Anyone have any favorite Mel Cooley
moments? I don't usually think about
Mel as being a strong part of its
appeal, but he really did add to the
show. And I wouldn't think of Richard
Deacon as an all-time great character
actor. (I'm trying to be flattering
here, hope I'm not somehow doing the
opposite.) But, boy he was good in that
small role. And, at the same time, he
was completely believable playing Fred Rutherford on Leave it to Beaver in a
character that was almost the total
opposite of Mel. That's impressive to
me. Anyway, I like the one where Mel
gets fired, gets drunk, and tells off
Alan on the phone. I like how Deacon
adds a funny little wobble in his
walk when he marches out of the
office. That's a nice touch. And I
like the one where Alan comes down
to the writer's office (after hearing they're looking for other jobs) and
starts pointing things he got for
them ("Is that a window? A window.")
and Mel is silently waving his arm
in each direction when Alan mentions
each thing. Like a perfect lackey.
That's funny to me.

I'll give your question more thought but in the meantime I'll tell you one Mel moment from just the other night. When Sally was singing her ditty at Rob and Laura's house. She sang while standing next to Mel for awhile. I got a kick out of him smiling and seeming to really enjoy her. It seemed as though he was enjoying the real Rose Marie as well as the Sally character.

Originally posted by Samme
Anyone have any favorite Mel Cooley
moments?

I have a couple. The first one is in the episode where the writers put all the nasty things in the script and Mel helps them break into Alan's house to help them get the script back. Mel says Alan will not fire them because "his wife's name is Margaret" not the name Lillian that Alan was asking a kiss from. I know I'm not doing it justice, but I love that episode!

I also like him in the episode "Ghost of A. Chantz" when he pops up in the mirror and says, "Smile, you're on Sneaky Camera!" I love that episode, too!

Lolac :stooges:

The one that jumps to mind immediately is from "Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth" which of course is one of my fave episodes ;) While they're in Alan's office, watching Laura on TV, Mel sits in Alan's chair, and Alan goes, "What are you doing in my chair?" And Mel replies, "I don't know!" It's not really the line, it's the way Richard Deacon said it.

And Lolac, both the moments you mentioned are great too!

Kristen

Originally posted by Lolac
Mel says Alan will not fire them because "his wife's name is Margaret" not the name Lillian that Alan was asking a kiss from.

Mom! Lolac just stole my idea again! (That's my favorite Mel Moment too)

Steve

Originally posted by Kitt
I'll give your question more thought but in the meantime I'll tell you one Mel moment from just the other night. When Sally was singing her ditty at Rob and Laura's house. She sang while standing next to Mel for awhile. I got a kick out of him smiling and seeming to really enjoy her. It seemed as though he was enjoying the real Rose Marie as well as the Sally character.
Great observation Kitt! The actors were fond of each other and it came through on the show.

Another favorite Mel moment is in the episode "When a Bowling Pin Talks, Listen!" when Mel gets a pie in the face that Alan intended for Rob. Great timing on that one! Lolac :banana:

Originally posted by SawgrassSteve


Mom! Lolac just stole my idea again! (That's my favorite Mel Moment too)

Steve

Great minds think alike, eh Steve? Lolac :lol:

There's probably a more favourite Mel Cooley moment for me which I just haven't thought of, yet. But one his best lines, the one I always think of whenever I consider Mel's character, comes from the episode "Where Did I Come From?". It occurs in the scene in the office, when Rob--after sending his trousers out to be laundered--gets the "The Time Has Come!" call from Laura.

He frantically searches for a pair of trousers and asks to borrow Mel's, to which Mel replies, with such seriousness that makes the line hilarious:

"I really need my pants to-day, Rob. I'm having lunch with the sponsor."



Commander Benson

I always loved Mel's entire ventriloquist routine in "Too Many Stars".

Originally posted by Commander Benson
There's probably a more favourite Mel Cooley moment for me which I just haven't thought of, yet. But one his best lines, the one I always think of whenever I consider Mel's character, comes from the episode "Where Did I Come From?". It occurs in the scene in the office, when Rob--after sending his trousers out to be laundered--gets the "The Time Has Come!" call from Laura.

He frantically searches for a pair of trousers and asks to borrow Mel's, to which Mel replies, with such seriousness that makes the line hilarious:

"I really need my pants to-day, Rob. I'm having lunch with the sponsor."



Commander Benson

Oh I forgot about that one!! Great line, and so him.
What about all his "Yech"'s to Buddy? I'm surprised that hasn't been mentioned yet!

Kristen

Originally posted by Commander Benson

"I really need my pants to-day, Rob. I'm having lunch with the sponsor."



Commander Benson

That is also one of my favorites, as is the ventriloquism routine. Mel Cooley had some great moments on that show! I'm glad we're taking the time to concentrate on them. Another favorite of mine is in the episode "Buddy, Can You Spare a Job," where Buddy wants to resign and Rob is dictating a memo to Alan. Buddy tells Rob he needs to make him sound more rotten and Mel says, "Yes, what you need is some honest hatred. I'll dictate the memo." :lol: So funny!! Lolac

I like it when Mel dances.

Originally posted by dix
I like it when Mel dances.

I am having a major brain cramp here. In which episode does Mel dance? I know I'm going to say :doh: when you tell me! Lolac

(Wait, it may be coming to me! Is it the "Alan Brady Presents" Christmas episode?)

Originally posted by Lolac


I am having a major brain cramp here. In which episode does Mel dance? I know I'm going to say :doh: when you tell me! Lolac

(Wait, it may be coming to me! Is it the "Alan Brady Presents" Christmas episode?)

Offhand, I can think of 2 episodes:

# 11 "To Tell or Not to Tell"
The Petries are having a party (this is early in the epsode, perhaps the opening scene). Laura's dancing and gets Mel to briefly join her. (This is the one where Laura gets a temporary job on the show as a dancer.)

# 24 "The Twizzle"
I think everbody but Ritchie dances in this one.

Originally posted by TVgen62


Offhand, I can think of 2 episodes:

# 11 "To Tell or Not to Tell"
The Petries are having a party (this is early in the epsode, perhaps the opening scene). Laura's dancing and gets Mel to briefly join her. (This is the one where Laura gets a temporary job on the show as a dancer.)

# 24 "The Twizzle"
I think everbody but Ritchie dances in this one.

His dancing in "The Twizzle" was hilarious, and I believe it was one of his funniest moments during that first season!

B&W "and I was going to post Mel's comment about 'honest hatred' in the 'Buddy, Can you Spare a Job' episode - great stuff" fan

Originally posted by TVgen62


Offhand, I can think of 2 episodes:

# 11 "To Tell or Not to Tell"
The Petries are having a party (this is early in the epsode, perhaps the opening scene). Laura's dancing and gets Mel to briefly join her. (This is the one where Laura gets a temporary job on the show as a dancer.)

# 24 "The Twizzle"
I think everbody but Ritchie dances in this one.

Like I said, :doh: ! Now I remember! Those are great moments! Lolac

Yes, it's episode # 11 "To Tell or Not to Tell" where Mel shows off his formidable Arthur Murray mambo class chops.

Originally posted by TVgen62


Offhand, I can think of 2 episodes:

# 11 "To Tell or Not to Tell"
The Petries are having a party (this is early in the epsode, perhaps the opening scene). Laura's dancing and gets Mel to briefly join her. (This is the one where Laura gets a temporary job on the show as a dancer.)

# 24 "The Twizzle"
I think everbody but Ritchie dances in this one.

How about Washington Vs. The Bunny, when Mel dances like a ballet dancer w/ the scissors to cut Laura's strings on Rob during Rob's dream?

Hi all,
My favorites are the aforementioned ventriloquist act and the time he got loaded, went to tell off Alan and got fired.

His "Twizzle" was great, as was his singing with the others during the Christmas episode.

I also enjoyed his exchange with Rob in the office, after Rob had inadvertantly been hypnotized to become drunk when he heard a bell ring. For some reason, I really get a kick out of Mel in that scene.

Originally posted by dix
Yes, it's episode # 11 "To Tell or Not to Tell" where Mel shows off his formidable Arthur Murray mambo class chops.

Oops, my mistake. Make that Bosa Nova. Mel actually referred to having a Bosa Nova lesson on today's tvland episode.

For a below the maintitle character. Richard Deacon really did a thorough and wonderful job w/ Mel Cooley.

Great question. Off the top of my head, two come to mind. One is in the "Project Greatness" episode, where Millie mailed in 14 letters from people who loved the show -- that hadn't aired because of a flooded subway. Mel intercepts the letters and gives them to Rob. The other is really the entire episode which was mentioned above, "Offensive, Eiogmanic," etc.; I forget the specific name. But it's the one where Mel -- at the urging of Rob Sally and Buddy -- gets all fired up at lunch and tells off Alan, only to be fired. Mel added a lot to the show -- he was an indispensible character. Also, with the "Yechs," that someone mentioned above, Richard Deacon -- who was a fine character actor -- is reported to have dreamed that up himself. Before the first season, Carl Reiner suppoedly outlined Buddy's character and showed him some of his lines. Deacon's reaction was, "Yecch," and it was kept.

Even Mel's last name--Cooley--seemed like a little joke the writers slipped in. I loved Mel when he has that clicker he used whenever he was around Buddy. I think his therapist suggested it so Mel could click away the aggravation of Buddy's putdowns.
Also The Redcoats episode, where Mel had everything planned for transporting the duo so hordes of teenage girls wouldn't get them, and then sprung on Rob that they were going to his house.

cablejockey,
Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me - I love the way Mel gives the password ("Paul Revere!) in "The Redcoats Are Coming!"

Later,
Art

Originally posted by Artfiore1
cablejockey,
Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me - I love the way Mel gives the password ("Paul Revere!) in "The Redcoats Are Coming!"

Later,
Art


One of my favorites! And Cablejockey, I love the ones you mentioned. There really are some great Mel moments in this series! Lolac :wave: