You know who doesn't care about being judged? Joe Fensterblau, that's who. This big mouth doesn't care--but, oh, if he DOES care about something, he'll let you know.
I like that the other fellas congratulate Ralph and cheer him for mouthing off to the newspaper, but Joe barges right in and calls it "malarkey" and says he needs PROOF that what he said was really the case.
Actor Dick Bernie does a great job at getting the essential brash, rather abrasive quality of a guy who would challenge Ralph on his assertion of being king of his castle. Of course, Bernie will return as another blowhard, Bill Davis, in the last of the Classic 39, "A Man's Pride." For now, though, we can enjoy him trying to pull off the simultaneous feat of showing up his coworker AND sponging a free meal out of the Kramdens.
He just wants something simple: soup, roast chicken with stuffing, rice, a little salad on the side...and a little dessert and coffee.
When Alice doesn't go for it, (Classic line when he gets her on the phone: "Alice, look. Run right home now and start cooking. I'm bringing a friend over.") Ralph figures he and Norton can cook themselves and say Alice did it. Of course, it doesn't go well.
But Alice bails out her hubby by apologizing, blaming the lack of dinner on the stove, and offering a rain check. Joe is actually somewhat chagrined, and he walks away looking at Ralph with newfound respect.
Even though he is somewhat compromised at the end thanks to Alice's maneuver, we still give a hearty Cultureshark salute to Joe Fensterblau, who manages to stand out as an obnoxious blowhard on a show that is about a guy who can be an obnoxious blowhard.
Joe Fensterblau.
I'll type it one more time, and then I think I'll have it out of my system: Joe Fensterblau.
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Here’s to that poor misguided soul : Joe Fensterblau
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