TV Guide (September 25, 1953)

lated by the Lucys, the Berles and the other chosen ones. Says Ray, per¬ haps a little too pessimistically, “I’d guess that only one person out of 80 likes us.” The guess seems to be a bad one. Bob and Ray don’t have a tremendous following, but it is a decidedly loyal one and certainly not as sparse as Ray indicates. Most of the critics praise the boys. The trade itself considers them far more clever than most of the comics working the TV cir¬ cuit. Their fans can quote them end¬ lessly. At first NBC was thoroughly sold Bob in earphones on the pair, des- imitates Godfrey, pite the fact that prospective spon¬ sors stayed away in droves. Relations between the boys and the network “steadily worsened,” as they say in the trade, and recently they signed a contract with ABC. Bob (he’s the shorter one) and Ray seem to derive most relish from kid¬ ding radio and television, their bread and butter. Cigaret commercials are among their pet targets. One memor¬ able spoof was the “Forbush Frank¬ furter Test” in which four franks were disrobed of their casings to prove which was rounder, firmer, etc. Not only was “Forbush” a clear winner, but the makers of “Forbush Franks” debunked other frankfurter claims: Bob (holding up a frankfurter): Frankfurter A claims to relieve gout, embolism, near-sightedness, itchiness and fleebus. Ray: The makers of Frankfurter B claim it is kinder to the F zone— F for frank, F for furter. Yet 339 out of 340 physicians have testified there is no such zone. Bob: “Forbush Frankfurters” claim nothing. Positive proof that “Forbush Frankfurters” are the best made. For over a year Bob and Ray pounded away at cigaret comparison tests. Sample: Interviewer (Bob): I see, sir, you are knocking a chip off the old block. Ray (in carpenter’s garb): That is correct. Bob: Tell me, sir, have you ever seen me before or have you received any remuneration for this interview? Ray: I have never seen you before nor have I received any remunera¬ tion for this interview. Bob: Which chip off the old block would you like to knock off first— ours or yours? Ray: I’ll try yours first. (He pro¬ ceeds to knock a chip off the block.) Bob: Now, will you try our block, sir. (Ray complies.) Now, sir, you have knocked an old chip off your block and off our block. Which do you prefer? Ray (enthusiastically): Oh, yours. Your chip fiew more gracefully. And its milder—much milder. The boys have run the gcimut of soap operas, so that practically no soap is safe from their ribbing. Some of the Elliott-Goulding epics have unmistakable counterparts — Mary Backstcuyqe, Noble Wife: Hartford Harry, Linda Lovely, Helen Hark- ness, Sob Sister, and Mr. Trace, Keen¬ er Than Most Persons. Although the sponsors of the show were none too happy, the cast of “Mary Noble, Back- stage Wife,” never failed to tune in the Bob and Ray parody of their show. The boys saw to it that even the plot lines were strik¬ ingly alike. Bob and Ray’s take-offs on over¬ stocked sales, spe¬ cial offers and kits for all purposes, have drawn a shocking numbet of serious replies. Lis- | teners have written I to “I Want to Keep j Up With the Jones¬ es,” NBC, New Ray in fright wig York, to obtain a as dissolute heir, phony TV set equipped with antenna “to show off to your neighbors.” They have taken the boys up on offers of cracked phonograph records (“they were dropped just a few iTiches off the de¬ livery truck.”), sweaters with the let¬ ter “O” on them (“if your name doesn’t begin with “O” we can have it 16