I think he was the funniest straight man in a sitcom in a long while. Much funnier than Latka, Tony, Bobby and Elaine. Louie was in a class by himself, but Alex was hysterical. IMO

Judd Hirsch/Alex was definitely a terrific straight man. He won 2 Emmys for the role, deservedly so. He's right up there with Hal Linden as Barney Miller. :cool:

Judd Hirsch/Alex was definitely a terrific straight man. He won 2 Emmys for the role, deservedly so. He's right up there with Hal Linden as Barney Miller. :cool:


The funniest episode is when he stood on the bar and started disco dancing in the gay bar. :rofl:

The funniest episode is when he stood on the bar and started disco dancing in the gay bar. :rofl:
That was absolutely HYSTERICAL!! Judd Hirsch is probably the cast member you'd least expect to see boogie down atop a bar, but he made the most of it!!! Best of all was Tony's line - "Alex, Elaine is having her heart broken and you're having a good time dancing." :lol: :rofl: :brent

That was absolutely HYSTERICAL!! Judd Hirsch is probably the cast member you'd least expect to see boogie down atop a bar, but he made the most of it!!! Best of all was Tony's line - "Alex, Elaine is having her heart broken and you're having a good time dancing." :lol: :rofl: :brent


:rofl:

What is the name of that song that he danced to? I've heard it a few times over the years, and every time it came on I laughed because I thought of this very scene. :rofl:

What is the name of that song that he danced to? I've heard it a few times over the years, and every time it came on I laughed because I thought of this very scene. :rofl:


Good question, it sounded something like...

Do the Hula
Do the Hula

Yeah, it did sound like that - if anyone knows for sure...POST IT HERE!!! :lol:

Monika, I FOUND IT!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCeI6PQA478&feature=related

^ :rofl: :brent :clap Thanks, Brian!!! Even hearing the tune just cracks me up. That was the PERFECT song to use in that scene.

^ :rofl: :brent :clap Thanks, Brian!!! Even hearing the tune just cracks me up. That was the PERFECT song to use in that scene.

Absolutely! :lol:

I'll have to burn a copy of that song one of these days. It really is catchy!! :dance: :jig:

Brian, It's YOUR fault that "Do The Boogaloo" is stuck in my head. I can't stop hearing it!!! :o :mad: :eek: :rofl:

Brian, It's YOUR fault that "Do The Boogaloo" is stuck in my head. I can't stop hearing it!!! :o :mad: :eek: :rofl:


LOL I am going to have to whip out the ol' dvds and watch that episode again. LOL

LOL I am going to have to whip out the ol' dvds and watch that episode again. LOL
I wish I could find some pics of that scene on the net. Judd Hirsch actually held his own dancing!! :rofl:

I wish I could find some pics of that scene on the net. Judd Hirsch actually held his own dancing!! :rofl:


Believe me, I've been looking. :lol:

Believe me, I've been looking. :lol:
I had a feeling you would be. :lol: In any case, Alex was certainly a better dancer than Elaine (Benes, not Nardo). :rofl:

I had a feeling you would be. :lol: In any case, Alex was certainly a better dancer than Elaine (Benes, not Nardo). :rofl:


Oh ok, because Elaine (Nardo) could get down. She also danced on a table in an episode. :lol:

Oh ok, because Elaine (Nardo) could get down. She also danced on a table in an episode. :lol:
Don't forget there was the big Lullabye of Broadway number in the second (?) season.

Don't forget there was the big Lullabye of Broadway number in the second (?) season.


Oh yeah, that's right. I forgot about that. Even Louie gets down!

It's not surprising that Elaine Nardo could cut a rug. Marilu Henner was and is a trained dancer, and her family ran a dance studio out of their house. I guess it was in the genes. :cool: When did Elaine dance on a table?

It's not surprising that Elaine Nardo could cut a rug. Marilu Henner was and is a trained dancer, and her family ran a dance studio out of their house. I guess it was in the genes. :cool: When did Elaine dance on a table?

Alex and Latka were throwing a party for rent money and Elaine wound up the only woman there and decided to dance on atable to prevent all the guys from leaving.

Alex and Latka were throwing a party for rent money and Elaine wound up the only woman there and decided to dance on atable to prevent all the guys from leaving.
Well, I guess that did the trick. :lol: Which season did that air?

Well, I guess that did the trick. :lol: Which season did that air?


Good question, I think season 3.

Good question, I think season 3.
OK, thanks!

From The Onion's review of Taxi's season one DVD:

"Taxi was also anchored by two of the most fully realized characters in television history: Marilu Henner's brassy, sensuous, privately insecure single mother, and Judd Hirsch's wry, compassionate working-class intellectual. In an era of sensitive sitcom heroes like M*A*S*H's Alan Alda, Hirsch played a sweet guy with a deep cynical streak, masking a criminal lack of ambition."

That describes Alex perfectly.

From The Onion's review of Taxi's season one DVD:

"Taxi was also anchored by two of the most fully realized characters in television history: Marilu Henner's brassy, sensuous, privately insecure single mother, and Judd Hirsch's wry, compassionate working-class intellectual. In an era of sensitive sitcom heroes like M*A*S*H's Alan Alda, Hirsch played a sweet guy with a deep cynical streak, masking a criminal lack of ambition."

That describes Alex perfectly.
Yes, that is a perfect description. I couldn't imagine anyone else except Judd Hirsch in the role of Alex.

Monika, I FOUND IT!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCeI6PQA478&feature=related
I wish I could find the song on iTunes but can't. :( I'd LOVE to have this song on my iPod.

The funniest episode is when he stood on the bar and started disco dancing in the gay bar. :rofl:

Yeah that was funny, like when the big guy forced him to dance with him. :D

^ Yeah, that big guy was funny, especially when he dipped Alex. :rofl: That was when right when Tony walked in. :brent

The man himself:

The funniest episode is when he stood on the bar and started disco dancing in the gay bar. :rofl:

Yeah that one was a hoot! And Alex was a good sport about all of it - but then he's basically an all around nice guy.


I totally agree that Alex was a very good straight man (no pun intended) - very low key but very witty & very solid. And Elaine could definitely cut a nifty rug!

Here's a pic of Judd Hirsch and Marilu Henner from 1986 in Life magazine:

When people think of Taxi, the name Alex Reiger probably isn't the first that comes to mind. Reverend Jim and Louie were arguably the funniest characters on the show, but there's no way Taxi could have worked without Alex. He may very well be the best straight man ever on a sitcom and probably the funniest too. His reactions to the madness around him were the best, especially in the episode "Reverend Jim: A Space Odyssey" when Jim keeps asking everyone "what does a yellow light mean". At the end of that scene, Alex looks like he's going to lose his mind. :lol:

When people think of Taxi, the name Alex Reiger probably isn't the first that comes to mind. Reverend Jim and Louie were arguably the funniest characters on the show, but there's no way Taxi could have worked without Alex. He may very well be the best straight man ever on a sitcom and probably the funniest too. His reactions to the madness around him were the best, especially in the episode "Reverend Jim: A Space Odyssey" when Jim keeps asking everyone "what does a yellow light mean". At the end of that scene, Alex looks like he's going to lose his mind. :lol:
I remember when I first saw that episode. It was Judd Hirsch that made it so funny. I fell out of my chair laughing. :lol:

Here's a pic of Judd Hirsch and Marilu Henner from 1986 in Life magazine:
Gotta love Marilu's big 80s hair. :lol:

I remember when I first saw that episode. It was Judd Hirsch that made it so funny. I fell out of my chair laughing. :lol:
So did I!! Watch Marilu Henner digging a pencil into her palm to keep from completely losing it. :rofl:

So did I!! Watch Marilu Henner digging a pencil into her palm to keep from completely losing it. :rofl:


How about "Bobby's Roommate" when Elaine was staying with Bobby, and he thought she was trying to seduce him, so he calls Alex and quickly explains what's happened, then hangs up the phone. And the two of them have things talked out when Alex busts thru the door of Bobby's apartment wearing his pajamas, a robe, and nothing on his feet. I loved that scene because his look was so priceless. I also liked Alex and Tony in the earlier scenes of the episode having a problem with Bobby and Elaine staying together. Very funny stuff.

I've finished watching my season 5 DVD's and I noticed that Elaine asks Alex for advice a lot this season. Alex and Elaine, the perfect couple that never was.

I've finished watching my season 5 DVD's and I noticed that Elaine asks Alex for advice a lot this season. Alex and Elaine, the perfect couple that never was.
The two of them were perfect for each other - just perfect!! :love:

Alex and Elaine - true love never realized: