If you need a pick-me-up today, Wilder + Cooper should do the trick.
In the wake of the legendary Gene Wilder’s passing, all of us here on Bloody Disgusting felt compelled to revisit classics like Young Frankenstein and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and we know we’re certainly not alone in spending this week celebrating Wilder’s life and career. But we’re not here to talk about his brilliant portrayals of Dr. Frankenstein or Willy Wonka.
Back in October of 1994, the sitcom Something Wilder premiered on NBC, and it starred Gene Wilder as Gene Bergman, an ad man adjusting to life as the father of 4-year-old twins. The series, which ran for just one season and was cancelled before all 18 episodes even had a chance to air, never caught on with audiences and isn’t exactly fondly remembered like most of Wilder’s work, but there was one standout episode that is guaranteed to put a big ole smile on your face right about now. We promise.
The fourteenth episode of Something Wilder, which aired on March 14th, 1995, was titled “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper,” and it featured Alice Cooper in a guest role as himself. Presumably, Cooper was brought into the mix in the hopes that he’d help boost the show’s ratings, and in the episode he disrupts the Bergmans’ family life when he moves in next door to film a video. Gene begrudgingly pays his new neighbor a visit to tell him to turn his music down, humorously realizing just who his neighbor is.
Gene and Alice eventually become friends, and the duo teams up to create a little advertising magic in the form of a music video. Seeing the two legends play off one another is nothing short of a huge treat today, just as it was back in 1995, and Cooper has fond memories of the experience.
“I count working with Gene Wilder on his TV sitcom Something Wilder to be one of the most precious memories of my entire career,” Cooper wrote on his official Facebook page. “Doing ‘one on one’ comedy with Gene was like jamming with The Beatles. It doesn’t get any better. Gene Wilder is IRREPLACEABLE and will always be an American treasure. ”
Amen to that. You can watch the full episode below!