Fred Rutherford

[howilu]

I have seen a number of episodes with Fred Rutherford, Ward's co-worker and Lumpy's father played by Richard Deacon and to me, he can be two faced like Eddie Haskell. Around he's colorful and brags about Lumpy but when he's in private with his son, he calls him names likke a "Big Boob" and constantly yells at him. Anyone think he's two faced?

[stevea]

Absolutely. In modern day, maybe he would be called bipolar.

I think Deacon really liked this role, at least he looked like he relished it. Fred was a more-interesting character than Mel Cooley on Dick Van Dyke.

[CanICallYouDad]

Originally Posted by stevea

Absolutely. In modern day, maybe he would be called bipolar.

I think Deacon really liked this role, at least he looked like he relished it. Fred was a more-interesting character than Mel Cooley on Dick Van Dyke.

No he was not

[MichaelMartinD]

I agree wholeheartedly about Fred being an adult Eddie Haskell. He is also a perfect satire of a jargon-spouting corporate drone.

[Scrabjan1]

Deacon had Fred down cold. He was unfit to be a father. He was abusive to Lumpy but people didn’t report domestic abuse. He was possibly bipolar and incredibly ignorant. I think Ward only called him out two times. Once in Lumpy’s Car Trouble and Lumpy’s scholarship. Lumpy needed Ward as his father.

[tdr]

Originally Posted by stevea

Absolutely. In modern day, maybe he would be called bipolar.

I think Deacon really liked this role, at least he looked like he relished it. Fred was a more-interesting character than Mel Cooley on Dick Van Dyke.

Fred more interesting than Mel? That's debatable, at the least.

Fred was more 2-faced, that's for sure. And he was more inconsistent. For example, in "The Lost Watch," he virtually brags about his psychology with Lumpy, and how he retrieved Lumpy's unattended watch to see how long it would take before Lumpy admitted he lost it... in another ep ["Tire Trouble"?], he tells Ward, "My Clarence answered me back the other day and I belted him right in the mouth-- none of that psychology for me!" He was more consistent in his pomposity...he likes to remind Ward (and probably anybody else he knows) of his status-- he berates Ward for not getting an invitation for the Langley wedding, as he did; his photos and gifts from his trips are mainly to remind of all the expensive trips he's taken; when Ward offers to drive them to the office in his (Ward's) car, Fred says they might as well be comfortable in his (Fred's) car; he thinks his jokes will put the 'big boys' [high-ranking executives] at ease, and Ward has to admonish him not to do that.

Mel did have some things in common... he considered himself more important than he was and he would indirectly boast of his status as Producer. And, though don't have the details about Fred, he, like Mel, may have gotten a good job because of who, not what, he knows. But Mel knew that status was dependent on his brother-n-law, the star of the show, who treated him like a doormat. And because his b-i-l liked his writers, Mel could be the butt of their jokes, even though he was, in a corporate sense, their boss. Fred didn't seem to understand what people thought of himself, but Mel had to-- with all the debasing by Alan and Buddy. Ward doesn't debase Fred, but he does mislead him by double talk-- like when Fred calls and tells him that Clarence copied Wally's hair style and it "ruined his whole appearance," Ward replies,"Well really, Fred, I don't see how that's possible."

Maybe that's what the difference between the characters comes down to-- Mel had to know he was mostly a pretender because he was so disrespected, but Ward enabled Fred's view of himself, making him a blowhard (though we never know how Fred's other acquaintances affect him, as the focus in LITB is the kids, not the adults).

[HumanGerm]

I love this actor! As well as in litb, I enjoy him in Dick van dyke. I've seen him in guest roles in many another sitcom, as well.

[Scrabjan1]

I loved hearing all about Fred’s short comings. He certainly was a buffoon. Fred also treated Violet with gentleness and care but was always degrading Lumpy. Look how he yelled at him and called him a boob for getting a D in math. He was really an unfit father. Also he thanked Ward and Wally for the party they gave Lumpy but what about June? She made the cake and furnished all the food.

Aside from his children look how he treated his wife when they arrived at the Langley wedding. He turns his back on her and never gives her a chance to meet Langley then walks away with him bragging about his big fella. I would have divorced him.

[Hazel Anyday]

I had to laugh when reading of all of Fred's shortcomings here. But that's what makes Fred a character and funny to boot. The very fact that he didn't know he was a jerk is what makes Fred funny. This was a comedy show, after all, not a drama.

[HumanGerm]

^agreed! That's what made Fred so funny!

[cablejockey]

Fred was a character that even as a child I could believe was based on real people! Where Ward and June rarely acted like more than good reliable parents, Fred and a few others, turned some realism onto the show.