Coast to Coast Bigmouth

[BWLuv]

This is one of my favorite episodes. I was watching this on DVD and the scene in Alan's office between Carl Reiner and MTM is perfection. MTM was really good in this show. I like TMTMS, but I think she did superb acting in this episode. In fact, I think she might have even been better.

A question... In the scene in the office where Alan bangs his foot on the phone...was that scripted or just happened and he adlibbed?

[Lolac]

Originally Posted by BWLuv

This is one of my favorite episodes. I was watching this on DVD and the scene in Alan's office between Carl Reiner and MTM is perfection. MTM was really good in this show. I like TMTMS, but I think she did superb acting in this episode. In fact, I think she might have even been better.

A question... In the scene in the office where Alan bangs his foot on the phone...was that scripted or just happened and he adlibbed?

Who knows? Either way, it was brilliantly acted. CTCBM is my all-time favorite TDVDS episode. I watched it recently and it still makes me laugh out loud. I love the look on Rob's face when he asks Laura what embarrassing thing she said on TV and she says, "Alan Brady is bald." He laughs and hugs her and then pulls away in horror! I LOVE that scene!!! He is such an amazing physical comedian! Such a talent!

Lolac

[Pentimento]

That is a great episode. I love the line about "needy bald people". Also, when Rob comes to the rescue and tells Alan that whatever he was going to say to Laura, Rob would rather Alan say it to him, so Alan says: "Rob, you're a beautiful girl...".

As perfect as the scene is between Laura and Alan, though, I think my favorite moment is when Laura is trying to tell Rob about the prizes she won, particularly when she gets to the vacuum cleaner and makes that sucking noise. It makes me laugh every time.

As for the bit with Alan's foot hitting the phone, I'm inclined to think it was scripted, mainly because Reiner doesn't say anything about it in the DVD commentary. If so, it's just further testament to the great writing and acting throughout this series that all the little extraneous moments like that one always seem so spontaneous and real.

[treky]

I saw an interview with Carl on ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT once, years ago, saying how that's his favorite episode. And, I think he also said that that final scene between him and Mary in Alans office, is his favorite scene, and her line about "needy bald people" is his favorite line.

I don't have the season 5 DVD set yet; does he say that in the commentary?

(hey, I just realized; DVD on DVD! )

[Pentimento]

Originally Posted by treky

I saw an interview with Carl on ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT once, years ago, saying how that's his favorite episode. And, I think he also said that that final scene between him and Mary in Alans office, is his favorite scene, and her line about "needy bald people" is his favorite line.

I don't have the season 5 DVD set yet; does he say that in the commentary?

(hey, I just realized; DVD on DVD! )

In the commentary, both Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner said it was probably Mary Tyler Moore's best episode, and one of their favorites. Reiner said at the end that it was one of his favorites because "I had a good part" and that it was one of Persky and Denoff's best episodes. He also commented on "needy bald people" being a great line.

A lot of the commentary was devoted to the discussion of toupees: which stars wore them, on what occasions Reiner wore his (for national TV, but not for local TV or to parties), and the fact that several of the toupees used in that episode belonged to Reiner.

There was also a short bonus feature with that episode - about a minute and a half taken from a special that had aired on TV Land, I think - in which Reiner, DVD and MTM talked about the episode. Reiner again said it was one of his favorites and mentioned that he did ad-lib the bit where he talks to the toupees.

[BWLuv]

[QUOTEReiner again said it was one of his favorites and mentioned that he did ad-lib the bit where he talks to the toupees.[/QUOTE]

THAT I have a hard time believing. The phone thing I can see being ad-libed because it looks as if it were an accident during filming and they just went with it, but the talking to the toupees off the top of his head while filming...

I could believe that he came up with it during a rehearsal or a rewirite and said, "How about if I....." and then practicing the bit and perfecting it for filming, but as a surprise, unrehearsed stroke of brilliance at the moment of filming, that I don't buy.

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...Persky & Denoff's original script for "Coast-To-Coast Big Mouth" in one of Max Wilk's books on TV scriptwriting, and it was slightly different from what was eventually filmed {i.e. Buddy's parting remark-- as Alan and the group leave for lunch after seeing Laura on "The Johnny Patrick Show"-- "I'm so hungry, I could eat an unlisted banana", was omitted from the scene as filmed}. Naturally, Carl does ad-lib a bit with the toupee heads because, in the script, he supposed to talk to them {"Fellas..."}...but after he bangs his foot on the desk, Carl throws in an ad-lib moment where he picks up the phone and growls into it (making a grotesque facial expression) before hanging up again...this makes Laura's observation, "Does it hurt?", even funnier. His reaction to Laura's suggestion about "needy bald people" was certainly ad-libbed...he pounds the toupee head as if it's a bongo drum, then repeats, "'Needy bald people'...Laura, you're a NUT!!". DEFINITELY not in the original script!

[treky]

I don't remember Alan saying "Laura, you're a nut"! after he repeats "NEEDY BALD PEOPLE"! after she says it.
But then; I haven't seen that episode in years.

[catlover79]

The folks at Me-TV cleverly mashed an episode of TMTMS that has Mary "watching" Laura blurt out Alan Brady's secret on TV. Too cute!!