I don't know if it was out of character as much as it reminded me of a kid who's embarrassed for someone else or nervous about someone else's behavior.

I think Sal, because of his homosexuality and the era he's living in, is very aware of fitting in, being appropriate and normal in any given situation. When the behavior of another person deviates from the norm or is incorrect for a situation, I think Sal would be the first person to zero in on it because he's so attuned to fitting in, being appropriate. He might even blow it out of proportion because he thinks that's how everyone else will respond; it's not planned by Sal, it's just a kneejerk reaction.

You'll notice in that scene that Sal is laughing and playing it up for a while, but stops when he notices the others aren't joining in. Sal pays attention to the cues from the others, and shuts down his laughter especially when Peggy responds by being concerned, and Pete is getting angry. Sal wants to fit in with the group.

Again, none of this is carefully thought out or anything. It's just that Sal's radar for what is appropriate/inappropriate behavior in society is very highly developed. But, overall, I think it was embarrassed laughter and discomfort on Sal's part - like a little kid.

You know, jamm...I never thought about it like that...poor Sal spends his life "covering" and feeling he must analyze every move/word he says. Bless his heart!

Now that I think back, I do remember him looking around and noticing no one else was joining in....up to that point he just got more and more loud.

He is one tortured soul no doubt.

Yes, he really is! Poor Sal is right. He's in the wrong era for being gay.

It would be nice if he would discover he's bisexual and then poor Kitty would at least be able to have the marriage she deserves.

I feel sorry for her, she so obviously does really love Sal. I believe he loves her, too, but, of course, there are those obvious "hints" when he lets his guard down (flirting with Ken right there in front of her) and you can see how it hurts and confuses her.

Unfortunately, I don't think Sal's even bisexual so Kitty can get some lovin'. She's really left out of the loop. It would be horribly lonely to be married to Sal. Everything looks good on the outside, and Sal is a great husband - I mean he cooks, cleans, irons, has decorating flair, doesn't cheat (with women), isn't mean or cruel, doesn't beat Kitty - LOL - but there's nothing for Kitty to put a finger on for why she's not happy. She did say something like "You don't even notice I'm here". She's in a real pickle. I don't even know if she COULD get a divorce from Sal at that time - don't think she has any legal reason. But I don't know the divorce laws from that era.

Sal has done that before, scfan in other scenes, too, besides the Freddie one. Where he kind of over-reacts because he thinks the group is going to, in something out of the norm, and then notices the group isn't going overboard, and reigns it in. Good eye for noticing that about him. He sometimes isn't anticipating the group reaction right - LOL

scfan How come you picked the fans as an avatar? Are they from the sixties?

.....The most insecure and "guilty" feeling individuals will always be the one slinging arrows.

jamm, I picked the fans because they are the type of fans used during the time of MM and also before (vintage-looking electric fans)...perhaps what might be there in SC's storage room(s) to be used in the event of an air conditioning breakdown/repair or whatever to keep all the SC folk from melting in the NYC summer heat... really, just something different to use as an av for awhile (SC fans, get it? ha ha very funny)...!!??

Dry, your comment about "the insecure ones" sure fits Sal ~ so very put together on the outside, but inside is a very different story in his case, sad but true.

Freddie R had a petit mal attack. Hence the incontinence and his dissociated behavior after the incontinence happened.

SC: what you said about together on the outside, but a sad story on the inside.

.....I realize that the petit mal attack was a side-effect of the alcoholism, but it's still sad that it wasn't acknowledged or really even noticed as a medically-related issue and, instead became this hilarious event that lost Freddie his job, and probably his career.

Don't they have "rehab" laws or something now, for workplace employees with these issues? Like, some protection that they have to be given a chance to dry out or whatever, before being fired?

No idea....where are the resident attorneys?

SCfan.....I was watching the Kurt / doughnut scene in the break room again, and Sal's face was so funny, it just froze into this mask of horror, and while everyone else had little wheels churning on their foreheads, Sal just stood there with this frozen mask.

Not to offend anyone, but I just thought that was one of the funniest and most brilliant scenes so far.

I did some research on petit mal (absence) seizures and it doesn't appear they have any relation to alcoholism. Seizures with alcoholism are usually related to withdrawal, and IIRC, Freddie had already started up for the day, and WD seizures usually involve tremors/convulsive behavior (grand mal). Wet brain syndrome (beriberi) can cause confusion, but from everything I've read, what was so clearly a petit mal (absence) seizure isn't one of the symptoms. So, Freddie either has an underlying seizure disorder (and petit mal is uncommon in adults) or the writers got it wrong. I've done some extensive searching and can't find anything linking alcohol and petit mal.

Regardless, I was disappointed by Sal's response, too, taking so much pleasure in a friend's vulnerability. I don't know if it was a manifest of his repression or something in the "real" Sal. It surprised me, because I didn't see him with a mean streak.

And isn't he a terrific actor? As we're analyzing the character, we can't forget that it's Bryan Batt doing such a brilliant job playing such a complex soul.

I agree, Laurie B. -- and Hidey! btw.

..missed you!

Bryan Batt is amazing...just one of many, of course.

It's an embarassment of riches, the talent that cast possesses! Just does not seem possible that there could be that great a concentration of talent on one little (?) show!

Yes, Dry, that break room/doughnut scene was one where saying nothing (Sal) said volumes, wasn't it??? I hope Bryan Batt gets nominated one of these days for some of the acting awards in the industry...he so richly deserves it.

....Meow!!

....Meow!!

.....He does. He's a pretty accomplished performer, from what I've read.