Episode 178 - OLD SHEBA

[Julianna]

This is a funny episode that everyone takes part in. Although Adam's part is much smaller he does have some of the best lines! "A sad tale is about to begin"; " Gotta play by the rules, Pa";"I can't wait to see what Tweedy stuck you with" "chuckle, Oh, it's about to rain a deluge on that mountain"

[ellen]

Oh, Hoss Hoss Hoss... after all the pain and suffering Joe's "management" put you through, you're ready to fall for another scheme! White water rafting, indeed!

Sometimes I just want to give Hoss a swift thump on the head.

[CowgirlAtHeart]

The funny thing is, Hoss knows he really shouldn't listen to Joe's ideas. "If I wrestled like you manage, I'd be in the hospital!"

[littlejoenice]

Even more funny was that Michael "borrowed" Sheba and had her put on Dan's front lawn!

Along the line of pranksters (and not Old Sheba) - I have a vague memory of ML once talking about either he or Dan turning an ostrich loose in the other's house. I don't remember who started it, but Mike said the thing ate the lampshades. Good Lord!

Fun fact: I was listening to the audio commentary by Andy Klyde, as I love to learn as much as possible, and he had this to say about the barn scene where they first find Sheba: Dan Blocker was especially impressed with this elephant, commenting on its backside: "Look at those cheeks sway." The trainer told the director that "he shouldn't say that. The elephant, she understands. She's going to get very angry." The director told Dan to cut out the comments because the trainer said the elephant doesn't like it. Classic Dan remark: "Oh, baloney."

Sure enough, he kept up the comments, and Sheba eventually did get angry. She gave him an ever-so-gentle push with her trunk... that sent Dan flying into the air and landing fifteen feet away.
Sheba then, in anger, got up on her hind legs and trumpeted! The cameramen left the cameras rolling and high-tailed it out of there. Dan and Michael then led a stampede of cast and crew out the stage doors.

According to Betty Endicott, it was chaos. "Forget women and children first," Mr. Klyde had quoted, "Dan and Michael pushed past everyone and went out the stage doors together!" When Sheba was finally calm enough so they could return to filming, Dan refused to go near it again, so they called in the stunt double. Unfortunately, his "Hoss" costume wasn't on hand at the time, so Dan changed into his regular clothes and gave his double the outfit.

Well, the clothes still had Dan's smell on it, and what happened to him happened to his stunt double! Wardrobe had to send out a "Hoss" costume to be cleaned so the stunt double could wear it and not get thrown.

[daisy60]

I love those commentaries, especially Andy Klyde. He really makes you feel as if you're right there. I need to get out my CD'd again. They need re-watching.

[PJudith]

Wow that's some interesting story about Dan Blocker. I'll bet Old Sheba was one of the few animals strong enough to toss him fifteen feet!


It's a funny episode. But Joe and Hoss were pretty dumb in this one. Did they really think they could use an elephant as a "workhorse"? And where were they planning on having Old Sheba sleep? They'd definitely would have had to add a room onto the barn.

[Jim Barnsby]

I (re)watched Old Sheba again this past week with the purpose of enjoying Adam being "the only adult in the room." His reactions are priceless, especially the part where Ben, in trying to save his own hide, tells Hoss and Joe that in order to build up their character, the boys have to go and sell Old Sheba back to the circus! Adam then mutters, "Well that's one way out." When Ben asks Adam what he just said, Adam quickly comes up with the similar-sounding: "I said 'Right. They'll have to go all out.' "

Hilarious!

I also loved Joe's over-inflated opinion of his "managing skills"! He gets that great line, "All of my managing...wasted!"

Old Sheba is a fun "pick-me-up-when-you're-feeling-down" episode.

My Rating: 9/10