'm pretty sure I read (in her book) that he thought she was good but because she was beautiful it was a no go at first.
I can't remember exactly, but you're probably right. Either way, there's no doubt that Audrey was the best Alice. However, I think that even if Audrey had returned for the color shows, it wouldn't have made much of a difference. It obviously would've been a step up, but even Jackie & Art struggled (in my eyes) to keep the show alive. I have to admit though, seeing Audrey come out for the first time in that 1966 "Adoption" special was an incredible moment...she just walked into that kitchen like she'd never left.

I can't remember exactly, but you're probably right. Either way, there's no doubt that Audrey was the best Alice. However, I think that even if Audrey had returned for the color shows, it wouldn't have made much of a difference. It obviously would've been a step up, but even Jackie & Art struggled (in my eyes) to keep the show alive. I have to admit though, seeing Audrey come out for the first time in that 1966 "Adoption" special was an incredible moment...she just walked into that kitchen like she'd never left.
Exactly -like I said in my first post- that "energy" they had was lacking if not all together gone.
I agree, she walked in and owned that place. She knew she belonged in the role of Alice..you could just see it in her eyes.

Exactly -like I said in my first post- that "energy" they had was lacking if not all together gone.
I agree, she walked in and owned that place. She knew she belonged in the role of Alice..you could just see it in her eyes.
That's why, going back to one of my earlier posts, I think they should've just done reunion specials like that every few years or so, instead of making a whole new series out of it. It would've been that much more memorable had they done it that way.