Description: Season 3, Episode 13
Air Date: December 15, 1961
Plot Summary: A bumbling idiot from 1890 accidentally time travels to 1960 as antics ensue.
Review: We've come so far, but, believe it or not, we've only hit the halfway mark. And how apropos that this crossroad would be met with one of TZ's most unique episodes. Instead of the typical formula, the episode is presented in silent era style--you know, with the dialogue cards and cornball, old-timey piano. This is further complemented by silent era legend, Buster Keaton, who serves as the main character, Mulligan. Now, this isn't to say the entire episode uses this presentation; since the story focuses on time travel we get an amusing contrast between 1890 life and that of 1960. This is another facet that enhances the episode--the comedy styling of Mr. Keaton is heavily on display. I'm aware a lot of these things are way, way before any of our time, but there's a lot going on to enjoy with this standout episode.
The story begins with Mulligan whining about the state of living in 1890. Oh nooes! 17 cents for sirloin and those pesky bikes and horses riding around everywhere! It must have been rough; the censored cursing was a great touch though. Actually, anything pre-1970s was pretty much a nightmare in various regards. Still, I wouldn't mind time traveling back to whenever as long as I got to pig out. Nowaday should be a glorified paradise given the technology and information at our fingertips yet somehow we've created hell on earth! Go figure. Anyway, we see how much of a goofball Mulligan is as he falls in a trough, feebly attempts to rinse his clothes off, runs around in his underwear, and purports to be the janitor for scientists who have invented a time machine. In dumbass fashion, Mulligan uses the time machine, which looks like a shitty bike helmet, and travels forward to 1960. Immediately overwhelmed by the cars, obnoxious individuals, and high prices, Mulligan loses the helmet. Apparently you only have 30 minutes in whatever time you travel to. I'm not sure how this works; I'm assuming some kind of temporal opening in space time, but, needless to say, this is severely glossed over.
Looking like a child molester, Mulligan runs around town in his underwear chasing a little kid who stole the helmet until he conveniently comes across a "modern" scientist. Quickly convincing the scientist of his authenticity, Mulligan is taken to some kind of electrician or repairman. The banter between the scientist and the repairman is pretty funny. Mulligan is like a restless child as the other two men try to fix the time machine; it was especially amusing when Mulligan starts talking to the TV. Eventually they fix the time machine and the scientist tries to steal it for himself as he's fascinated by the 1890 time period. Mulligan luckily gets transported back to 1890 with the scientist who quickly realizes this era lacks the conveniences of the '60s. Of course the best thing he missed were the bikinis! That is a tough sacrifice without a doubt. Growing tired of the whining, and with a new outlook on his life, Mulligan sends the scientist back to the '60s as the episode ends. On the bright side, at least back in the '60s you still have good food and will soon come across Linda Harrison's sweet, sweet, SWEET ass! Overall, this is a really cool episode. Maybe not top 10 worthy, but it's original and genuinely funny. There are certainly many aspects to appreciate and much to enjoy one way or another.
I, believe it or not, have sometimes had desires to go back to the turn of the 20th century or around the 1910s or whenever just to sample the much higher simplicities and blissful ignorance of an era before the world got more complicated and run over with the modern stresses and corruptions. It was an age of more class, men always wearing suits and women in those classy floorlength dresses and hats. The music of the era was interesting and people carried a level of pride and morals unknown today. And people trusted each other a lot more since today you understandably can't trust anyone anymore. However, the other side of me realizes the tougher expectations from people to uphold those morals and live a more orderly life. You couldn't see hot women in low cut tops and short shorts, and most women saved sex til marriage. There wasn't the convienences and technology of today, no tv, videos, dvds, Netflix, smartphones would be tough to get used to. No refrigeration and food was hard to keep fresh, my grandmother told me as a child, her mother would take not quite fresh meat and still eat it by boiling it real good. Doctors and medicine were a lot more primitive and diseases like smallpox and polio were still common. People were also more racist back then and the Jim Crow laws were still shamelessly out in the open. So it may seem like there are two different people here talking, but I just have two sides of my mind, one which is desiring the old fashioned world, and one being glad that I'm living in the modern world.
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