ODD COUPLE, THE: TWO ON THE AISLE (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about Oscar Madison and Felix Unger, two divorced men who share an apartment in New York City.
Oscar is assigned to fill in for his paper’s theater critic and cover the opening of a new play, although he protests that he has no idea how to write theater criticism. Perplexed by this assignment and by the play, which appears to be some sort of bizarre experimental musical, he decides to try to convince Felix to do it for him. He pretends that he is sorry for constantly denigrating Felix and offers him the tickets to the show as a “gift,” but Felix already has plans with Miriam that night. Oscar convinces Felix to take Miriam with him to the opening as part of their date. Felix gets home shortly before the deadline for the review, and Oscar anxiously waits up for him. He tries to get Felix to talk about the show so he can write his article, but Felix does not understand the meaning behind his urgency. Felix offers a more detailed analysis of the show, and then Oscar rushes off to utilize it for his review.
The review ends up being quite well-received, so much so that Oscar is put on theater review duty for several weeks by his boss, much to his irritation. Felix makes a surprise visit to Oscar’s office for lunch and mentions to Myrna that he did not attend the show. She feels betrayed by Oscar’s dishonesty and suggests that he tell Felix the truth and simply attend the theater alongside him. He refuses, fearing a lecture from Felix, and gets Myrna to keep the matter secret. Oscar continues sending Felix to the theater for two weeks in this fashion, but one night Felix gets tired of going and wants a break from it. Felix notices Oscar’s theater review in the paper and calls whoever wrote it “brilliant,” as Oscar has not signed any of the reviews to his name. However, Felix soon discovers Oscar’s deception on his own and confronts him about it. He is angry that Oscar lied to him and exploited him in order to save himself from embarrassment at his office. Felix refuses to assist him any longer, leaving Oscar to try to review the next play, an English-language revival of Jean Anouilh’s Humulus le Muet, himself.
However, Oscar has no confidence in his ability to do the review and keeps trying to convince Felix to help him. In frustration, Oscar prepares to call the paper and tell them the truth, but Felix’s interest is piqued when Oscar mentions how many compliments “his” reviews got around the office. Felix feels guilty about his now-influential reviews, as he blames himself for a show he didn’t like closing soon after he saw it. However, by playing to Felix’s ego, Oscar convinces him to attend the next opening with him. Felix comes out to tell Oscar about the play after it ends, but is distracted by a chance encounter with playwright Neil Simon. Oscar’s mood sours when he learns that his newspaper intends to put him on a televised panel discussion on theater. He feels ill-equipped to participate, but Felix comes up with an idea that could save them both. Oscar appears on the panel with several other theater critics, and with Felix; Felix poses as Oscar’s dentist and claims that Oscar is unable to speak following a major dental operation. Felix engages in discussion with the other panelists, but comes overly enthusiastic about it, much to Oscar’s distress. Felix continues to argue with the other panelists, causing them to storm off in disgust. This incident reveals the truth about Oscar’s reviews to his editor, who is incensed at him. Felix writes letters of apology to the other critics and Oscar halfheartedly signs a letter of apology from him to Felix, written by Felix himself. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:28:33
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:12778
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Roommates
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1970-1975
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – Anacin headache relief
- TV – Commercials – Butterball turkeys
- TV – Commercials – Canada Dry club soda
- TV – Commercials – Lipton tea
- TV – Commercials – Maybelline cosmetics
CREDITS
- Sheldon Keller … Executive Producer
- Garry Marshall … Executive Producer, Developed by
- Tony Marshall … Producer
- Nick Abdo … Associate Producer
- Carl Mahakian … Associate Producer
- Jay Sandrich … Director
- Jerry Belson … Developed by
- Mark Rothman … Writer
- Lowell Ganz … Writer
- Neil Simon … Based on the play "The Odd Couple" by
- Neal Hefti … Music by
- Tony Randall … Cast, Felix Unger
- Jack Klugman … Cast, Oscar Madison
- Penny Marshall … Cast, Myrna
- John Barbour … Cast, Moderator
- Joan Crosby … Cast, Herself
- John Simon … Cast, Himself
- Dan Sullivan … Cast, Himself
- Neil Simon … Cast, Himself
- Jean Anouilh