'Mooners Monday: The Worry Wart

If someone asked me to recommend just one episode of The Honeymooners, I would berate that person for not just watching all of them. However, after thinking for a minute or 10, I might suggest "The Worry Wart." It doesn't feature a wild set piece, nor a wacky costume, nor a memorable blooper. The vast majority takes place in the Kramdens' apartment. I just happen to think it is one of the flat-out funniest episodes of the series and a fine example of how the combination of fine writing and excellent performances create classic television.

Let's give credit to the credited authors of this one, Marvin Marx and Walter Stone. It starts out a little slow, though I am amused by Norton's invitation that the Kramdens accompany he and Trixie to the big antiques show at Madison Square Garden. Once it gets going, though, it has some of my favorite lines. It's simple stuff but effective.

Examining the icebox for "valuable antiques"

I think there are a dozen variations of Ed calming Ralph, then Ed aggravating him again with another remark, but each time is gold. "The Worry Wart" is a great way to observe the greatness of Jackie Gleason and Art Carney.

As you may recall, Ralph gets a letter from the IRS asking him to come down to the office to go over his tax return. He expects it to be a $42 tax refund so he can have a glorious two-week vacation fishing at Fred's Landing (a bit that has inspired years of vacation-related jokes in my family). Instead he frets over the implications of the letter...and frets...and frets.

Ralph's exasperated pounding of the table--"WHAT could they want me for?" is funny for his broad gesture and the reactions of a surprised Norton and Alice:

I like that Alice admonishes him for doing his own taxes instead of finding someone at the barber shop who knows how. Meanwhile, Ed keeps asking Ralph for accessories for the spaghetti dinner he has finagled, and ultimately Ralph blows up when Norton requests bread. Then Norton calms him down, and says first things first, which relaxes Ralph, and THEN Norton says, "First thing was, you was getting me some bread. Where is it?"

Ralph's reaction is great. He actually tells Alice, "Get in the bedroom, because I'm gonna kill him."

Alice and Ed keep attempting to reassure Ralph that it's probably nothing, but he isn't hearing any of it.

Alice: You're not the first person who has ever been investigated.
Ed: You're darn right. The jails are full of them.

Of course Ralph stays up late going over his return. We've all been there, right?

Ralph can't relax, and it's a regular riot each time he explodes. He wakes up Norton, but Ed is a pal and soothes him yet again.

"The worst thing they could POSSIBLY do is put you in the federal pen!"

Check out Norton's slipper

Norton helps Ralph track down discrepancies like reported income, but it doesn't end well.

Ralph: You know what this means, don't you, Norton?



Truth be told, the resolution isn't spectacular, but it IS funny. The strength of this episode isn't the last 5 minutes nor the first 5 minutes, but the hilarious 15 minutes of Ralph and Ed going back and forth in the apartment. It's a perfect distillation of their relationship, and more importantly, it's funny. Those 15 minutes make laugh out loud--literally laugh out loud--multiple times every single time I watch them. For that reason alone, "The Worry Wart" is one of my favorite 'Mooners installments.