In this episode we are given insight into a major ongoing crisis of the time. The 1973 oil crisis was about to climax when this episode aired on February 15, 1974. When Egypt and Syria attacked Israel to begin the Yom Kippur War, America takes sides with Israel and supplies them with armament and a Senate-requested billions of dollars. As a result, Arab oil-producing states issued an embargo with the United States. The price of a gallon of oil would reach nearly $12 a barrel (from around $3 per barrel prior to the embargo crisis) by the time of the embargo was lifted in March 1974. Americans were hit with government- mandated gas rationing and energy conservation.
Because of the ongoing 1973 oil crisis, more and more people are riding the bus. As a result, more and more people are losing things, leading to a major pileup at the lost and found department. Stanley's (Dom DeLuise) boss decides to hire an assistant for him for four weeks and when Stanley hears of the salary, he suggests his brother-in-law Arthur (Wynn Irwin). With $560, Stanley reasons that Arthur can buy the family a new color television set. At work, Arthur's lazy traits are ever-apparent. Stanley (to Arthur): "One thing I have to say about you, you're very patriotic. You're the only person in America who is using no energy." Arthur is issued a uniform that drastically cleans up his appearance, and Stanley's boss begins to prefer Arthur, a fellow Navy storekeeper. Arthur breaks a number of things in the storeroom and sets off the sprinkler, giving Stanley a cold. He is forced to stay home from work and his mom makes him give his office keys to Arthur. Stanley: "That's like giving an Arab a key to your gas tank." Arthur is now running the lost and found by himself with surprising efficiency. Stanley returns and is not able to find anything with Arthur's new system. There's clearly not room enough for the both of them and the boss steps in to chose which one. What would it look like if Stanley and Arthur switched places? Who will be the last man standing? This is one of the funniest episodes of the series, an engaging plot, and the added benefit of insight into a chapter of history.