the best written comedy of all time

lrldoit

After the original series left the air in 1966, there have been a lot of inferior remakes and adulterations in other venues. Nothing compares with the original. People have compared this to the Honeymooners. Not so. The Honeymooners was a simple situation comedy. Except for the early episodes, Fred and Wilma didn't bicker much. The show was busy making subtle and not so subtle satiric points.

In one episode, they poked fun of ratings, unrealistic TV shows, placement of station breaks and people who live vicariously through television.

In, the Beauty Contest, Fred and Barney waxed nostalgic over when they were single and longed to hear a woman's voice. Later, there were many hilarious exchanges. The show didn't give you what you expected. Sometimes an overdone point was hysterically funny. Betty: I don't feel like watching television. Barney: But you HAVE to watch television, Betty. Some lines of dialogue are for the ages BARNEY: Did you ever start up a gangplank and have a sudden feeling there was no ship?

Among stellar characters, we must mention Verna Felton's portrayal of Wilma's mother. She was the worst mother-in-law in the world. (I must point out that Wilma's maiden name is Pebble. Later writers forgot that and gave her the name Slaghoople. Thus are errors perpetuated.) At turns the show could be warm, mature, serious, poignant and hysterically funny because of the subtlety with which certain things were done. Every week was an incredible adventure. I was there when it began. It was my favorite show then. It still is.

I should also mention the great Alan Reed, the quintessential everyman, incomparable Mel Blanc and real life best friends Jean Vander Pyl and Bea Benaderet playing best friends and wives Wilma Flintstone and Betty Rubble.

I could mention Paula Winslowe's portrayal of Greta Gravel in an episode with an important message about marriage. I'm sure you get the picture. I could go on and on, but I won't.

score 10/10

lrldoit 16 August 2011

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2475074/