Today's Bonus Video Link

Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick starred in a Broadway revival of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple for 249 performances from 10/27/05 until 6/4/06.

Brad Garrett played Murray the Policeman and I've seen folks wonder why someone with Mr. Garrett's stardom would accept a supporting role like that. The obvious answer is that the show's producers must have made it worth his while. They needed a heavyweight to cover the part of Oscar if/when Nathan Lane was out, as he occasionally was…and Garrett did play the role for three whole months when Lane was off vacationing or shooting a movie or something.

Our link is to a video press kit for reviewers — excerpts from the show that could be used in TV reviews. I didn't get back to New York while it was running but a friend of mine saw it twice — once early on, once late in the run. He thought Lane and Broderick got better and better in the show…so keep in mind that these clips must have been shot at a preview so they could be distributed by opening night.

They're still pretty darned good. They probably videotaped the entire show when they recorded these moments. It would be nice to think it might someday be released in its entirety. There's a bootleg making the rounds but it looks and sounds like a bootleg.

If you don't have time to watch all of this reel, this link will take you directly to the bit about the spaghetti, followed by the bit about the little notes on Oscar's pillow. Neil Simon thought those were the two biggest laughs he ever got in any play. But here — watch the whole thing, starting with some lingering shots of the marquee…