Car 54 - "A Policeman's Lot" (Song)

[mbabist01]

LOL! Nice parody! I didn't know Fred Gwynne could sing, he had a nice baritone.

[bazza230567]

Never heard this version before,very good.

[WSenator1]

I remember seeing this episode when "Car 54" was first on, in the early 60s. BTW, is the song from Gilbert and Sullivan?

[tony1721]

@WSenator1 Yep..a true classic

[tony1721]

@WSenator1 Yep..a true classic, great tune

[WBensburg]

@WSenator1 This is the policeman's song from "Pirates of Penzance"; Gilbert and Sullivan indeed!

[streetwhereulive]

How darling!

[SnooperSquirrelFilms]

A great video clip tribute to Fred Gwynne...Thanks for posting it

[ladyg0726]

This was quite enjoyable. In those days, once you were type cast, that was it. I enjoyed him in "My Cousin Vinny." Now many talented actors suffer the same fate of being type cast, most recently Garrett of "Everybody Loves Raymond" fame.To be honest, these shows couldn't have made it without them. I'm trying hard to locate the episode when Toody and his wife set Muldoon (Gwynne) up on a blind date-comedic genius.

[888Lalaloop]

urm... ivegot a verson ...

[DCLeadboot]

Heh, classic vid there! I never really saw Car 54, so this is a cool find!

[bigred997]

Fred was actually a clasically trained performer with a gifted voice- check out his singing yiddish in one of the molly picon episodes.

he was very upset with having to make a living doing Herman Munster and was rarily offered non-cartoonish roles.

Sadly, his last great role was as the judge in My Cousin Vinny. "Did you just say 'yewt' ?

[snoops71]

I love his Southern drawl in that movie;-) Yes, he really wanted to be seen as more than just Herman Munster. He was an extremely talented, well-rounded man.

[SnooperSquirrelFilms]

@bigred997 ...Fred Gwynne was also in many episoades of CBS Radio mystery theater w/ EG marshal host ....i listened to him many long scarey radio nights back in the early 1970's ...i think i have the "unofficial" complete set of all the radio shows

[vigo894]

Policemen didn't have a good reputation back then. Like in Batman (the Adam

West version), Batman solved the

crimes, and what did Chief O'Hara do?

He was right about Perry Mason as

well. Fortunately shows like Adam-12

came along.

[Jourell1]

Wow...... it's strange seeing Fred Gywnne without makeup as I've never seen this show only The Munsters. Still I recognize the voice and some of the mannerisms. As for the song... h's a surprisingly good singer and the choice spoof makes if for me as Pirates of Pennance is one of my all time favourite musicals. Thank you for uploading this.

[catfan]

Fred Gwynne had great singing pipes! And I cannot get over how he seemed to have similiarities with another New York "policeman," Jerry Orbach! I can see it in his face and in his singing voice!

[CDPDPatrolUnit]

What? They use the stupid British bobby style helmets?

[OckGal]

I like those.

[CDPDPatrolUnit]

I never know the NYPD used that! They should use their angular visor hat! That's their real symbol!

[OckGal]

I think they only used the bobby ones when they were dressing up or something. I don't remember them wearing those when they were doing regular beats.

[tyoonz]

Remember that they were performing in a show. It's just a bit of a theatrical device. And, as revolt1915 notes, it was originally performed by a character who was a British constable. Of course, it also made Fred Gwynne seem way taller than his 6'5.75"!

[revolt1915]

Its a reference to where the original melody of that song they're singing comes from. Its originally from a song by Gilbert and Sullivan sung by a British Constable.

[TroyOi]

Any recollection as to the name of that song, Revolt?

[revolt1915]

'When a Felon's not Engaged in his Employment'. Also commonly referred to as 'The Policeman's Song'.

[oxyaena]

Oh Freddy;Eyecandy with talent,too!!

[GwynneGal]

I'll second that!

[oxyaena]

And you know somethin' else? He stayed sexy until his untimely end in the 1990s-a rare feat for actors,even today(have you seen John James,Kenny Rogers,and even Butch Patrick(Eddie Munster)lately???I also Like Ted Cassidy(Lurch on the Addams Family)-He has some funny vids on this site-INCLUDING A DANCE!?!-LOL

[TroyOi]

Nice to know I'm not the only one who can't get enough of Fred Gwynne's face. I'm not a woman, and I'm not gay, but I think there's just something incredibly beautiful about him. That's why I never much cared for the Munsters -- the makeup detracted from his best features. For me, he'll always be Officer Muldoon.

[oxyaena]

You don't have to be "Gay" to appreciate male beauty or"the competition"(LoL!)-but it helps...There was a young look-a-like on Google under the caption:"Fred Gwynnes Lovechild?"- Maybe he got angry and had it removed???

Also, the was a tall-blond-blue-eyed-lantern-j­awed actor(I forget his name?) who bore an uncanny resemblance to Fred. He was a Chicago cop-I was almost arrested by him!( they don't send their dogs to do their dirty work!) He was on"Chicago Hope","St. Elsewhere","Law& Order".

[oxyaena]

Also, Troy;

Fred was in a few"Munster" episodes out of make-up!

[TroyOi]

>> Fred was in a few"Munster" episodes out of make-up!

Really?? What was the premise of those episodes? Was he playing his long-lost "human" cousin?

[Sherlock46]

This is not just a very funny version of one my favorite songs, it is also so so bloody true! I will sign off simply as a hard done by 30 year old brit copper!

[OckGal]

*salutes*

[AuthenticPunkDance]

This song is being performed by my amateur drama group in our panto of Little Bo Peep. :)

[OckGal]

LOL, that sounds cute. Will it be on YouTube?

[AuthenticPunkDance]

I very much doubt it.

[drcoxcentral]

Nice Christmas moment.

[OckGal]

Ha! I totally forgot it was a Christmas thing. *slow*