Mork & Mindy: Invasion of the Mork Snatchers

Mork & Mindy: Invasion of the Mork Snatchers
ABC
March 20, 1980
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This Tenowich & Sharlach episode hasn't aged well, not just because the references to specific ads are very dated.  I mean, yes, I vaguely remember "Chow Chow Chow" for cat food, and the hand lotion thing about which one is the mother, but these aren't inherently funny in the way that, for instance, two of the Calgon commercials were ("Calgon, take me away!" and "Ancient Chinese secret, huh?").  It's also that the message that child-like (except when he's making sex jokes) Mork needs to just use careful judgment when shopping feels even more contrived than it did back then.  Yes, I get it, this is a network show and you can't have a totally anti-advertising message, but it does weaken the episode to pull back into wishy-washiness.  Note the Ray Walston reference, which almost qualifies as a double in-joke, since not only was My Favorite Martian a sort of predecessor to this show, but Williams would at the time of this episode's shooting probably not yet have filmed his Popeye scenes with Walston as Poopdeck Pappy.

Gina Hecht's absence is referenced, as if M & M couldn't have had just Remo over for dinner.  Samantha Harper, who plays Mrs. L.W., was Nurse Burke on The Bob Newhart Show.  Laxative Salesman Terrence McNally would be Brad on Who's the Boss?  And, yes, that's That Girl's Ruth Bauman, AKA Alice Borden, as the Floor Wax Saleswoman.

The Bob Newhart Show: Father Knows Worst

The Bob Newhart Show: Father Knows Worst
CBS
November 4, 1972
Sitcom
DVD
C+

I was trying to figure out why this episode, the first of twenty for the show written by Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses, doesn't quite work.  I have no problem with either Howard's son Howie (Moosie Drier) or his ex-wife Lois (the coincidentally named Alice Borden, who was one of the actresses to play Ruth Bauman on That Girl).  They both have a relaxed, believable delivery.  I'm afraid the problem is with Howard.  It's a combination of the audience not yet getting the humor of this character, and his behaving in an annoying way.  I wasn't too thrilled with Bob and Jerry either, who do little to help, not even loan him a jacket to cover the water stain on his shirt.  Although BNS starts out more itself than M*A*S*H, it's still not quite there yet early in the first season.

The Lady Patient (the pregnant one) is played by Kit Smythe, who was Ginger on the original Gilligan's Island pilot, although viewers of course wouldn't know that yet.

That Girl: Stag Party

Suffice to say, my image search for
"that girl stag party" was not successful.

That Girl: Stag Party
ABC
February 26, 1971
Sitcom
DVD
C+

I didn't really care for this Turteltaub-Orenstein story, except for the last few minutes, where there's a twist in the plot, followed by a sort of sweet scene with Don and Ann.  Note the continuity error of Jerry having been married to Ruthie for seven years.  (And whatever happened to Margie, the woman he married in '67?)

Hal Williams makes his second appearance on the show, as Herbie Robinson, while Jerry Fogel's last TG role is as Frankie

That Girl: That King

More natural look

That Girl: That King
ABC
February 19, 1971
Sitcom
DVD
C+

In Warren S. Murray's last TG story, David Doyle sets Ann up on a date with a bratty preteen king who wears as much makeup as she does.  (So that's where glam rock started!)  Waiter Herbie Faye previously was Milton.

That Girl: A Limited Engagement

That Girl: A Limited Engagement
ABC
January 15, 1971
Sitcom
DVD
B

Turteltaub and Orenstein contribute a surprisingly dark (by TG standards) episode where Donald gets cold feet and the engagement is temporarily broken off.  Ann is confused and upset, but Lew offers some comfort.  And Donald and Ann make up of course.  I was particularly impressed by Kopell's acting here, doing well with the unaccustomed drama.

Buddy Lester makes his last TG appearance, as the man waiting for the elevator.

That Girl: Those Friars

That Girl: Those Friars
ABC
January 8, 1971
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Milton Berle and Danny Thomas fight over a trunk belonging to Ann's late great-uncle, Harry Marie.  Later Ann does a vaudeville act with both performers.  Sorry, but I think Carol and Marcia Brady would later do a better job with "Together (Wherever We Go)".

Morty Gunty plays Sandy Stone for the last time.  Moving Man Fabian Dean previously played a Messenger.

That Girl: That Senorita

That Girl: That Senorita
ABC
December 11, 1970
Sitcom
DVD
C+

The topic of sensitivity to racial stereotypes is handled clumsily but sincerely in this Turteltaub-Orenstein story.  It's strange watching Jerry do ethnic humor, and then apologize for it, considering the stereotypes Kopell was then happily perpetuating on Lancelot Link.  Note, Ruthie has recently given birth, but that's the only mention since her pregnancy announcement nine months earlier.  Ann at one point wears a caftan that looks like a Twister board.

Army Archerd played himself earlier but this episode is a nameless TV Critic.  Sarah Fankboner is Miss Juanez here and would later appear on M*A*S*H.  Forrest Compton was the earlier actor for Jonathan Adams but here plays George Phillips.  Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr., is Rudy Sanchez here and earlier was the P.A. Announcer.  Alejandro Rey was Eduardo Guzman before and is Felix here.  Dick Yarmy is Fred Thompson here and would later be a Cashier.  This is the 100th TV program I've given a C+ to.

That Girl: They Shoot Pictures, Don't They?

That Girl: They Shoot Pictures, Don't They?
ABC
March 12, 1970
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This is one of the better Turteltaub-Orenstein scripts, although it still feels a little off.  Ann, Donald, and a newly hirsute Jerry (mustache and mutton-chops) come back from seeing an independent film and decide to shoot one of their own.  But when Ann and Don screen footage that he shot of Ann washing the windows, the apartment visible in the background seems to contain Ruthie kissing a strange man.  Ann assumes she's having an affair, and blames Jerry!  It turns out Ruthie is pregnant, and was kissing the tenant across the way, who's promised to move out so she and Jerry can move in.  Kopell does a good job of acting ecstatic over the news of his impending fatherhood, especially considering Borden is the third woman to play his wife on the show.

Bobo Lewis again is Gloria at the answering service.

That Girl: Kiss That Girl Goodbye

Color combinations previously unimaginable

That Girl: Kiss That Girl Goodbye
ABC
November 27, 1969
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Donald has a chance to be associate editor for another publication, but he'd have to move to Paris.  Thanks to Jerry, Ann assumes Donald will take the job and she gets very upset.  Lew tries to comfort her.  Donald instead gets a job as associate editor at his current magazine.  He's definitely making more progress in his career than Ann is in hers.  One of the co-writers of the episode, Lynne Farr, would go on to write for The Bob Newhart Show.

That Girl: Fix My Screen & Bug Out

That Girl: Fix My Screen & Bug Out
ABC
November 20, 1969
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this Orenstein-Turteltaub script, which is also the first that Turteltaub directed, Ann's ex-boyfriend (played by Gidget Goes Hawaiian's Michael Callan) is her new landlord, still "in love" with her.  They dated four years ago, which definitely fits the timeline of the show better than Donald having known her for four years.  The fashions aren't too bad this time, and I like that Ruthie is rockin' the paisley.

Andre Philippe plays pretty much the same role as before, except this time named Gino instead of Dino.  Penny Marshall plays the secretary Joan.

That Girl: Write is Wrong

Horrible or wonderful?  Late '60s
TV fashions are at least interesting.

That Girl: Write is Wrong
ABC
November 6, 1969
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This is set a few months after the previous episode and has Don, at Ann's urging, turning his article on being snowed in at JFK into a sitcom script, only to have the script completely rewritten.  The self-parody could be sharper but it's not bad.

Forrest Compton plays Jonathan Adams here and would later be George Phillips.  Arthur Julian, who's playing scriptwriter Milton East, wrote three TG episodes and had three earlier roles.  William Schallert is Harry Cook.  And Alice Borden takes over the role of Ruthie Bauman (helpfully introducing herself at the door as Ann's best friend).