One fine day, Tim and Mark were busying themselves by building a birdhouse. But this isn't just any old birdhouse. This one's cable ready. But then Jill comes in to tell Tim about an opera fund-raiser they're going to on Saturday, which Tim swore he never heard her mention before, despite her claims to the contrary. Anyway, on to Tool Time where Tim and Al talk about spring cleaning...the engine, that is. A filthy car engine that's accumulated dirt and muck over winter. Then Tim goes on a rant about how women know bupkis about car engines and just how important they are. Two elderly gentlemen in the audience agree heartily with Tim and he invites them out on stage. So the two men, Hick Peterson and Eddie Phillips join the Tool Man, as well as Al, whom they're big a fan of. Then they talk about their life's profession: 42 long years working an auto assembly line. A dream job. And after that, they'd go down and have themselves A Stinky, which is a sandwich designed by Hick that includes Limburger cheese, sauerkraut, Bermuda onion and hot mustard, and they have them down at Big Mike's Tavern, which Eddie passionately plugs right there on the show. Deciding he wants to try that place out, Tim tries to get Jill to go on Saturday, but she's still hellbent on going to that opera fund-raiser. Not only does Tim not remember agreeing to go, but he forgot it was his idea.
Apparently the Taylors were asked about it at church two months prior and Tim had politely said "yes, we've love to go." They argue, mostly over telling someone what you mean, when you mean it, and he vehemently refuses to go to the fund-raiser, so Jill decides to go alone. After that, Tim goes down to Big Mike's alone, he meets ol' Mike himself, and even runs into Eddie and Hick. They hear of his plight and offer their own advice. Hick suggests Tim remind Jill who wears the pants in the family, even though Jill was planning to wear a full tux to the fund-raiser. Hick is very old fashioned, he believes a dame should be seen and not heard, while Eddie takes the more sentimental approach, saying women are very subtle creatures. He even helps Tim to realize that he WAS told about the fund-raiser, but in very subtle ways, such as Jill having his suit cleaned, and to keep Saturday open, and even the date circled on the calendar saying "fund-raiser", which Tim misread as "fur raisins." Meanwhile, Jill talks to Wilson about the whole fiasco, realizing she did everything but DIRECTLY tell Tim about the fund-raiser. Yeah, that probably could've saved you both a lot of trouble. He helps her to see the error of her ways, without really even saying anything. Then, Tim and Jill make amends, Tim admits he wasn't listening, he apologizes, and Jill doesn't reciprocate. So they go to the opera fund-raiser, and afterwards they stop at Big Mike's to join Hick and Eddie. Hick gets to dance with Jill, while Eddie gives Tim more pointers on married life, having 45 years' experience, and he says that when all is said and done, you don't have to understand a woman, just love her. Finally, remember that birdhouse Tim made at the beginning of the episode? He set it up in the backyard, and already it has its first tenants.
Veteran character actors Ernest Borgnine and Jack Elam brilliantly portray Eddie and Hick, two amusing characters who we unfortunately never see again. As for the premise of mixed messages Tim doesn't get from Jill, they sort of repeat that in Season 2's "Read My Hips" where Tim can't take a hint from Jill wanting him to come home to a romantic dinner for two she'd been planning, and boy did he royally foul things up. It's also too bad Tim didn't get to try a Stinky, I would've liked to see his reaction, and if you want to make your own at home, be my guest. So anyway, while not quite as funny as the episodes that came before it, Birds of a Feather Flock to Taylor is still a very good episode. If you're a fan of Mr. Borgnine and Mr. Elam, or if you want to see Tim and Jill get into a big miscommunication argument, then this episode is for you. We have a Big Mike's in my town, but it's a Philly-themed sandwich place.
Apparently the Taylors were asked about it at church two months prior and Tim had politely said "yes, we've love to go." They argue, mostly over telling someone what you mean, when you mean it, and he vehemently refuses to go to the fund-raiser, so Jill decides to go alone. After that, Tim goes down to Big Mike's alone, he meets ol' Mike himself, and even runs into Eddie and Hick. They hear of his plight and offer their own advice. Hick suggests Tim remind Jill who wears the pants in the family, even though Jill was planning to wear a full tux to the fund-raiser. Hick is very old fashioned, he believes a dame should be seen and not heard, while Eddie takes the more sentimental approach, saying women are very subtle creatures. He even helps Tim to realize that he WAS told about the fund-raiser, but in very subtle ways, such as Jill having his suit cleaned, and to keep Saturday open, and even the date circled on the calendar saying "fund-raiser", which Tim misread as "fur raisins." Meanwhile, Jill talks to Wilson about the whole fiasco, realizing she did everything but DIRECTLY tell Tim about the fund-raiser. Yeah, that probably could've saved you both a lot of trouble. He helps her to see the error of her ways, without really even saying anything. Then, Tim and Jill make amends, Tim admits he wasn't listening, he apologizes, and Jill doesn't reciprocate. So they go to the opera fund-raiser, and afterwards they stop at Big Mike's to join Hick and Eddie. Hick gets to dance with Jill, while Eddie gives Tim more pointers on married life, having 45 years' experience, and he says that when all is said and done, you don't have to understand a woman, just love her. Finally, remember that birdhouse Tim made at the beginning of the episode? He set it up in the backyard, and already it has its first tenants.
Veteran character actors Ernest Borgnine and Jack Elam brilliantly portray Eddie and Hick, two amusing characters who we unfortunately never see again. As for the premise of mixed messages Tim doesn't get from Jill, they sort of repeat that in Season 2's "Read My Hips" where Tim can't take a hint from Jill wanting him to come home to a romantic dinner for two she'd been planning, and boy did he royally foul things up. It's also too bad Tim didn't get to try a Stinky, I would've liked to see his reaction, and if you want to make your own at home, be my guest. So anyway, while not quite as funny as the episodes that came before it, Birds of a Feather Flock to Taylor is still a very good episode. If you're a fan of Mr. Borgnine and Mr. Elam, or if you want to see Tim and Jill get into a big miscommunication argument, then this episode is for you. We have a Big Mike's in my town, but it's a Philly-themed sandwich place.
