In one memorable episode, the script called for the main characters to dig through piles of odds and ends in search of a missing item. Among the clutter sat an old, rust-speckled bathtub — just another background piece the set decorators had thrown in.
During rehearsal, no one paid it much attention. But when the cameras rolled for the live audience, the bathtub became the star. One actor, spotting it mid-scene, abandoned his lines and began inspecting it like it was a priceless treasure. His co-star played along instantly, spinning an elaborate (and completely made-up) history for the tub that got more outrageous with each sentence.
The crowd’s laughter snowballed, and the prop that was never supposed to matter ended up being the centerpiece of the episode’s biggest gag. Even the writers admitted later that they couldn’t have dreamed up anything funnier.
