In case you might have missed Nick-At-Nite’s “Odd Couple On Ice” Marathon this past summer, here’s the transcript from the June 3, 1997 America Online Chat with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall!



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NickEmcee: Thanks for joining Nick at Nite Online tonight!
NickEmcee: Jack Klugman & Tony Randall!
NickEmcee: Don’t forget to watch The Odd Couple…
NickEmcee: On ice marathon on Nick at Nite all week long!
OnlineHost: To send your question to the speaker, click on the Interact icon, then use the Ask a Question option.
OnlineHost: Copyright 1997 Nickelodeon; licensed to America Online, Inc.
JACKLUGMAN: I’m excited about everyone still caring about THE ODD COUPLE. And I appreciate it.
Tony Rndll: Hello to the intelligencing world!!!
Tony Rndll: Let us hope your questions are intelligent!
Question: Jack and Tony: What is your favorite job —a part in the movies….or live on stage
Question: (theatre)?
JACKLUGMAN: Live onstage is very much more enjoyable.
JACKLUGMAN: I love to play with the audience for immediate reaction.
JACKLUGMAN: That’s why I loved doing THE ODD COUPLE. We had a live audience there.
JACKLUGMAN: It was just like doing a play.
Tony Rndll: My answer is.. the latter… and, Hello Jack!
JACKLUGMAN: Hi Tony!
Question: what will my son do this summer?
JACKLUGMAN: Get a job!
JACKLUGMAN: Get out of the house and get a job!
JACKLUGMAN: We did one a couple of years ago. And it’s going to be shown again this summer.
Question: Guys, when you started the Odd Couple did you find it hard to follow Walter Matheau and
Question: Jack Lemmon? Jack SWM
JACKLUGMAN: The reason people didn’t see it is because it was on opposite the first time Mrs. Bobbitt
JACKLUGMAN: was on “The Barbara Walters Show” talking about how she cut off his…
JACKLUGMAN: you know what. 😉
Tony Rndll: No problem for me.
JACKLUGMAN: Now you should watch it!
JACKLUGMAN: No, I replaced Walter Mattheau in New York on the stage.
JACKLUGMAN: So, I knew all about THE ODD COUPLE.
Question: How Long have both of you been friends?
JACKLUGMAN: I’
JACKLUGMAN: I’ve known Tony since 1956….
JACKLUGMAN: but we started to become friends in 1970.
JACKLUGMAN: And we’re better friends now than we were then.
Tony Rndll: These questions are so trivial… It’s hard to summon a yawn.. we’ve been friends
Tony Rndll: for a LONG time!
Question: Tony Randall, I loved you in those DorisDay/Rock Hudson movies, any good stories from
Question: those films?
Tony Rndll: No.
Question: Who was your favorite guest star?
JACKLUGMAN: Oh, we had so many…
JACKLUGMAN: My favorite was Howard Cossell.
JACKLUGMAN: And we became very good friends.
JACKLUGMAN: Edward Villvla…
JACKLUGMAN: I’m not sure if that’s the correct spelling but…
JACKLUGMAN: he was a great dancer.
JACKLUGMAN: And Monty Hall. Betty White.
JACKLUGMAN: I have too many favorites.
Tony Rndll: These questions are insulting in their banality and boredom… if they don’t have
Tony Rndll: better questions…
Tony Rndll: Maybe they should be watching Star Trek.
[ Top | Middle | Bottom ] Question: Tony, anything you would like to talk about? We would love to hear from you! : )
Tony Rndll: I would like to talk about…
Tony Rndll: the need for a Government subsidy for the arts…
Tony Rndll: I started the National Actor’s theatre…
Tony Rndll: because of the absence of such a thing in the country…
Tony Rndll: In every other country, the intellelectual centerpiece of the country is the theatre…
Tony Rndll: such as in France…
Tony Rndll: If people only understood both the practical and educational value of the arts…
Tony Rndll: They wouldn’t argue about the nationalization of the arts…
Question: Jack, will there be a Quincy reunion?
JACKLUGMAN: I would love to do one.
JACKLUGMAN: But as popular as it is all over the world…
JACKLUGMAN: Universal doesn’t seem interested.
JACKLUGMAN: There are so many stories about injustices that I would like to do.
JACKLUGMAN: Especially about the harmfulness of smoking tobacco.
JACKLUGMAN: There are so many episodes of QUINCY that I am proud of.
JACKLUGMAN: The show on orphan drugs had legislation passed.
JACKLUGMAN: …After I appeared in front of a congressional committee.
JACKLUGMAN: So, that made me very proud.
Question: how did you both really get along? was it fun doing the odd couple together ?
Tony Rndll: Fine.
JACKLUGMAN: It was truly a labor of love.
JACKLUGMAN: We worked hard but we created a great deal and laughed a lot.
JACKLUGMAN: We were fortunate to have three of the best comedy writers in the…
JACKLUGMAN: business.
JACKLUGMAN: Garry Marshall, Jerry Belson, and Harvey Miller.
Question: Jack do you enjoy horseracing,in real life,as in the show?
JACKLUGMAN: Two hours ago I got home from the race track.
JACKLUGMAN: 4 o’ clock, I got home from the race track.
JACKLUGMAN: I LOVE IT!!!
JACKLUGMAN: I have a couple of two-year olds and a yearling.
JACKLUGMAN: … that I hope will win the Kentucky Derby.
JACKLUGMAN: Because I am not going to die until I win it.
Question: Tony how is the new baby?
Tony Rndll: Fine!!!
JACKLUGMAN: She is beautiful.
JACKLUGMAN: Julia Laurette Randall.
Tony Rndll: The insipidity of these questions is mind boggling!
JACKLUGMAN: She’s georgous!
Tony Rndll: I agree with Jack!
Question: Jack…loved you in the twilight zone episodes, how was it doing those?
JACKLUGMAN: I knew he would agree. ;p)
JACKLUGMAN: Oh, it was a class act!
JACKLUGMAN: Rod Serling was joy to work for.
JACKLUGMAN: …and with.
JACKLUGMAN: Nobody has done more TWILIGHT ZONEs than I.
JACKLUGMAN: Burgess Meredith and I did four a piece. That’s the most.
OnlineHost: To send your question to the speaker, click on the Interact icon, then use the Ask a Question option.
JACKLUGMAN: My favorite was the one with Jonathan Winters.
JACKLUGMAN: A game of pool.
Question: If you were on an island w/ only 3 foods what would you take?
JACKLUGMAN: Pasta, Ice Cream…
JACKLUGMAN: and…
JACKLUGMAN: Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews.
Question: I found a copy of The Odd Couple Sings…is it worth the $2.00 I paid for it? “You’re So
Question: Vain” is wonderful!! Any plans for another album??
JACKLUGMAN: Tony, you didn’t answer the food question.
JACKLUGMAN: They bought that?!??
Tony Rndll: The food would be breakfast! Orange juice, eggs, sausages (and coffee).
JACKLUGMAN: People wouldn’t even take it for nothing!
JACKLUGMAN: But it’s becoming a collector’s item.
JACKLUGMAN: Because nobody believes that a person with a voice like a loud snore…
JACKLUGMAN: could make an album.
Tony Rndll: Goldenbergs! You must live near a vending machine and a lifetime supply of nickels.
Tony Rndll: And it helps to be from Philadelphia!
Tony Rndll: Which is where Jack is from!
JACKLUGMAN: Nickels?!? The only thing you get for a nickel is a penny!
JACKLUGMAN: Right. You’re right there.
Tony Rndll: He he he!
[ Top | Middle | Bottom ] Question: What do you guys think about the salaries being paid to movie stars today?
JACKLUGMAN: Well… god bless them.
JACKLUGMAN: But, Tony do you realize that the people on SEINFELD will make more…
JACKLUGMAN: in one show than we made in FIVE years.
JACKLUGMAN: And, they deserve whatever they can get.
Tony Rndll: They are not out of line… you must never for a moment confuse what they are
Tony Rndll: doing as anything more than commerce…
Tony Rndll: this is the business… whoever can get the most… deserves it!
JACKLUGMAN: Absolutely!
Question: Mr. Klugman did you like being dirty and messy and a slob on Odd Couple??? or did you
Question: want to be more like felix
JACKLUGMAN: Boy, don’t let Tony hear that question.
JACKLUGMAN: I am messy, not dirty. Just messy.
JACKLUGMAN: If you could see my apartment now…
JACKLUGMAN: you would know why I was so good at playing Oscar.
Tony Rndll: Uh huh!
Question: Did you ever think that “The Odd Couple” would have such a following when you filmed the
Question: first few episodes?
Tony Rndll: No, I didn’t, but Jack did!
Tony Rndll: We never had a good rating while we were on…
Tony Rndll: Jack said that we would come back to win in reruns…
JACKLUGMAN: I knew that with experience that Tony and I had…
Tony Rndll: and he was 100% right!
JACKLUGMAN: plus our three brilliant writers.
JACKLUGMAN: And how hard we worked every single night…
JACKLUGMAN: I knew that it had to be a good show.
JACKLUGMAN: And especially when I heard that live audience laugh so hard.
Question: Do you watch the reruns??? (on Nick at Night)
Tony Rndll: Yes, I do!
Tony Rndll: … but with considerable pain..
JACKLUGMAN: If I remember, not often really.
Tony Rndll: because they are so wildly successful…
Tony Rndll: and so widely watched…
Tony Rndll: and we’re not receiving a penny.
JACKLUGMAN: I didn’t appreciate my voice until I hear it now.
Tony Rndll: Jack: What do you think of my answer?
JACKLUGMAN: LOL!!! (To Tony)
Question: What kind of input, if any, did Neil Simon have on the television series?
JACKLUGMAN: NONE! He never liked the series until it brought his daughter some…
JACKLUGMAN: recognition.
JACKLUGMAN: While she was in school her friends would see it and tell her the next day…
JACKLUGMAN: how much they liked it.
JACKLUGMAN: But he never cared for it.
JACKLUGMAN: I don’t know why… he thought… “how many clean and dirty jokes are there?”
JACKLUGMAN: He underestimated Tony and me.
Tony Rndll: Jack said it all.
Question: Tony have you met with Newt Gingrich about any NEA funding?
Tony Rndll: No.
Question: Are you surprised at the staying power the show has had over the years? (Even though
Question: comedic styles have changed so much, the Odd Couple remains one of the funniest shows ever….)
JACKLUGMAN: I am pleased and delighted that it lasted this long.
JACKLUGMAN: But we only dealt with classic comedy situations.
JACKLUGMAN: We didn’t take advantage of the new freedoms such as showing your butt…
JACKLUGMAN: or doing an entire show about titilating sex.
JACKLUGMAN: Which was allowed when we started. We were interested only..
JACKLUGMAN: in classical comic situations.
Tony Rndll: Yes… I’m surprised at the success.
Question: Do you feel modern comics go too far?
JACKLUGMAN: I don’t know too far with what?
JACKLUGMAN: I like Paul Reiser.
JACKLUGMAN: I love Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt.
JACKLUGMAN: I think they’re both real and funny.
JACKLUGMAN: That’s my favorite.
Tony Rndll: Um….
Tony Rndll: That’s an interesting question…
Tony Rndll: It’s a question of pride.
Tony Rndll: Any real comic will not take the easy route of “dropping their pants”
JACKLUGMAN: He’s right.
Tony Rndll: Usually it was the lesser comics that did the dirty stuff.
JACKLUGMAN: Not today.
Question: How do you feel about The Odd Couple on Ice Marathon? Do you like the skating big
Question: heads???
JACKLUGMAN: Just to finish the last answer…
JACKLUGMAN: What is dirty? Language? Physicality?
JACKLUGMAN: Everything seems to go today.
JACKLUGMAN: You don’t have to choose the right words anymore.
JACKLUGMAN: Now to answer the next question…
JACKLUGMAN: I don’t know what it’s about!
JACKLUGMAN: I don’t know what the concept means.
JACKLUGMAN: But I would like to have OSCAR’s head for my apartment.
Tony Rndll: I think the heads are awfully clever… I’m not qualified to judge the skating, though.
JACKLUGMAN: What is the symbolism?
JACKLUGMAN: What does the ice have to do with “The Odd Couple”?
Tony Rndll: They explained it to me…
Tony Rndll: But it’s beyond my intellectual capacity!
JACKLUGMAN: They explained it to you?! Explain it to me.
Tony Rndll: It’s impossible.
JACKLUGMAN: Oh, okay. LOL!!!
[ Top | Middle | Bottom ] Question: Lenny Bruce did dirty stuff. Would you consider him a lesser comic?
JACKLUGMAN: NO! He did not do dirty stuff.
JACKLUGMAN: His language was not for sensationlism.
JACKLUGMAN: It was to explain the hypocracy that existed at that time.
JACKLUGMAN: It was not arbitrary.
JACKLUGMAN: What he was trying to explain could not be made clear with the use…
JACKLUGMAN: of any other words.
JACKLUGMAN: Where as today…
JACKLUGMAN: the words are used just to get a reaction.
Tony Rndll: Lenny Bruce was a different case… he was a agent provacateur.. he was deliberately
Tony Rndll: he was challenging the establishment!
Tony Rndll: This was a deliberate use of the most offensive matter he could produce…
Tony Rndll: in order to provoke a response.
Question: If you could have one wish what would it be?
JACKLUGMAN: That my grandchild will be born healthy…
JACKLUGMAN: I’ve been waiting for 5 days.
Tony Rndll: That people would stop killing each other.
Question: If you guys really met on jury duty, then how come the opening statement says “He
Question: appeared at the home of his childhood friend Oscar Madison”?
JACKLUGMAN: Unfortunately we have about four or five shows…t
JACKLUGMAN: that show us meeting in different situations.
JACKLUGMAN: Once he was a dentist in the gangster… or accountant…
JACKLUGMAN: they met in the army.
JACKLUGMAN: We were not true to that.
JACKLUGMAN: It wasn’t a joke.
JACKLUGMAN: If it was convenient to find a way for them to meet, we did it.
Tony Rndll: Foolish consistency is the hob-goblin of little minds.
JACKLUGMAN: LOL!
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Question: What were some of the funny moments that never made the final cut?
JACKLUGMAN: Oh…
JACKLUGMAN: most of them made the final cut because we didn’t do anything really…
JACKLUGMAN: off-color.
JACKLUGMAN: But there were certain lines that made me laugh…
JACKLUGMAN: so they would be — the camera — would be on somebody else..
JACKLUGMAN: because I couldn’t stop laughing.
JACKLUGMAN: But we didn’t derive any pleasure from doing off-color stuff.
JACKLUGMAN: And that’s whether we were on camera or off.
JACKLUGMAN: We took it very seriously.
Tony Rndll: Whenever Jack would blow a line, I would say…
Tony Rndll: “You stupid S–t”
Tony Rndll: We had a whole reel of those outtakes….
Tony Rndll: we played it at xmas parties, but no one has ever seen it but us!
JACKLUGMAN: Yeah.
Question: It was brave of Tony to do “Love Sydney” back then. Any comments on the recent “Ellen”
Question: outing?
JACKLUGMAN: I don’t know why it was such a big deal…
JACKLUGMAN: everybody should be allowed to be what they are.
JACKLUGMAN: There should be no closets anywhere.
JACKLUGMAN: They should be banished.
Tony Rndll: It was a triumph of hype…
Tony Rndll: to think that they got Time magazine and the New York Times…
Tony Rndll: It makes one question…
Tony Rndll: the daring of doing it…
Tony Rndll: we simply DID it on “Love Sydney.”
JACKLUGMAN: LOVE SYDNEY was not appreciated for both it’s humor and it’s
JACKLUGMAN: innovativeness.
Question: What was your favorite episode of The Odd Couple?
JACKLUGMAN: I have a lot of favorites…
JACKLUGMAN: fortunately…
JACKLUGMAN: But my favorite is PASSWORD.
JACKLUGMAN: And strangely enough because Tony was EXCEPTIONALLY BRILLIANT on that…s
JACKLUGMAN: show.
JACKLUGMAN: Everybody knows that Lincoln loved mayonnaise.
Tony Rndll: I like all of the shows where Jack and I were just together…
Tony Rndll: that was the joy of acting and the joy of friendship…
Tony Rndll: the pleasure of working with that wonderful man…
Tony Rndll: has never been repeated in my life.
JACKLUGMAN: Ditto.
Question: All good things must come to an end : ( Any closing comments from Jack & Tony?
Tony Rndll: I’m very happy with the Ginn Game… the current production of the Actor’s Theatre…
JACKLUGMAN: (it’s a wonderful wonderful show)
JACKLUGMAN: (and Julie Harris should’ve gotten the Tony)
Tony Rndll: Thank you Jack.
JACKLUGMAN: You’re welcome.
JACKLUGMAN: Give Julia and Heather BIG BIG KISSES from Peggy and me.
Tony Rndll: We’re sending them RIGHT BACK!
JACKLUGMAN: I’m glad that THE ODD COUPLE shows fell into the hands of Nick at Nite.
JACKLUGMAN: They really have brought it back to life.
JACKLUGMAN: Thank you Nick at Nite.
NickEmcee: Thanks for joining us tonight!!!!!
NickEmcee: Don’t forget to watch The Odd Couple…On ice marathon on Nick at Nite all week long!
OnlineHost: Copyright 1997 Nick at Nite; licensed to America Online, Inc.

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Chat transcript is copyright © 1997 Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite; and licensed to America Online, Inc.