Honeymooners

I recently watched "The Man From Space," a funny episode from the show Honeymooners. This episode brought back memories of when I was a kid and watching this show with my dad, as it is one of his favorites. It is very interesting watching it now with a different perspective. Although I haven't seen that particular episode before, it is still similar to all the other episodes I have seen.

In this particular episode, the main character, Ralph wants to win best costume at the annual costume party to win money. He and his best-friend-turned-rival, Norton, come up with the same plan of buying a professional costume to win; however, Ralph does not get permission to borrow $10 from his wife to buy a costume so he is forced to make one himself. Using random objects from around the house he creates a garbage costume that only he recognizes as the man from space. At the costume party, his Norton is unable to show because a plumbing emergency calls him to work, so Ralph becomes one of the finalists in the contest. Just as he is about to win best costume as a pin-ball machine, Norton suddenly enters in his work uniform, consisting of a gas mask and rubber pants and boots, and ends up winning best costume as the man from outer space.

This is such a great show because it is filmed in front of a live audience, so there is a genuine "laugh track." The jokes are classic and actually funny; some are even improvised. This show probably inspired many other modern shows because today's comedy TV consists of the same elements: a not-so-smart main character with a feisty wife and a comical best friend. Countless shows use these old ones as reference, as technology changes and brings color and HD to our screens, because the entertainment of the Honeymooners and other classic TV shows is timeless.