favorite running gag

[ZEjackbennykid]

jello again,
throughout the shows run many one topics have spread into several programs( eg ronny colemans stolen Oscar)
here ARE my personal faves

Trip to Yosemite- 1940
The sportsman debut- 1946
Ronald Coleman's Stolen Oscar-1948
Production of The Horn Blows at Midnight-1944
Singer to Replace Dennis Day-1944

[bboswell]

I love the echo that Jack brought back from Switzerland. I was listening to Jack's guest appearance on the Bob Hope show over the weekend, and the echo followed him over there, only this time Bob heard instead of Jack. Bob asked Jack if he heard it and Jack replied:

"No Bob, this is YOUR show!"

Also, does anyone know when the (I'm assuming) running gag about dog food started? I don't remember the brand name, but in one episode Jack and Rochester are taking inventory of the pantry and they have several hundred cans of dog food. Jack says: "I either have to get a dog or stop mentioning them on my show."

[LukeJB]

Mine are the "I dunno" guy. Like in the 3-9-52 program. It's so simple and you know why he says I dunno but it still cracks me up!
I also like Mel Blanc's Train anouncer! I love the drum beat one! That gets me everytime too.

[1426]

The drum beat at the station is great. I've heard a couple of shows where Jack blames "that stupid dog" for doing the drum bit. -"shoudn't have taught that dog to play the drums".

[mrdj]

Although not a running gag, I enjoyed the series of programs about "How Jack Met Rochester...Mary...Don...Phil". Rochester driving for Amos 'n Andy. Mary behind the counter at the May Co. Young Don at Elocution School. I still crack up hearing the class(young Harry von Zell, Billy Goodwin and Don) do their exercises. Jack asks Mary what she thinks and she replies:' P with a u is pu, pu'. Finally Phil headling at the Rewes Club.(Sewer spelled backward) Not only did Jack find Phil there but Gladys Zybysko (under the stage name Trixie Laverne). To me classic Jack.

[LLeff]

I still crack up hearing the class(young Harry von Zell, Billy Goodwin and Don) do their exercises.

And you know who that is reciting the exercises? Jack's four writers (George, Sam, Milt, and Tack).

[Roman]

"What happened to the Gas Man?"
"They loved me in St. Joe's."
"Hi'ya Jackson, how's the old wreck doing?"
"PLEASE Jack. Don't make me do it." (Don's reaction to his cue for a pun-filled Jello commercial)

[Brad from Georgia]

The epic similes to describe Jack's eyes: "Bluer than the thumb of a cross-eyed carpenter!"

[Jack Benny]

This thread brings a smile to my face! How about the great arc of Orson Wells shows when Jack was sick! I always have a spot in my heart for the nicely done New Year's Alagorical Fantasies, I especially like watching the one they did for television.

[Radioman]

How about the great arc of Orson Wells shows when Jack was sick! I always have a spot in my heart for the nicely done New Year's Alagorical Fantasies, I especially like watching the one they did for television.

I thought the arc with Orson Welles was really cool. It was a side of OW I'd never heard before, especially the very overdramatic way he voiced his lines in the plays they were putting on. And the way everthinig had to revolve around Orson was classic.

With all due respect, I have to admit I don't like the New Years Eve fantasies. I find them too weird and setimental for my tastes.

My favorite running gag has to be Frank Nelson, especially when he would let out a very boisterous "Yeeessssss?" and then insult Jack the same ways he insulted him in the episodes that came before. I think what was so great about FN was that he popped up in so many different episodes playing a variety characters, but always using the same voice and style, and Jack never "notices" it's the same guy, except for the times Jack said "I've seen him somewhere before."

It's characters like his that work so well in radio. I don't believe I've ever seen a recurring character like FN in a modern TV show. Actually, he's appeared in the Simpsons a couple of times looking exactly the way I picture him when I hear him on JB.

allen

[Alan]

Re:the "Frank Nelson" on The simpsons.

While i don't clearly recall what the real FN looks like in pics, i believe that The Simpson's version is a caricatured approximation.

No? Yesssssss?

[shimp scrampi]

The "Frank Nelson" seen on the Simpsons episode does look, to me, anyway, like the real Frank Nelson, albeit a bit exaggerated. No more so than any other celebrity likeness they've done.

One Simpsons episode with "Frank Nelson" takes place in "Costingtons" - an old time 'downtown' department store with clerks stationed at counters, and is probably the most Benny-inspired.

Another funny Simpsons bit with "Frank Nelson" is FN as a waiter - Homer calls him over and he does the MMMYEEEEEEES? :

Homer: Why do you talk like that?
Frank Nelson: I've had a STROOOOOOKE.

I think he's a bus driver in another episode, but not sure on that. Dan Castellaneta does the voice, but it would be fun to hear Simpsons regular Harry Shearer (Jack Benny Show alumnus) do a take on one of his former mentors.

[David47Jens]

Well, I don't have any pictures of The Simpsons' recurring "Frank Nelson character" handy, but those of you who are familiar with the character and want to compare him to Frank can view this old "glamor shot":



And for the background on this old TV episode, featuring Frank and some... err... unidentified redhead, click on the following picture!



And last but not least, click here for a couple of great anecdotes about the latter part of Frank's career as a cartoon voiceover artist, as written by Mark Evanier!

[Alan]

Based n those photos; the yessss-man on The Simpsons is definately also based on the look of the real Frank Nelson.

[Radioman]

Based n those photos; the yessss-man on The Simpsons is definately also based on the look of the real Frank Nelson.

I also saw Frank Nelson in one of the JB TV shows available on the Dollar Store DVDs. He played an employee in a clothing store. And he looked just like that picture, only shorter than I thought he would be. I expected him to be taller, and, well, look like the character on the Simpsons.

FN's voice is a character in of itself, so it was kind of strange to actually see the actor performing the lines.

allen