Mr. Ed Season 1 Episode 1 "Pilot"

In the early days of T.V., viewers had a much larger suspension of disbelief than we do today. Probably, because the concept of T.V. in and of itself was so mind blowing. “Identical cousins? I’ll buy it.” “An alien for a roommate? Sure.” “A woman running a news show?! No fucking way! Ahh what the hell, why not.” “A wife who is a witch?”--all right, well maybe some weren’t that much of a stretch. One of the most outrageous concepts for a show was Mr. Ed. An architect owns a horse, outrageous to begin with, that can talk. What a dream to be a T.V. writer back in those days. If it were the early sixties I’m sure I would be a show runner by now after pitching Lazy Boy, a man develops a comfortable relationship with his talking recliner. Now let us dive into the show that is undoubtedly playing on a closed circuit loop in every nursing home in America.

                                                        We could have been stars, La-Z-Boy.

0:00- Hot damn this theme is catchy. Remember T.V. theme songs, kids? Just Saved By the Bell and Fresh Prince, well, at least you got two.

0:40- Whoa, did they get that set from Ed Wood’s dumpster?

2:00- I’m getting a real swinger vibe from this neighbor. Be careful, Wilbur, I don’t think this guy is down with the tenth commandment.

3:49- Nice rake gag, Side Show Bob.

4:40- Yep, this neighbor is a total swinger.

4:58- A horse was left by the previous owner?! No way that realtor is getting his full commission.

7:28- Damn, that horse has cerebral palsy.

8:47- It was a good try faking the injury, horse. But wifey is going to get Sarah McLaughlin on the phone… if your lucky. Oh wait, it’s 1960, that means she’s going to call Elmer’s or Purina.

9:58- Jesus! This neighbor is really into watching.

10:20- The neighbor is having some friends over tomorrow, eh. (wink)

11:04- The horse finally speaks! We are almost half way through the pilot, talk about burying the lead.

13:02- The rake hitting him in the head is why he thinks the horse can talk? If that were the test today to see if a guy has a concussion Troy Aikman would have died on the field in 2002.

13:32- “Come with me. You’ll hear it straight from the horses mouth!” Wow. I bet the entire series was created around that line.

14:19- Wilbur and the horse singing a duet. Now that’s an idea for the vaudeville circuit, lady. Yeah, that’s it. They will play all the big stages. I can see it now. Heck, they could take that act all the way to Carnegie Hall, see. Yeah, that’ll work just fine.

14:35- The horse only talks to Wilbur. I’m beginning to think Wilbur has a chemical imbalance.

17:27- Wilbur is the only one the horse liked enough to talk to? This horse is kind of a pretentious dick.

17:48- Yep, this horse is a total dick.

18:00- Mr. Ed acts like he is Wilbur’s shitty, bossy girlfriend.

19:05- Damn, Wilbur. You are too crazy for the neighbor’s swinger party.

19:31- Tape recorder isn’t a bad idea, Wilbur. One question, how are people going to know it’s the horse talking? It’s a shame, really. Today, Wilbur and Mr. Ed would be Youtube stars.

20:48- Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaank you, Mr. Ed. Nice to know I’m not the only one to notice Wilbur’s plan was terrible. Oh no. Now I’m talking to the horse. Quick! Where are my smelling salts?!

23:48- $2,000, no one thinks he is actually crazy, and he gets to go to the swinger party?! Man, everything is coming up Wilbur.

24:52- Ahhh, nice little episode wrap up. Everything worked out and now we are just killing time because there weren’t as many commercials in 1960 and-- damn, Mr. Ed is a dick.