THE JOKE'S ON BOB

As a fellow who's well versed in the art of cramming a spring-loaded snake into a can, I always enjoy it when commercial pranks pop up in pop culture. Here's a vintage example that I just discovered thanks to my wife's Netflixing abilities. The Bob Newhart Show gave some serious screen time to the classic "Snake in the Peanut Brittle Can" gag in the episode The Longest Good-Bye (Season 4, episode 1).

One of Bob's college chums unintentionally gets him with the prank twice in a row. Just check out these beautiful snakes in action...


You must admit that is some astonishing snake launching distance. Please stop acting like you're not impressed.

While a nut can is more common, the Peanut Brittle can is employed for its dual snake capacity. It's sort of the deluxe version. They sure don't make springing snakes like they used to— literally. Now you're lucky to find one half as long, and I will always miss the cloth sheaths. These days printed plastic is standard covering.

Have a look at the perfect squiggly-ness of the second launch...


Marvelous. It looks just like the illustrations they printed in the comic book ads.

The Newhart writers actually used the joke to great effect. It serves as a tension breaker after a heavy moment, so it gets the audience roaring. Then they milk it again for a second wind of laughter.

Best of all, the gag in the show is unmistakably a genuine S.S. Adams novelty...


(They call it "Maple Candy" in the show to gel with the character from Vermont, but they're not fooling me.) Though Adams invented the concept nearly a century ago, they still sell these; the design is identical too.

At the end of the episode Bob tries to trick Emily with a third can. You guessed it, it's actually full of candy...


Well, congratulations Kirk on yet another post that only two people in the world could possibly care about.