JACKIE GLEASON PRESENTS: THE HONEYMOONERS REUNION (TV)
Summary
This special comedy presentation, hosted by Jackie Gleason, celebrates the comedy series "The Honeymooners," featuring Ralph Kramden, a blustery bus driver, his long-suffering wife Alice, and their neighbors, Ed and Trixie Norton. The program features clips from Gleason's kinescopes of the original episodes that had only aired once before, as live productions, in the 1950's. Jack Benny introduces Gleason, while Audrey Meadows, speaking from the set of "The Honeymooners," joins Gleason in the introductions of various segments. Themes of the clips include the reality of working on live television, with blooper clips and a portion of a show that ran too long and was simply cut off; problems with the Kramden apartment through the years; Alice's attempts to put Ralph on a diet; Ralph's low threshold for pain; the impact of the Raccoon Lodge on the series; as well as Ralph's various attempts to get rich quick. Additionally, the program features segments about Ralph's special relationship with Alice and Ed Norton, including clips that demonstrate Carney's skilled use of body language. Highlights of the clips include Ralph's belief that Alice is trying to kill him; an argument that Ralph and Ed have about which comedian is funnier, Art Carney or Jackie Gleason; a visit from the Kramdens' landlord (Jack Benny); and a visit from a hypnotist (George Petrie), who hypnotizes Ralph and Ed and convinces them that they have changed identities. The program concludes with a portion of an episode in which Ralph and Alice sing a duet entitled, "One of These Days, Pow!" Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: May 13, 1985 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:48:35
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T85:0902
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Specials; Marriage
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1985
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Andrew Solt … Producer, Director, Writer
- Susan F. Walker … Co-Producer
- Mark Hufnail … Associate Producer
- Theodore Strauss … Writer
- Bob Alberti … Music (Misc. Credits), Music Coordinator
- Jackie Gleason … Host
- Audrey Meadows … Host
- Bob Hope … Guest
- For "The Honeymooners" clips:
- Jackie Gleason … Cast, Ralph Kramden
- Art Carney … Cast, Ed Norton
- Audrey Meadows … Cast, Alice Gibson Kramden
- Joyce Randolph … Cast, Trixie Norton
- George Petrie … Cast, Fred
- Jack Benny … Cast