Episode Review: "Curse of The Kramdens - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Frank Gannucci · 03-14-2009, 07:30 AM

In honor of St. Patty's Day, I thought i would repost this.

Episode #158
TV: Hour (edited)
DVD: Attached to "Mod Couple" (aka "Honeymooners In England")
& "You're In The Picture."

The show opens in a Irish bar/hotel lobby in Ireland with a bunch of waiters & waitresses (the June Taylor Dancers) singing: “Hooray For The Irish!” After the song is over, the bartender is talking to a man about how a Kramden is coming to visit. The bartender then tells a story on how the curse of Shammus O’ Toole was formed and it hasn't been broken yet. The village of Dunnelin has been affected greatly by it. Part of the story is that the village is very fond of beer and was prospering because of its great beer until the curse was formed. The curse had a very bad effect on their beer and in turn the village was affected a great deal. They say if a Kramden spends the night in a castle that is the home of the Ghost of Shammus O’ Toole, the curse will be broken. He also tried to put a curse on America, but it didn't work. The mayor comes in with the news that the Kramdens are coming. The Kramdens & Nortons arrive at the bar and all the dancers greet them and sing. The mayor says that he found a Kramden because a Kramden has an eye of a eagle, the heart of a lion and the dignity of a king so he shakes Ed's hand thinking that he is Ralph. Ralph corrects him. Ed: "I only got the tooth of an elk." The girls can't believe the reception they got. The girls want to unpack. Ralph wants the biggest suite there is in he hotel (apparently the bar has a hotel). The bartender/owner: "You can have the Jackie Gleason Suite." Ed hears this and they talk about Jackie. Ralph: "Jackie is a bit pudgy. That Art has put on a few pounds too." Ha! Ed Norton wants a drink called a Hungarian Zombie. He says it is simple to make but it doesn't sound that way when he describes the way you make it. Ralph says that Ed has a little of irish in him. Man: "Did your mitther come from Ireland?" Ed: "What's a mitther?" Ralph: "He means your mother." Ed: "No, she didn't. Neither did my britther or my sitther. It was my grandfither." Ed brings Ralph into the center of the bar and addresses everyone and says a toast to Ralph but his speech is so long, Ralph yells at him to shut up. After that, the threesome leave as the girls sing and dance.

The next scene opens with the mayor, Ralph & Ed sitting down. Ralph makes a toast to Ireland and says it is the most hospitable country in the world. Ralph sings a song about Ireland that mentions it's hospitability. Ed joins in. It's a great song. The mayor talks about Ralph's great-great-grandfather and how brave he was. Ed says that Ralph is very brave. He once took on three guys single-handedly at once. Ed: "They murdered Ralph. Of course he had them outweighed by 50 pounds." Ha! They talk about Shammus O' Toole, the famous Irish ghost. The mayor asks if Ralph will spend a night in a castle. Ralph says sure. The mayor: "Tonight you will break the Old Kramden curse by spending the night with a blood-thirsty ghost. He realizes what he agreed to.

At the hotel, Ralph is a nervous wreck. Alice says that it is not necessary and the ghost and curse don't exist. Ralph: "As soon as the curse is broken, they will make beer. I'm not risking myself for beer." Alice: "I bet you would for pizza." Ed comes in with Trixie. Ed: "How's the old ghost catcher? Whooooo!" Ralph isn't amused Trixie talks about the celebration about Ralph being a hero and breaking the curse. The mayor comes in to take Ralph. Ralph is scared, he forces Ed to come. Ed is scared too. The girls and boys break into song in which some of the lyrics are: "You need not fear/we will be waiting right here." It's a great song. After that, the boys leave.

At the castle, the counterfeiters are talking about their evil schemes and they plot how they will scare Ralph and Ed. In other words, they are the “curse”. They leave as Ralph & Ed come in. Ralph: "This isn't the fun and sun capital of the world." A door closes "by itself." The boys are scared. Ed: "Is it true that a ghost can go through a wall." Ralph: "If that happens, you will see me going through that wall." They try to turn on the radio, but a scary show doesn't entertain them. After that, more screams are heard. The boys are even more scared. They try to pretend that they are in the hotel. Ed: "Too bad that it's haunted." They hear a scream. Ed: "Since we are in a hotel, let's check out." They are locked in since they can't get out of the door. They try to go through the window, but it doesn't work. They lay on the bed. Ralph asks Ed for a match, but someone else gives him one (unbeknownst to Ralph) Ralph thanks Ed but Ed tells him that he didn't light it. Uh oh! Ralph hears a scary laugh. Ralph: "Thanks for the light." More scary hi-jinks follow like Ed going through the door (that opened "by itself") on one side of the bed and not coming back. Ralph notices and goes into that door that opened "by itself" and tries to see Norton. Ed comes out on the other side and one of the counterfeiters places a fake cat near the bed. Ed thinks that Ralph is now a cat. Ralph comes out and sees what Ed is doing and tries to convince him that he's not a cat. "Ghost": "I am the Ghost of Shammus O' Toole. If your name is Kramden, beware." Ralph lays down on the bed and from Ed's blindside, the bed moves into the wall and comes back without Ralph. Ed wonders where Ralph is. Ralph comes in and when he sees Ed with a blanket on his head, he gets scared. He immediately sees that it is Norton. They hear a knock on the previously locked door and the door opens with boots walking "by themselves." They try to leave but a "ghost" scares them. The ghost goes into one of the doors. They come to the conclusion that the ghost is in between the two doors on the other side of the wall. They capture the counterfeiters and leave, supposedly breaking the curse.

The next scene opens up with a celebration at the bar/hotel lobby. The Kramdens and Nortons break out into the song Ireland song that Ralph sung earlier. They leave immediately.

At the curtain call, Jackie talks about Miami and coffee. He introduces the cast (Shelia kisses him). After that, the credits roll with the fake palm trees in the background.

03-14-2009, 07:30 AM	#1
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,042	Episode Review: "Curse of The Kramdens In honor of St. Patty's Day, I thought i would repost this. Episode #158 TV: Hour (edited) DVD: Attached to "Mod Couple" (aka "Honeymooners In England") & "You're In The Picture." The show opens in a Irish bar/hotel lobby in Ireland with a bunch of waiters & waitresses (the June Taylor Dancers) singing: “Hooray For The Irish!” After the song is over, the bartender is talking to a man about how a Kramden is coming to visit. The bartender then tells a story on how the curse of Shammus O’ Toole was formed and it hasn't been broken yet. The village of Dunnelin has been affected greatly by it. Part of the story is that the village is very fond of beer and was prospering because of its great beer until the curse was formed. The curse had a very bad effect on their beer and in turn the village was affected a great deal. They say if a Kramden spends the night in a castle that is the home of the Ghost of Shammus O’ Toole, the curse will be broken. He also tried to put a curse on America, but it didn't work. The mayor comes in with the news that the Kramdens are coming. The Kramdens & Nortons arrive at the bar and all the dancers greet them and sing. The mayor says that he found a Kramden because a Kramden has an eye of a eagle, the heart of a lion and the dignity of a king so he shakes Ed's hand thinking that he is Ralph. Ralph corrects him. Ed: "I only got the tooth of an elk." The girls can't believe the reception they got. The girls want to unpack. Ralph wants the biggest suite there is in he hotel (apparently the bar has a hotel). The bartender/owner: "You can have the Jackie Gleason Suite." Ed hears this and they talk about Jackie. Ralph: "Jackie is a bit pudgy. That Art has put on a few pounds too." Ha! Ed Norton wants a drink called a Hungarian Zombie. He says it is simple to make but it doesn't sound that way when he describes the way you make it. Ralph says that Ed has a little of irish in him. Man: "Did your mitther come from Ireland?" Ed: "What's a mitther?" Ralph: "He means your mother." Ed: "No, she didn't. Neither did my britther or my sitther. It was my grandfither." Ed brings Ralph into the center of the bar and addresses everyone and says a toast to Ralph but his speech is so long, Ralph yells at him to shut up. After that, the threesome leave as the girls sing and dance. The next scene opens with the mayor, Ralph & Ed sitting down. Ralph makes a toast to Ireland and says it is the most hospitable country in the world. Ralph sings a song about Ireland that mentions it's hospitability. Ed joins in. It's a great song. The mayor talks about Ralph's great-great-grandfather and how brave he was. Ed says that Ralph is very brave. He once took on three guys single-handedly at once. Ed: "They murdered Ralph. Of course he had them outweighed by 50 pounds." Ha! They talk about Shammus O' Toole, the famous Irish ghost. The mayor asks if Ralph will spend a night in a castle. Ralph says sure. The mayor: "Tonight you will break the Old Kramden curse by spending the night with a blood-thirsty ghost. He realizes what he agreed to. At the hotel, Ralph is a nervous wreck. Alice says that it is not necessary and the ghost and curse don't exist. Ralph: "As soon as the curse is broken, they will make beer. I'm not risking myself for beer." Alice: "I bet you would for pizza." Ed comes in with Trixie. Ed: "How's the old ghost catcher? Whooooo!" Ralph isn't amused Trixie talks about the celebration about Ralph being a hero and breaking the curse. The mayor comes in to take Ralph. Ralph is scared, he forces Ed to come. Ed is scared too. The girls and boys break into song in which some of the lyrics are: "You need not fear/we will be waiting right here." It's a great song. After that, the boys leave. At the castle, the counterfeiters are talking about their evil schemes and they plot how they will scare Ralph and Ed. In other words, they are the “curse”. They leave as Ralph & Ed come in. Ralph: "This isn't the fun and sun capital of the world." A door closes "by itself." The boys are scared. Ed: "Is it true that a ghost can go through a wall." Ralph: "If that happens, you will see me going through that wall." They try to turn on the radio, but a scary show doesn't entertain them. After that, more screams are heard. The boys are even more scared. They try to pretend that they are in the hotel. Ed: "Too bad that it's haunted." They hear a scream. Ed: "Since we are in a hotel, let's check out." They are locked in since they can't get out of the door. They try to go through the window, but it doesn't work. They lay on the bed. Ralph asks Ed for a match, but someone else gives him one (unbeknownst to Ralph) Ralph thanks Ed but Ed tells him that he didn't light it. Uh oh! Ralph hears a scary laugh. Ralph: "Thanks for the light." More scary hi-jinks follow like Ed going through the door (that opened "by itself") on one side of the bed and not coming back. Ralph notices and goes into that door that opened "by itself" and tries to see Norton. Ed comes out on the other side and one of the counterfeiters places a fake cat near the bed. Ed thinks that Ralph is now a cat. Ralph comes out and sees what Ed is doing and tries to convince him that he's not a cat. "Ghost": "I am the Ghost of Shammus O' Toole. If your name is Kramden, beware." Ralph lays down on the bed and from Ed's blindside, the bed moves into the wall and comes back without Ralph. Ed wonders where Ralph is. Ralph comes in and when he sees Ed with a blanket on his head, he gets scared. He immediately sees that it is Norton. They hear a knock on the previously locked door and the door opens with boots walking "by themselves." They try to leave but a "ghost" scares them. The ghost goes into one of the doors. They come to the conclusion that the ghost is in between the two doors on the other side of the wall. They capture the counterfeiters and leave, supposedly breaking the curse. The next scene opens up with a celebration at the bar/hotel lobby. The Kramdens and Nortons break out into the song Ireland song that Ralph sung earlier. They leave immediately. At the curtain call, Jackie talks about Miami and coffee. He introduces the cast (Shelia kisses him). After that, the credits roll with the fake palm trees in the background.