Morton & Hayes

Morton & Hayes
Genre	Comedy, Mockumentary
Created by	Phil Mishkin Rob Reiner
Directed by	Michael McKean Christopher Guest
Presented by	Rob Reiner
Starring	Kevin Pollack Bob Amaral
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	6
Production
Running time	30 min.
Broadcast
Original channel	CBS
Original run	July 24, 1991 – August 28, 1991

Morton & Hayes was a short-lived comedy television series, shown Wednesday nights at 8:30 on CBS. Only six episodes were shown, from July 24 to August 28, 1991.

This series was centered around the "rediscovered" work of a fictitious comedy duo.

Format

Each 30-minute episode was presented in the style of a documentary, in which host Rob Reiner introduced another long-lost comedy film short starring Chick Morton (Kevin Pollak) and Eddie Hayes (Bob Amaral). The films on the show were supposed to have been produced by (fictional) producer Max King in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Each black-and-white Morton & Hayes short was played, not as a parody of old-time comedy, but a tribute to it. The films were made to look the way they would have if they'd been authentic, and the comedy was in the style of Abbott and Costello, with lean Morton in the "Abbott" role and plump Hayes as his "Costello."

After each film, Reiner would introduce and interview one or more of the actors from the picture (made-up to look decades older, of course). At the end of the last episode, the "now-elderly" Morton and Hayes were reunited on the show, after years of estrangement.

Guests

The show used a 'rep company' approach to casting, often using the same actors in different roles from episode to episode. Seen frequently in various roles were Christopher Guest (3 episodes), Raye Birk, (2 episodes), and Allison Janney (2 episodes). Making one-time appearances were Courteney Cox, Joe Flaherty, and Michael McKean.

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by:	Written by:	Airdate
1	"Daffy Dicks"	Christopher Guest	Phil Mishkin	July 24, 1991 (1991-07-24)
Private eyes Morton & Hayes are hired by a rich woman who suspects her husband is having an affair.
2	"The Bride of Mummula"	Christopher Guest	Michael McKean, Christopher Guest	July 31, 1991 (1991-07-31)
The lads are stranded in a Bavarian village when they are invited to stay at a mad doctor's castle.
3	"Society Saps"	Christopher Guest	Dick Blassuci, Christopher Guest	August 7, 1991 (1991-08-07)
Waiters Eddie and Chick are mistaken for society guests at a gala party and win the affection of the rich, homely hostesses.
4	"Oafs Overboard"	Christopher Guest	Max Pross, Tom Gammill	August 14, 1991 (1991-08-14)
Forced to walk the plank, stowaways Chick and Eddie wind up as human sacrifices on a mysterious island.
5	"The Vase Shop"	Christopher Guest	Joe Flaherty	August 21, 1991 (1991-08-21)
The lads are inexplicably left in charge of an antique vase shop.
6	"Home Buddies"	Michael McKean	Max Pross, Tom Gammill	August 28, 1991 (1991-08-28)
While their overbearing wives visit their mothers, Chick and Eddie win millions in a radio contest.

See also

• This Is Spinal Tap, another "documentary" by Rob Reiner.

External links

• Morton & Hayes at the Internet Movie Database
• Morton & Hayes at TV.com