Episode: Best Man Blues
Original Air Date: 1962/05/22
Gust Stars: Dick Foran & Maria Palmer

My first foray with Freddie the Freeloader. Ought to be interesting…

Red improved a Liz Taylor joke. Historical reference I don’t think I’m aware of.

“When I travel I go anywhere…I got by boat – well that’s if I’m on the ocean…” the downside of improvisation, “Well there’s a brilliant line there, idn’t it?”

I guess he finally did away with the pantomimes

The dancers are in flapper dresses – just the girls. They’re all girls. Singing about how a guy with money is where it’s at - “cash n carry / that’s the way to marry.” Nothin’ like an ironic intro to Freddie the Freeloader.

Best Man’s Blues Act 1

In a highrise. Not very Freeloader. Highrise uptown superficial women with luxurious accents. The groom-to-be’s best man is going to be…yeah. You guess’d-er.

“Do you have change for a hundred?” “Oh yes,” “Then you won’t need this nickel I was gonna give you.”

“My train’s a-comin’. I’ve got 2 minutes to get under it…”

Freddie at a fancy hotel for the wedding. Playin’ ’round with the bellboy and. Classic…

The millionaire, Freddie’s buddy, fired the bellboy for looking unkept – thanks to Freddie’s dirt.

Freddie’s unkept presence is makin’ everybody faint. Freddie’s having a field day with the props for it.

“I just said that I was Freddie the Freeloader the best man and everybody conked out.”

Even the millionaire conked out.

Niiice, even the statue faded.

“I don’t know what I got but if we can bottle it, ‘Goodnight, Khrushchev.’”

Commercial Break

Best Man’s Blues Act II

Sobbing bride. Bitter bridesmaid, “With principles like that I don’t know how you ever became a millionaire.”

Millionaire bends to bride’s will.

The air freshener is crazy.

The things Freddie can do with a fork.

Wow, it took forever for Red to crack someone. He got the bridesmaid by makin’ fun of her legs while picking up a pimento off the ground. Nice.

Of course, Freddie dropped the ring, now the cigar. That punch is no good.

“Don’t touch me doctor, I’m sterile.”

Is that why suit coats have tails…

Red can’t cut as fast as in rehearsals, “Run a commercial…”

Wow, that’s a lot of punch drinking. I couldn’t do that in my prime. Ahh, the glasses were filled…

“You have my finger in your glass.”
“How observant. You should have no trouble getting a driver’s license.”

He got the bride to crack again. Of course, she swallowed the ring.

She’s calling off the wedding if Freddie is the best man. And the gifts went off with her. Freeloaders!

Freddie’s allowed to live in the penthouse with the millionaire. He considers it until he hears about the bath…

Final thoughts on Best Man Blues.

Once again, I enjoyed it but I expect more aggressiveness. The first few I saw had a lot more banter amongst the actors. These last couple have been more polished. Still enjoyed it. Maybe I’m just sad that he never got Dick Foran to break character.

More tomorrow!