Chess Distractions on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Scene from The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (Season 3, Episode 2) Original Airdate 22 September 1972

Chess Distractions on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

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Have you ever played an OTB game where your opponent distracted you with annoying habits? That is what happened in a skit on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour where Jerry Lewis played chess with Sonny Bono for the world chess championship. The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour was a television series from 1971 to 1974, starring Sonny Bono and Cher. Jerry appears as a chess champion whose annoying habits distract his opponent (Sonny). Distractions include:

  • Showing up late (implied)
  • Wiping his chair.
  • Pulling several objects from his pockets and putting them on the table.
  • Cracking his knuckles.
  • Exercising to loosen his joints and muscles.
  • Lighting and smoking a cigarette which gets stuck in his mouth.
  • Blowing cigarette smoke towards his opponent.
  • Burning himself when he put his lit cigarette in his breast pocket.
  • Tapping his fingers on the table.
  • Touching his opponent's hand.
  • Taking off his shoes and putting them on the table.
  • Walking around with a lot of noise.
  • Going to the restroom and returning with a Jeep full of friends who make a lot of noise.

Sonny tries to move his knight on his first move several times. If you watch him closely, he also briefly considers moving a pawn on the first move, which if this was an official tournament, would not be permitted since he touched his knight first.

If your opponent has ever distracted you, what did you do about it?

Sources
http://billwall.phpwebhosting.com/articles/tv_and_chess.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=negsF9YhKMw (Skit begins about 34:20.)