This entertaining episode has a proud Archie being challenged to a game of pool by his neighbor Irene Lorenzo(Betty Garrett), after he boasts that men are better than women at sports. Not so fast, says Frank Lorenzo, played wonderfully by Vincent Gardenia, as he informs Archie that his wife was once a pool champion and can beat him. When Archie basically complains to Frank that Irene should act more like a woman, Frank gets insulted and puts the Italian "mal'occhio"(evil eye)on Archie. After he's finally convinced that Irene's the real deal at pool, Archie quickly gets a back injury, and blames it on Frank's curse, which is met with skepticism by all except Edith. Watch for the 2nd appearance of Sherman Hemsley as George Jefferson in a minor role, and Bob Hastings as Tommy Kelsey. This isn't the funniest episode in the stable, but it's still a solid entry, and the conversations between Archie and Frank are very funny. You'll have to watch it yourself to see how it ends, but I think it's worth the wait.
2 Reviews
Archie vs. Irene
vitoscotti4 January 2022
Terrific comedy throughout. Everybody piles on Archie. All of a sudden Kelsey's has a poolroom? Vincent Gardenia, Betty Garrett, and Carroll O'Connor click magically together.
Best scene is Frank outwitting dimwit Archie with the dollar bill.
Best scene is Frank outwitting dimwit Archie with the dollar bill.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews