MovieChat Forums > The Abbott and Costello Show (1957) Discussion > Joe Besser as Stinky

Joe Besser as Stinky

posted 9 years ago by micaofboca-836-322711
6 replies | jump to latest

Lou was in top form for this hilarious episode. That mathematical proof he wrote on the wall to con Mr. Fields cracked me up; and whenever Lou Besser, a late member of the 3 Stooges, showed up as Stinky he splits my sides. As a kid I just loved him. Same today. He's certifiable. Dressed like Little Lord Fauntleroy, too. You can tell Lou's really enjoying himself in this episode. And it's got Bacciagalupe and Mike the Cop in it, too. Whenever Lou calls his craps throw Little Joe when he throws a hard four (3-1 or 1-3), and reveals his hustle, that's another one. This episode's filled with math tricks to falsely total a sum, too.

[–] movieghoul 9 years ago

Yeah, the show really went downhill in season 2 when both Joe Besser and Joe Kirk left.

I like especially how they didn't care about internal logic of the situations. A man in his fifties playing a little kid? A guy with a heavy Italian accent who's the proprietor of a different business every week? Not a problem.

[–] dustinthewind25 9 years ago

What other show was like this?????

They walk out on stage in front of a curtain, and talk about what the dilemma or situation they're in now, and then in the next scene they're in it.

One show, they're in Africa. Next one, out west. Next one, in the army. Next one, on the police force.

THIS SHOW WAS SO GREAT!!!!

[–] movieghoul 9 years ago

They walk out on stage in front of a curtain, and talk about what the dilemma or situation they're in now, and then in the next scene they're in it.

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Jack Benny used a similar format. He came out to do the "show" in front of a curtain, would talk about what he would be doing, say, later that night, then yoyou'd see the scene of him doing it.

Seinfeld did a variation of this when he opened his show doing his act in a club, then the show would pick up on whatever theme he was talking about in the act.

[–] dustinthewind25 9 years ago

I was thinking about Jack Benny, but the one difference is, that he was playing himself, as an entertainer, headlining the Jack Benny show, and the show was part of his show - he'd talk about and introduce his guest for the night, and have sketches within the show, and the guest might do a song - it's just exactly how he played it on radio. Abbott and Costello played two down and outers, unemployed, living in a boarding house, who just happened to walk out in front of an audience before each weekly adventure. It's that difference to me that made it just a touch more surreal than Jack Benny's situation.

[–] movieghoul 9 years ago

I always took the onstage openings and closings of A&C that these were the real life stars, although the dialogue does blend in their characters as well.

[–] dustinthewind25 9 years ago

Either way, both Abbott and Costello's show, especially the first season, and Jack Benny's show were classics, just amazing stuff.