One thing that I've noticed with these Season 7 episodes is that they have made Joe Hackett so darned CHEAP! I know that Joe was always careful with a buck, but these later shows show him to be "Jack Benny" cheap to the point where it really compromises important aspects of his life....where he takes his wife for Valentine's Day, what kind of new home they'll have built, etc.

I realize that they were probably trying to make this cheapness a funny character trait of Joe's, but it's SO extreme in these later episodes that it gets annoying.
I just don't remember Joe being like this in the earlier episodes....or did I just not notice it before?

One more thought on this...

Probably the main reason why Joe's cheapness gets on my nerves is that his stinginess almost always affects Helen in a bad way. She ends up getting the shaft on a night out, a place to live, etc.....

When I watch Joe's stinginess, I keep getting the feeling that Helen is going to end up living like Alice Kramden from "The Honeymooners"!

To the moon, Helen!!
I never really noticed Joe's frugal ways. Then again, I haven't seen these episodes in a while and I haven't had the chance to watch my tape from last Wed.night yet. Now that you've pointed that out, I'll probably notice it this time!:) :D ;) :wave:

the only episode when i really noticed it was the Valentine's Day episode. (that was the episode that was on on Sunday night!- i couldn't remember which one was on on sunday before). Other times, it never really stood out that Joe was really really cheap or anything... well, they do sort of bring it up once in a while, but it never really bugged me.

I've noticed Joe's stinginess too, like in the Christmas episode where he freaked out over being charged 50 cents for rewinding a tape. I found Joe's quirks pretty annoying at time, especially when it involved Helen. Sometimes, I don't know what she saw in him. I go for the Brian or Antonio types :D

offtopic: I once had a female customer flip out on me because I accidentally overcharged her by one freakin' dime! :rolleyes: I can't help but think of her sometimes when Joe is acting all stingy, especially that video store episode. I can see being upset by being overcharged a dollar or more, but one stupid little dime? I wouldn't even care!

Originally posted by Snoopy
I've noticed Joe's stinginess too, like in the Christmas episode where he freaked out over being charged 50 cents for rewinding a tape. I found Joe's quirks pretty annoying at time, especially when it involved Helen.


oh jeez. I forgot about that episode. I did not like that episode at all. that would be one of my least least favorites of the series. I think I said this back when I saw that episode, and I'll say it again- Joe was a total jackass in that episode. lol.

But usually, I think his weird quirks are funny. It's probably because I'm weird too- and have some similar bizarre quirks as him. hehe.
Not really the money thing tho. But the only time that bugged me was in that episode you just mentioned.

~Krista
:cow: