St. Elsewhere (TV Series) Once Upon a Mattress (1986) User Reviews

Absolutely funniest bit Howie Mandell Ever Did

[daniel-mcgarry · 10/10 · 14 December 2006]

Allow me to summarize the Dr Fiscus sub-plot of this episode. In the previous episode (After Life) Fiscus was shot and experienced an out of body preview of the afterlife and was brought back by open-heart surgery. The character of Fiscus was a clown (wearing an examination glove on his head like a cock's comb) but after his near-death he is a sober, somber man. Having the med students come in to examine his scar just depresses him further. Add to this, the fellow in the bed next to his is in for a penile implant ("It's for my wife, you understand...") who votes for the inflatable implant, rather than the 'goose-neck' model ("Nothing's too good for my old lady...") After the surgery, with Fiscus still drowning in self-pity, the roommate announces that he's going to "Take this baby out for a test-drive!" and pulls the curtain between them shut. From behind the curtain, Fiscus hears "Fwish, fwish, fwish" and the roommate's amazed comment of: "Wow! My wife's gonna LOVE this!" "Fwish fwish fwish" "Holy Cow! That's amazing!" Fiscus is sitting up higher and higher in the bed, reacting to the sounds and comments emerging from behind the curtain. "Fwish fwish fwish" "Jeez! The old lady ain't gonna BELIEVE this!" "Fwish fwish fwish - BANG!" "OW! OH! OW!" Fiscus reacts in shock, and then begins to laugh, holding his aching ribs as the curtain pulls aside and the roommate displays the paper bag he's just popped. "Gotcha!" he grins, and Fiscus is in tears as he laughs and suffers the pain of his incision... Great TV

Bill Dana hometown guest star.

[laggard-82009 · 8 March 2019]

Bill Dana who plays the father of Dr Fiskus was born in Quincy Mass. Quincy is less than ten miles from the Franklin House which is used as the facade for St Eligius hospital.

Excellent Writing

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 30 March 2022]

Everyone was Fiscus's best friend. He is in pain and depressed and they all try to do goofy things to cheer him up. His father, played by Bill Dana, has never liked him and can't relate to his pain. A guy who has appeared before, a handyman and a mover, is in the hospital for a penile implant. The end of this episode is a great moment in the series. Howie Mandel is excellent.