Honeymooners Episode Reviews: "The New Bowling Ball" (Color)/"Norton Moves In" (Color

[Frank Gannucci]

Honeymooners Episode Reviews: "The New Bowling Ball" (Color) & "Norton Moves In" (Color):

Episode #206
DVD: Attached to "Hot Tip" & other variety show sketches.
Color & Lost Episode Title: “The New Bowling Ball”:

Thanks to Time Life, I am FINALLY able to see these short color sketches.
Air Date: 3/22/69

While I do have the audio from atvaudio.com, I can tell that the opening theme music of the show sounds a little different.

The episode opens up with Alice coming home. Ralph comes in shortly therafter. Ralph is in no hurry to eat. Alice gave Ralph the rent money this morning. Ralph didn't give the landlord the money because he didn't see him. Ralph proposes a vacation to Miami Beach (you were expecting a different place?) Ralph shows Alice his bowling ball and says that it will take them to Miami Beach because him and Ed are entering a bowling tournament. Ralph spent the money on the bowling ball but with a few dollars left over, Alice can spend the money on a pail and shovel that she can use in the sand. Shelia was 48 at the time of the filming of this episode. If Alice was the same age, wouldn't she look weird playing with those things unless she was babysitting or had a kid or kids? Alice knows that Ralph thinks that Miami Beach is the fun and sun capital of the world. (Gee, I wonder where they got that line?) but according to her, if they didn't pay the rent, they will be thrown out onto the streets in Brooklyn which according to her is "the snow and sleet capital of the world." What about the North & South Poles?

Ed comes down and says that Trixie wants Alice to come by and look at her new drapes. Alice leaves. Ralph says that you can't please women. Ralph goes to get his jacket. Ed says that he will take some of his clothing off because he doesn't want to get overheated. Ed: "The doctor says I have a very basic metabolism." As Ed is taking things off, he cleans up. Ed (in a strange voice): "I hate a messy living room." Maybe he was imitating an actor. Ralph comes out all confident. He says that there are a lot of famous people in Miami Beach like Nixon and Agnew. Ed: "What bowling tournament did they win?" Ralph: "That is the president." Richard Nixon and the then- Vice President of the USA went to Miami Beach? Ralph shows off his new bowling ball to Ed. Ed thinks that the bowling ball is a beaut.

Ed has an idea. He has a motion picture camera and he will show footage of them warming up. When Ed starts to film Ralph, he says: "Quiet on the set." Ralph gets his ball stuck. Ed: "Have no fear. Norton is here." Ralph: "I got fitted for this two weeks ago." Ed: "That was also 40 pizzas ago." I think Ed tried to pull the bowling ball off of Ralph by putting his foot on Ralph's suit and pulling but Ralph says his suit is getting dirty. Ed: "Wear a glove. No one will notice." Ed has another idea. Ralph will turn his thumb to the left while Ed will screw the ball to the right. Care to guess what the outcome is? If you guessed "didn't work", step up and claim your prize. Ed has another idea but Ralph says he will listen but he won't do it. Ed: "It's a scientific fact that cold expands and heat contracts." So he will douse the ball with cold water. Ralph eventually obliges. Ed & Ralph are so stupid for them to think that cold expands and heat contracts. Ed puts the ball in a bucket of little cold water and I think nothing visually is happening but Ed says: "I wouldn't be surprised if it was working right now." Then they don't think that the water is cold enough. They put the bucket out of on the fire escape.

Alice comes home and knows that Ralph's hand is stuck and they are using cold water to get the finger out. Ed: "It's a scientific fact that cold expands and heat contracts." Alice: "It's the other way around." Ralph is upset. Ralph turns the bucket upside down and surprisingly the water doesn't fall out revealing the fact there wasn't any water in it in real life. Ed says that they put hot water on it. He does but I think that the water is so hot that steam comes out. Ralph coughs. Somehow, he is not screaming in pain. The finger is out. Ralph is happy. Ed or Ralph knock the ball off the table and it breaks. That was one weakly made bowling ball. Ralph is upset. Ralph (yells): "MY GORGEOUS BOWLING BALL." Ed: "You lost the bowling ball but you gained a puzzle. Ed says that he is going down to the alleys and getting himself a new partner. Ed: "I advise you to take better care of your equipment." Ralph is even more upset.

During the curtain call, Jackie praises the Miami Beach audience. Since Tiny Tim was on hand during the other part of the variety show he says that he will be introduced by the Beatles to the Queen of England. He then says "Goodnight."

Just before the curtain call, Johnny plugs next weeks show and apparently they also showed clips from next weeks show. I heard that when people went to TV tapings for Jackie's show. They tape things that not only would be played the following day (Saturday) but also for future episodes since they figured they better get the stars filmed while they were down there in Miami Beach.

Episode #207
DVD: Attached to "The New Manager" & other variety show sketches.
Color & Lost Episode Title: "Norton Moves In":
Thanks to Time Life, I am FINALLY able to see these short color sketches.
Air Date: 4/5/69

I got the audio of this episode from atvaudio.com.

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

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 iiif 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. A cop comes in and gets paint splattered on him too. That is the end of the sketch.

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

Credit I believe goes to tv.com, 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