Episode Reviews: “Razor Blades” & “New TV Set.”

[Frank Gannucci]

Episode Reviews: “Razor Blades” & “New TV Set.”

Episode #2
TV: This episode was seen The Honeymooners Really Lost Debut Episodes. This special was shown in 1993 on Disney Channel (yes, THAT Disney Channel) & March of 2000 on TV Land.
VHS: This episode was attached to the first six Really Lost Debut Episodes which are "Bread", "New TV Set", "Ralph Threatens To Leave", "Ring Salesman" ('51 version) & "Quiz Show" ('51 version)
DVD: Attached to “Bread”, “New TV Set”, “Ralph Threatens To Leave”, “Alice & Ralph Get Dressed For A Date Last Night” (aka “The Dance”), “The Ring Salesman” (’51 version), “Quiz Show” (’51 version), “Xmas Party” (’51 version), “New Bowling Ball”, “The Turkey”, “Lost Baby”, “Quiz Show” (’52 version), “Halloween Party” (’52 version), “Cold”, “Pickles”, “Jellybeans” & “Six Months To Live” (’51 version).
Air Date: 10/12/51

This Honeymooners episode is the shortest ever. It is only 5:02.

Alice is cooking. Ralph comes out with shaving cream on and asks where his razor blades are. Last night, he bought a pack of blades and put them on the table. Ralph: “We live on the third floor. Nobody can climb up and get them. Nobody got lowered. This door has been locked all night. A mouse couldn’t have taken them.” Ralph accuses Alice of taking the blades. Alice denies it. Ralph: “Don’t steam me up because I am already steamed.” Alice (sarcastically): “You got me scared to death.” Ralph accuses Alice of stealing things like his gray pants. Ralph: “One of these days…” Alice: “What one of these days? What? What? What?” Alice: “You will find out when the day comes.” Alice says that you put things in the drawer. That is where they belong.

Ralph opens the drawer. Ralph says that Alice has three drawers. Ralph has trouble opening it. He eventually does. One a few things are in that drawer but not his razor blades. Ralph is still angry. Alice: “Don’t start. Don’t start.” Ralph (sarcastically): “You frighten me.” Alice: “All right. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!” Alice then threatens to throw herself out the window. Ralph encourages her to throw herself out. Alice: “I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction.”

People from downstairs are knocking their ceiling to tell the Kramdens to be quiet. Ralph responds by pounding the floor with a chair. Man (from upstairs, yells): “KEEP QUIET DOWN THERE! KEEP QUIET!” Ralph is going to take one of Alice’s drawers even though there is clothing in it. Ralph tears her clothing that is in it. Wow! He even starts to tear a dress. Alice says no. She is supposedly crying. Ralph calls her clothing that was in that dresser junk. That is her wedding dress. Ralph feels bad. He didn’t mean to tear that dress. Alice knows it. He apologizes. Alice forgives him. They hug and kiss even though Ralph still has cream on his face.

Episode #3
TV: This episode was seen on The Honeymooners Really Lost Debut Episodes. This special was shown in 1993 on Disney Channel (yes, THAT Disney Channel) and was shown on TV land in 2000.
VHS: Attached to “Bread”, “Razor Blades”, “Ralph Threatens To Leave”, “The Ring Salesman” (’51 version), & “Quiz Show” (’51 version)
DVD: Attached to “Bread”, “Razor Blades”, “Ralph Threatens To Leave”, “Alice & Ralph Get Dressed For A Date Last Night” (aka “The Dance”), “The Ring Salesman” (’51 version), “Quiz Show” (’51 version), “Xmas Party” (’51 version), “New Bowling Ball”, “The Turkey”, “Lost Baby”, “Quiz Show” (’52 version), “Halloween Party” (’52 version), “Cold”, “Pickles”, “Jellybeans” & “Six Months To Live” (’51 version).
Air Date: 11/2/51

The episode opens up with Ralph and Alice looking like they were just talking to each other. Alice just bought a new TV set. She got it on a free trial that was listed in the paper. My how times have changed. Ralph is steamed. Alice: “It will be wonderful Ralph.” Ralph doesn’t seem to think so. Alice says that if we still like it, we can buy it on time. Ralph doesn’t like that either. Ralph: “I haven’t made the payments on that midget radio we got and that was four years ago.” A delivery man comes by with a big box and asks the Kramdens for $3.04. Alice asks Ralph for the money. $3.04. I can imagine if this episode was made today, the price would be higher. Ralph obliges. Alice says she used up her money ($4) to the delivery man to deliver it and install it. The box has nothing but food in it. Ralph doesn’t like the fact that Alice has spent money on those things. Alice: “I will tell you who I am inviting.” Ralph: “Go ahead. Who? Who? Who?” Alice: “Quiet. You sound like an owl.” Alice has invited the Nortons to come down and watch TV with them. My, how times have changed. Ralph: “Why don’t you have a block party?” (yelling out the window): “COME ON DOWN EVERYBODY!” Alice: “I know what you are going to say: ‘One of these days…’”

The Nortons come down. Trixie is played by Elaine Stritch and this is the first time that Art played Ed. Ed starts grabbing the food. Trixie called Ed a pig. The Nortons start arguing much to Ralph’s chagrin. Trixie: “I am by a hot stove all day while you are down in a cool sewer.” They continue arguing. Trixie says that Ed came over to her house and asked to marry her. Yet, this is another different story on how Ed & Trixie said how they got engaged. Trixie wants to leave. Alice asks her not to. She does. Ed asks her not to go and leaves. Alice: “I hope you are satisfied.” Alice goes into the bedroom. Ralph: “What did I do?” Ralph didn’t do anything to help the Nortons as far as their fight goes. A man from the company that the TV set came from comes by and says its 11pm and that their trial period for the TV is up and asks if he can take it back unless the Kramdens want to buy it. You mean that Alice invited the Nortons to have food and watch TV at that late hour? The man says that Alice was crazy about the set. Ralph, feeling bad for the way he acted, ends up buying the set on trial. The man leaves. Ralph tells Alice the good news. Alice thanks Ralph. They have food and beer while they watch the TV set. Alice is sitting on Ralph’s lap as the show ends.

Credit I believe goes to tv.com, John K's Book To The Moon, Honeymooners Lost Episodes Book, tvguide.com, honeymooners.net, Honeymooners Box Set booklet Honeymooners Lost Episodes DVD booklet, Yahoo! Groups You’re A Riot! & amazon.com