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Date Posted: 14:32:26 07/31/13 Wed
Author: Monkey Meat
Subject: HELP!!! What does Ben Say to Little Joe?
A friend of mine has been trying to figure out a mis-heard line from Bonanza for over 25 years. Maybe you can help. Near the end of an episode where Ben is consoling Little Joe over some sort of woman problem, he puts his hand on Little Joe's shoulder and says something that sounds like "bubba lean, Little Joe, bubba lean"
The first person who can figure out what he really said wins the internet.
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Re: HELP!!! What does Ben Say to Little Joe? -- Kayleetara, 22:36:00 07/31/13 Wed [1]
That IS what he was saying to Little Joe! Seriously, you have to give more information than that. The episodes where Little Joe needs consolation over a woman problem must be endless. It does sound like is in the last scene of a show?
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Re: HELP!!! What does Ben Say to Little Joe? -- Monkey Meat, 10:24:27 08/01/13 Thu [1]
Here is the whole story:
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Back in 1983, Mike McDevitt, and I were watching a rerun of the sixties television show,
Bonanza, while we ate lunch in the home I shared with the McDevitts and several others.
Long story short: “Little Joe” Cartwright, is the handsome son of Ben Cartwright. Ben is the wise, kind and benevolent patriarch of this wealthy ranching family. This particular
episode is ending with the two of them working through a break up with a young woman Little Joe has been seeing. Little Joe is sad.
Ben is about to make a final, concluding, profound statement. It’s what he does. He is a strong man of few words; but the ones he chooses carry immense weight and should be heeded by his children. He puts his hand on Little Joe’s shoulder and says these words; which apparently will make sense of all the heartache Little Joe is facing. It is the last moment before the episode ends and the theme music starts up.
What both Mike and I heard was this exact phrase“Bubbleen, Little Joe. Bubbleen.”
I look over at Mike. “Uh…did he just say…?” Mike answers, “Bubbleen.” He said “Bubbleen, Little Joe. Bubbleen.”
Me“That’s what I heard! He can’t have said “Bubbleen!” It means nothing.” Mike“I think his exact words were “Bubbleen, Little Joe. Bubbleen.”
There was no rewinding in those days. Unless you worked as a film editor at the network station, one shot was all the consumer got.
We must have laughed for twenty minutes about “Bubbleen.” There’s no other phrase it could have been! We substituted dozens of alternatives, trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. But nothing worked. What important phrase of help from Ben to Little Joe could possibly rhyme with “Bubbleen”?
“Break my spleen, Little Joe. Break my spleen.”
“My real name is Lorne Greene, Little Joe. Lorne Greene.” “Bub, we’re on the big screen, Little Joe. On the big screen.” “Boy you’re lean, Little Joe. Boy, you’re lean.”
“Let’s get out of this scene, Little Joe. Let’s get out of this scene.” Nothing fits it.
Six months from now I’ll move and won’t see Mike much at all for nine years. But I tell the “Bubbleen” story dozens and dozens times to friends, wherever I go. I’ve shared it when I’ve taught at conferences and camps. I’ve used it as an illustration in a Sunday morning message. Maybe I’ve been hoping someone can shed some light on it and put this mystery to bed.
My relatively new friend, Bob Ryan, has heard me tell this story in different settings many times already. He is a freelance graphic designer and is teaming with a local design artist on a magazine project.
Bob calls me. “John, I’m working with a guy named Mike McDevitt. Could this be the Mike McDevitt from the “Bubbleen” story? He’s a design artist in town.”
“Wow! I didn’t know Mike was in town. Yes, that’s probably him!” Bob says only this, before he hangs up: “I’ve got an idea.”
…It is now four days later. Bob’s meeting with Mike again. They are standing over a large, angled, design board. The project paper is in front of them and they are trying to solve an issue of design space usage. Mike is a bit frustrated he hasn’t found a solution yet.
Then God releases the hounds of humor. Both men are standing over the document. Bob taps his mechanical pencil on the table and says these words; “You know Mike, this puzzle we’re trying to solve is sort of like “Bubbleen Little Joe.”
…And then the three seconds of wonder I can barely wait to see in heaven. I will ask to see it over and over and over again.
Mike turns his head, as on a swivel, leans into Bob, and exaggeratedly mouths; slowly and sternly
“Whatdidyousay?”
Mike has not heard these words from outside his own head since 1993. His expression conveys if Bob does not say the exact words in response, Mike will choke him until he does.
Bob, in a moment of near genius says this: “Yea, ‘Bubbleen Little Joe.’” You know, from the Bonanza show. It’s a statement people make when they hear something which doesn’t make sense. You hear people in graphic arts use it all the time. Its like saying you’ve got a conundrum or a paradox of misunderstanding. You know, ‘Bubbleen Little Joe.’”
Mike stares at Bob like he has said, “vegetable mallet of corrosive steam harnessing.” Mike(moments of staring, then attempts to form words without success)
“What???!!”
Bob“‘Bubbleen, Little Joe.’ Come on, you know. Ben’s trying to help Little Joe. And no one can figure out what he says next. Stop screwing with me. Now, lets get back at this.”
Mike(more trying to form words without success)
“Wheredidyouhearthis? How do you know this? Nobody knows this. There’s only one other person who”
Then, mercifully, Bob smiles and says, “I know Lynch.”
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Re: HELP!!! What does Ben Say to Little Joe? -- Lisa, 15:43:17 12/22/13 Sun [1]
Hi, did you get a satisfying answer to your question?
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Re: HELP!!! What does Ben Say to Little Joe? -- Bea, 08:40:23 08/16/13 Fri [1]
Which episode? I'd like to see what Closed Captioning says ...
Thanks.
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Re: HELP!!! What does Ben Say to Little Joe? -- Lisa, 11:03:47 08/29/13 Thu [1]
Is this the episode called "The Actress"?
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Re: HELP!!! What does Ben Say to Little Joe? -- SWC, 20:38:14 08/28/13 Wed [1]
Can't answer that one but it reminded me of two instances where I heard something that sounded strange for years and eventually found out what was being said. Even members of my family that listened to the same thing couldn't figure it out.
In SOUTH PACIFIC, when they are are singing "There is nothing like a Dame", there's a line that sounded to me like "Vystra poke your nose." I know. Garbled jibberish. But that's what I heard every time I listened to this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgzvTHsOxSQ
It's at the 0:46 mark.
Then there's ALL IN THE FAMILY. The song they always sung at the beginning had a line that sounded to me like "Gee, we ought to celrebrate". I assumed it was "Gee, we ought to celebrate". But why were they pronouncing it that way?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F9vRVyV914
It's at the 0:34 mark.
Eventually, with the help of the internet where you can get printed lyrics and listen to it over and over again and I figured out what they were saying:
"and advice from Tokyo Rose"
"Gee, our old LaSalle ran great" (A LaSalle was a make of car that GM stopped making in 1940.)
So I solved those two mysteries but do not at this time have an answer for yours. Good luck with it!
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Re: HELP!!! What does Ben Say to Little Joe? -- Bea, 12:04:38 08/30/13 Fri [1]
Will try to find The Actress (this would be the one with Patrica Crowley?)... and see what is said... Thanks.
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Re: HELP!!! What does Ben Say to Little Joe? -- Bea, 12:12:23 08/30/13 Fri [1]
The end of the Actress (what I just watched), Ben didn't say anything...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKa7Yo9AUCk
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Re: HELP!!! What does Ben Say to Little Joe? -- Lisa, 12:08:09 09/10/13 Tue [1]
Ok, just trying to help. Try the ending of "The Storm". If that isn't it the search will continue.
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Re: HELP!!! What does Ben Say to Little Joe? -- Bea, 11:20:47 09/11/13 Wed [1]
Ben says it's a fine Spring at the end of that one.
I guess we keep looking...
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