The Life of Riley Assistant Manager (1949–1950) Online

Babs (Gloria Winters) and Junior (Lanny Rees) need money from their father, Riley (Jackie Gleason). It makes him ponder on his stalled career as a riveter. At work, his boss Clay J. Stevenson (Emory Parnell, "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek") phones Riley to ask him to polish the desk for the new assistant manager. In the noisy workroom Riley mishears his boss and thinks he is promoted to the new assistant manager. His family jovially sees Riley off the next morning dressed in a nice suit. He arrives at the plant where the confusion clears up to a now melancholy Riley. He struggles to tell his family the truth.

In a carefree comedy series, this episode is dramatic. The viewer feels melancholy too at Riley's situation, and likely won't join the audience laugh track. As such, it misses the mark as a sitcom entry.

After Babs and Junior hit their dad up for money, they complain about his job. Riley is suddenly self-conscience about what he does and wishes he could get a better job. By coincidence, he gets a call from the boss. It's noisy on the floor with machines running and he thinks his boss is promoting him to assistant manager. But what his boss really says is...

Of course, he rushes home and tells his family. Even though they were going for comedy, I can't help but to be sad when he's excited and dressed up in a suit and tie all ready for his new job. When he learns the truth, he handles it in typical Riley fashion.