User Reviews

I just watched for the first time on YouTube this holiday episode of "The Honeymooners" from their only season outside of being a sketch on "The Jackie Gleason Show". There's a partial touch of the O'Henry story, "The Gift of the Magi", here with the standard, but well-earned, laughs whenever Norton (Art Carney) shows up. The sentimental speech Ralph gives at the end almost seems tacked on though it's still touching just the same and then Jackie brings his fellow cast members on stage for one more bow as he wishes us a Merry Christmas. All I want to say now is watch the episode and enjoy the chemistry between Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph, and especially, Glesaon and Carney in one of the best shows to come out of The Golden Age of Television...

This is a slight variation on the O Henry story, "The Gift of the Magi." These people were always so hard up, living in that tiny apartment with few prospects. The whole thing revolves around the giving of presents on Christmas Eve. Neither Norton nor Ralph have any imagination. Ralph has submitted to greed and bought himself something. His gift for Alice proves to be rather lame, so it is necessary to find a way to buy something else on Christmas Eve. There is a bit with a rat trap that's quite funny. Overall, it's a sweet little episode.

Yes, I have caught this classic on Christmas Eve many times, and it never gets old. It has been around for years, though I always remember the memorable ending when Jackie Gleason steps out of character (for the live audience) and introduces the cast. A must see just for this memorable scene. Truly, it's something they should have done on I LOVE LUCY.

There are notes indicating the ending was originally cut for syndication, but I don't recall that, having watched this for more than 50 years!

It's the usual mad dash to get a gift for Alice, this time a Christmas present, and Ralph is in another big mess. It's always fun to watch it all play out, though the strangest thing is the Kramden apartment, which always looks dreary no matter what time of the year it is. Ralph, at the very least, should have gotten curtains for the kitchen window. That, perhaps, would have been the best present, or how about a new tablecloth for that old fashioned kitchen table?

When you compare the Norton's upstairs apartment, it's like they live in a totally different building?

Nevertheless fun stuff, and such a classic episode it's been broadcast even in the summer! Jackie never was credited, but many times he was a co-writer for some of the episodes, at least an idea man, and it's obvious some of his comedy schtick is present.

One of the great tv episodes, long before they got credit, which was originally telecast Christmas Eve, 1955. SEASON 1 EPISODE 13.

Delightful holiday episode. Naturally gift exchanges don't go smoothly in the Kramden household. Seems poor Ralph's gift for Alice won't do because a friend gives her the same thing first. And since it's supposed to have come from a Japanese palace, Ralph's thunderstruck. So how's he going to get a last minute gift when now he's got no money.

Great combo of comedic script, ensemble acting, and stage direction. No wonder theirs was the kind of character-based comedy that's as funny now as then. And here their character-breaking curtain-call was really apt for X-mas eve. I'm just sorry I wasn't there to join the ovation. And, oh yes, the Napoleon orange squeezer's going on my next year's gift list.