Episode Reviews: "New Bowling Ball" & "Norton Moves In" (Please Read)

[Frank Gannucci]

Episode Reviews: "New Bowling Ball" & "Norton Moves In" (Please Read)

Episode #203
DVD: MPI MIGHT release this episode along with a few other short color sketches.
Color & Lost Episode Title: “The New Bowling Ball”:

I haven't seen the 60s version but I am assuming it's the same as its Lost Episode counterpart except for a few things.

The episode opens up with Alice coming home. Trixie comes in. Alice says that she has to rush to make dinner. Alice also bought food and a new bowling ball for Ralph. Ralph is going bowling tonight. The boys come in. Ralph looks at the bowling ball and loves it. Ralph: “She’s all mine.” Ed: “I hope the two of you are very happy together.” Ed said that he saved money to get a bowling ball, but she says that Trixie thought of only herself and got her tooth pulled with that money. The Nortons leave.

Ralph is ready for dinner. He is upset that dinner isn’t near ready yet. When Alice tells Ralph what they are having, he doesn’t like it. Alice asks Ralph to unwrap the steak. When Ralph finds out that the steak is frozen solid, he is upset. The steak has to thaw out but Ralph has to go bowling in a little while. Ralph yells. Alice: “Keep yelling and the steak will thaw out in no time.” This is also one of the first times that Ralph says to Alice that one of these days, he will hit her. Ralph gets the can opener but has difficulty with it. He accidentally hurts his finger with the can opener. According to Ralph, now he can’t go bowling. Alice says for him to stop exaggerating. Ralph tires to prove Alice wrong by putting his hurt finger in the bowling ball. He can’t get it all the way in somehow. Ralph: “I’m going bowling now.” Ralph then finds out that he can’t get his fingers out of the ball. Uh oh! Ralph is upset at Alice some more. He now thinks he can’t do his job anymore because of the fact that he has a bowling ball stuck to him. Ed comes down. Ralph explains to him what just happened to him. Ed: “Why don’t you go on a diet? Maybe it will drop off.” Alice and Ed help Ralph out. Ed grabs the ball while Alice grabs Ralph by the waist and both of them pull. The ball falls off as Ralph backs into the corner with Alice behind him and accidentally hits her slightly. Ralph’s thumb is so hurt that he thinks he (Ralph) can’t go bowling. Ed leaves. Ralph is still upset at Alice. Ralph calls him unlucky. Ralph: “Not as unlucky as King Faruk though.” Alice says that Ralph hurt his left hand. Ralph finds out that he is RIGHT HANDED. So, he can go bowling after all. He tries to leave. Alice wishes him good luck. Ralph is upset at what he just did to Alice. He asks Alice if she wants to see him bowl. She says yes. Ralph: “Baby, you’re the greatest.” They hug and kiss.

Episode #204
DVD: MPI MIGHT release this episode along with a few other short color sketches.
Color & Lost Episode Title: "Norton Moves In":

If you haven't seen this episode yet, it does look funny on paper, doesn't it?

In case you are wondering, I got the audio of this episode but not the video. So...

Trixie comes down to the Kramden apartment at 3am. Trixie reveals that their apartment was painted today, though it was technically yesterday since it is 3am. Alice reveals that they are going to have their apartment painted. The painter left the paint on the sink. The paint smells awful. So she wonders is her and Ed could come own and stay for the night. Alice obliges. Ed Norton comes down and says thanks. He and Trixie go to get the cot.

Alice wakes up Ralph. Ralph thinks it's time to go to work, but Alice tells him its 3am. Ralph: "Why did you wake me up for?" Alice: "The Nortons had their apartment painted today." Ralph: "Did the news flash come across the radio?" Alice explains the paint smells awful in their house. Ralph: "Norton works in the sewer all day and he can't stand the smell of paint." Hey everyone has a smell that they can and can't stand. Ralph has to sleep in the kitchen with Ed. Ralph and Alice said the exact things to each other in this argument in other episodes like "King of The Castle” & “Battle of The Sexes.” Alice says that the Nortons would do the same exact thing for them.

Ed Norton comes down with the folding cot and a lot of their valuables like the clock that they gave Ed when he found Zsa Zsa Gabor's earring in the sewer. Ed: "We can't take chances." Trixie: "I hope we diidn't bother you." Ralph: "No, you didn't disturb my sleep. I get up every morning at 3am to get the soccor scores from Australia." Trixie claims that this if the first time that they are apart so to speak. What about in the episodes like "King of The Castle", "Battle of The Sexes" and the previous version of "Norton Moves In"? Ed (to Trixie): "Always feel free to call." Ralph (yells): "COME ON BONNIE AND CLYDE."

Alice & Trixie go into the bedroom. Ralph calls Ed Romeo. Ha! Ed sets up the cot. Ed knocks down his turkey timer that he brought. Ed: "I hope I didn't break it." Ralph: "I will break it." Gee, how nice. NOT! Ed starts playing with the musical instruments that he brought despite the fact that it's 3a. Ralph gets upset. So does some of the neighbors (one of which is Garrity who sounds much different than he did in earlier episodes and future episodes). Alice comes out due to the noise. Ed says that his accordion is a constantina and not an accordion because it does not have 17 black keys, 24 white keys and 120 stocks. that he claims that he put up and took down 100 times. Alice admonishes Ed. Ed puts the sheet on the cot. Ed says to Ralph that the bed is ready. Ralph lies down while Ed bothers Ralph by combing his hair 50 times loudly. Ralph says for him to shut up. I think Ralph & Ed lie down. Ed than blares music from a teddy bear radio in the bed.Ralph is upset of course. He yells for Ed to shut it off. Alice and Garrity complain. Ralph (yells): "GARRITY, YOU HAVEN'T SLEPT SINCE RUTH HIT 60 HOME RUNS."

Ed says good night to Ralph. Ed now wears something to block out the light which scares Ralph. Ralph says for Ed to put the light out. Ed turns on the radio. Ralph has had enough. A policeman knocks on the door and calls Ralph & Ed Lone Ranger & Tonto. Ralph tries to explain but the policeman asks to get the band out of here. Ralph (who now has the teddy bear radio) says that it's Ed but he doesn't want him to play with it. The cop asks: "You two live here alone?" Ralph: "We are married. Our wives are in the bedroom. The wiife and he can't stand the smell of paint." Cop: "Is his wife an Indian?" The cop warns that if he hears anymore music, they will go to jail and be in separate cells and he (the cop) will get the teddy bear. The cop leaves.

Alice comes out. Ralph & Alice argue about the Nortons. Garritty yells that he is going to call that cop again. Ralph yells to Garrity that he will send the cop to him. Alice says that Trix is allergic to paint because it makes her skin itch. How come she didn't ask Alice earlier if they can stay the night? Ralph splatters paint all over the place. That is the end of the sketch.

During the curtain call, Jackie praises the Miami Beach audience.