FRIDAYS ARE FOR FRANK: “I Cover The Waterfront” (Jeopardy! Edition)

How does this keep happening?

It’s not like we occasionally mention Frank Sinatra, or have a subtle nod to him from time to time. We write a column about him every week.

EVERY. DAMN. WEEK.

So when a Jeopardy! contestant misses a lay-up like a Sinatra/Hoboken clue, we take it kind of personally.

This week, it was Phil:

Just saw it on the DVR…
Come ON Phil!!!!@Jeopardy #Hoboken @franksinatra pic.twitter.com/tSNdcUAUFX

— hMAG (@hMAG) December 1, 2018

(H/T @SirWrangleLot)

Of course we all know that On the Waterfront (1954) was filmed here in Hoboken. And we all know that Frank Sinatra was born and raised here.

What we apparently didn’t all know [PHIL] is that the Oscar-winning role of Terry Malloy, the film’s reluctant protagonist, was first given to Sinatra—until an equally reluctant Marlon Brando begrudgingly decided to take the role, as a favor to director Elia Kazan, who had previously cast Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire.

By that point, the production crew had gone as far to design costumes for Frank. When the announcement came down that he had in fact been replaced in the starring role of a film that was being shot in his own hometown, he was obviously unhappy.

The resulting Brando/Sinatra feud became legendary, as Frank would refer to Marlon as “Mumbles” from that point on.

But hey—we’re not here to pile it on Phil. We all make mistakes…

LIKE THESE THREE CONTESTANTS:

COME. ON.

Here’s a track going out to all future Jeopardy contestants…

“I Cover the Waterfront” was originally written by Johnny Green and Edward Heyman in 1933. This Sinatra version was recorded in 1957.

Study this song—because we’re watching.

SINATRA = HOBOKEN

ALWAYS AND FOREVER