Frank Gannucci
03-25-2016, 07:55 AM
Episode #170
TV: This episode was shown once on TV Land in March 2000.
DVD: On the HD Blu-Ray set, it is attached to episodes #34-39 of the classic 39, "Person To Person" segment with Jackie Gleason, the edited Honeymooners 35th Anniversary special that aired on CBS (Paramount edited the lost episode clips that were originally apart of this special) & the Honeymooners 50th Anniversary Special and two versions of "The Bensonhurst Bomber" (one has the original sponsor ads) and two versions of "A Man's Pride" (one has the original sponsor ads.)
Color Honeymooners & Lost Episode Title: "The Adoption."
This episode was a part of Jackie Gleason's American Scene Magazine and even though it was shot in black and white, it is a pilot of the Color Honeymooners.
I got the TV Land version of this episode back in 2007 thanks to a tape trade with Videowhack from sitcomsonline.com. The episode opens up with a camera slowly zooming out and showing what was then the American Scene Magazine logo. When the camera finishes zooming out for several seconds, Johnny Olen, the announcer says: "From Miami Beach, Florida, the Sun & Fun Capital of the World, it's Jackie Gleason and his American Scene Magazine and here he is: Jackie Gleason." Up until 2015 when I got the Blu Ray of the Classic 39, I thought that audio sponsor plugs were censored by TV Land because I thing it was odd that the camera zoomed out for several seconds and no one's voice is heard. Turns out I was wrong but the network DID EDIT the sponsor plugs that where attached to this show (one of which was Purina.) Yes, even in 2000, TV Land edited out sponsor plugs.
Jackie does his opening monologue and says that he is going to be working with some his old friends: Art Carney, Anne Seymour and Audrey Meadows. They are going to do a musical version of the Honeymooners. He says to Sammy Spear (his orchestra leader): "Some traveling music Sam." Jackie: "And away we go."
An exterior shot of Chauncey Street is shown with people dancing, playing etc. They all sing: "Brooklyn U.S.A." in which some of the lyrics are: "If you want to see what heaven is, visit Brooklyn USA." Yeah sure. Ralph comes home expecting to pick up Ed so they can go bowling. Ed comes with some news. Trixie has been visiting her sick mother and he is upset that since she is getting better, Trixie will come home. Ralph gets a letter from the Adoption Agency saying that they will get to adopt a baby. He is so happy. Ed is happy that he is going to be an uncle. They sing: "There'll Always Be a Kramden to Glorify the Name."
In the apartment, Ralph says to Alice for her to sit down. Ed does, so Ralph says that he meant her. Ralph: "What is the most important news that I could possibly tell you?" Alice: "They have condemned the building and we are moving out." Ralph accidentally spills the beans that they get to adopt a baby. Ralph: "That baby will have a name with importance. A name with power: Ralph Kramden." Alice agrees that Ralph will be a good choice. Ralph says that he hasn't read the part where the person from the Adoption Agency will come. Ralph says that the boy will have things he has never had but he won't be spoiled. Alice reads the letter and is upset. The adoption agency tells Alice her application is being considered, but that a staff worker must come to the apartment to look it over before final approval is granted. The Kramdens realize that there apartment looks terrible. Ralph has a plan. Ralph: "The person from the Adoption Agency won't be here until tomorrow." Ralph's plan: With Ed & Mrs. Manicotti's help: they borrow a TV set, drapes, refrigerator, stove, new table and chairs, couch, etc.--to make the apartment look presentable. Question: Ralph said that he didn't read the part when the person from the Adoption Agency will come, so how did he know that the person from the Adoption Agency will be there tomorrow?" Ed sings: "You Can Count on Me." Ralph and Alice are as nervous as two kids on their first date as they wait for Miss Lawrence played by Anne Seymour, the same person who played her in the earlier version) from the agency to arrive. Ralph says to Alice to be calm like he is, but he isn't calm at all. Miss Lawrence comes by. Everything is going smooth until Ralph says to Alice that the light in the fridge turns on when you open the fridge. Miss Lawrence asks: "Are there any places of recreation?" Ralph says that there is a poolroom. Alice says there is a playground and she is planning on taking the baby there every day. An ice man comes by with some ice to put in the ice box. Man: "What happened to the ice box?...Wow! You fixed the whole place up." Ralph says that they never got any ice from him. The jig is up. They tell Miss Lawrence that they spruced up the place and that the TV, the couch, the drapes, the refrigerator isn't theirs. They are fighting for this kid. Miss Lawrence says the agency is not as concerned with furnishings as it is with finding couples who really want children, and that she's never met a couple who want a child more than the Kramdens. Approved! Alice sings: "We'll have the Happiest Boy in the World." Some of the lyrics are: "Maybe he will be as funny as you are."
Ed Norton (with a loud jacket on) accompanies the Kramdens to the hospital. Ralph promised Ed that when the baby is elected president, he can be at the inauguration. Ralph thanks the doctor. Ed Norton goes outside. But Ralph is upset when they are told that they are going to get a girl. Ralph: "I want a boy." He was going to name the boy Ralph. Ralph: "Nobody wants a girl." What a nice thing to say...NOT! The doctor said that on the form, they would approve either sex. The doctor says he will see what he can do. He leaves and Alice goes outside in tears of sadness since that they are not getting the kid that is in the room. In a scene he played-- with a puppy--in the Classic Thirty-nine episode "A Dog's Life," Ralph apologizes to the baby for not wanting to bring her home. During this scene, Jackie Gleason was reading his lines that were in the baby carriage (since there was no real baby in there). Ralph says that girls can't play football. In 1998, in high school, I remember hearing about a girl football player on the varsity football team at my school. Ralph sings an emotional song called: "Little Girl" as the room inside the hospital turns off with a spotlight focusing on Jackie. Ralph is actually crying when he sings. After this, the doctor comes back with news that in a few weeks, they can get a boy. But Ralph now wants the girl. Alice is happy when she hears the news. Ralph carries the baby home. Ralph: "There's going to be a bowling champion and her name will be Ralphina Kramden."
At home, the apartment is a mess. Alice is singing: "Because Of My Beautiful Girl" while tossing powder (not the bottle, actual powder.) Ralph comes home with another doll for the baby. Ed comes in. The baby cries. Ed tries to sing a lullaby but that makes things worse. So Ed thinks that she needs milk but there is no bottle. They think of putting the milk into a glove and cutting off one of the finger tips of it (which eventually causes milk to squirt all over Ralph.) That is a scene that they did in "Lost Baby." They do the stunt again but with Ed holding the glove and Ralph using the scissors. But, Ralph still ends up with all of the milk on him. Ralph kicks Ed out. The doctor and Alice come in with sad news. The mother wants her baby back. Ralph is angry. He yells at the doctor, saying that the mother put her up for adoption and now they are the legal parents so they shouldn't surrender her. The doctor leaves and Ralph is yelling about how much he loves the kid. There are no funny statements being said here. Alice is ready to cry. Alice: "Imagine how the mother feels." Ralph eventually realizes that it is wrong to keep the kid, so he goes upstairs to Ed's to call the doctor. Ralph: "We can always get to adopt another baby from the Adoption Agency. Maybe we will get lucky and have one of our own." That makes Alice happy. Ralph leaves.
During the curtain call, Jack announces Art and Audrey at the same time and he announces the supporting cast (Anne Seymour, Sid Fields & Phil Relins). If this was a regular Color Honeymooners episode, he would have announced everyone separately.
Johnny does the sponsor plugs (again, one of which was Purina) before the credits roll with the same font that was used for the first two seasons of the Color Honeymooners.
I liked this version better only because of the slightly happier ending.
TV: This episode was shown once on TV Land in March 2000.
DVD: On the HD Blu-Ray set, it is attached to episodes #34-39 of the classic 39, "Person To Person" segment with Jackie Gleason, the edited Honeymooners 35th Anniversary special that aired on CBS (Paramount edited the lost episode clips that were originally apart of this special) & the Honeymooners 50th Anniversary Special and two versions of "The Bensonhurst Bomber" (one has the original sponsor ads) and two versions of "A Man's Pride" (one has the original sponsor ads.)
Color Honeymooners & Lost Episode Title: "The Adoption."
This episode was a part of Jackie Gleason's American Scene Magazine and even though it was shot in black and white, it is a pilot of the Color Honeymooners.
I got the TV Land version of this episode back in 2007 thanks to a tape trade with Videowhack from sitcomsonline.com. The episode opens up with a camera slowly zooming out and showing what was then the American Scene Magazine logo. When the camera finishes zooming out for several seconds, Johnny Olen, the announcer says: "From Miami Beach, Florida, the Sun & Fun Capital of the World, it's Jackie Gleason and his American Scene Magazine and here he is: Jackie Gleason." Up until 2015 when I got the Blu Ray of the Classic 39, I thought that audio sponsor plugs were censored by TV Land because I thing it was odd that the camera zoomed out for several seconds and no one's voice is heard. Turns out I was wrong but the network DID EDIT the sponsor plugs that where attached to this show (one of which was Purina.) Yes, even in 2000, TV Land edited out sponsor plugs.
Jackie does his opening monologue and says that he is going to be working with some his old friends: Art Carney, Anne Seymour and Audrey Meadows. They are going to do a musical version of the Honeymooners. He says to Sammy Spear (his orchestra leader): "Some traveling music Sam." Jackie: "And away we go."
An exterior shot of Chauncey Street is shown with people dancing, playing etc. They all sing: "Brooklyn U.S.A." in which some of the lyrics are: "If you want to see what heaven is, visit Brooklyn USA." Yeah sure. Ralph comes home expecting to pick up Ed so they can go bowling. Ed comes with some news. Trixie has been visiting her sick mother and he is upset that since she is getting better, Trixie will come home. Ralph gets a letter from the Adoption Agency saying that they will get to adopt a baby. He is so happy. Ed is happy that he is going to be an uncle. They sing: "There'll Always Be a Kramden to Glorify the Name."
In the apartment, Ralph says to Alice for her to sit down. Ed does, so Ralph says that he meant her. Ralph: "What is the most important news that I could possibly tell you?" Alice: "They have condemned the building and we are moving out." Ralph accidentally spills the beans that they get to adopt a baby. Ralph: "That baby will have a name with importance. A name with power: Ralph Kramden." Alice agrees that Ralph will be a good choice. Ralph says that he hasn't read the part where the person from the Adoption Agency will come. Ralph says that the boy will have things he has never had but he won't be spoiled. Alice reads the letter and is upset. The adoption agency tells Alice her application is being considered, but that a staff worker must come to the apartment to look it over before final approval is granted. The Kramdens realize that there apartment looks terrible. Ralph has a plan. Ralph: "The person from the Adoption Agency won't be here until tomorrow." Ralph's plan: With Ed & Mrs. Manicotti's help: they borrow a TV set, drapes, refrigerator, stove, new table and chairs, couch, etc.--to make the apartment look presentable. Question: Ralph said that he didn't read the part when the person from the Adoption Agency will come, so how did he know that the person from the Adoption Agency will be there tomorrow?" Ed sings: "You Can Count on Me." Ralph and Alice are as nervous as two kids on their first date as they wait for Miss Lawrence played by Anne Seymour, the same person who played her in the earlier version) from the agency to arrive. Ralph says to Alice to be calm like he is, but he isn't calm at all. Miss Lawrence comes by. Everything is going smooth until Ralph says to Alice that the light in the fridge turns on when you open the fridge. Miss Lawrence asks: "Are there any places of recreation?" Ralph says that there is a poolroom. Alice says there is a playground and she is planning on taking the baby there every day. An ice man comes by with some ice to put in the ice box. Man: "What happened to the ice box?...Wow! You fixed the whole place up." Ralph says that they never got any ice from him. The jig is up. They tell Miss Lawrence that they spruced up the place and that the TV, the couch, the drapes, the refrigerator isn't theirs. They are fighting for this kid. Miss Lawrence says the agency is not as concerned with furnishings as it is with finding couples who really want children, and that she's never met a couple who want a child more than the Kramdens. Approved! Alice sings: "We'll have the Happiest Boy in the World." Some of the lyrics are: "Maybe he will be as funny as you are."
Ed Norton (with a loud jacket on) accompanies the Kramdens to the hospital. Ralph promised Ed that when the baby is elected president, he can be at the inauguration. Ralph thanks the doctor. Ed Norton goes outside. But Ralph is upset when they are told that they are going to get a girl. Ralph: "I want a boy." He was going to name the boy Ralph. Ralph: "Nobody wants a girl." What a nice thing to say...NOT! The doctor said that on the form, they would approve either sex. The doctor says he will see what he can do. He leaves and Alice goes outside in tears of sadness since that they are not getting the kid that is in the room. In a scene he played-- with a puppy--in the Classic Thirty-nine episode "A Dog's Life," Ralph apologizes to the baby for not wanting to bring her home. During this scene, Jackie Gleason was reading his lines that were in the baby carriage (since there was no real baby in there). Ralph says that girls can't play football. In 1998, in high school, I remember hearing about a girl football player on the varsity football team at my school. Ralph sings an emotional song called: "Little Girl" as the room inside the hospital turns off with a spotlight focusing on Jackie. Ralph is actually crying when he sings. After this, the doctor comes back with news that in a few weeks, they can get a boy. But Ralph now wants the girl. Alice is happy when she hears the news. Ralph carries the baby home. Ralph: "There's going to be a bowling champion and her name will be Ralphina Kramden."
At home, the apartment is a mess. Alice is singing: "Because Of My Beautiful Girl" while tossing powder (not the bottle, actual powder.) Ralph comes home with another doll for the baby. Ed comes in. The baby cries. Ed tries to sing a lullaby but that makes things worse. So Ed thinks that she needs milk but there is no bottle. They think of putting the milk into a glove and cutting off one of the finger tips of it (which eventually causes milk to squirt all over Ralph.) That is a scene that they did in "Lost Baby." They do the stunt again but with Ed holding the glove and Ralph using the scissors. But, Ralph still ends up with all of the milk on him. Ralph kicks Ed out. The doctor and Alice come in with sad news. The mother wants her baby back. Ralph is angry. He yells at the doctor, saying that the mother put her up for adoption and now they are the legal parents so they shouldn't surrender her. The doctor leaves and Ralph is yelling about how much he loves the kid. There are no funny statements being said here. Alice is ready to cry. Alice: "Imagine how the mother feels." Ralph eventually realizes that it is wrong to keep the kid, so he goes upstairs to Ed's to call the doctor. Ralph: "We can always get to adopt another baby from the Adoption Agency. Maybe we will get lucky and have one of our own." That makes Alice happy. Ralph leaves.
During the curtain call, Jack announces Art and Audrey at the same time and he announces the supporting cast (Anne Seymour, Sid Fields & Phil Relins). If this was a regular Color Honeymooners episode, he would have announced everyone separately.
Johnny does the sponsor plugs (again, one of which was Purina) before the credits roll with the same font that was used for the first two seasons of the Color Honeymooners.
I liked this version better only because of the slightly happier ending.