Why did Mel put up with Alan Brady? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Bronson · 08-29-2009, 04:52 PM

Who could work for such a jerk? I get that they were brothers in law but Alan was impossible. Carl Reiner once described Alan as not being a nice person which is true. But he played him well.

No amount of money could ever make me put up with jerk like Alan Brady and take his constant abuse.

MickeyMac · 08-31-2009, 12:47 PM

Mel was afraid of him. The one time I ever saw him stand up to Alan was when Rob encourged him, and Alan prompty fired him. Alan Brady was a jerk but Carl Reiner played him so well he made the scenes enjoyable to watch. I will say this much I would rather deal with Alan than the dippy Milly any day of the week.

Marvo301 · 08-31-2009, 06:57 PM

I think the only reason Mel put up with Allen is because he wanted to keep his cushy job. Which is probably the only reason he put up with Buddy too!

treky · 09-05-2009, 03:11 AM

and also because it wouldn't be as funny if he didn't.

TV Knowledge Fan · 03-06-2010, 12:56 AM

...as to WHY Mel became Alan's producer. It was never "fleshed out" on the TV show, but I have a feeling it happened this way: when Alan married "Margaret" (or whatever her name happened to be, according to the script), she was the one who pestered him to find a job for her brother when he began his TV show, around 1952- "All I'm asking you is to help Mel out! He needs a job!". "He needs a job like I need a brother-in-law for a producer", Alan probably snapped at her. "If you don't hire Mel", she intoned, "I'll tell the world you share the same bed with 'Mr. Toupee'...". "You wouldn't dare...". "I have an interview with Jack O'Brian this afternoon. And it just might slip out...". "Okay, OKAY, I'll use Mel!! (softly) Yecchhh!". See, even though Alan couldn't stand Mel, he discovered he was exactly what he needed to keep his TV show "running smoothly". And Mel couldn't stand Alan, either- yet they needed each other.....

In real life, Jack Benny used his brother-in-law, Hilllard Marks {Mary Livingstone's brother}, as his radio and TV producer. But they liked each other- in fact, Jack had a closer relationship with "Hickey" than his own wife. Eventually, Marks went into real estate by the end of the '50s, and occasionally helped Jack out on his specials as a writer and production consultant.

Bronson · 07-16-2011, 12:01 AM

That is interesting thanks for that bit if history and thanks guys for the responses.

jenny · 07-20-2011, 10:18 PM

Seems to me he was Alan's brother in law, and the wife made Alan hire him.

catlover79 · 04-13-2012, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Mel was afraid of him. The one time I ever saw him stand up to Alan was when Rob encourged him, and Alan prompty fired him. Alan Brady was a jerk but Carl Reiner played him so well he made the scenes enjoyable to watch. I will say this much I would rather deal with Alan than the dippy Milly any day of the week.

Amen to that!!! A little bit of Millie went a loooooooooooooong way!!!

mets82 · 04-13-2012, 09:08 PM

I watch Dick Van Dyke on and off and I seem to remember the episode when Laura admitted that Alan Brady wore a hair piece that Alan really reamed and yelled and insulted Mel. I think it was that episode. I'll tell you, I would've loved to see Mel kick Alan Brady's ass!!!

catlover79 · 04-13-2012, 11:11 PM

The Revenge of Mel Cooley - I would've watched that.

Bronson · 02-19-2015, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mets82

I watch Dick Van Dyke on and off and I seem to remember the episode when Laura admitted that Alan Brady wore a hair piece that Alan really reamed and yelled and insulted Mel. I think it was that episode. I'll tell you, I would've loved to see Mel kick Alan Brady's ass!!!

Yes that would have been great.

Yong Fang · 02-23-2015, 02:59 AM

Wasn't Mel married to Alan's sister?

Besides, Mel lived in New York in the early 1960's, working in an exciting field, unlike his ho hum twin brother back in Ohio working a boring job with Ward Cleaver.

treky · 02-23-2015, 03:07 AM

yes and as he told Rob in the episode FORTY-FOUR TICKETS he's allowed to go to the house "any time Alan's not home."

treky · 02-23-2015, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

The Revenge of Mel Cooley - I would've watched that.

me too!

08-29-2009, 04:52 PM	#1
Bronson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 27, 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 274	Why did Mel put up with Alan Brady? Who could work for such a jerk? I get that they were brothers in law but Alan was impossible. Carl Reiner once described Alan as not being a nice person which is true. But he played him well. No amount of money could ever make me put up with jerk like Alan Brady and take his constant abuse.
	Last edited by Bronson; 11-12-2017 at 07:30 AM.

08-31-2009, 06:57 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	I think the only reason Mel put up with Allen is because he wanted to keep his cushy job. Which is probably the only reason he put up with Buddy too!
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09-05-2009, 03:11 AM	#4
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	and also because it wouldn't be as funny if he didn't.
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03-06-2010, 12:56 AM	#5
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	There's an interesting backstory... ...as to WHY Mel became Alan's producer. It was never "fleshed out" on the TV show, but I have a feeling it happened this way: when Alan married "Margaret" (or whatever her name happened to be, according to the script), she was the one who pestered him to find a job for her brother when he began his TV show, around 1952- "All I'm asking you is to help Mel out! He needs a job!". "He needs a job like I need a brother-in-law for a producer", Alan probably snapped at her. "If you don't hire Mel", she intoned, "I'll tell the world you share the same bed with 'Mr. Toupee'...". "You wouldn't dare...". "I have an interview with Jack O'Brian this afternoon. And it just might slip out...". "Okay, OKAY, I'll use Mel!! (softly) Yecchhh!". See, even though Alan couldn't stand Mel, he discovered he was exactly what he needed to keep his TV show "running smoothly". And Mel couldn't stand Alan, either- yet they needed each other..... In real life, Jack Benny used his brother-in-law, Hilllard Marks {Mary Livingstone's brother}, as his radio and TV producer. But they liked each other- in fact, Jack had a closer relationship with "Hickey" than his own wife. Eventually, Marks went into real estate by the end of the '50s, and occasionally helped Jack out on his specials as a writer and production consultant.

07-20-2011, 10:18 PM	#7
jenny Member Forum Cub Join Date: Jul 20, 2011 Posts: 2	WHy did Mel put up with Alan Brady? Seems to me he was Alan's brother in law, and the wife made Alan hire him.

08-31-2009, 12:47 PM	#2
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	Mel was afraid of him. The one time I ever saw him stand up to Alan was when Rob encourged him, and Alan prompty fired him. Alan Brady was a jerk but Carl Reiner played him so well he made the scenes enjoyable to watch. I will say this much I would rather deal with Alan than the dippy Milly any day of the week.

07-16-2011, 12:01 AM	#6
Bronson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 27, 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 274	That is interesting thanks for that bit if history and thanks guys for the responses.

04-13-2012, 09:08 PM	#9
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	I watch Dick Van Dyke on and off and I seem to remember the episode when Laura admitted that Alan Brady wore a hair piece that Alan really reamed and yelled and insulted Mel. I think it was that episode. I'll tell you, I would've loved to see Mel kick Alan Brady's ass!!!
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04-13-2012, 11:11 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	The Revenge of Mel Cooley - I would've watched that.

02-23-2015, 02:59 AM	#12
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Wasn't Mel married to Alan's sister? Besides, Mel lived in New York in the early 1960's, working in an exciting field, unlike his ho hum twin brother back in Ohio working a boring job with Ward Cleaver.

02-23-2015, 03:07 AM	#13
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	yes and as he told Rob in the episode FORTY-FOUR TICKETS he's allowed to go to the house "any time Alan's not home."