Any number of actors could have done a great job with this bit. But Christopher Lloyd takes it to a completely higher level. Notice his look of befuddlement at 3:#6, as Jim is still clueless to what he’s selling. Brillance!
Any number of actors could have done a great job with this bit. But Christopher Lloyd takes it to a completely higher level. Notice his look of befuddlement at 3:26, as Jim is still clueless to what he’s selling. Brillance!
Watching this again made it 10x funnier, because now I know there’s nothing but an encyclopedia in that suitcase while he’s talking about a carpet cleaner and deliberately ruining the lady’s carpet! LOL
@cburga Jeff Conaway’s character? That’s your opinion but you’re missing the point of the character. If her were such a great ‘actor’ then why the hell is he working as a cabbie? IOW, he’s supposed to be a ‘bad’ actor, or even someone who says, “I’m an actor” despite the fact that they’ve got no talent, no acting jobs, and work full-time as a cabbie (for ex.). In reality there are thousands of REAL people like this…. and most will remind you that they are actors just like Conaway’s char.
@AEWHistory Yeah, maybe, but it would have been funnier if he could have convincingly plaid a guy who was a bad actor, like Matt LeBlanc’s Joey Tribbiani. This was a funny guy playing a bad actor, not a bad actor playing a bad actor.
Just my opinion. I could also be the staginess of the show, like so many shows of this time period, makes it hard to emote convincingly while shouting loud enough for the back row to hear you.
@cburga I definitely agree that the character wasn’t terribly funny, I’m with you there. I’m just not sure that Conaway’s at fault. I don’t mean to imply that he’s Olivier, but he’s a decent actor and it always seemed as though the writers/directors wanted that character played that way. It might be why his character was gone after something like two seasons–I don’t know…
@cburga Oh, and you made a really good point about the staging issues as well. Actually, are any shows shot with live audiences any longer? I’m totally ignorant on the subject.
@AEWHistory Apparently, some still are. I was surprised to discover that “Two and a Half Men” is done live, and I assume “The Big Bang Theory” must be as well. I’m sure improvements in sound and cameras have made the look of sit-coms less stagey. Some of the better ones, like “The Office” or “Malcolm in the Middle” do not use an audience, or a laugh track. I appreciate the producers letting me decide when to laugh for myself.
Any number of actors could have done a great job with this bit. But Christopher Lloyd takes it to a completely higher level. Notice his look of befuddlement at 3:#6, as Jim is still clueless to what he’s selling. Brillance!
Any number of actors could have done a great job with this bit. But Christopher Lloyd takes it to a completely higher level. Notice his look of befuddlement at 3:26, as Jim is still clueless to what he’s selling. Brillance!
Watching this again made it 10x funnier, because now I know there’s nothing but an encyclopedia in that suitcase while he’s talking about a carpet cleaner and deliberately ruining the lady’s carpet! LOL
Oh my gosh, this brings back memories! I used to sell encyclopedias.
encyclopediasalesman.blogspot.com
Was that a joint that landed on the floor when Jim spilled the dirt??
“I’m selling encyclopedias”
XD
One of the funniest scenes in T.V. history!
@cburga Jeff Conaway’s character? That’s your opinion but you’re missing the point of the character. If her were such a great ‘actor’ then why the hell is he working as a cabbie? IOW, he’s supposed to be a ‘bad’ actor, or even someone who says, “I’m an actor” despite the fact that they’ve got no talent, no acting jobs, and work full-time as a cabbie (for ex.). In reality there are thousands of REAL people like this…. and most will remind you that they are actors just like Conaway’s char.
@AEWHistory Yeah, maybe, but it would have been funnier if he could have convincingly plaid a guy who was a bad actor, like Matt LeBlanc’s Joey Tribbiani. This was a funny guy playing a bad actor, not a bad actor playing a bad actor.
Just my opinion. I could also be the staginess of the show, like so many shows of this time period, makes it hard to emote convincingly while shouting loud enough for the back row to hear you.
@cburga I definitely agree that the character wasn’t terribly funny, I’m with you there. I’m just not sure that Conaway’s at fault. I don’t mean to imply that he’s Olivier, but he’s a decent actor and it always seemed as though the writers/directors wanted that character played that way. It might be why his character was gone after something like two seasons–I don’t know…
@cburga Oh, and you made a really good point about the staging issues as well. Actually, are any shows shot with live audiences any longer? I’m totally ignorant on the subject.
@AEWHistory Apparently, some still are. I was surprised to discover that “Two and a Half Men” is done live, and I assume “The Big Bang Theory” must be as well. I’m sure improvements in sound and cameras have made the look of sit-coms less stagey. Some of the better ones, like “The Office” or “Malcolm in the Middle” do not use an audience, or a laugh track. I appreciate the producers letting me decide when to laugh for myself.
I watched Taxi weekly, but somehow missed this episode. This is hilarious! I miss this much fun in a show! No one can beat Jim for laughs. Thank you!
is that doc brown
@joshgearey It sure is. It’s also the Klingon that killed Kirk’s son.
one day people will not know what an encyclopedia is or that it was sold door to door. but it will still be funny.
Watching this for my Marketing exam
this takes me back they don’t make great t.v. like this anymore
@sirfrancisalbert totally agree 10 million thumbs up
“Where do I plug this in?” I fell out of my chair the first time I saw this!
im your name here. you can call me nickname.
genius.
@busheytube Have you ever seen the episode where he asks, “What does a yellow light mean”? It’s absolutely hysterical!
ROFLMAO More than something else hahaha!
The most funny thing out of this is that there probably is some dumbass salesman out there who WOULD do such a thing!