What Do you do Week Nights at 7? 04/17/26

If you answered, “Watch Jeopardy,” then you are in the right place. And don’t be embarrassed to admit it. According to the documentary, “Mel Brooks, the 99-Year-Old Man,” Mr. Brooks watched it religiously with Carl Reiner every night at Carl’s house. At that point they were both widowers and took comfort in each other’s company. Mel would come over, they’d set up folding tables in front of the tv, and eat Chinese or deli, because…what else? And then they’d watch Jeopardy and try to shout out the answers before the other guy. If you didn’t state your answer in the form of a question, you were out. In fact, there was once an episode of the Jerry Seinfeld series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, where Jerry comes over for Jeopardy. Good thing he arrived early because they immediately send him back out to get Chinese. After all he was much younger and more fit then they were. Who else was going to pick up dinner? In the documentary, it was revealed that as a way to honor his friendship with Reiner, Brooks continued to come over to Reiner’s house every weeknight to watch in the same chair with the same folding snack table almost a year after Reiner’s death. Sigh.

At the risk of sounding sexist, I think women enjoy bonding with one another while men enjoy competing as an important part of friendship. It’s subtle but true. Instead of saying, “I love Steely Dan,” we say stuff like, “What’s the best Steely Dan song ever?” Or “How many times have you seen them in concert?” I once had a friend ask me if I wanted to see Knopfler. It was a subtle challenge to see if I knew that Mark Knopfler was the lead songwriter, singer and guitarist of Dire Straits. It was a test and this time I passed it. But the crazy part is I was really proud of myself for getting it right. And it was a hell of a concert.

It is in this spirit that Al and Marv test each other. I wonder if anyone would guess, “All in the Family” if our line was “Gee our old LaSalle ran great?” This was part of what John and I discussed when making these comics. One of us saying, “Nobody would ever get that!” And the other one saying, “That’s what makes it perfect!” “Nobody would get that” was the winner, and there you go, Competition. But it’s what makes this entire process so rewarding. And fun.

Question: What tv show jingle had the line, “Here’s Cathy who loves a minuet, the ballets russes and crepe suzette?” Write us back and see if you know. And above all, please give your answer in the form of a question. Also, send in some other jingles you know and love and if we pick one for a future New 60’s Jeopardy comic, we’ll give you credit and a free subscription for a year to the comic, which represents a savings of…oh forget it, it’s already free. Have a great weekend,

Andy and John