Jackie even makes himself laugh. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

*ClassicPinUp* · 12-06-2006, 08:29 PM

On "Battle of the Sexes" there's a part where Alice *in the Norton's apartment* is explaining to Trixie how Ralph is using the "sympathy" routine to get her to come back. As Jackie is outside the door doing the "whoaaaaaa whoaaaaaa" I noticed on the second "whoaaaaa" you could hear him laughing. Alice is talking during this so you have to listen a little.
Anyone else ever hear that? If not next time you watch it listen for it. It's the last "whoaaa" before he & Norton walk in.

Bill S. · 12-06-2006, 10:25 PM

I don't think I ever noticed this before. I'm gonna watch it in a little bit to see for myself.

*ClassicPinUp* · 12-06-2006, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill S.

I don't think I ever noticed this before. I'm gonna watch it in a little bit to see for myself.

Okay great! I found it funny..then again it doesn't take much to amuse me

.

Bill S. · 12-07-2006, 02:36 AM

Okay, I just watched it. I think you're right, it sounds like his voice cracked and he started to laugh a little on that last one. It's hard to tell for sure with Alice talking and the audience laughing, but it sure sounds like it. Another funny one was in "TV Or Not TV," when Carney started laughing at Gleason's reaction to the noises from the TV. I think Audrey was probably the only one that never lost it and started laughing on stage, she must've been a tough one to crack.

*ClassicPinUp* · 12-07-2006, 11:51 AM

I wonder if Art did something to make him laugh

. Yeah I like how he turns his head to try & hide his laughing in "Tv Or Not TV." I've seen a few where Audrey laughs like in "What's Her Name" & "Good Buy Aunt Ethel" but never as much as Jackie & Art.

Bill S. · 12-07-2006, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndAwayWeGo

I've seen a few where Audrey laughs like in "What's Her Name" & "Good Buy Aunt Ethel" but never as much as Jackie & Art.

Hmm...I might have to re-watch those to refresh my memory. I know there were several times where Audrey would laugh in character, like at the end of an episode Alice would start to laugh at some silly thing that Ralph did, after which he'd give in and do his classic "cough laugh" and finish it off with a "Baby, you're the greatest!" I don't remember her ever laughing out of character though.

*ClassicPinUp* · 12-08-2006, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill S.

Hmm...I might have to re-watch those to refresh my memory. I know there were several times where Audrey would laugh in character, like at the end of an episode Alice would start to laugh at some silly thing that Ralph did, after which he'd give in and do his classic "cough laugh" and finish it off with a "Baby, you're the greatest!" I don't remember her ever laughing out of character though.

I always liked that especially when Ralph was really steamed over something & they'd just start laughing. Good stuff.

TV DVD Fan · 12-08-2006, 12:14 PM

Jackie and the cast were true pros... they never cracked a smile at anything unless it was scripted (of course the occasional giggle always happens), but for the most part it was a smooth operation... the cast knew they had time constraints and during a live show, you especially had to maintain yourself on stage, or everything would be thrown out of whack. Actors today can lose it more often because it's being taped, but most of the lost Honeymooners episodes were live!

*ClassicPinUp* · 12-09-2006, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV DVD Fan

Actors today can lose it more often because it's being taped, but most of the lost Honeymooners episodes were live!

I thought they *Lost Episodes* all aired live as they were part of Jackie Gleason’s Cavalcade of Stars variety show?

*ClassicPinUp* · 12-09-2006, 10:52 PM

Thanks that's what I thought. I saw a few interviews where Jackie stressed the importance of a live audience so I couldn't have seen him doing it without being live.

ToTheMoon · 01-15-2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill S.

Okay, I just watched it. I think you're right, it sounds like his voice cracked and he started to laugh a little on that last one. It's hard to tell for sure with Alice talking and the audience laughing, but it sure sounds like it. Another funny one was in "TV Or Not TV," when Carney started laughing at Gleason's reaction to the noises from the TV. I think Audrey was probably the only one that never lost it and started laughing on stage, she must've been a tough one to crack.

Yeah, in the lost episode "The Cold", Joyce started laughing uncontrollably when Jackie was running wround with burned feet, I really don't think it was scripted. Jackie adlibbed an angry "What are you laughing about??!" and she went with it and ran out of the apartment, but I think her exit was scripted differently. And I've seen Jackie trying not to grin a couple of times during Art's various hand-waving bits, and I'm not surprised. I honestly think that comedians have no sense of humor. How can you sit around with a straight face while Jackie Gleason is running around you in circles doing his "pain" dance? I wonder if Art Carney would collapse in laughter every time he got kicked out of the apartment and got off the set.

Bill S. · 01-15-2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToTheMoon

I wonder if Art Carney would collapse in laughter every time he got kicked out of the apartment and got off the set.

I know I would have! Yeah, I noticed Joyce laughing in "The Cold" as well...she wasn't really exposed to bits like that as much as Art & Audrey were. You could tell Audrey was trying her best not to burst out laughing at the expression on Jackie's face at the end of "Peacemaker." I don't know how she did it sometimes!

*ClassicPinUp* · 01-15-2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill S.

You could tell Audrey was trying her best not to burst out laughing at the expression on Jackie's face at the end of "Peacemaker." I don't know how she did it sometimes!

Oh man, Audrey should have won some type of award for that alone! I tried to sit through that one without laughing and I couldn't!

Bill S. · 01-15-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Forever*

Oh man, Audrey should have won some type of award for that alone! I tried to sit through that one without laughing and I couldn't!

LOL, I could never get through it either. I wish I could post some screen caps from that scene right now...that was hilarious!

*ClassicPinUp* · 01-15-2008, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill S.

LOL, I could never get through it either. I wish I could post some screen caps from that scene right now...that was hilarious!

I've got time and I'm bored so give me a few minutes and I'll post some

12-06-2006, 08:29 PM	#1
ClassicPinUp ***** Senior Member** Join Date: Oct 28, 2006 Posts: 2,246	Jackie even makes himself laugh. On "Battle of the Sexes" there's a part where Alice in the Norton's apartment is explaining to Trixie how Ralph is using the "sympathy" routine to get her to come back. As Jackie is outside the door doing the "whoaaaaaa whoaaaaaa" I noticed on the second "whoaaaaa" you could hear him laughing. Alice is talking during this so you have to listen a little. Anyone else ever hear that? If not next time you watch it listen for it. It's the last "whoaaa" before he & Norton walk in.
	__________________ Imy firefighter!

12-08-2006, 12:14 PM	#8
TV DVD Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 07, 2005 Posts: 2,602	Jackie and the cast were true pros... they never cracked a smile at anything unless it was scripted (of course the occasional giggle always happens), but for the most part it was a smooth operation... the cast knew they had time constraints and during a live show, you especially had to maintain yourself on stage, or everything would be thrown out of whack. Actors today can lose it more often because it's being taped, but most of the lost Honeymooners episodes were live!
	__________________ Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Sarah Connor: Maybe if you spend your life hiding who you are, you might finally end up fooling yourself. - From the episode "Gnothi Seauton."

12-06-2006, 10:25 PM	#2
Bill S. Member Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2003 Posts: 1,112	I don't think I ever noticed this before. I'm gonna watch it in a little bit to see for myself.

12-07-2006, 02:36 AM	#4
Bill S. Member Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2003 Posts: 1,112	Okay, I just watched it. I think you're right, it sounds like his voice cracked and he started to laugh a little on that last one. It's hard to tell for sure with Alice talking and the audience laughing, but it sure sounds like it. Another funny one was in "TV Or Not TV," when Carney started laughing at Gleason's reaction to the noises from the TV. I think Audrey was probably the only one that never lost it and started laughing on stage, she must've been a tough one to crack.

12-07-2006, 11:51 AM	#5
ClassicPinUp ***** Senior Member** Join Date: Oct 28, 2006 Posts: 2,246	I wonder if Art did something to make him laugh . Yeah I like how he turns his head to try & hide his laughing in "Tv Or Not TV." I've seen a few where Audrey laughs like in "What's Her Name" & "Good Buy Aunt Ethel" but never as much as Jackie & Art.

12-09-2006, 10:52 PM	#10
ClassicPinUp ***** Senior Member** Join Date: Oct 28, 2006 Posts: 2,246	Thanks that's what I thought. I saw a few interviews where Jackie stressed the importance of a live audience so I couldn't have seen him doing it without being live.