FIFTY-TWO FORTY-FIVE OR WORK? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ph1l · 12-19-2006, 03:58 AM

I'm getting stuck into season 5 and just watched "FIFTY-TWO FORTY-FIVE OR WORK" I was just wondering what the title means.

octobereve · 12-22-2006, 09:55 AM

I haven't watched that one in a long time so I am just guessing that the fifty-two forty-five refers to how much he'd collect in unemployment? $52.45? Since it's been some time since I've seen that one, I can't remember if they mentioned the amount of unemployment or not.

ph1l · 12-25-2006, 03:20 AM

You've got a good memory. The unemployment cheque was for Forty-Five dollars. Would Fifty-Two be a term for going on strike perhaps? I doubt it though because the writers shied away from using the vernacular of the period so the show wouldn't date in reruns.

caladon · 12-28-2006, 04:31 AM

Fifty four forty or fight was an old campaign slogan. Here are the details:

http://geography.about.com/od/politi...440orfight.htm

The title was just a play on words. Although it's been awhile since I saw the show, perhaps the check was originally $52.00 and after paying $7.00 in taxes, he was left with $45.00. Then he had a choice, either take the $45.00 or take the other job. I also seem to remember them having just bought a dinning room set; was the cost $52.00? Either way, the title was referring to the old campaign slogan.

On a side note, the slogan was referred to again in a Brady Bunch episode:
54-40 and Fight, where the kids had to decide what to do with a combined 94 books of trading stamps.

Pentimento · 12-28-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caladon

On a side note, the slogan was referred to again in a Brady Bunch episode:
54-40 and Fight, where the kids had to decide what to do with a combined 94 books of trading stamps.

Also, the episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" about the IRS audit was called "1040 or Fight".

12-19-2006, 03:58 AM	#1
ph1l Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2004 Posts: 1,362	FIFTY-TWO FORTY-FIVE OR WORK? I'm getting stuck into season 5 and just watched "FIFTY-TWO FORTY-FIVE OR WORK" I was just wondering what the title means.
	__________________ 60's TV forever

12-22-2006, 09:55 AM	#2
octobereve Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 24, 2004 Posts: 232	I haven't watched that one in a long time so I am just guessing that the fifty-two forty-five refers to how much he'd collect in unemployment? $52.45? Since it's been some time since I've seen that one, I can't remember if they mentioned the amount of unemployment or not.

12-25-2006, 03:20 AM	#3
ph1l Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2004 Posts: 1,362	You've got a good memory. The unemployment cheque was for Forty-Five dollars. Would Fifty-Two be a term for going on strike perhaps? I doubt it though because the writers shied away from using the vernacular of the period so the show wouldn't date in reruns.

12-28-2006, 04:31 AM	#4
caladon Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Massachusetts state home for the bewildered Posts: 1,151	Fifty four forty or fight was an old campaign slogan. Here are the details: http://geography.about.com/od/politi...440orfight.htm The title was just a play on words. Although it's been awhile since I saw the show, perhaps the check was originally $52.00 and after paying $7.00 in taxes, he was left with $45.00. Then he had a choice, either take the $45.00 or take the other job. I also seem to remember them having just bought a dinning room set; was the cost $52.00? Either way, the title was referring to the old campaign slogan. On a side note, the slogan was referred to again in a Brady Bunch episode: 54-40 and Fight, where the kids had to decide what to do with a combined 94 books of trading stamps.