the truth about Pert Kelton and why "THE HONEYMOONERS" was canceled

[treky]

alright; for YEARS I've been hearing that Pert Kelton left "THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW" because she was blacklisted, then I heard it was because of illness, then I heard that she was blacklisted, then I heard it was both, then I heard on the PBS series "PIONEERS OF TV" that it was initially said that it was because of illness, but she was blacklisted. So, once and for all, WHAT WAS THE REASON???

Also, I heard that "THE HONEYMOONERS" was cancelled because Jackie didn't want to do it anymore, because he felt he wasn't as funny as in the Honeymooners sketches. Then, I read that the sponsor, Buick canceled it. But; again on PBS s "PIONEERS OF TV" they said that CBS cancelled it. Again, which was it?

And, why aren't the Pert Kelton/Dumont sketches availible on video or DVD? Also, the "CALVACADE OF STARS"? (2 episodes of that are on tv4u.com BTW)

[*ClassicPinUp*]

Pert was blacklisted. Jackie made up the illness story to basically cover for her.
Jackie decided to end the show. Here's his exact words about it; "The excellence of the material could not be maintained, and I had too much fondness for the show to cheapen it."

[W.B.]

Originally Posted by treky

Also, I heard that "THE HONEYMOONERS" was cancelled because Jackie didn't want to do it anymore, because he felt he wasn't as funny as in the Honeymooners sketches. Then, I read that the sponsor, Buick canceled it. But; again on PBS s "PIONEERS OF TV" they said that CBS cancelled it. Again, which was it?

From my understanding, Buick initiated the cancellation, CBS went along with it because they didn't want to offend Buick, and then the network forced Gleason's hand.

[JealousGarrity]

W.B your misinformed.. Jackie was the reason the show was canceled.. see forevers post .. which is right on the money

[treky]

looks like noone STILL knows for sure!

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by *Forever*

Pert was blacklisted. Jackie made up the illness story to basically cover for her.
Jackie decided to end the show. Here's his exact words about it; "The excellence of the material could not be maintained, and I had too much fondness for the show to cheapen it."

It's too bad more shows couldn't follow Jackie's lead. Some shows go on way past their expiration date, including some of my all-time favorites.

[ToTheMoon]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

It's too bad more shows couldn't follow Jackie's lead. Some shows go on way past their expiration date, including some of my all-time favorites.

Yeah I know, that's the most horrible thing that can happen to a great show. The Simpsons is the most notorious example of course, but there's also I Love Lucy, M*A*SH, and The Andy Griffith Show, who all got lousy in their later years. Well...not Lucy so much, but for me the show jumped when the moved to Connecticut. The Honeymooners, on the other hand, never, ever jumped, it didn't even have a single weak episode, which I believe is an exception among TV shows.

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by ToTheMoon

Yeah I know, that's the most horrible thing that can happen to a great show. The Simpsons is the most notorious example of course, but there's also I Love Lucy, M*A*SH, and The Andy Griffith Show, who all got lousy in their later years. Well...not Lucy so much, but for me the show jumped when the moved to Connecticut. The Honeymooners, on the other hand, never, ever jumped, it didn't even have a single weak episode, which I believe is an exception among TV shows.

I agree with you about "I Love Lucy". The show was never the same when they made the move to Connecticut. And for the Honeymooners, the
"Classic 39" wasn't on long enough for the show to slip in quality and I always felt that Jackie could have done a few more seasons before ending it.

[ToTheMoon]

Originally Posted by The Great One

I agree with you about "I Love Lucy". The show was never the same when they made the move to Connecticut. And for the Honeymooners, the
"Classic 39" wasn't on long enough for the show to slip in quality and I always felt that Jackie could have done a few more seasons before ending it.

Yeah, another season wouldn't have hurt it. It's true that the show had a small scope, great as it was, and shortness was good, but I think Jackie was a bit scared to let something he loved so much to slip and was being extra sure it wouldn't.

[*ClassicPinUp*]

Originally Posted by treky

looks like noone STILL knows for sure!

We do know for sure as it has been said and confirmed many times. Pert was blacklisted not ill and Jackie ended the show.

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by The Great One

"Classic 39" wasn't on long enough for the show to slip in quality and I always felt that Jackie could have done a few more seasons before ending it.

Originally Posted by ToTheMoon

Yeah, another season wouldn't have hurt it. It's true that the show had a small scope, great as it was, and shortness was good, but I think Jackie was a bit scared to let something he loved so much to slip and was being extra sure it wouldn't.

To me, there was another season. I watch the longer Lost Episodes just as much, if not more than the Classic 39, and personally feel that the majority of them can easily compete with the C39. The following episodes are what I like to consider the "Lost Classic 39":

1. "Peacemaker"
2. "This Is Your Life"
3. "Little Man Who Wasn't There"
4. "A Promotion"
5. "Two Men On A Horse"
6. "Catch A Star"
7. "Boys & Girls Together"
8. "My Fair Landlord"
9. "Letter To The Boss"
10. "Stand-In For Murder"
11. "Kramden Vs. Norton"
12. "Teamwork Beat The Clock"
13. "Brother-In-Law"
14. "Songwriters"
15. "Goodbye Aunt Ethel"
16. "The People's Choice"
17. "Ralph's Sweet Tooth"
18. "Game Called On Account Of Marriage"
19. "Move Uptown"
20. "The Hypnotist"
21. "The Great Jewel Robbery"
22. "Cottage For Sale"
23. "Stars Over Flatbush"
24. "One Big Happy Family"
25. "A Weighty Problem"
26. "Hero"
27. "Principle Of The Thing"
28. "Songs & Witty Sayings"
29. "Cupid"
30. "Love Letter"
31. "Finders Keepers"
32. "The Next Champ"
33. "Hair-Raising Tale"
34. "Battle Of The Sexes"
35. "The Man In The Blue Suit"
36. "Box Top Kid"
37. "Hot Dog Stand"
38. "Vacation At Fred's Landing" (Either version)
39. Either "Santa And The Bookies" or "The Adoption"

[*ClassicPinUp*]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

To me, there was another season. I watch the longer Lost Episodes just as much, if not more than the Classic 39, and personally feel that the majority of them can easily compete with the C39. The following episodes are what I like to consider the "Lost Classic 39":

I'm the same way. The Classic 39 are great but the Lost are just funnier IMO. I like that a lot of them leave the little apartment and last longer then 30 minutes.

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by *Forever*

I like that a lot of them leave the little apartment and last longer then 30 minutes.

You know what I just realized? Every single episode I listed there has at least one scene outside of the apartment, while the following Classic 39 episodes take place entirely in the apartment:

1. "TV Or Not TV"
2. "Brother Ralph"
3. "'Twas The Night Before Christmas"
4. "Oh My Aching Back"
5. "Mama Loves Mambo"
6. "Pardon My Glove"
7. "The Loudspeaker"
8. "Mind Your Own Business"

That's not necessarily a bad thing though...most sitcoms couldn't pull that off, but I agree, the Lost Episodes were a lot more adventurous. Plus I love the fact that they were longer than 30 minutes, some were almost like short movies.

[W.B.]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

It's too bad more shows couldn't follow Jackie's lead. Some shows go on way past their expiration date, including some of my all-time favorites.

Actually, a small few did follow Mr. Gleason's example. John Cleese, for instance, ending Fawlty Towers after only 12 episodes.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by W.B.

Actually, a small few did follow Mr. Gleason's example. John Cleese, for instance, ending Fawlty Towers after only 12 episodes.

Quite true, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

The British have always emphasized quality over quantity, with shorter seasons and more time in between seasons. I believe there was a four-year gap in between the two seasons that comprise Fawlty Towers. So much so that John Cleese divorced Connie Booth in between! But apparently they got along well enough to resume working together.