You gotta hand it to Jack Klugman, he plays the part of a loser really well.
This episode is no different, playing a down on his luck trumpet player whose talent was wasted because of the Booze Demon. He used to play with the big guys, but lost it all... all he wanted to do was play trumpet, poor, poor Jack Klugman.
He pawns in his trumpet after being rejected by a former bandmate at a jazz club. Using the money, he starts up a booze bender (like that robot in Futurama) and does what any rational drunk would do: try to kill himself by running in front of a truck.
After he wakes up, he realizes that nobody sees him there... he may be dead. Klugman wanders around the city for a brief period of time and ends up at the jazz club. He hears a trumpet playing in an alley and he walks over. He tells the player that he's good and is shocked when he gets a response. The trumpet player explains that Klugman isn't dead, he's in a sort of limbo where he can decide whether to live or die. Klugman laments not appreciating his life more and decides to live.
Before he goes back, Klugman asks what the trumpet players name is. "Gabe," he responds, "short for Gabriel".
Ol' Kluggy runs back to the place where he was hit and wakes up in his body. The truck driver gives him money not to report it to insurance and Klugman buys his trumpet back. Later that night, Louisville Klugger is on his roof playing the trumpet when a beautiful woman starts talking to him and asks if he can show her around town.
So, real quick, I do have minor issues with the episode... namely, I know Jack Klugman isn't playing that trumpet; it's a bit distracting.
Other than that, I appreciate the message: live your life to the fullest, there are ups and downs, but we deal with it and keep living our lives. I think Klugman conveys that realization pretty well.
The episode deserves 5 of 5 ska bands (Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Suburban Legends, and Aquabats)
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