Reminder: Jack Soo - A Retrospective / A Christmas Story

[maclen]

Just a reminder... This moving tribute to Jack Soo will be shown on TV Land this coming Saturday, Dec. 14. Don't forget to set your VCR for that one.

On a related note, I recently acquired the "Yemana" volume from Columbia House, and as a bonus it has the aforementioned episode, but the interesting thing is that instead of the actual episode, it has the unedited bits from the various episodes that were used for the retrospective, and no commentary from the actors. Does anyone else have this "problem"?

Also, episode #45 "A Christmas Story" will be shown on Sunday, December 22nd at 8:00 AM, Eastern. This is the one where Fish goes undercover as Santa Claus.

maclen

[Janice]

Thanks for the reminder maclen. I've only seen it once before, and I'll be sure to watch it. I think they gave Jack Soo a wonderful farewell, unlike Coach on Cheers.
If anyone's interested in reading my ranting on that topic, here's the links.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...threadid=39672

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...threadid=40941

ps--I don't know anything about Columbia House tapes so I can't be helpful there. I'd buy the entire series on DVD if I could.

[Janice]

I taped the tribute show and just finished watching it. It just wipes me out.
I noticed that Ron Glass was the only cast member who didn't speak or introduce clips. I wonder why. Could this be TV Land's creative editing?

[maclen]

Originally posted by Janice
I noticed that Ron Glass was the only cast member who didn't speak or introduce clips. I wonder why. Could this be TV Land's creative editing?

I'm very certain it was as you call it, "TV Land's creative editing" and it has me a bit peeved.

I have the Columbia House "Yemana" volume, and as a bonus, it has the unedited "Nick bits" that were used for the tribute. TV Land's showing cuts down about three bits and did not use the "Hash" episode part at all! It blows my mind because this was one of Nick's (and TV's) funniest bits ever and they edited it out!! Unbelievable... This was a bit he did with Ron Glass so I'm sure that's when he said something about Jack.

Oh well... it's better than nothing I suposse.

maclen

[egregiousgirl]

I taped it and I noticed there was no hash, too! I know TVLand has to cut out some parts, but it's still annoying. One nice thing, though, was they showed parts of scenes that were edited out when TVLand aired the original episodes. I'm gonna digress for a bit here. I had mentioned to my mother that I had started to watch Barney Miller and I asked her if she watched it when it was first on (I'm a bit young to remember the show very well). My mom said that she saw the funniest joke of all time on Barney Miller, but when TVLand showed the episode, the joke was edited out! But I finally saw it in the Jack Soo Retrospective. It was in the episode with the blind guy who says he can tell things about other people using his other senses. So he says how he knows that Harris is a chain smoker and he's nervous. Then he says to Nick, "You're cool and collected, got a lot of personal discipline. You're very, very intelligent....either that, or you're Japanese." My mom's Japanese, so she enjoyed that one. Anyway, all TVLand complaints aside, I'm glad I finally got to see my mom's all-time favorite joke.

[Janice]

That was a funny bit. I'm glad for you that you got to see your mother's favorite joke.
I've never seen the werewolf episode shown in the tribute show. It's so funny when Barney yells at him to get down off the bars, and screams, "This is a police station, not a horror movie."

[catlover79]

I have yet to see the Jack Soo Retrospective. I HAVE seen The Werewolf, and it is indeed hilarious! Kenneth Tigar was definitely one of the best ever Barney Miller guest stars.

[LeeBlue]

It has been a long time since I saw the Jack Soo Retrospective -- it was a bittersweet episode to watch -- hard to believe that Jack Soo was really gone and yet it was touching that the other actors paid him tribute.

[catlover79]

^ Jack Soo was THE MAN!! I also loved him in Flower Drum Song.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ Jack Soo was THE MAN!! I also loved him in Flower Drum Song.

He also appeared in a couple of episodes of M*A*S*H, playing a different character each time.

In one of them, he played a black marketeer who Hawkeye and Trapper John try to barter with to get some medicine. When they try to come up with things to trade, Jack's character pulls back a curtain to reveal that he's pretty much got everything. He also remarks that he even has full health insurance and a dental plan.

Later, Jack impersonates a Korean officer who visits the M*A*S*H unit - ostensibly on business, but in reality to check out an antique desk that the officers have offeredv him in trade.

Jack's character agrees to the trade and when he later shows up in civilian clothes, Major Frank Burns remarks that he looks familiar. Jack, smiling, says "Well, you know how it is, we all look alike."

[Dr. Thong]

The Jack Soo retrospective episode was a very classy way for the actors, writers and producers of the show to pay tribute to their friend and co-worker.

I believe he had also been in a Japanese internment camp in real life when he was younger. He'd also been in the business a long time and it was nice that he finally had some success and got some recognition in the final years of his life.

A fine comedic actor.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

The Jack Soo retrospective episode was a very classy way for the actors, writers and producers of the show to pay tribute to their friend and co-worker.

I believe he had also been in a Japanese internment camp in real life when he was younger. He'd also been in the business a long time and it was nice that he finally had some success and got some recognition in the final years of his life.

A fine comedic actor.

Yeah, I remember reading that he and Danny Arnold met back in the 1950s when they were both on the stand up circuit. Years later, Danny Arnold would give Jack a role on Barney Miller. Never saw Jack on M*A*S*H - which seasons did he appear?

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Yeah, I remember reading that he and Danny Arnold met back in the 1950s when they were both on the stand up circuit. Years later, Danny Arnold would give Jack a role on Barney Miller. Never saw Jack on M*A*S*H - which seasons did he appear?

His first appearance, as the black market dealer, was in season one.

I think his second appearance was in either season two or three.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

His first appearance, as the black market dealer, was in season one.

I think his second appearance was in either season two or three.

Thanks - my brother-in-law owns the first couple of seasons, so I'll have to check it out.

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by maclen

I'm very certain it was as you call it, "TV Land's creative editing" and it has me a bit peeved.

I have the Columbia House "Yemana" volume, and as a bonus, it has the unedited "Nick bits" that were used for the tribute. TV Land's showing cuts down about three bits and did not use the "Hash" episode part at all! It blows my mind because this was one of Nick's (and TV's) funniest bits ever and they edited it out!! Unbelievable... This was a bit he did with Ron Glass so I'm sure that's when he said something about Jack.

Oh well... it's better than nothing I suposse.

maclen

Unfortunately I can't get the U.S. TVLand anymore, although it doesn't sound like I'm missing much. I can't believe they would edit out the Hash ep. As you say, that had to be the funniest Jack ever was on that show! It's my favourite episode because of him. When he comes out of Barney's office asking where his legs are, I die laughing every time.

Man, TVLand is brutal with the editing anymore. Honestly, we should be constantly writing them blasting them for that. You can't tell me someone from there doesn't check forums like this for feedback. When are they going to get it through their heads we're sick and tired of the chopping of our favourite shows.