"The Disappearance" finds Chico and Louie wondering where Ed goes in a taxicab night after night, which turns out to be a night club for swinging singles complete with piano, run by Chuck Martin (Frank Campanella). We meet the highly amusing Carole Cook as Flora (returning in "The Hypnotist" and "The Face Job"), single and daring to mingle with a disgruntled Ed, who introduces himself as Ivan the Terrible: "how terrible are ya? Where do you live, Big Ed?" Ed: "In the home for the criminally insane!" Ed has been going there to recall the good times with his late wife Margaret, while this particular night was his wedding anniversary, taking a seat at the piano to sing songs that she loved. Chico is relieved to see The Man enjoy himself, with reservations: "do you think I'd let you stay here tinkling by yourself?" As Ed becomes more popular crooning the old songs, Chico realizes that he's losing an expert mechanic. He and Louie join forces to try to make Ed understand that living in the past won't bring back his beloved Margaret, no matter how many times he sings the old songs: "you were lost back in the past man, and I just thought it was time somebody came along and found you" Ed: "you know something, for a rotten kid, you're a pretty good kid!" Ed's final bow is a touching rendition of "Try to Remember," concluding what may be Jack Albertson's finest episode.
2 Reviews
Mixed Emotions!!
elbertmarti20 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Although I found the beginning of the story funny, with Flora and Ed's first meeting in the bar, and GREAT to hear the song Ed sang to Margaret, I came away with mixed feelings about how the episode unfolded. The premise was that Ed was getting too lost in the past. However, with his new found fame, he was happy. Though it may have seemed that he was neglecting his business, he really wasn't. He encouraged Chico to hire help, because Ed had begun to make better money at the bar playing piano than what the gas pump was bringing in. I understand that the theme of the show was Ed and Chico's relationship, as it revolved around the garage, and the theme needed to stay intact. But I think the ending could have been handled better without having Ed give up something he loved doing, that was actually bringing him out of his shell. Shows like this have FAMOUSLY developed storylines and introduced characters, only to drop them and never allow the viewer to see them or visit the story lines again. (and this show has been no different.) This has sometimes been to the detriment of some shows.
That being said; The most redeemable quality of this episode was the great banter between Flora and Ed on their first meeting! Great comedy! Also, the wonderful performance of Jack Albertson at the piano as he SANG! Although I was born WELL AFTER all those songs were written and popular,(1961) I thought that they were ideally chosen and wonderfully performed! Therein lies my dilemma!
That being said; The most redeemable quality of this episode was the great banter between Flora and Ed on their first meeting! Great comedy! Also, the wonderful performance of Jack Albertson at the piano as he SANG! Although I was born WELL AFTER all those songs were written and popular,(1961) I thought that they were ideally chosen and wonderfully performed! Therein lies my dilemma!
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