Buddy uses it to mean one of the following:
-There's a romance brewing between two characters (for example, Sally and a prospective husband)
-There's a potential romantic triangle situation
-There's been a fight between Rob and Laura
The tune to which Buddy sings the nonsensical words is from "Der Erlkonig" by Schubert.
Hey Don - I was just googling this episode and came across your post. I was commenting on how different modern TV audiences are from those in the early '60s on Facebook. A prime exemplar is Morey Amsterdam quoting Der Erlkönig on a prime-time TV show, and the writers expecting folks to get the reference. We live in a different world.
ReplyDeleteBrian, thanks for the comment. I agree with you, although I must admit that I didn't catch the Der Erlkonig reference myself. My music major daughter was watching the episode with me and recognized the tune. So, score one for the younger generation!
DeleteHey Don--I don't know if you still pay attention to this blog, but can you point to a scene where Morey Amsterdam sings/says "Doodly-doodly-doo-doo-doo"? I need to convince my daughter in college I'm not making this up. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteKirkistan -- my DVD set of the series is out on loan to a friend, and Netflix no longer streams the show, so I can't verify this; but I'm pretty sure that in episode 38 (which is season two, episode eight, "Like a Sister"), there's a scene with Rob, Buddy, Sally, and guest star Vic Damone in the writers' office. Sally and Damone leave, and Buddy sings the "doodly-doodly phrase. Also, in episode 67 (season three, episode five, "All About Eavesdropping"), Buddy plays the tune on his cello at Millie and Jerry's house as they wait for Rob and Laura to arrive for a dinner party. Those are the only two examples I know off the top of my head, though there were others.
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