It's been many years since I saw this episode, so I'm hazy on several details . There was one episode of McHale's Navy where the Japanese had Captain Binghamton tied up . McHale and his men rescued him, and while he was stil tied up, Bell and Gruber performed a routine making fun of him, and Binghamton could only stand and watch .

Bell asked "Is he der [ forgotten ] ?" . Gruber said "Ya, he is der [ forgotten ] !" . Bell asked "Und is he der great big schtunk ?" . Gruber said "Ya, he is der great big schtunk !" . Bell said [ forgotten ] !" . Gruber said "Great big schtunk !" . Bell said [ forgotten ] !" . Gruber said "Great big schtunk !" . I know it was repetitive, but that's part of why it was funny .

The number one reason why I'm asking this question is because I got the idea that Bell and Gruber's routine was based on another item that was adapted for McHale's Navy . I saw a similar routine on an episode of Benson, which gives me the idea that the routine on McHale's Navy and the routine on Benson was based on another item . It might have been a song or routine from a Broadway show . I know it's not much to go on, but it's all the information I can give . Can anybody pin down which episode this routine is from, or the song or item it was based on ? Thank you in advance for your answers .

It's been many years since I saw this episode, so I'm hazy on several details . There was one episode of McHale's Navy where the Japanese had Captain Binghamton tied up . McHale and his men rescued him, and while he was stil tied up, Bell and Gruber performed a routine making fun of him, and Binghamton could only stand and watch .

Bell asked "Is he der [ forgotten ] ?" . Gruber said "Ya, he is der [ forgotten ] !" . Bell asked "Und is he der great big schtunk ?" . Gruber said "Ya, he is der great big schtunk !" . Bell said [ forgotten ] !" . Gruber said "Great big schtunk !" . Bell said [ forgotten ] !" . Gruber said "Great big schtunk !" . I know it was repetitive, but that's part of why it was funny .

The number one reason why I'm asking this question is because I got the idea that Bell and Gruber's routine was based on another item that was adapted for McHale's Navy . I saw a similar routine on an episode of Benson, which gives me the idea that the routine on McHale's Navy and the routine on Benson was based on another item . It might have been a song or routine from a Broadway show . I know it's not much to go on, but it's all the information I can give . Can anybody pin down which episode this routine is from, or the song or item it was based on ? Thank you in advance for your answers .

I think you're on to something. It does sound like a song I've heard before, but I also can't place it.

The routine is based on an old song called Schnitzelbank

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schnitzelbank

The episode of McHale's Navy in which the song /routine appeared is:

McHale and His Schweinhunds

You can also see this song referenced in the film Stalag 17.

That's it ! Thank you, Caladon ! You've answered a long -- time question of mine !