Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden was one of the first veraciously developed blue collar American television characters.
Ralph Kramden was very real. Never before had a TV character hollered, and bellowed the way Ralph and Alice did. When Ralph and Alice quarreled, it made for a very believable fight. Compare this to any "fight" displayed by the Dick Van Dyke Show's Rob and Laura Petrie; and the Kramdens emerge as the more believable, and honest of the two couples. The Honeymooners brought us such intense moments like Ralph fulminating "Your a blabber mouth" at his mother in law, and Ralph and Alice showing their commiseration over giving back their adopted daughter. The latter example was true character development that was lacking in the next decade to come.
It would be nearly 15 years before we would be introduced to the next generation of the blue collar worker, in the form of Archie Bunker and Fred Sanford. Although Archie and Fred had flaws to their personas, Like Ralph Kramden, Archie and Fred would prove to be likable, and sensitive individuals, who grew with each season.
The years that followed the Honeymooners would bring us shows like Father Knows best, and the Donna Reed Show. Unlike the Honeymooners, the aforementioned programs, never seemed to adequately deal with "real" problems, like finances or believable moral dilemmas. Most of the time the problems faced by the Andersons (Father Knows Best), or Stones (Donna Reed) were usually laughable, and lightweight at best, thus providing for poor character development. The Honeymooners did not need to rely on one liners, as they could deliver with character development.
Nearly 50 years after the Honeymooners original run, the show continues to bring laughs to new generations in syndication. Along with the characters of Ralph, Alice, Norton, and Trixie, the humor and story-lines have proved themselves timeless. The Honeymooners will always be funny, and a pleasure to watch. This is something that many shows today will never claim or come close to.
Ralph Kramden was very real. Never before had a TV character hollered, and bellowed the way Ralph and Alice did. When Ralph and Alice quarreled, it made for a very believable fight. Compare this to any "fight" displayed by the Dick Van Dyke Show's Rob and Laura Petrie; and the Kramdens emerge as the more believable, and honest of the two couples. The Honeymooners brought us such intense moments like Ralph fulminating "Your a blabber mouth" at his mother in law, and Ralph and Alice showing their commiseration over giving back their adopted daughter. The latter example was true character development that was lacking in the next decade to come.
It would be nearly 15 years before we would be introduced to the next generation of the blue collar worker, in the form of Archie Bunker and Fred Sanford. Although Archie and Fred had flaws to their personas, Like Ralph Kramden, Archie and Fred would prove to be likable, and sensitive individuals, who grew with each season.
The years that followed the Honeymooners would bring us shows like Father Knows best, and the Donna Reed Show. Unlike the Honeymooners, the aforementioned programs, never seemed to adequately deal with "real" problems, like finances or believable moral dilemmas. Most of the time the problems faced by the Andersons (Father Knows Best), or Stones (Donna Reed) were usually laughable, and lightweight at best, thus providing for poor character development. The Honeymooners did not need to rely on one liners, as they could deliver with character development.
Nearly 50 years after the Honeymooners original run, the show continues to bring laughs to new generations in syndication. Along with the characters of Ralph, Alice, Norton, and Trixie, the humor and story-lines have proved themselves timeless. The Honeymooners will always be funny, and a pleasure to watch. This is something that many shows today will never claim or come close to.