Better Living Through TV is the 7th episode of the TV series ''
The Honeymooners
''The Honeymooners'' is an American television sitcom which originally aired from 1955 to 1956, created by and starring Jackie Gleason, and based on a recurring comedy sketch of the same name that had been part of Gleason's variety show. It fol ...
'' that aired November 12, 1955.
The 1950s were considered the golden age of advertising, with many brands sponsoring entire shows. Occasionally, the commercials became plotlines, as is the case in "Better Living Through TV", as Ralph and Norton do a commercial for a kitchen gadget Ralph wants to promote.
The episode was ranked #7 in
''TV Guide's'' ''Top 100 Episodes of All Time'' 2009 list.
Synopsis
Ralph presents Norton with a money-making idea to get rich. There’s a box of labor saving devices - "Handy Housewife Helpers" - available from a warehouse. The device opens cans, takes corks out of bottles, cores apples, and many other things. Ralph's plan is to borrow money from their wives to buy the box and pay for a live TV commercial. It's a "sure thing".
Alice refuses to loan Ralph the money, so he borrows it elsewhere.
Ralph and Norton work out a commercial in which the "chef of the future" shares the wonders of the kitchen gadget that does everything and makes housewives happy. During the rehearsal, everything goes well, but as the show goes live, Ralph develops stage fright and freezes up, while Norton tries to save the commercial.
Cast
*
Jackie Gleason
John Herbert Gleason (February 26, 1916June 24, 1987) was an American actor, comedian, writer, composer, and conductor known affectionately as "The Great One." Developing a style and characters from growing up in Brooklyn, New York, he was know ...
as Ralph Kramden
*
Art Carney
Arthur William Matthew Carney (November 4, 1918 – November 9, 2003) was an American actor and comedian. A recipient of an Academy Awards, Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and six Primetime Emmy Awards, he was best known for his role as Ed ...
as Ed Norton
*
Audrey Meadows
Audrey Meadows ( Cotter, February 8, 1922 – February 3, 1996) was an American actress best known for her role as the deadpan housewife The Honeymooners#Alice Kramden, Alice Kramden on the 1950s American television comedy ''The Honeymooners''. ...
as Alice Kramden
*
Joyce Randolph
Joyce Randolph ( Sirola; October 21, 1924) is an American actress, best known for playing Trixie Norton on the television sitcom ''The Honeymooners''.
Early life and career
Randolph was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 21, 1924. As a teena ...
as Trixie Norton
* Eddie Hanley as TV Director (uncredited)
Reception
The episode was ranked #7 in
''TV Guide's'' ''Top 100 Episodes of All Time'' 2009 list.
The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...
considers it one of the best episodes of ''The Honeymooners'' to watch.
References
External links
*
* {{TV Guide show, 1000206641, The Honeymooners
Television episodes about advertising
1955 television episodes
The Honeymooners