That Girl: The Other Woman

That Girl: The Other Woman
ABC
February 1, 1968
Sitcom
DVD
B+

This is not only better than the other Ethel Merman episode, but it's very funny.  Written by Richard Baer, it has a gossip columnist claiming Ethel is dating Lew.  Helen believes the story and wants to go home to her mother, in Phoenix.  Things get farcical, with a self-awareness that they are, as with Lew hiding behind a screen in Ethel's dressing room.  Everyone has something to do and they play off each other very well.  Arthur Julian has a scene-stealing role as the Waiter (you can't not laugh when he calls Donald a hippie); he would not only play three other roles on the show, but he'd write three episodes.

That Girl: Pass the Potatoes, Ethel Merman

That Girl: Pass the Potatoes, Ethel Merman
ABC
September 7, 1967
Sitcom
DVD
C+

As you'll guess from the title, Ethel Merman makes her first of two TG appearances playing herself.  Unfortunately the script by James L. Brooks needed a rewrite.  Why is there a scene of Ann calling everyone in Brewster about her role in a show with Merman and then a later scene where her father seems to have no awareness of the identity of Ann's dinner guest?  Why does Donald gently throw all the neighbors out and then later Ann's living room is packed to the gills?  The episode is basically a showcase for Merman, with Ann very starstruck, and as such it's not terrible, but it's never as great as it thinks it is.

Joy Harmon had been on Gidget twice and is Miss Bridges here.  Sandy Kenyon had also been on Gidget, and his role as Ed Burns is his first of two on TG.  Renata Vanni makes her first of five TG appearances, playing Mrs. Rose Brentano like usual.  Carolan Daniels takes over as Jerry's wife (and now Ann's neighbor) Ruth Bauman.  This is the first of five TG episodes directed by James Frawley.