Some musings on the Harris-Faye show

[shimp scrampi]

So, a lot of these have been finding their way onto my playlist lately, and I have to say, I think they're terrific. I think others have noted that Phil's character is a little toned down from his Benny image, made into more of a family man, but I think there are some other more subtle differences at work.

In contrast to the Benny show, this one definitely takes a more "blue-collar" tone. Sure, Jack is "everyman" in a lot of ways, but it's striking how non-"Hollywood" the Harris-Faye show is in comparison - especially considering the lead characters are a well-known radio bandleader and a movie star. Remley and Phil are often scheming to get something past the sponsor, Mr. Scott (was there ever a more tireless workhorse grouch than Gale Gordon? I wonder why he rarely, if ever appeared on the Benny show?) - they're played more as working stiffs. You'll almost never hear a celebrity guest star with the occasional exception of Jack or someone else.

Love Phil and Alice's musical numbers too (though I think they should have traded off weeks rather than cramming a number apiece each show - sometimes it brings a good plot to a dead standstill). They make me realize how antiquated Dennis' contemporaneous numbers often really were on Jack's show (sorry, D! - love your acting, but not big on radio tenors no matter how talented).

The writing's good, and there's a nice snarky surreal streak that spins off similar threads on the Benny show - I am certain a lot of it comes from Dick Chevillat, who wrote tons of Harris-Faye shows and also later co-wrote almost all of "Green Acres".

A few drawbacks are Walter Tetley's Julius character - fine once in awhile, but Julius-heavy shows can be a little grating. And Fitch and especially Rexall are snoozer sponsors in comparison to the magic worked with Jell-O and Luckies on the Benny show.

Anyone else with thoughts on Phil's extracurricular activity?

[Maxwell]

Sorry for the brief thread hijack here, but it fits perfectly into something I wanted to put up today on one of the boards here.

Yesterday on his "Those Were the Days" radio program, Chuck Schaden played the Phil Harris-Alice Faye show from March 26, 1950. In this episode Remley thinks he's seen flying saucers, but gives Phil's name to the newspapers. They go out to a "crash site" and find it's where Jack Benny buried his Maxwell, hence my reason for wanting to mention it.

People can access this episode, which was very funny, for a week beginning Tuesday at http://www.nostalgiadigest.com/Those%20Were%20The%20Days.htm.

I'm kind of fond of this episode for another reason. I was exactly one week old the date it was broadcast, and it was my mom's 31st birthday.

[shimp scrampi]

That's a fantastic episode. Phil and Alice as Mulder and Scully - about 45 years early! I busted a gut the first time I heard that reveal of the flying saucer. Then passing off Julius as the alien - too rich.

[Clyde]

"All the way from Alba-kirk". That show is one of my favorites.

The Phil Harris-Alice Faye show has consistently been a favorite of mine for years. The writing was so fresh and crisp. The characters of Frankie, Phil, Alice, Phillip, Julius, Mr. Scott,...even the girls....each and every show seemed to offer some funny line or scene that tends to stay with you.

Some favorites? There was a series of about six weeks where Rexall fired Frankie and he just made Phil and Alice's lives MISERABLE. Another favorite was when Phil invited the band to join him and the family on a picnic. In your mind's eye, you can picture this plague of locusts (the band members) descending upon them. And another episode where a ring ends up down the drain. Julius does one of his famous 'coughing routines'. And finally, another favorite was "Dinner with the Creightons", evidently a v-e-r-y boring couple....by Phil's standards. Phil's reaction to the news they will be at the hous for dinner? "Oh goody goody. Let's dust off the stereoptical slides!".

There are lots of other shows that I consider to be favorites. They all seem to hold up quite well and are still very, very funny over fifty years after they aired.

[Gerry O.]

Count me in as another avid "Harris & Faye" fan....I LOVE that show!

The writing holds up quite well today, especially with its sarcastic one-liners....and I love it when straightlaced Alice occassionally and unexpectedly breaks into "Phil Harris"-type lingo: "HOLD it, Wonga!", "Oh CLYDE, COME now!", etc.

I'm convinced that writers Ray Singer and Dick Chevillat were the true geniuses behind "The Phil Harris - Alice Faye Show". As talented and funny as the series' cast members were, the Singer & Chevillat scripts were the things that really made the show. The first season of Phil and Alice's program (when it was known as "The Fitch Bandwagon" and the last few seasons (sponsored by RCA Victor) were written by other writers, and the difference is VERY obvious.....those non-Singer-Chevillat scripts are amusing, but they lack that certain "snap" or "bite" that made the Singer & Chevillat-written episodes so funny and distinctive.

[TimL2005]

I've always enjoyed Phil Harris-Alice Faye. As I am big on Christmas/Holiday Themed OTR (and TV) from the 40's-70's, Their Christmas Episode (The Girls waiting for Santa) With Jack Benny playing Santa..and Remley being as big a Santa "believer" as the girls..Very funny without going overboard..Quite touching at the end..

[Maxwell]

Speaking of holiday shows, I heard a good one a couple of months ago where the girls hire Mel Blanc to be the Easter Bunny because they're sure Phil still believes in him. The scene where Phil first sees the oversized rabbit is hilarious.

[shimp scrampi]

I noticed that some of those early Fitch Bandwagon shows are written by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, the duo behind "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Munsters". Even though the Munsters were kinda funny looking, they were pretty straightlaced in comparison to the wacky characters Chevillat wrote over at Green Acres...

[Maxwell]

I noticed that some of those early Fitch Bandwagon shows are written by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, the duo behind "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Munsters". Even though the Munsters were kinda funny looking, they were pretty straightlaced in comparison to the wacky characters Chevillat wrote over at Green Acres...

I guess I'm asking this because I'm too lazy to look it up, but weren't Connelly and Mosher also involved in the Amos 'n' Andy TV show?

[Maxwell]

I noticed that some of those early Fitch Bandwagon shows are written by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, the duo behind "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Munsters". Even though the Munsters were kinda funny looking, they were pretty straightlaced in comparison to the wacky characters Chevillat wrote over at Green Acres...

Ack!!! I wanted to add something else to this. I also have always kind of attributed some of the wackiness of Green Acres to the guy who directed most of the episodes, Edward L. Bare (I hope I got his name right), who in the '40s and '50s wrote and directed the Joe McDoaks shorts at Warner Bros. If you've ever seen any of those, you can see how he'd fit in with the general surrealism of the Hooterville region.

[shimp scrampi]

Yeah, that's actually Richard L. Bare. Apparently he wrote some text on directing ages and ages ago that is still in print and considered the one "must read" for anyone going into the field.

Connelly and Mosher did write for Amos & Andy, apparently for radio - after they left the Harris-Faye show. Not sure if they were involved in the TV show. I don't mean to harp on them, I actually think "Beaver" in particular has a totally unfair reputation as being bland, generic and unrealistic. In fact, I think it's one of the most honestly-characterized sitcoms ever. Wally & the Beav really seem like real kids to me, which is more than I can say for most other shows of the period, and I love how the show is told from their point of view. I can see a little bit of that prescience in their Harris-Faye scripts as well, but the Singer-Chevillats are the real gut-busters.

[Maxwell]

Yeah, RICHARD! I read somewhere (probably a Leonard Maltin book years ago) that Bare was teaching a film class at UCLA and the first Joe McDoaks (or is it McDoakes?) short was actually done for that class. I've seen an occasional one on TCM, iirc, and they were pretty funny.

You're right about Beaver. It would have helped if Jerry Mathers had been a little better actor, but you have to love the characters. Eddie Haskell...is there anybody who didn't know someone like him when they were a kid? Lumpy Rutherford...I knew him, too. I probably could have been either Wally or the Beav, depending on my age.

I decided to check out the writing credits for the TV show on imdb. Connelly, Mosher, and Hal Kanter are credited. Pretty fair writing staff!

[Brad from Georgia]

I really like the Harris/Faye shows, too. I wonder if the reason Gale Gordon didn't work with Jack very much (if at all) was that his affect was very similar to that of Frank Nelson. When I was younger (i.e. a year or so ago), I used to confuse Gordon and Nelson. Well, I don't mean I asked them bad riddles, but occasionally I would see one and think it was the other.

Man, am I hung over from Phil Harris's April Fool Eve party. I don't even plan on going back tonight for his April the Second Eve party.

[Michael]

"All the way from Alba-kirk". That show is one of my favorites.
another favorite was "Dinner with the Creightons", evidently a v-e-r-y boring couple....by Phil's standards. Phil's reaction to the news they will be at the hous for dinner? "Oh goody goody. Let's dust off the stereoptical slides!".

And don't forget what Phil & Frankie do to the Roast

Let's just say these two will never get their own show on Food Network

[shimp scrampi]

I really like the Harris/Faye shows, too. I wonder if the reason Gale Gordon didn't work with Jack very much (if at all) was that his affect was very similar to that of Frank Nelson. When I was younger (i.e. a year or so ago), I used to confuse Gordon and Nelson. Well, I don't mean I asked them bad riddles, but occasionally I would see one and think it was the other.

Resurrecting an old thread here ... my elephantine brain was just reminded of Brad's comment here. I've been having fun listening to several episodes of OUR MISS BROOKS lately, that feature both Gale Gordon and Frank Nelson. Some of of them have Joe Kearns (sounding much more "Mr. Wilson" than "Ed") in roles as well.

Add in Eve Arden, and if you are ever needing a sarcasm pick-me-up, this here's your show! Good thing the inevitable Hans Conried didn't show up, you'd be entering lethal dose territory. They'd have to broadcast a warning before the show came on.