Alice Kramden was the best TV wife EVER...

I like the fact that she took no nonsense when he got into his jams, but also knew when to back off and not always remind him about her being right and him being wrong. (Modern wives should learn a lesson from her!)

I just ordered this on-line so I am looking forward to fully analyzing it, having not seen it in over a decade, but many key phrases and memories locked in my head. From what I've researched, Jackie Gleason knew that he couldn't improve it anymore from how perfect it was. He was right, and many producers/writers of sitcoms since should have known when to throw the towel in. The foursome of the Kramdens and Nortons were quite different than the Ricardo's and Mertze's, and as wonderful as "ILL" is, that show began to stretch reality by going to Hollywood then Europe then finally Connecticut, playing it out too long even if among those episodes are some classics. Sometimes less is more, which is why Gleason got out at the right time. Even by doing sketches on his variety shows, he kept it alive, but the memories of "The Honeymmoners" as a show by itself aren't overshadowed by the thought of "Haven't they pulled the plug on this yet?" Even a ratings winner sometimes needs to call it a day when the sun begins to go down!

"Great theater makes you smile. Outstanding theater may make you weep."

She was a good wife but she was hardly perfect, she gave it good to Ralph, always making fun of his weight and quick to shoot down his dreams, but she was pretty, also faithful, intelligent with good instincts, but there were plenty of times where every dinner for Ralph was either a can of beans or a can of tuna fish. Ralph would go to work, and come back to find her hosting a party for the neighborhood wives, doing mamba or some such thing.

Top 5 TV wives/moms
1. A!ice honeymooners
2. Laura dick van dyke show
3. Carol Brady bunch
4.lily the Munsters
5. Donna Donna Reed show.