Last Will and Temperament
Encyclopedia
Last Will and Temperament (also known as "Boot to the Head" or "Mr. Muldoon's Will") is a comedy skit performed by the Canadian comedy troupe The Frantics
on their CBC
radio series "Frantic Times". It appears on their 1984 album of the same name
. The sketch introduced the phrase "boot to the head" that would become their catchphrase, appearing in the sketch Ti Kwan Leep
three years later in their catch phrase titled
album.
of Arthur Durham Muldoon is being read by a laywer, to Muldoon's overly emotional sister Jenny, her timid husband Hank, his drunken brother Hedge, his know-it-all-nephew Ralston, and Muldoon's caretaker Mrs. Mulroy. All are present for this reading and everyone thinks they are getting a piece of his fortune, but as the will is read aloud, they learn that Muldoon has only bequeathed them a "boot to the head", the lawyer character kicking them physically in the head (illustrated with a prop
leg hitting them from off screen).
Muldoon leaves not a boot to the head to his lawyer, but a rabid Tasmanian Devil
down his trousers, and in the midst of this, announces that Mr. Muldoon's entire CDN $
10 million fortune will be given to the city of Calgary, Alberta "so they can afford to move someplace decent." Finally, the lawyer announces that Muldoon is leaving them each a lifetime supply of ice cream
, to which Mrs. Mulroy asks "What flavor is it?" The lawyer replies "Boot to the head!" and each receive one final kick.
Sometimes, when this airs on Doctor Demento's radio program, it is followed by the theme song "Boot to the Head
" from said 1987 album.
series Four on the Floor
(known as "The Frantics" outside Canada) is one minute shorter than the radio and album version, and does not include the wine cellar for Hedge (just the three cases of whiskey) nor does it include the nephew Ralston, the Tasmanian Devil joke or the ice cream punchline. Additionally, Rick Green dresses in drag
to play Ms. Mulroy.
The Frantics
The Frantics or Frantics is the name of:*The Frantics , a punk rock band.*The Frantics , a Canadian comedy troupe.*The Frantics , a Showtime network series....
on their CBC
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
radio series "Frantic Times". It appears on their 1984 album of the same name
Frantic Times (album)
Frantic Times is a Canadian comedy album, performed by The Frantics comedy troupe. The original LP was released in 1984, and was reissued as a CD with additional tracks by Deep Shag Records in 2003. The album is wholly made up of sketches and songs that appeared on their CBC radio show Frantic Times...
. The sketch introduced the phrase "boot to the head" that would become their catchphrase, appearing in the sketch Ti Kwan Leep
Ti Kwan Leep
Ti Kwan Leep is a sketch comedy recording by the Canadian comedy troupe The Frantics. It appears on their 1987 album Boot to the Head....
three years later in their catch phrase titled
Boot to the Head
Boot to the Head is a Canadian comedy album, performed by The Frantics comedy troupe. Originally released as an LP in 1987, it was re-issued with the same track listing as a CD in 1996. The album features a number of skits from their radio show Frantic Times, as well as a few sketches that could...
album.
Premise
The premise is that the last willLast Will
Last Will is a 2011 mystery drama film starring Tatum O'Neal and Tom Berenger. It was shot in Kansas City, Missouri on a modest budget.-Plot:A woman named Hayden is framed for the murder of her wealthy husband Frank...
of Arthur Durham Muldoon is being read by a laywer, to Muldoon's overly emotional sister Jenny, her timid husband Hank, his drunken brother Hedge, his know-it-all-nephew Ralston, and Muldoon's caretaker Mrs. Mulroy. All are present for this reading and everyone thinks they are getting a piece of his fortune, but as the will is read aloud, they learn that Muldoon has only bequeathed them a "boot to the head", the lawyer character kicking them physically in the head (illustrated with a prop
Prop
Prop may refer to:* Prop , in position rugby union football* Prop , a position in rugby league football* PROP , in mathematics* Prop-, a prefix in chemistry* Mouth prop, used in dentistry...
leg hitting them from off screen).
Muldoon leaves not a boot to the head to his lawyer, but a rabid Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil is a carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae, now found in the wild only on the Australian island state of Tasmania. The size of a small dog, it became the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world following the extinction of the thylacine in 1936...
down his trousers, and in the midst of this, announces that Mr. Muldoon's entire CDN $
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
10 million fortune will be given to the city of Calgary, Alberta "so they can afford to move someplace decent." Finally, the lawyer announces that Muldoon is leaving them each a lifetime supply of ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
, to which Mrs. Mulroy asks "What flavor is it?" The lawyer replies "Boot to the head!" and each receive one final kick.
Sometimes, when this airs on Doctor Demento's radio program, it is followed by the theme song "Boot to the Head
Boot to the Head
Boot to the Head is a Canadian comedy album, performed by The Frantics comedy troupe. Originally released as an LP in 1987, it was re-issued with the same track listing as a CD in 1996. The album features a number of skits from their radio show Frantic Times, as well as a few sketches that could...
" from said 1987 album.
Cast
- Paul ChatoPaul ChatoPaul Chato is a comedian and World Wide Web media executive. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1954 to Hungarian parents. Paul grew up in the first planned community in North America, Don Mills...
- Lawyer - Rick GreenRick GreenRick Green is a Canadian comedian, satirist, and writer. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo. From 1975 until 1979, he worked as a presenter at the Ontario Science Centre. In 1979, he helped found the Toronto-based comedy troupe The Frantics...
- Ralston - Dan RedicanDan RedicanDan Redican is a Canadian comedy writer and performer and puppeteer, best known for his work with the comedy troupe, The Frantics. As a founding member of the troupe he has worked since 1979 on numerous stage shows, the Frantic Times radio show, Four on the Floor TV show...
- Hedge - Peter WildmanPeter WildmanPeter Wildman is a Canadian actor, voice actor, musician, writer and member of the Frantics comedy troupe. He voiced Buzz Sherwood on The Red Green Show, Mojo on the X-Men Animated Series and Sergeant Murphy in the series The Busy World of Richard Scarry....
- Hank - Carolyn Scott (guest star) - Jenny, Ms. Mulroy
Television version
The television version, as seen in the second episode of their CBC TelevisionCBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
series Four on the Floor
Four on the Floor
Four on the Floor was a sketch comedy series which aired on CBC Television in 1986. Consisting of only 13 episodes, the series was a showcase for The Frantics, a comedy troupe consisting of Paul Chato, Rick Green, Dan Redican and Peter Wildman...
(known as "The Frantics" outside Canada) is one minute shorter than the radio and album version, and does not include the wine cellar for Hedge (just the three cases of whiskey) nor does it include the nephew Ralston, the Tasmanian Devil joke or the ice cream punchline. Additionally, Rick Green dresses in drag
Drag (clothing)
Drag is used for any clothing carrying symbolic significance but usually referring to the clothing associated with one gender role when worn by a person of another gender. The origin of the term "drag" is unknown, but it may have originated in Polari, a gay street argot in England in the early...
to play Ms. Mulroy.