Absolute classic. Flintstones were based on these guys and with good reason. Emulation is the best form of flattery and everyone copies from the original. The Honeymooners.
Probably one of the most ripped off classic comedy bits ever! After this show almost every sitcom had a character that would do that and the other would yell that them lol.
Right there with you. This was the first episode I ever saw. I was probably around 7 or 8. I'm 52 and the look on Raph's face when they play him a few bars doubles me over EVERY time
Not too far behind , started watching when I was 10, I'm 58. It's as funny for me now as it was in the mid 70's when I first saw it. This one and the one where Ralph becomes the building superintendent were pure gold.
The look on Ralph's face @ 1:53--"can you give us a few bars of Suwanee River Jose?"--45 years since the first time I saw this and it STILL makes LOL...every time.
Same here my dad passed last December, honeymooners was his favorite. We watched and laughed together as well. Watching them now has so much more meaning now. Love you dad, I’m 39, my dad was 70 when he passed. He liked the deciding vote and also he loved the one when Ralph says be kind to the people on the way up because you see the same people on the way down lol
That was the funniest television moment I have ever seen. Homina, homina, Ed Norton? The laughter that scene caused me was physically painful I laughed so hard.
@@Bill-uo6cm it was also brilliant that the episode ended with Ralph being escorted off the game show stage and leaving us to imagine what the conversation was like between him & Norton that night!
Nearly 50 years ago sitting in a dive bar in Chicago we were talking about our favorite TV episodes, and I told them about this one. Just then The Honeymooners came on the TV, this episode. The volume was turned up and everyone stopped to watch. The laughter was unbelievable but when Jackie uttered, "Ed Norton" the place exploded. It's still funny today. Wow.
I saw this title in 1986 in music class when we were playing it and thought, "Isn't the title Swanee River? It even says that in the song." And I thought of Honeymooners when seeing that, yes.
Pinky and the Brain did a great parody of this, where Pinky couldn’t stop watching The Honeymooners. Brain wanted to go on Gyp-parody (Jeopardy parody). Pinky said “but their questions are very hard.” Brain dared Pinky to ask him anything. So Pinky asked which TV character is famous for saying “Bang! zoom! Right in the kisser!” Brain just slapped Pinky and said they’re never going to ask that. Irony, guess what the final Gyp-parody question was? Which TV character is famous for saying “Bang! Zoom! Right in the kisser!” And Brain goes “uh, Pinky!” Nope. Answer was Ralph Kramden, and Brain wagered all his money.
REAL comedy!!! He had the whole premise of the game show wrong, and that was the first hilarious realisation, then to see the look on his face when asked "Who wrote Suwannee River?" And when Jose PLAYED a bar of it, and to see the look on his face nearly had me lose bladder control it was so HILARIOUS!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
This stuff never, ever, gets old. What comedians and writers from this era were able to do is all the more impressive when you stop and think of the limitations they were working under....all the different sorts of material that were "off limits."
Yes Mike, I'm in the channel 11 viewing area and get WPIX off-air and on cable. The Thanksgiving Marathon on WPIX of the Honeymooners is a yearly tradition.
Comedy can never again be this funny! I think maybe the reason is that nobody can be that vulnerable and self-effacing anymore... As far as I'm concerned, the Honeymooners is the PINNACLE of TV situation comedy. It will never be surpassed.
There’s nothing like The Honeymooners! You might be interested in this NEW audio comedy, “A Trip to the Moon” starring Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners AND two ghost stories listed on my channel “Claude Chabot Presents” right here on YT. Just follow the link here and enjoy! th-cam.com/video/Hex2ltykNTM/w-d-xo.html--Claud.
PURE GOLD!! As with every other one of the Classic 39, it's almost 45 years since the first time I saw this. This was actually the first episode I ever caught. Ralph's face when the give him "a couple bars" of Swanee River still makes me laugh until my cheeks hurt.
Gleason and Carney on the Honeymooners ,took comedy chemistry to another level ! I can't begin to understand how Jackie Gleason produced such incredible memories without a rehearsal with his co stars ... The man had so many unique gifts ! To do a 30 minute show without a proper rehearsal and produce such Magic is truly phenomenal ... The Great One !
My Dad and his Air Force buddy made it mandatory to sing the Ed Norton version followed by a beep on the car horn every time someone in our respective families crossed the Suwanee River....or else the "CURSE" would befall them....it is now 2018 - I still sing it - in fact - just this week!!!!!
"Down by the Swanee River" aka "The Old Folks at Home" Stephan Foster wrote it and Al Jolson made a hit out of a parody of it written by George Gershwin called "Swanee".
What made this show and other shows in comedy from those times so amazing was that there was no cursing or dirty jokes used in their lines it was clean comedy that people enjoyed then and still enjoy now
Thanks to this episode probably millions of Americans not to mention many folks in other nations grew up learning that the composer of "Swannee River" aka "The Old Folks at Home" was Stephen Foster.
I had my niece and nephew watch this, they were still pretty young, my nephew might have been about 12, his sister is 4 years older. They squished and squirmed through bits of it, but they got a big kick out of the payoff at the end of the episode. I will laugh at this every time.
I have a cousin who is 15 years younger, never watched the show and he used to tell me..." this old black and white show cant possibly be funny" Then one year he got stuck at his in-laws for New Years eve and the 24 hour marathon was on. He called me the next day, apologized and told me its one of the funniest shows he's ever watched.
Every Birthday that comes along in my family its always just the plain birthday song but now thanks to The Honeymooners here in this historic humorous scene before start singing the bday song we start off with that opening suwanne river tune. Its so hilarious
I always wondered why Ralph never asked Ed what was the song he kept playing. Also what are the odds that Ralph knew every song by heart except Suwanee River?
That’s supposed to be the tragedy of this episode. That Ralph went and learned every song ever recorded but he didn’t think to ask Ed what tune he was playing before every song. Then Ralph considers that maybe if Ed was playing a song that he had never heard of that maybe Ed wrote the thing.
Poor Ralph! If it wasn't for bad luck, I would have no luck at all. What the writers could've tried have Ralph answer every song but have Swanee River as the last'$99,000 hurdle(that would be too cruel)!
It would work both ways....Ralph could've got to $90,000 and encouraged to stop, but his cockiness had him say: " I made it THIS far, why would I stop now? I GOT BIG PLANS FOR THIS MONEY, BIG PLANS!!" Then hit him with Swanee River!! Just when you think Ralph ship is gonna come in.....he drowns in Swanee River!! Beginning or end funny either way.
Well, they had to have him blow an easy question, because of the way the story is paced. And Swanee River wouldn't be the last hurdle, since it is so easy.
For some reason it is exquisitely funny that "Jose" of the 99,0000 Question plays Suwanee River in a higher capella key! Of course, the song's real name is "The Old Folks at Home"
Ed Norton's hand movements when "warming up" were always hilarious. He did at least one similar "warm up" for something else in another episode. In an interview, Art Carney said he got the idea from an uncle or something who had a fairly ridiculous warm up regimen.
I love the Honeymooners and I love this episode but in reality there's NO WAY a guy growing up in Brooklyn in the 30's & 40's never heard Al Jolson singing Swanee River!!!!
I feel so bad for Ralph. He knew every song ever written but the one they played........Nortons warm up song. He was so sure of himself after being so scared on his 1st appearance. Hummina hum hummina.......Ed Norton? This episode is loaded with hilarious lines. Jealous Mcgarrity, mother in law, Mrs. Manicotti, Alice, "just bring home the gold you already have the pot". Jackie Gleason was a genius!!
Jackie Gleason was a master of facial expressions. The series he goes through after he is asked the question is classic.
U NAILER KEYTH THAT EXPRESSION PUT IT OVER THE TOP
My favorite part about Gleason was his outbursts.
The timing, omg, the agonizing delay, verbal stutter steps and facial expressions before Ralph answers desperately, “… Ed Norton?” Classic.
Ya great I know he mastered that
Absolute classic. Flintstones were based on these guys and with good reason. Emulation is the best form of flattery and everyone copies from the original. The Honeymooners.
Ralphs exasperated expressions with Norton were the best Gleason was a comic genius
I never get tired of that Honeymooners running gag of Norton taking his time getting started with something until Ralph explodes with impatience.
Probably one of the most ripped off classic comedy bits ever! After this show almost every sitcom had a character that would do that and the other would yell that them lol.
*"Will You Wait A Minute Please?!"*
*"If I told you once, I told you a thousand times"*
lmao
Kids in the audience loved seeing Ralph explode at Norton. You can hear them roar with laughter every time.
I love the anticipation of it. Because you know that any second Ralph is going to scream at Ed. Classic comedy 😂
Art Carney is mimicking his father, who used to do that with his hands before signing Art’s report cards.
Laughed my ass off when I was s 7 and it's still funny at age 64.
@curious For $10,000 Who Is The Composer Of SWANEE RIVER? Uh?... Uh?...Ed Norton?
Right there with you. This was the first episode I ever saw. I was probably around 7 or 8. I'm 52 and the look on Raph's face when they play him a few bars doubles me over EVERY time
@@The7legacy I would've said the same thing.Who could blame him? Classic writing?
" Can we have a few bars of Suwanee River Jose?"
Not too far behind , started watching when I was 10, I'm 58. It's as funny for me now as it was in the mid 70's when I first saw it. This one and the one where Ralph becomes the building superintendent were pure gold.
My dad and I would watch this when I was little , I’m 58 , I still enjoy, my father has gone to heaven, but I remember those days
miss him and those days BIG TIME
I'm 54 and blessed that my dad is still with us at 97. He came out for a visit and I broke out the DVD box set.
The look on Ralph's face @ 1:53--"can you give us a few bars of Suwanee River Jose?"--45 years since the first time I saw this and it STILL makes LOL...every time.
It's as if I wrote that comment myself.
Same here my dad passed last December, honeymooners was his favorite. We watched and laughed together as well. Watching them now has so much more meaning now. Love you dad, I’m 39, my dad was 70 when he passed. He liked the deciding vote and also he loved the one when Ralph says be kind to the people on the way up because you see the same people on the way down lol
One of the funniest episodes in TV history. Hummunah Hummunah Hummunah, Ed Norton...hahahah!
Possibly one of the funniest moments EVER on TV!
Definitely
That was the funniest television moment I have ever seen. Homina, homina, Ed Norton? The laughter that scene caused me was physically painful I laughed so hard.
@@Bill-uo6cm it was also brilliant that the episode ended with Ralph being escorted off the game show stage and leaving us to imagine what the conversation was like between him & Norton that night!
I agree.
Right up there with chuckles the clown dying. He was playing Peter peanut and got shelled by an elephant
Nearly 50 years ago sitting in a dive bar in Chicago we were talking about our favorite TV episodes, and I told them about this one. Just then The Honeymooners came on the TV, this episode. The volume was turned up and everyone stopped to watch. The laughter was unbelievable but when Jackie uttered, "Ed Norton" the place exploded. It's still funny today. Wow.
And I also like the episode when they go golfing
when they're practicing to go
And chef of the future.
Mr. Stephen Foster. Composer of the song, "Swanee River" in 1851. Originally titled, "Old Folks at Home."
I saw this title in 1986 in music class when we were playing it and thought, "Isn't the title Swanee River? It even says that in the song." And I thought of Honeymooners when seeing that, yes.
Watched this with my parents growing up. I swear talent never dies. 🖤🖤🖤🖤
Im 32 and I use to love this show when i was watching this on WPIX Channel 11 in NYC and Im glad they still give it cause This show never bores me
11 ALIVE
You're very fortunate - local stations aren't showing it in SE PA. At least ME-TV starte airing it again recently on Sun nights @ 10:30PM EST.
Same.
Been watching it on wpix11 my whole life....40 years of knowing the joke is coming and still laughing every time
DITTO KURT TY
The best episode of the classic 39.
"The expression on "Jackie Gleason's" face--when he DIDN'T know the composer of "Swanee River" is TOTALLY "priceless!!"
The show never gets old it’s loved by young and old.
Pinky and the Brain did a great parody of this, where Pinky couldn’t stop watching The Honeymooners. Brain wanted to go on Gyp-parody (Jeopardy parody). Pinky said “but their questions are very hard.” Brain dared Pinky to ask him anything. So Pinky asked which TV character is famous for saying “Bang! zoom! Right in the kisser!” Brain just slapped Pinky and said they’re never going to ask that.
Irony, guess what the final Gyp-parody question was? Which TV character is famous for saying “Bang! Zoom! Right in the kisser!” And Brain goes “uh, Pinky!” Nope. Answer was Ralph Kramden, and Brain wagered all his money.
Norton is hilarious
"That "Jackie Gleason" was a TOTAL natural!! Never got tired of watching "The Honeymooners!!"
REAL comedy!!! He had the whole premise of the game show wrong, and that was the first hilarious realisation, then to see the look on his face when asked "Who wrote Suwannee River?" And when Jose PLAYED a bar of it, and to see the look on his face nearly had me lose bladder control it was so HILARIOUS!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Funny Money, better living through television and this are the best episodes.
This stuff never, ever, gets old. What comedians and writers from this era were able to do is all the more impressive when you stop and think of the limitations they were working under....all the different sorts of material that were "off limits."
39 episodes, 70 years old, must have watched them tens of thousands of times and they STILL crack me up.......Truly the best sit-com of all time!!!!
Knowing that the Flintstones was based on the Honeymooners make me like this show all the more.
One of the greatest moments in the history of comedy.
I would've liked to had seen Norton's reaction when Ralph gave his name.
*"GREATEST comedy show EVER!!-"The Honeymooners!!"*
I remember this. The look on Gleason's face when the show host asks the question. Classic.
LMAO JACK GREAT JOB....THIS BRINGS ME BACK TO TIMES WITH MY LATE FATHER...THANK YOU, HE LOVED THIS SCENE.
Excellent video clip.
The Honeymooners is still aired in the wee hours of Monday morning on WPIX Channel 11
The CW affiliate in New York City.
Classic comedy. One of the great episodes of television history.
Yes Mike, I'm in the channel 11 viewing area and get WPIX off-air and on cable.
The Thanksgiving Marathon on WPIX of the Honeymooners is a yearly tradition.
PARDON ME NEW YEAR'S EVE
Comedy can never again be this funny! I think maybe the reason is that nobody can be that vulnerable and self-effacing anymore...
As far as I'm concerned, the Honeymooners is the PINNACLE of TV situation comedy. It will never be surpassed.
The greatest honeymoon episode ever
My father loved Jackie Gleason
There’s nothing like The Honeymooners! You might be interested in this NEW audio comedy, “A Trip to the Moon” starring Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners AND two ghost stories listed on my channel “Claude Chabot Presents” right here on YT. Just follow the link here and enjoy! th-cam.com/video/Hex2ltykNTM/w-d-xo.html--Claud.
PURE GOLD!! As with every other one of the Classic 39, it's almost 45 years since the first time I saw this. This was actually the first episode I ever caught. Ralph's face when the give him "a couple bars" of Swanee River still makes me laugh until my cheeks hurt.
Hi very funny show I love it the best thank you
Gleason and Carney on the Honeymooners ,took comedy chemistry to another level ! I can't begin to understand how Jackie Gleason produced such incredible memories without a rehearsal with his co stars ... The man had so many unique gifts ! To do a 30 minute show without a proper rehearsal and produce such Magic is truly phenomenal ... The Great One !
My Dad and his Air Force buddy made it mandatory to sing the Ed Norton version followed by a beep on the car horn every time someone in our respective families crossed the Suwanee River....or else the "CURSE" would befall them....it is now 2018 - I still sing it - in fact - just this week!!!!!
"Down by the Swanee River" aka "The Old Folks at Home" Stephan Foster wrote it and Al Jolson made a hit out of a parody of it written by George Gershwin called "Swanee".
I can watch this video forever! Unique and fantastic! Jackie Gleason the best! Art Carney sensational! "Those were the days of wine and roses"...
Absolutely hilarious! Of course, I'd seen this a dozen times on old re-runs, but I still laughed so hard just now I had tears in my eyes.
One of my favorite skits they did
Great episode. I love the scene where his neighbor Mrs Manicotti tries to stump him with classic italian songs.
hummnna hummnna hummhumm...Ed Norton!!!
Gleason Art Carney the unforgettable comedy team who were the Masters golden comedy that didn't need profanity and it's monologue
" I LOVE each & every one of the episodes- but this one by far is my ABSOLUTE BEST- "The $99,000 question!!"
The best comedy scene of all time
hi very funny tv show the best I love it
My favorite one!! Sad they’re not any longer with us. They will live in our minds for ever! 💙💙
Best episode every.
What made this show and other shows in comedy from those times so amazing was that there was no cursing or dirty jokes used in their lines it was clean comedy that people enjoyed then and still enjoy now
Thanks to this episode probably millions of Americans not to mention many folks in other nations grew up learning that the composer of "Swannee River" aka "The Old Folks at Home" was Stephen Foster.
Two Masters
I had my niece and nephew watch this, they were still pretty young, my nephew might have been about 12, his sister is 4 years older.
They squished and squirmed through bits of it, but they got a big kick out of the payoff at the end of the episode.
I will laugh at this every time.
I have a cousin who is 15 years younger, never watched the show and he used to tell me..." this old black and white show cant possibly be funny" Then one year he got stuck at his in-laws for New Years eve and the 24 hour marathon was on. He called me the next day, apologized and told me its one of the funniest shows he's ever watched.
Stephen Foster in 1851
Every Birthday that comes along in my family its always just the plain birthday song but now thanks to The Honeymooners here in this historic humorous scene before start singing the bday song we start off with that opening suwanne river tune. Its so hilarious
Your family sounds like a lot of fun.
"ALWAYS will love "The Honeymooners!!"
That's my favorite moment in the whole Honeymooners series!
CLASSIC!
Priceless entertainment!!
I always wondered why Ralph never asked Ed what was the song he kept playing. Also what are the odds that Ralph knew every song by heart except Suwanee River?
Diamond King Apparently Ed assumed Ralph knew who wrote it.
Hello, that's what made this episode so funny, it was suppose to happen the way it did.
That’s supposed to be the tragedy of this episode. That Ralph went and learned every song ever recorded but he didn’t think to ask Ed what tune he was playing before every song.
Then Ralph considers that maybe if Ed was playing a song that he had never heard of that maybe Ed wrote the thing.
That was the punch line genius. Do you also want to wonder why the Howell's packed some much stuff for that 3 hour tour?
@@tomb4575 Why Major Nelson didn't use Jeannie to her fullest capabilities....Why nobody could figure out Clark Kent was Superman...and so on...lol
Poor Ralph! If it wasn't for bad luck, I would have no luck at all.
What the writers could've tried have Ralph answer every song but have Swanee River as the last'$99,000 hurdle(that would be too cruel)!
What could be crueler than being busted out on the first go, over before he even starts(!).
With a gimme question too...
Larry C
I hadn't seen this since the 80's and the scenario I mis-remembered in my head was what you wrote. I thought he blew it on the last question.
lextual yeah but then there’s suspense!
It would work both ways....Ralph could've got to $90,000 and encouraged to stop, but his cockiness had him say: " I made it THIS far, why would I stop now? I GOT BIG PLANS FOR THIS MONEY, BIG PLANS!!" Then hit him with Swanee River!! Just when you think Ralph ship is gonna come in.....he drowns in Swanee River!! Beginning or end funny either way.
Well, they had to have him blow an easy question, because of the way the story is paced. And Swanee River wouldn't be the last hurdle, since it is so easy.
I always loved this one
For some reason it is exquisitely funny that "Jose" of the 99,0000 Question plays Suwanee River in a higher capella key! Of course, the song's real name is "The Old Folks at Home"
Gleason and Carney is like Peanut butter and jelly
I never get tired of watching these 2 lmao
He was the best of the best.
I cry everytime😂
+nievese2929 I Hope it was a Happy, Not a Sad Way...
Gleason & Carney had inimitable on-screen comedic chemistry!
Everytime Norton plays a few bars of Swanee River I usually would sing, "Way down upon the Swanee River. Da da da da da dah!" 😂
This is such a classic episode.
My favorite episode
Ed Norton's hand movements when "warming up" were always hilarious. He did at least one similar "warm up" for something else in another episode. In an interview, Art Carney said he got the idea from an uncle or something who had a fairly ridiculous warm up regimen.
"NEVER be another "Jackie Gleason!!"
Back when TV was good!
Yeah, good thing we now have cable ant Netflix.
@@chozenknight260 with a bunch of crap nobody knows about or barely watches netflix is chock full of crap
The two words "Ed Norton" makes me laugh so hard it hurts every single time.
I brive a dus....
Oh was that you?
I DUS A BRIVE
"Art Carney"-was so GREAT too!!"
Many years ago, I think Ed Norton was voted as the greatest TV character ever if memory serves me, and deservedly so!
"GREATEST TV comedy EVER!!"
THE NAME OF THE GAME SHOW RALPH APPEARED ON WAS "THE $99,000.00 ANSWER... NOT 'QUESTION' AS INDICATED ABOVE!
If you listen Ralph actually says the $10,000 Question a few times. It was live.
Probably one of the funniest scenes ever
The great one = dancer actor conductor composer musician comedian
Love the beginning an end music..It's sad
This show couldn’t possibly be done today that way they did it. There’s one thing they would have to change or it couldn’t possibly get on TV
This is one of my favorites…. All time classic💯
Honeymooners: Simply brilliant!
Ralph: Ed Norton?
Me: (buzzer noise) Wrong Answer.
This was CLASSIC!!
My all time fav episode!!! Your a sweet heart whoever you are
what must you play da da da da dah dat dat dahh ?
I want to get an upright piano but worry about the neighbors complaining. 😂
Oh if only Ralph had known "Swanee River " would POSSIBLY be a question on the quiz show LOL 😂
He got his karma for being annoyed n yelling at Norton over him playing that song
His face at 1:54 is so gold! 🤣
Perfect deer in the headlights look 😂😂
Never gets old 😂
I love the Honeymooners and I love this episode but in reality there's NO WAY a guy growing up in Brooklyn in the 30's & 40's never heard Al Jolson singing Swanee River!!!!
Classic!!!!!!
Every time I hear Swanee river...
Just brilliant.
I feel so bad for Ralph. He knew every song ever written but the one they played........Nortons warm up song. He was so sure of himself after being so scared on his 1st appearance. Hummina hum hummina.......Ed Norton?
This episode is loaded with hilarious lines. Jealous Mcgarrity, mother in law, Mrs. Manicotti, Alice, "just bring home the gold you already have the pot". Jackie Gleason was a genius!!
Of course, Art Carney was a genius too!!