Gleason vs. Como

[Bill S.]

I know the basic story behind their so-called "Battle of the Giants," but I have a couple questions about it. Now, I know Jackie took a few shots at Mr. Como during that 1956-1957 season (most notably in "Catch A Star" and "When In Rome"), but did Como ever take any shots at Gleason on his show? Also, did the two ever end up settling their feud years later? Jackie always seemed to take it personal when Perry Como's name was brought up, even though he was in character, it obviously got to him that TPCS was ahead of him in the ratings, but I could never tell if it was a situation where they really didn't like each other or not. It'd be interesting to know if they ever ran into each other later in life and were able to let bygones be bygones.

[W.B.]

From what I'd read, socially Mr. Gleason and Mr. Como were friends; whatever "digs" The Great One made on his show were more on a professional/competition level than personal. Furthermore, it wasn't just Como per se that Gleason, on his show, took potshots at, if based on the remake "Ralph Kramden Presents" where they put in a reference to his competition at that time, Flipper. I recommend (if you don't have it) reading William Henry 3d's The Great One bio; more specifically pp. 164-165. That should give you some idea about the Gleason/Como "rivalry."

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by W.B.

From what I'd read, socially Mr. Gleason and Mr. Como were friends; whatever "digs" The Great One made on his show were more on a professional/competition level than personal. Furthermore, it wasn't just Como per se that Gleason, on his show, took potshots at, if based on the remake "Ralph Kramden Presents" where they put in a reference to his competition at that time, Flipper. I recommend (if you don't have it) reading William Henry 3d's The Great One bio; more specifically pp. 164-165. That should give you some idea about the Gleason/Como "rivalry."

Wow, I never would've guessed that they were actually friends. I'm glad to know that they (especially Jackie) didn't hold a grudge against one another. I was actually just thinking about that one HM episode where Ralph sarcastically calls Alice "Perry Como," because she was singing while cutting his hair. I like to think that the two of them got a good laugh out of lines like that years later. Thanks for the info on the book BTW, I'll have to pick that up when I get a chance.

[W.B.]

Also, this was a different era than today's. And for those who are familiar with the color Honeymooners episodes, there were a lot of pop-culture references, and not just to Flipper.

[MrBand]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

Wow, I never would've guessed that they were actually friends. I'm glad to know that they (especially Jackie) didn't hold a grudge against one another. I was actually just thinking about that one HM episode where Ralph sarcastically calls Alice "Perry Como," because she was singing while cutting his hair. I like to think that the two of them got a good laugh out of lines like that years later. Thanks for the info on the book BTW, I'll have to pick that up when I get a chance.

The humor of this retort stems from the fact that Mr. Como actually started out as a barber.

[W.B.]

Originally Posted by MrBand

The humor of this retort stems form the fact that Mr. Como actually started out as a barber.

Which sounds like another example of the pop-culture references that The Honeymooners dabbled in (at least) over the years.

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by MrBand

The humor of this retort stems from the fact that Mr. Como actually started out as a barber.

Oh, really? I had no idea...I always thought that was a joke about Perry Como's singing career. Which reminds me, the title of a certain Classic 39 episode is actually a pun on one of Mr. Como's songs ("Papa Loves Mambo").

[treky]

I never knew Jackie and Perry had a friendly "rivalry" going on! I knew that "THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW" & "THE PERRY COMO SHOW" were on oppisite each other.