After several weeks' worth of reruns, The Honeymooners closed out its first (and only) weekly season with three first-run episodes, beginning September 8, 1956, with "The Bensonhurst Bomber." While shooting a few balls at the local poolroom, Ralph and Ed manage to incur the wrath of a burly tough guy named Harvey (George Mathews). Ralph tries to avoid fisticuffs, but thanks to Ed's well-meaning "assistance," Harvey challenges Ralph to a fight at Kelsey's Gym. Realizing that he'll get creamed, Ralph works out a scheme whereby he will stage a phony fight in front of Harvey, in order to convince the bigger man that he, Ralph, can take care of himself. To this end, Ed arranges for one of his fellow sewer workers -- who is even more muscular than Harvey -- to "take a dive." Needless to say, things don't quite work out as planned. "The Bensonhurst Bomber" was written by Marvin Marx and Walter Stone.
by Hal Erickson
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