The Procrastinator (1952)

When Jean becomes chairman of the social committee, she habitually fails to plan and use time wisely in carrying out her responsibilities. When she is unable to get everything together in time for the school dance, her schoolmates are justifiably upset with her. Filmed with a cast of nonprofessionals in Lawrence, Kansas. Writer: Margaret Carlile (Trudy) Travis.

[@nubiar5]

I am actually procrastinating while watching a video about procrastination

[@lilyk447]

Nubia Rao me too lmao

[@lisathuban5534]

Symmetry breeds harmony.

[@SDS-ee9js]

Same lol watching this to avoid doing homework

[@robertwesley4416]

stop fiddle faddling your time away like Jean. I want your homework done by 9.30 ! haha

[@vazvazvoova3941]

I procrastinated posting the comment..

[@philipwagner9169]

I'll watch this next week.

[@Amelia-do2ic]

Hey, its been 2 years, watch it yet?

[@philipwagner9169]

@@Amelia-do2ic You got me! No I didn't, but thanks to you I have now :-)

[@philipwagner9169]

@@Amelia-do2ic I'm a sadder and wiser man...

[@Amelia-do2ic]

@@philipwagner9169 omg that was a quick reply 🤣

[@philipwagner9169]

@@Amelia-do2ic Excellent proof the video worked LOL

[@XxXShevampXxX]

"So Jean is polishing her nails. They'll look nice for the party tomorrow." That cracked me up cuz he was being condescending as hell when he said that. He was definitely being a smartass and I loved it. 😂😂😂

[@azntranc3951]

Me too. Why am I watching videos from OldTVTime when I should be studying? ;)

[@javiergilvidal1558]

To think that these kids must be 82 now..... A weird, uncanny thought!

[@jb6712]

Why in the world is it "weird, uncanny..."??? EVERYONE ages, it's part of life!

[@michaelpryor78]

@@jb6712 The lifespan and passage of time is a surreal concept to many

[@ohheyfullmetal]

*”The Procrastinator”* Me: Wait. But I didn’t live in the fifties...

[@weaponofmassconstruction1940]

You hadn't been born yet because you were procrastinating!

[@girlofJesus-333]

@@weaponofmassconstruction1940 👏🏾😂😂😂

[@poetcomic1]

I saw this last month and only now got around to telling you how much this has changed my life.

[@niapawina]

loool good one!!🤣

[@lizettewanzer8650]

🤣😂

[@Ballr00mBlitz]

just bcs you all suck no need to laugh at a man bettering himself.

[@HealingHappyAli]

Teens can't possibly party without a proper amount of crepe paper and Mom-made refreshments.

[@BudSchnelker]

Sandwiches. You need sandwiches.

[@claudiov5554]

That's not the point of the story

[@bobjames6622]

Never mind that, what about the crank!?

[@RCDiaz-Balart]

​@@bobjames6622 holy crap lol 😂 going through the comments to see "crank" 💀 laughed out loud..at the dentist.

[@MissysPinkCactus]

@@bobjames6622Not the Crank 🎉

[@jlewis9043]

I wish they had these shows when I was in school. Or maybe they did and I was doodling or doing my homework last minute for the next class.

[@honkhonk8009]

Bruh my mom was EXACTLY like this. Now that im in Uni, I kinda wish she was there to hound my ass into doin the right thing.

[@SandraNevermind]

1:22: “You fiddle-faddle your time away.” I’ll be using “fiddle-faddle” at every opportunity moving forward.

[@goodbonezz1289]

Don’t forget, Fiddle-Faddle are also delicious butterscotch/toffee/peanut popcorn snacks as well. You can enjoy fiddle-faddle as you fiddle-faddle.

[@barkingtree88]

If they were to remake this movie today they'd have her texting, on facebook, and watching youtube videos in addition to everything else! lol

[@mumunist2580]

Hey you still alive?

[@barkingtree88]

@@mumunist2580 I'll get around to telling you.... eventually!! ;)

[@vtuberuriguri2547]

@@barkingtree88 still waiting

[@heathershimamoto121]

I, too, am guilty of being a procrastinator, but there is a difference in putting off something that only affects me (like homework, Jim said) vs. putting off something that affects other people. In doing that, she's not respecting their time, since they have to jump at the last minute to get things done. They can't make any plans, for fear they'll be interrupted. They can't get their other work done, because they're busy compensating for someone else. Maybe it even wastes money, if they have to pay full price for an item they could've gotten cheaper if they'd had enough time to get it earlier. And in the case of her running late as a result of procrastinating, they all have to stay later and go to bed later, too. Procrastinating on something that only affects you is one thing. Procrastinating on something that affects others is quite another.

[@Dowlphin]

Oh, do I have a story about the latter. Someone agreeing to do a project with/for me. I deliver my part swiftly and thoroughly, the other guy procrastinates with ZERO work done, lack of communicating about what the problem is, then when I had enough and forced dialogue he started blaming ME for not bending over backwards and putting even more work into it in order to make it more convenient for him so he can caress his laziness. I am pretty sure the guy is autistic, but at the time it still hurt a lot and was infuriating, also because few people had a sense of decency while there was lots of defensive groupiedom. Anyway, procrastinators like shown in the video who hog work are the most upsetting. It must be stemming from a self-sabotating inferiority issue where they are so tormented by not performing well that they think grabbing more responsibilities will force them to achieve. Basically a fear-driven self-escalating doom spiral. Or maybe liking to imagine to be very important and needed but not liking the actual manifestation of it.

[@theoryofpersonality1420]

Everything you do affects someone else. Including your homework.

[@sarahday5669]

i am such a bad procrastinator and this actually helped me and i am going to try not to procrastinate now

[@r011ing_thunder6]

Why

[@02chevyguy]

I'll wish you good luck...but I'll do it later

[@ThinkandDew]

You can start tomorrow

[@charlesgwinter]

sounds like you're a great procrastinator to....oops gotta go!

[@worrywart1311]

@@ThinkandDew Or the day after,

[@lauradaly8020]

One of the ways that Jean procrastinated was to have the radio on when she was doing her homework. It interfered with her ability to concentrate on her studies. My mother never allowed me to have any noise or other distractions while I was doing my homework.

[@bucnner]

Then it was the radio, today it's TV, Streaming, and Podcasts. 😕

[@melanief.204]

In our English class (in Germany) we once watched a clip on the daily lives of American teenagers, and what absolutely shocked me was one girl turning the TV on before she started doing her homework (while she was eating chips). I still think about that quite often 😅 To me it seemed like the craziest thing someone could do 😄

[@monkeynumbernine]

Everyone has beautiful handwriting

[@jerichogonzales1290]

This one's been on my watch later list for about 11 years now

[@kevinp9110]

congrats! show's you have procrastinated for 11 good years that's like 4000+ Days! Well unlike Gene, you finally did it.

[@FurbyGender]

Jean teleported at about the 7:32 mark. She was slightly across the room before from her mother and then suddenly she was sitting on her mother's chair arm.

[@reggieedouard4361]

That's how she's so good at procrastination, instant transmission

[@virginiagirl6628]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Barbe]

Her name's Jean. Guess her powers?

[@Kanovskiy]

CIA redacted some frames.

[@stupidmango4036]

@@Kanovskiy wwwwwwwww...oooooooo..

[@tj921able]

I have a refrigerator magnet that says: DON'T RUSH ME...I'M WAITING FOR THE LAST MINUTE! 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@PamelaAlburquerque]

Here are the suggestions given to Jean! 》Assign some of the work to a committee and not try to do so much by yourself. 》Make a list of the things you have to do and the time you have to do them in and then try sticking with the list. 》Get the job started weeks ahead while you still have the time to get it finished. Don't put off everything to the last minute!

[@XxXShevampXxX]

Good breakdown 👍

[@jb6712]

COMMITTEE. You missed a couple of letters, thereby making a word that doesn't exist.

[@PamelaAlburquerque]

@@jb6712 thanks for the observation, I have corrected it. :)

[@Kanovskiy]

Good job Pamela!

[@madam8094]

Jean is probably around in her late 70s now, if she is alive.

[@madamekipperoni7598]

They really never trusted Jean...

[@CEOkiller]

It’s the bad influence of that rock and roll music Jean listens to…

[@catboxcleaner3532]

Especially with all the gang knowing how Jean operates, I wonder how, then, she was elected as party chairman instead of Marge, the responsible gal?

[@palaceofwisdom9448]

I put this video in my "watch later" list.

[@jim7627]

"Jean put off that birth control and ......"

[@markbrown4039]

If I ever asked my mother "What do you want?", I'd get a smack in the face.

[@sayitaintso8573]

Clicks “save to watch later”.

[@JPBAMA]

Jean follows Scarlett O'hara's motto "Tomorrow is another day! ' lol

[@radiofreejoanie]

Every time I do my nails, I think of this video.

[@nateboone5796]

Marge is really nice!!

[@frankfoxx3336]

why don't you have enough crepe paper? busy my foot!

[@RealSnuuy]

I literally wanted to watch this a few days ago but i was like "eh i can watch it the next day" and so on for 4 days until i finally watched it

[@dumspirospernwdss2036]

Story of my life regarding youtube...my "watch later" list can't fit another video

[@emmafrancis4727]

‘Jean.’ ‘Jean.’ ‘Jean.’ ‘Jean.’ ‘Jean!’ 🤣🤣

[@GloFreak]

OMG this hits WAY to close to home. I feel so convicted right now. 😮😂

[@bucnner]

Yeah... 😬

[@melodym7045]

This is true! It spirals into more and more

[@r011ing_thunder6]

Spiral into madness

[@EphemeralProductions]

Don't i know it? :(

[@retrobebop61]

Dixie Normous Like that evil rock and roll😂🤣

[@dannydougin3925]

I'd be carrying that radio out with me when I went. This party was 70 years ago! Jim sure was cute...

[@natattacc99]

Everything in this video keeps relating to me..I'm doing my nails right now lol

[@camrynstotesberry7363]

I’ve never felt so called out. I needed that

[@savannapierceshimomura]

Ah the day when homework didn’t take 5 hours every night

[@ilanamillion8942]

When I was in school, homework was pretty manageable but I understand that it is really crazy nowadays.

[@TP-om8of]

Kids were smarter back then. It didn’t take them as long.

[@bellaepperson9906]

@@TP-om8of I don’t know if they were smarter or just had less distraction.

[@cheese-bg1xq]

@@bellaepperson9906 Lower standards due to no internet

[@idgiveyoumynameifihadone5075]

it's so interesting watching these old habit/behavioral films because they always seem to take the schadenfreude route. They get their message across in the form of a person who ends up in a dilemma due to their bad habits. Not a negative opinion, just an observation.

[@frankstrawnation]

Shaming always works, even indirectly.

[@MB-dg3lr]

I don't see it as schadenfreude. More as a warning that everything has consequences and these are the consequences of this specific behavior. And that one is responsible both for the behavior and consequences, no victim mentality.

[@yasi5049]

oh wow, do english speakers use that word „schadenfreude“ too?

[@idgiveyoumynameifihadone5075]

@@yasi5049 not usually, but I've heard it used a couple tikes by english speakers. and there are some videos cover words that we don't have in english thag I've seen :)

[@rebeccaservais8115]

@@yasi5049 it's a world English took from German, like döppelganger

[@TP-om8of]

Most problems go away if you ignore them. That’s why procrastination is almost always the best policy.

[@Dowlphin]

Like if you need to repair a nuclear plant and you just ignore it, soon it won't be needing repair anymore. There is a serious element to it, though, which John Cleese mentioned: If you allow yourself more time to prepare for a task, you can find the best way to do it and prepare mentally for it. There's also the psychoanalysis of why people procrastinate and identifying societal issues causing that. Procrastination could be a form of rebellion against a stupid system based on a feeling of self-worth.

[@davemorgan6013]

The acting is... something else

[@cockeyedoptimista]

I like the subtle Kansas accents.

[@ratedasmr7811]

“Busy, my foot”

[@TJ-kk5zf]

take a drink every time somebody says Jean...

[@retrobebop61]

I will👍

[@xAutoTx]

In the context of the party, this seemed to be more a lesson in delegation and knowing your limits, something I learned much too late.

[@qzetu]

Jim set her right. LMAO.

[@Carcassbits11]

I'm probably ADHD, I can relate to this girl. Everyone thinks I'm a perfectionist and people always call me organized. I got my first F in 5th grade. I dropped out of community college. I've had a few office jobs where I'd been criticized for being disorganized and not having good follow through. KZbin, self help books, and articles really helped me become more organized. Also observing other organized people. Also if you're at work DO NOT PROCRASINATE AT ALL! If you don't do it you will be held accountable. Just freaking do it asap, if you can't then write a note in your planner. I love to do lists and shopping lists too. Automatically calendar updates. Your life will become easy

[@julieherz8909]

"works well under pressure"

[@ms.sherlock]

I plan to watch this video tomorrow.

[@kimmyqueen8009]

Funny how a video about procrastinating comes up 😂 thanks guys 🙏🏼😁😂

[@barbaraedgley2634]

Since childhood i usually d😢id things immediately in case something came up, so fortunately, thank the good Lord, i never had a problem with procrastination. Life has enough difficulties without adding to them!

[@JP-ve7or]

Wonder if Jean is still alive or if she fiddle faddled her life away...

[@DK-bl6nu]

Actually, this was filmed in 1953. You can see the year covered up when they show the calander.

[@redwingfan9393]

Jim is staging a palace coup.

[@FedUpSouthernGirl]

Priceless

[@CEOkiller]

Let’s go… er…. Brenda!

[@keishayacub7312]

Thank you. This was very informative.

[@dianne6046]

LOVE THE VIDEO..... ...... A great Lesson 🙆‍♀️ !!

[@frankfoxx3336]

now jim, there's no use getting upset about it.....

[@wendyjones6077]

I love these southern accents. It is so much more pleasing to the ear than the insufferable Valley Girl accent everybody fakes now. Will somebody please bring back these pleasing ways of speaking?

[@talosheeg]

sadly i have a natural valley girl accent, since i'm in the san fernando valley here in los angeles! but i do agree, i like the southern accents better

[@aleksandramakari]

Lol, my mom said she didn't know men could have valley girl accents too when she was on a phone call to a CA based company.

[@yuliasarzhevski5779]

The funny thing is that we believe that are nothing like these people just because we have internet and cellphones. I think, if Stone Age had movies, procrastination would have been a huge topic, too.

[@1timbarrett]

The Puritan Ethic in action… Thanks for this vintage film; it’s a hoot! 🙏 😂 🙏 😂 🙏

[@evelynmartini3608]

its so much easier to procrastinate now and it sucks

[@fob1xxl]

I've procrastinated my whole life ! I'm still doing it ! In fact, I probably won't even finish watching this video. I'll watch it later ! "SEE WHAT I MEAN!"😂😂😂😂😂

[@Renee-sk3ed]

Love it!

[@leonelegender]

Those videos are surprisingly useful

[@deepideepi1017]

i think this is a very useful video for even today!

[@brianbrian760]

I was completely shocked my gasp was flabbered😅😂😅

[@officialllama128]

I'm procrastinating right now. Oops😶

[@user-tv5ht8ig6q]

I will watch this film later !

[@michaelpryor78]

There isn't a single procrastinator ever who wouldn't let others take some of the work off their hands if offered the way Jean wouldn't

[@naungthaw]

This video makes me feel bad about myself! 😬

[@BrianRIngram]

Mrs. Hill calls off work to bake cookies for her daughter's high school party?????

[@musicalADD_theband]

Your friends are the ones who are most likely to convince you to make a change for yourself.

[@MissysPinkCactus]

I think these videos are highly entertaining!!! 🎉❤🎉

[@RoboCoonie]

I like that all of these "kids" look like they're in the early 20s.

[@janinedear-barlow]

No they don't

[@lazyhomebody1356]

Mid twenties

[@sage4839]

I can relate to this on an ADHD spiritual level.

[@ingriddubbel8468]

This isn't ADHD. This is being irresponsible.

[@sage4839]

@@ingriddubbel8468 Issa joke my dude chill

[@BadWolfSilence]

Ingrid Dubbel ADHD does often make it hard to do things you know you should do though, it’s called executive dysfunction.

[@EphemeralProductions]

BatgirltheRobin : don't I know it! I have adhd myself! I'm 45 though ; having stuff like this happen at my age does NOT cut the cheese and makes people even more unhappy than Jean dealt with!!! Lol

[@AngeloDiBen]

@@ingriddubbel8468you know nothing

[@shamrockwhite]

"fiddle faddle" ahahahaha

[@RKusmie64]

My dad always used to say "Stop fiddly fartin' around" :D

[@abbadabbba232]

10:40 "I know, but I'm gonna tell Jean something she should've been told a long time ago. Jean, YOU SUUUUUUUUCK!!!!" End of film.

[@ChrisStargazer]

Jim wore the same shirt a month later to decorate the gym. Groovy.

[@niapawina]

I... needed to see this. I'm a college student. Enough said...

[@teragram8006]

I think Gene and Jim ended up getting married. He seems like the voice-of-reason type who’s drawn to a woman that needs to be “fixed”. And I bet Gene got all love struck after he scolded her at the end 😂😂

[@Ella-hq9ih]

lol i laughed so hard, but you are right haha

[@Kat-vo9bq]

Love struck? She seemed upset to me

[@AriD2385]

Had the same thought lol

[@jb6712]

Her name was spelled J-E-A-N. The spelling, Gene, was and is, usually a boy's name, often a nickname for Eugene.

[@superlegoboysz]

when are we getting the anime adaptation

[@worrywart1311]

Marge raised another important issue early on: Hygiene! (or was it Hi, Jean?)

[@lazyhomebody1356]

I procastinate, but I would have zero problem assigning others to do my job!

[@indigothecat]

It seems like she may have ADHD, but even so, if the other kids knew she was a procrastinator, why did they vote her in? Or was it just JEeeuuhm (Jim) who voted against her?

[@niapawina]

Jeeeeuuhm🤣🤣

[@amyishere67]

I'm going to watch this later

[@khatzeye]

Jim was like fk that and went in on Jean 😂😂

[@samanthapeters8314]

If everyone knew that Jean wasn't capable of doing all that work by herself. Then they should have done it anyway. Meow Jim. Getting all nasty at Jean.

[@ms.sherlock]

if they elected her, it's on them😂

[@mariannehall2686]

Why can't Martha prepare the food herself?

[@captainwilliam3920]

I’m trying to think of a good comment, but I’m procrastinating, so I haven’t thought of an idea yet

[@NedTutlery1]

We are still waiting

[@dave23024]

I know exactly what they mean. I waited until 2023 to watch this!

[@onecoolcat2478]

These videos both make me laugh....and think

[@PrimeTasteTester30]

Thank you drew gorden

[@mayTK]

I feel like I'm being personally attacked by this video. lol

[@satanofficial3902]

"A catfish with false teeth gathers no cilantro." ---Albert Einstein

[@ruxrox]

! Yeah, I saw this in 7th grade. It changed my life! I delegate everything! My wife doesn't like passing wind, when I could've but, she accepted the task.

[@Narissa_1248]

My resume is open and pleading for me to finish updating it as I watch this… 😬

[@OmegaWolf747]

Never do today what can be put off till tomorrow. 😀

[@Keshia.means.GreatJoy]

I fall into this category lol

[@jaminova_1969]

I was going to watch this, but I keep putting it off.

[@MrSmackdab]

procrastination offers immediate rewards

[@trylikeafool]

Bingo. This is why ADHD is a thing. People with ADHD (low dopamine uptake in the brain) rely on immediate rewards to give the brain what it's craving. People without ADHD uptake dopamine normally, so they're less likely to need that immediate reward and are able to postpone the rewards much easier. They're also able to connect their present actions to future rewards, while people with ADHD are a bit time blind and have a much harder time making that connection.

[@TP-om8of]

I hope Martha brings coconut macaroons to the party. I love coconut macaroons!

[@panatypical]

​​@@trylikeafool Mr. Time Blindness. My alter ego with a stick that others beat me with.

[@germanicusfink2350]

The real question here is WHY DID THEY ELECT JEAN IN THE FIRST PLACE??!

[@peggystoutemorin4529]

Serves them right. They knew she was useless.

[@germanicusfink2350]

@@peggystoutemorin4529 They were charmed by her poisonality.

[@peggystoutemorin4529]

@@germanicusfink2350 She's one of those big talkers always up front.

[@brianqrcode1673]

Maybe she was "fast".

[@germanicusfink2350]

@@brianqrcode1673 "Fast"? As in "easy"?

[@maunster3414]

Who voted Jean as chair? Oh, the class did.

[@catboxcleaner3532]

And, Jim knew the angle on how that would turn out, yet somehow, the kids still elected Jean as committee chairman for their party, months away. Maybe because her nails were so shiny; she must be able to throw a great shindig! After all, she worked on those nails instead of homework, or dishes.