General Question

JackAdams's avatar

Wouldn't the confusion have been instantly ended, if Lou Costello had asked Bud Abbott to spell the first baseman's last name?

Asked by JackAdams (6574points) August 21st, 2008

Costello could have said, “Hey Abbott, how do you spell the first baseman’s last name?” Abbot would have replied, “W-H-O” and Costello would have said, “Oh! So his last name is WHO! I get it!” (This could have been saved until the very end, so the comedy wouldn’t be ruined. It might have helped give the routine some kind of “closure.”)

After all, the routine did end with Costello describing a series of plays, correctly naming all of the members of the team, didn’t he?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

10 Answers

Mr_M's avatar

Closure WOULD have killed the routine. It was funny because the entire thing transpired and STILL Lou didn’t understand while the audience (at least MOST people) DID!

cwilbur's avatar

The confusion would have ended, yes; but since Abbott and Costello were comedians, and the confusion was funny, that would have defeated the purpose.

baseballnut's avatar

JackAdams – this is one of the more interesting/unusual questions I’ve seen!

JackAdams's avatar

Thanks! The questions can’t all be serious, you know…

We need a bit of levity once in awhile, I believe.

baseballnut's avatar

in between ordering rattlesnake on line, huh?

JackAdams's avatar

Exactamente!

Remember the old saying that goes, “All work and no play, gathers no moss.”

JackAdams's avatar

Oops!

I mean, “A rolling stone makes Jack a dull boy.”

baseballnut's avatar

My favorite is “Always carry a litter bag in your car. When it gets full, you can just throw it out the window”

Mr_M's avatar

(Throw it out the window? And to think, all this time I’ve been donating it to charity)

JackAdams's avatar

I hope it is Ok to post the following YouTube link, relative to this question:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M

August 22, 2008, 8:50 AM EDT

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.

This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.

Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther