This wasn't aired as the final episode before NBC canceled "Taxi" for good (that honor went to the shriekingly funny "Simka's Monthlies"), but the present episode represented the REAL last episode to be filmed. And quite a finale: Danny De Vito reported that everyone on the set--actors, writers, producers and the rest--were emotional and moody at rehearsals; they ALL realized this would be their last show. I felt, at the time it premiered, distinctly like this was the end. And I'd presume anyone else out there watching this episode's first airing, knew it in their hearts as well. Writers/producers Ken Estin and Sam Simon gather together not only the regular stars, but some of the running characters throughout the series. It's the most memorably affecting episode of all, and, I realized, the finest as well.
Jim, apparently having had a trust fund set up by his brother for their father's inheritance, has been freely giving $1000 bills to total strangers. The cabbies scoff at this, so Jim gives them (and Louie and Latka) a challenge: to each give a special gift of $1000 to a needy soul by the end of the day.
Elaine lets her daughter (Melanie Gaffin) have it, not so subtly suggesting she should return the favor by splitting it with her brother. Then the girl offers her share to her mom. Elaine is touched, but asks her what she'd get with it? Video games, natch.
Latka and Simka donate it to the church of their native pastor, Reverend Gorki (Vincent Schiavelli), who promptly mocks and spits on it then accepts it--an apparent ritual of theirs, as Simka does same when the pastor gives it to her for a baby she and Latka planned on having.
Alex has a tough time finding a worthy receiver among his fares--including an aspiring political cartoonist (Tom Villard)--before giving the $1000 to a lady whose family was about to be thrown out onto the street.
Tony meanwhile has a surprise gift for a friend named Walt (Scatman Crothers), an elderly shut-in whose entire life revolves around TV. They do some chatting about "Bonanza" and "Gilligan's Island", before Tony uncovers his present, a top-line color TV (yes, many including myself, still watched B&W in those days) with stereo speakers. The old man cries quietly, then softly shoos Tony out the building ("And CALL NEXT TIME!!", he shouts out the window). One could easily see Walt as a potential running character in the series.
But Louie's had a tough go at it all day. Having promised everybody at the start that he'd give it to assistant dispatcher Jeff (Jeffrey Alan Thomas), who doesn't spit on the money like Latka and Simka's pastor did--but he rejects and mocks it in every way imaginable. Viewers say they feel sorry for Louie in this one, but one should go back earlier in the season, in the episode "Crime and Punishment". Louie really crapped on Jeff in that episode; so Jeff obviously has some lingering resentment yet. Will he accept the money?
Tune in and find out.
Jim, apparently having had a trust fund set up by his brother for their father's inheritance, has been freely giving $1000 bills to total strangers. The cabbies scoff at this, so Jim gives them (and Louie and Latka) a challenge: to each give a special gift of $1000 to a needy soul by the end of the day.
Elaine lets her daughter (Melanie Gaffin) have it, not so subtly suggesting she should return the favor by splitting it with her brother. Then the girl offers her share to her mom. Elaine is touched, but asks her what she'd get with it? Video games, natch.
Latka and Simka donate it to the church of their native pastor, Reverend Gorki (Vincent Schiavelli), who promptly mocks and spits on it then accepts it--an apparent ritual of theirs, as Simka does same when the pastor gives it to her for a baby she and Latka planned on having.
Alex has a tough time finding a worthy receiver among his fares--including an aspiring political cartoonist (Tom Villard)--before giving the $1000 to a lady whose family was about to be thrown out onto the street.
Tony meanwhile has a surprise gift for a friend named Walt (Scatman Crothers), an elderly shut-in whose entire life revolves around TV. They do some chatting about "Bonanza" and "Gilligan's Island", before Tony uncovers his present, a top-line color TV (yes, many including myself, still watched B&W in those days) with stereo speakers. The old man cries quietly, then softly shoos Tony out the building ("And CALL NEXT TIME!!", he shouts out the window). One could easily see Walt as a potential running character in the series.
But Louie's had a tough go at it all day. Having promised everybody at the start that he'd give it to assistant dispatcher Jeff (Jeffrey Alan Thomas), who doesn't spit on the money like Latka and Simka's pastor did--but he rejects and mocks it in every way imaginable. Viewers say they feel sorry for Louie in this one, but one should go back earlier in the season, in the episode "Crime and Punishment". Louie really crapped on Jeff in that episode; so Jeff obviously has some lingering resentment yet. Will he accept the money?
Tune in and find out.
