Which TV show featured Ralph and Alice Kramden, and who played them?

The classic television show featuring the iconic couple Ralph and Alice Kramden was "The Honeymooners". The blustery bus driver Ralph Kramden was memorably portrayed by the legendary Jackie Gleason, while his sharp-witted and patient wife Alice Kramden was played by Audrey Meadows. This groundbreaking sitcom depicted the everyday lives and marital squabbles of a working-class couple in Brooklyn, New York.

Jackie Gleason, who also created the series, drew inspiration from his own Brooklyn childhood to develop the character of Ralph Kramden, a man often frustrated by his lack of success and prone to elaborate get-rich-quick schemes. Gleason first brought these characters to life in sketches on his variety show, "Cavalcade of Stars," in 1951. His portrayal of Ralph, despite the character's frequent outbursts, always showed an underlying love and devotion to Alice, often concluding with the famous line, "Baby, you're the greatest."

Audrey Meadows joined the cast as Alice Kramden in 1952, taking over the role that was initially played by Pert Kelton. Interestingly, Gleason initially felt Meadows was too "chic and pretty" for the role of the long-suffering Alice, and she had to submit a photograph of herself looking disheveled and without makeup to convince him. Meadows's keen business sense also left a lasting mark; her brothers, who were attorneys, ensured a clause for residuals was included in her contract, making her the only cast member to receive ongoing payments from the show's extensive reruns.

Though "The Honeymooners" only aired for one classic season of 39 episodes from 1955 to 1956, its impact on television comedy was immense. The show was filmed live in front of a studio audience, adding to its dynamic and authentic feel. It is widely considered one of television's first spin-off series and a blueprint for many blue-collar sitcoms that followed, cementing its place as a beloved and influential piece of entertainment history.