Frank Gannucci
08-14-2020, 07:57 AM
Honeymooners Episode Reviews: "Mod Couple" (aka "Honeymooners In England") & "You're In The Picture":
Episode #179 (Syndicated episode #5)
TV: Hour (edited)
DVD: Attached to "Curse of The Kramdens" & "You're In The Picture."
Color Episode Title: "Mod Couple" (aka "Honeymooners In England".)
Lost Episode Title: "Mad Dogs & Englishmen."
Air Date: Sat. 11/12/66
"Mod Couple" (aka "Honeymooners In England"):
The episode's title is a reference of sorts to "The Odd Couple." Why this episode's alternate title is the way it is, I have no idea.
The June Taylor Dancers dance and sing: “It's A Changing Of The Guard.” The girls visit Buckingham Palace while the boys are wondering what how much money they should give to the cab driver. Ralph refuses to pay Ed for the cab ride (since Ed paid for it) because he can't figure out English money, so he offers to pay for the bus ride home. They greet the guards. Ed wonders why the guard has such long hair. Ralph talks about Buckingham Palace and Queen Elizabeth and King Phillip. Ed: "I'll bet Phillip has to walk a long distance to take out the garbage." They want to go to Piccadilly’s Circus. They ask a British man but he answers in garbled British. Man: "You can't miss it." They don't understand. Another man comes by them and asks him the same question. Ed answers in garbled British. Ha! Ralph: "How are we going to get there?" Ed: "We will just follow him."
At the hotel, a Mr. Louis (Robert Koot) tries to call Mr. Kramden in a phone booth. They are not in their room. So, he asks the operator to call Ralph. That guy calls, but he gets the owner. The owner says that Ralph has a call. Ralph comes in comes in with Ed. Ralph gets on one of the phones (not knowing that the guy who wants to talk to him is right near him and vice-versa). Hilarious complications ensue. Finally, Mr. Phillips approaches Ralph on doing a Flakey-Wakey commercial. Ralph agrees. Ed thinks it will be a great idea if he plays “Tippy, Tippy, Tin” on his spoon or something like that. Ralph thinks it will be a great idea if they do the commercial just like they do in America. Ed wants to sing "Dooby-dooby-do!" in the commercial. They agree as Ralph offers to get some paper. He will write and direct the commercial. They break out and sing: “Everything Stops For Tea.”
At the hotel room, the girls come in. Alice: "Where's the genius (Ralph)." Ralph: "The scene takes place at Lord Chumley Farmingale, second Earl of Rathbone." He explains the commercial. Ralph is Lord Chumley. Ralph (to Alice): "You are supposed to say: 'Good Morning! My you are fit' and then I say: 'Blimey, you look lovely.'" Alice doesn't know what Blimey means which is ironic when you consider the fact that Shelia was born in England. Ralph mentions some of his lines. Trixie is a maid. Trixie: "I'm not the maid type." Ed: "Yeah, haven't you got the part of an English Bulldog?" Ralph further explains what the commercial will be. Ed tries to guess what his role will be, but he is incorrect. They rehearse. Alice: "My, you are fat." Ralph (yells): "THAT'S FIT!" Ed tires to sing: "Doody-doody-do!" Ralph isn't amused. Ed says that he wrote a jingle. So, they go to the piano and Ed does his little preparing job. He warms up on the piano, but not by playing "Swanee River". How about that? Ed's song's lyrics include him singing like he's British and saying thinks like "Flakey-Wakey" and "Pip pip!" After that, Ed says: "Take" like a director and slaps his hands. He somehow hits Ralph.
At the night of the commercial, everyone complains that it's going to be an all-Ralph commercial. Ralph is all-nervous. Ed tries to get him to remember his lines in a somewhat same fashion as in "Ralph's Sweet Tooth." Ralph is even more nervous. The commercial is going to take place during the Gaylord Farquoix Show. The show opens up just like The Jackie Gleason Show in the '60s opened up originally. It even has the same curtain I believe that was used on the Jackie Gleason Show at times. Announcer (probably Johnny Olsen speaking with an English accent): "From London: The Fog and Smog Capital of the World..." The girls introduce the stars of the show much like the Gleason Girls introduced the stars in the opening of the Jackie Gleason Show in the '60s. One of the ladies accidentally messes up and calls “Flakey-Wakey” “Wakey-Flakey.” Gaylord Farquoix (Louie Nye) comes out and introduces his orchestra leader Sir Samuel Spear (Sammy Spear with a Beatles-like wig on.) If you watch this episode on American Life TV, you will notice that Gaylord now all of a sudden has a coffee cup and saucers in his hands. The reason? Youtoo TV edited out the part where one of his ladies gave him his coffee cup and saucer.
They introduce us to the commercial. Ralph bombs as everyone helps him out. This is hilarious especially when Ed accidentally pushes the piano of the stair and the piano falls apart. After that, they sing: “Flakey-Wakies, Flakey-Wakies.” They have plugged the "Flakey-Wakey" product badly.
In the hotel, Ralph admits that he made a mistake. Mr. Louis says that people loved the commercial. Everyone is happy. The June Taylor Dancers come out and sing: Hurry On Down, Come To London Town."
At the curtain call, Jackie mentions how he loved working with the guy who played Mr. Lewis. Robert Koot was a real native of London and had to fly out immediately back to England after the show. After that, Jackie introduces the cast as usual
I found out a long time ago that this episode took place exactly eleven years to the day that the episode (which is similar) "Better Living Through TV" took place.
Episode #180 (Syndicated episode #6)
TV: One hour long (edited).
DVD: Attached to "We Spy", "Petticoat Jungle" & the bonus feature "The Great Gleason Express."
Color Episode Title: "You're In The Picture."
Lost Episode Title: "Framed In Spain."
Air Date: Sat. 11/19/66
"You're In The Picture":
The Kramdens & Nortons have arrived in Madrid, Spain. They begin taking pictures. Ralph takes home movies of the Nortons & Alice. Ralph wants to have a theme for his home movie, so he asks the girls to do some shopping. Alice: "So, the theme is going to be science-fiction?" Ed asks Trixie to kiss him for the picture. Trixie: "So it IS going to be a science-fiction theme." Finally, Ralph asks Norton to act surprised when he sees the girls so he can take a picture. Ed acts surprised in typical Ed Norton fashion which gets Ralph upset. Ralph thinks he will do better in the home movie so people will know what country he is in. He grabs a bullfighter's hat and puts it on the wrong way, but gets corrected. He instructs Ed to put to carry a bull horns and act like a bull and when that happens, Ralph will act as a matador. Ralph holds the blanket (or whatever that thing is) in front of Ed and act like he's saying: 'Toro! Toro!' Ed charges and misses the sheet but "gores" Ralph anyway for the fun of it. Ralph isn't amused. All of them then sing a song about Spain.
An evil woman named Rosetta (whom the audience applauds) and an evil man cook up a scheme. She will instruct a man to kiss her and the man will take a picture of them and plan to release it publicly. Everyone goes shopping but Ralph. The woman (who reveals to Ralph that she is a kindergarten teacher) says to him that a man is following her and asks Ralph to be her boyfriend so he will go away. The "boyfriend" comes, so the woman forces Ralph to engage her in a kiss. Ralph isn't happy since if Alice saw him kissing her, she will get mad. Ralph: "Wives are always misunderstanding things." She leaves. The Nortons & Alice get out. Alice: "That looks like lipstick on your face." I don't see any lipstick on Ralph's face, but nonetheless the actors act is if there is lipstick on Ralph's face. Ralph: "I cut myself shaving." Alice: "And now it is starting to bleed?" Ed: "With the way that Ralph is built, it takes his blood a long time to come to the surface. They leave for the hotel.
At the hotel, Ed is dressed as a matador He dances Ed: "Tony Quinn, eat your heart out." Ralph comes out also dressed as a matador His looks very funny. Ralph answers the door. It's the man who took Ralph's picture of him kissing that "kindergarten teacher." Ralph explains the whole situation. The man charges $500 Ralph to have the picture. Man: "Pay me the $500 or I would give it to your wife." Ed: "Let him give the picture to Alice then you can have the picture for nothing." Ralph then rips up the picture, thinking that will stop his plot. He asks him to get out. Man: "I have 16 more copies plus a negative." The man wants to talk business with Ralph. Ralph asks for more time. The man leaves. Man: "Asta-manyana (sp?)." Ed: "San Diego to you." Ralph says he will never pay a cent. Ralph hopes that the woman isn't married because he thinks that the woman will blackmail her too. Ed asks if the situation was reversed and Ralph saw Alice kissing another man, what would Ralph do. Ralph: "I wouldn't fly off the handle." Sure, he wouldn't right? He's done it many times before He then says: "I would kill the both of them." The boys then sing a song that I think is entitled: "It Doesn't Pay to Tell Your Wife The Truth."
After the fiesta, men & women (June Taylor Dancers) are dancing. The Kramdens & Nortons sit down at an outside diner. Alice is dressed like a very pretty senorita. Ralph is still upset about the whole situation he's involved in. Ralph gets drinks. The girls look around. The "teacher" comes to Ralph's table. Ed recognizes her. Ralph comes back to the table. Ralph is glad to see her. Ralph explains the whole situation. The "teacher" explains that she will tell Alice on how Ralph fell in love with her and flirted with her on the street etc. Ralph then realizes that she is in on the blackmail. The woman says that Ralph should give him $500, so she will keep quiet. Ralph says he will get the money from Alice. Woman: "I will give you until 3pm tomorrow." She leaves. The girls come back. Ralph says to Alice that a situation in which a waiter was involved in. It's the same situation that he's in only that he substitutes himself with a waiter. He asks Alice if she was the waiter's wife would she believe the waiter's story. Alice: "If she does, she's a bigger fool than I am." Ralph: "I'm dead."
At the hotel room the next day, Ed is reading a Superman comic book. Ralph: "Where is she?" Ed: "Maybe school hasn't let out yet?" The woman comes in. Ralph doesn't have the money. Ralph says that he needs more time. Ralph: "If she finds out that you are here, I'm dead." Woman: "I will give you until 3:30." She decides to leave. Ralph spots Alice in the hallway. Ralph hides the woman in the closet. The boys try desperately to hide the woman from each of the wives Alice wants to hang up her coat herself. Ralph, claiming that he wants to be a gentleman, says he will hang up the coat himself. Alice: "All right, you can get my slippers." Ralph: "Get your own slippers." Gee, what a gentleman huh? Trixie comes in. Ed claims that there was a phone call and someone wants to see Trixie in the lobby. Trixie leaves. Alice says she put her slippers in the closet, so Ed gets the woman out and hides her in back of the curtains. Ed tries to secretly tell Ralph that no one is in there and he will go look for the slippers. Ed: "It is too dark in here." Gee, it looks to be very bright in there to me. Ralph opens up the drapes, sees the woman, and immediately closes the drapes without success. So, she asks her to hide behind the couch. Ed sees her. Ed: "Oh, there she is." Ralph slaps Ed. Alice doesn't know what Ed is talking about. Ralph says that Ed meant Alice when he said: "Oh there she is." Ralph asks for a measly $500. Alice wants to know why, but Ralph won't say the real reason. Ralph asks the woman to go downstairs for five minutes. Ed sees Trixie, so the woman is again hid in the closet. Trixie: "There was no one down there that wanted to see me." Ed: "I must be losing my mind." Trixie: "How could you lose something you never had?" Ha.
Alice comes out with the answer of no. A knock on the door is heard. Ralph, thinking that it is the woman, hides Alice in the closet. Alice finally sees the woman. Ralph says that she is a blackmailer. Alice doesn't believe him. The woman gives Alice the hank-lanky photo. Alice: "Don't ever speak to me again Ralph." Ralph gets the door and it's a policeman. He tells the whole story about her and that her friend revealed everything. Alice finally got told the truth. Ralph orders the Nortons to come out. Alice: "Forgive me Ralph." Ralph: "Not yet, I want to enjoy this for a while." Ralph eventually forgives her. This is a reversal of the traditional Kramden antics isn't it? All four of them break out into song that I think is entitled: "Have A Little Faith." They actually march of the set as they sing as a woman off-screen is singing like an opera singer.
At the curtain call, Jackie introduces everyone including the female blackmailer. She was Rita Gam.
Credit I think goes to (the original) Bill's 'Mooners Archives, eBay.com, tv.com, Honeymooners Lost Episodes Book, tvguide.com, honeymooners.net, Honeymooners Lost Episodes DVD booklet, Wikipedia.org, Yahoo Groups You're A Riot! & Amazon.com.
Episode #179 (Syndicated episode #5)
TV: Hour (edited)
DVD: Attached to "Curse of The Kramdens" & "You're In The Picture."
Color Episode Title: "Mod Couple" (aka "Honeymooners In England".)
Lost Episode Title: "Mad Dogs & Englishmen."
Air Date: Sat. 11/12/66
"Mod Couple" (aka "Honeymooners In England"):
The episode's title is a reference of sorts to "The Odd Couple." Why this episode's alternate title is the way it is, I have no idea.
The June Taylor Dancers dance and sing: “It's A Changing Of The Guard.” The girls visit Buckingham Palace while the boys are wondering what how much money they should give to the cab driver. Ralph refuses to pay Ed for the cab ride (since Ed paid for it) because he can't figure out English money, so he offers to pay for the bus ride home. They greet the guards. Ed wonders why the guard has such long hair. Ralph talks about Buckingham Palace and Queen Elizabeth and King Phillip. Ed: "I'll bet Phillip has to walk a long distance to take out the garbage." They want to go to Piccadilly’s Circus. They ask a British man but he answers in garbled British. Man: "You can't miss it." They don't understand. Another man comes by them and asks him the same question. Ed answers in garbled British. Ha! Ralph: "How are we going to get there?" Ed: "We will just follow him."
At the hotel, a Mr. Louis (Robert Koot) tries to call Mr. Kramden in a phone booth. They are not in their room. So, he asks the operator to call Ralph. That guy calls, but he gets the owner. The owner says that Ralph has a call. Ralph comes in comes in with Ed. Ralph gets on one of the phones (not knowing that the guy who wants to talk to him is right near him and vice-versa). Hilarious complications ensue. Finally, Mr. Phillips approaches Ralph on doing a Flakey-Wakey commercial. Ralph agrees. Ed thinks it will be a great idea if he plays “Tippy, Tippy, Tin” on his spoon or something like that. Ralph thinks it will be a great idea if they do the commercial just like they do in America. Ed wants to sing "Dooby-dooby-do!" in the commercial. They agree as Ralph offers to get some paper. He will write and direct the commercial. They break out and sing: “Everything Stops For Tea.”
At the hotel room, the girls come in. Alice: "Where's the genius (Ralph)." Ralph: "The scene takes place at Lord Chumley Farmingale, second Earl of Rathbone." He explains the commercial. Ralph is Lord Chumley. Ralph (to Alice): "You are supposed to say: 'Good Morning! My you are fit' and then I say: 'Blimey, you look lovely.'" Alice doesn't know what Blimey means which is ironic when you consider the fact that Shelia was born in England. Ralph mentions some of his lines. Trixie is a maid. Trixie: "I'm not the maid type." Ed: "Yeah, haven't you got the part of an English Bulldog?" Ralph further explains what the commercial will be. Ed tries to guess what his role will be, but he is incorrect. They rehearse. Alice: "My, you are fat." Ralph (yells): "THAT'S FIT!" Ed tires to sing: "Doody-doody-do!" Ralph isn't amused. Ed says that he wrote a jingle. So, they go to the piano and Ed does his little preparing job. He warms up on the piano, but not by playing "Swanee River". How about that? Ed's song's lyrics include him singing like he's British and saying thinks like "Flakey-Wakey" and "Pip pip!" After that, Ed says: "Take" like a director and slaps his hands. He somehow hits Ralph.
At the night of the commercial, everyone complains that it's going to be an all-Ralph commercial. Ralph is all-nervous. Ed tries to get him to remember his lines in a somewhat same fashion as in "Ralph's Sweet Tooth." Ralph is even more nervous. The commercial is going to take place during the Gaylord Farquoix Show. The show opens up just like The Jackie Gleason Show in the '60s opened up originally. It even has the same curtain I believe that was used on the Jackie Gleason Show at times. Announcer (probably Johnny Olsen speaking with an English accent): "From London: The Fog and Smog Capital of the World..." The girls introduce the stars of the show much like the Gleason Girls introduced the stars in the opening of the Jackie Gleason Show in the '60s. One of the ladies accidentally messes up and calls “Flakey-Wakey” “Wakey-Flakey.” Gaylord Farquoix (Louie Nye) comes out and introduces his orchestra leader Sir Samuel Spear (Sammy Spear with a Beatles-like wig on.) If you watch this episode on American Life TV, you will notice that Gaylord now all of a sudden has a coffee cup and saucers in his hands. The reason? Youtoo TV edited out the part where one of his ladies gave him his coffee cup and saucer.
They introduce us to the commercial. Ralph bombs as everyone helps him out. This is hilarious especially when Ed accidentally pushes the piano of the stair and the piano falls apart. After that, they sing: “Flakey-Wakies, Flakey-Wakies.” They have plugged the "Flakey-Wakey" product badly.
In the hotel, Ralph admits that he made a mistake. Mr. Louis says that people loved the commercial. Everyone is happy. The June Taylor Dancers come out and sing: Hurry On Down, Come To London Town."
At the curtain call, Jackie mentions how he loved working with the guy who played Mr. Lewis. Robert Koot was a real native of London and had to fly out immediately back to England after the show. After that, Jackie introduces the cast as usual
I found out a long time ago that this episode took place exactly eleven years to the day that the episode (which is similar) "Better Living Through TV" took place.
Episode #180 (Syndicated episode #6)
TV: One hour long (edited).
DVD: Attached to "We Spy", "Petticoat Jungle" & the bonus feature "The Great Gleason Express."
Color Episode Title: "You're In The Picture."
Lost Episode Title: "Framed In Spain."
Air Date: Sat. 11/19/66
"You're In The Picture":
The Kramdens & Nortons have arrived in Madrid, Spain. They begin taking pictures. Ralph takes home movies of the Nortons & Alice. Ralph wants to have a theme for his home movie, so he asks the girls to do some shopping. Alice: "So, the theme is going to be science-fiction?" Ed asks Trixie to kiss him for the picture. Trixie: "So it IS going to be a science-fiction theme." Finally, Ralph asks Norton to act surprised when he sees the girls so he can take a picture. Ed acts surprised in typical Ed Norton fashion which gets Ralph upset. Ralph thinks he will do better in the home movie so people will know what country he is in. He grabs a bullfighter's hat and puts it on the wrong way, but gets corrected. He instructs Ed to put to carry a bull horns and act like a bull and when that happens, Ralph will act as a matador. Ralph holds the blanket (or whatever that thing is) in front of Ed and act like he's saying: 'Toro! Toro!' Ed charges and misses the sheet but "gores" Ralph anyway for the fun of it. Ralph isn't amused. All of them then sing a song about Spain.
An evil woman named Rosetta (whom the audience applauds) and an evil man cook up a scheme. She will instruct a man to kiss her and the man will take a picture of them and plan to release it publicly. Everyone goes shopping but Ralph. The woman (who reveals to Ralph that she is a kindergarten teacher) says to him that a man is following her and asks Ralph to be her boyfriend so he will go away. The "boyfriend" comes, so the woman forces Ralph to engage her in a kiss. Ralph isn't happy since if Alice saw him kissing her, she will get mad. Ralph: "Wives are always misunderstanding things." She leaves. The Nortons & Alice get out. Alice: "That looks like lipstick on your face." I don't see any lipstick on Ralph's face, but nonetheless the actors act is if there is lipstick on Ralph's face. Ralph: "I cut myself shaving." Alice: "And now it is starting to bleed?" Ed: "With the way that Ralph is built, it takes his blood a long time to come to the surface. They leave for the hotel.
At the hotel, Ed is dressed as a matador He dances Ed: "Tony Quinn, eat your heart out." Ralph comes out also dressed as a matador His looks very funny. Ralph answers the door. It's the man who took Ralph's picture of him kissing that "kindergarten teacher." Ralph explains the whole situation. The man charges $500 Ralph to have the picture. Man: "Pay me the $500 or I would give it to your wife." Ed: "Let him give the picture to Alice then you can have the picture for nothing." Ralph then rips up the picture, thinking that will stop his plot. He asks him to get out. Man: "I have 16 more copies plus a negative." The man wants to talk business with Ralph. Ralph asks for more time. The man leaves. Man: "Asta-manyana (sp?)." Ed: "San Diego to you." Ralph says he will never pay a cent. Ralph hopes that the woman isn't married because he thinks that the woman will blackmail her too. Ed asks if the situation was reversed and Ralph saw Alice kissing another man, what would Ralph do. Ralph: "I wouldn't fly off the handle." Sure, he wouldn't right? He's done it many times before He then says: "I would kill the both of them." The boys then sing a song that I think is entitled: "It Doesn't Pay to Tell Your Wife The Truth."
After the fiesta, men & women (June Taylor Dancers) are dancing. The Kramdens & Nortons sit down at an outside diner. Alice is dressed like a very pretty senorita. Ralph is still upset about the whole situation he's involved in. Ralph gets drinks. The girls look around. The "teacher" comes to Ralph's table. Ed recognizes her. Ralph comes back to the table. Ralph is glad to see her. Ralph explains the whole situation. The "teacher" explains that she will tell Alice on how Ralph fell in love with her and flirted with her on the street etc. Ralph then realizes that she is in on the blackmail. The woman says that Ralph should give him $500, so she will keep quiet. Ralph says he will get the money from Alice. Woman: "I will give you until 3pm tomorrow." She leaves. The girls come back. Ralph says to Alice that a situation in which a waiter was involved in. It's the same situation that he's in only that he substitutes himself with a waiter. He asks Alice if she was the waiter's wife would she believe the waiter's story. Alice: "If she does, she's a bigger fool than I am." Ralph: "I'm dead."
At the hotel room the next day, Ed is reading a Superman comic book. Ralph: "Where is she?" Ed: "Maybe school hasn't let out yet?" The woman comes in. Ralph doesn't have the money. Ralph says that he needs more time. Ralph: "If she finds out that you are here, I'm dead." Woman: "I will give you until 3:30." She decides to leave. Ralph spots Alice in the hallway. Ralph hides the woman in the closet. The boys try desperately to hide the woman from each of the wives Alice wants to hang up her coat herself. Ralph, claiming that he wants to be a gentleman, says he will hang up the coat himself. Alice: "All right, you can get my slippers." Ralph: "Get your own slippers." Gee, what a gentleman huh? Trixie comes in. Ed claims that there was a phone call and someone wants to see Trixie in the lobby. Trixie leaves. Alice says she put her slippers in the closet, so Ed gets the woman out and hides her in back of the curtains. Ed tries to secretly tell Ralph that no one is in there and he will go look for the slippers. Ed: "It is too dark in here." Gee, it looks to be very bright in there to me. Ralph opens up the drapes, sees the woman, and immediately closes the drapes without success. So, she asks her to hide behind the couch. Ed sees her. Ed: "Oh, there she is." Ralph slaps Ed. Alice doesn't know what Ed is talking about. Ralph says that Ed meant Alice when he said: "Oh there she is." Ralph asks for a measly $500. Alice wants to know why, but Ralph won't say the real reason. Ralph asks the woman to go downstairs for five minutes. Ed sees Trixie, so the woman is again hid in the closet. Trixie: "There was no one down there that wanted to see me." Ed: "I must be losing my mind." Trixie: "How could you lose something you never had?" Ha.
Alice comes out with the answer of no. A knock on the door is heard. Ralph, thinking that it is the woman, hides Alice in the closet. Alice finally sees the woman. Ralph says that she is a blackmailer. Alice doesn't believe him. The woman gives Alice the hank-lanky photo. Alice: "Don't ever speak to me again Ralph." Ralph gets the door and it's a policeman. He tells the whole story about her and that her friend revealed everything. Alice finally got told the truth. Ralph orders the Nortons to come out. Alice: "Forgive me Ralph." Ralph: "Not yet, I want to enjoy this for a while." Ralph eventually forgives her. This is a reversal of the traditional Kramden antics isn't it? All four of them break out into song that I think is entitled: "Have A Little Faith." They actually march of the set as they sing as a woman off-screen is singing like an opera singer.
At the curtain call, Jackie introduces everyone including the female blackmailer. She was Rita Gam.
Credit I think goes to (the original) Bill's 'Mooners Archives, eBay.com, tv.com, Honeymooners Lost Episodes Book, tvguide.com, honeymooners.net, Honeymooners Lost Episodes DVD booklet, Wikipedia.org, Yahoo Groups You're A Riot! & Amazon.com.