Three's Company: Hearts and Flowers

Three's Company: Hearts and Flowers
ABC
February 2, 1982
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Ellen Guylas wrote this episode that never quite overcomes the fact that Jack dates someone Janet hates.  An efficiency expert named Bobbi (played by Laurie Lee Schaefer, Miss America 1972) is driving Janet crazy, but she drives Jack crazy in a different sense, so he asks her out, not knowing that she's been making Janet's life very stressful.  The scene of Jack, Terri, and Mr. Furley making nuisances of themselves to get Bobbi fired and/or get Janet her job back is probably the best thing here.  Note that Terri was really big on knee socks this season.

Rod Colbin, who was Cindy's boss Mr. Hadley the previous season, is Mr. Franklin, the president of Janet's florist chain.  Among Jane Dulo's many, many TV appearances were two on That Girl and two on Welcome Back, Kotter; she's the nameless Customer who interacts with Jack, and the next season she'd get a recurring role on Gimme a Break! (which I don't own but did watch).

Welcome Back, Kotter: Barbarino's Baby

Paintings in the elevator?  Um, OK.

Welcome Back, Kotter: Barbarino's Baby
ABC
February 3, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This Morris & Rauseo episode marks the last appearance of Travolta and it's not a bad note to end on.  Vinnie tries to impress Nurse Bonney (Jane Dulo again) but she just keeps giving him mop duty.  Then he, his friends, and Sidney and Myrna Fishbein (Henry Corden, best known as the voice of Fred Flintsone, and Mary Jo Catlett, who keeps popping up more than I expected), a couple who are about to have their eighth child, are trapped in an elevator.  The outcome is somewhat predictable but the energy level is higher than lately and the writing a little sharper, like Epstein's "Otis" joke.  Far from a classic episode, but good for the final season.  And it does have Mr. Woodman disco-dancing as he sings "Macho Man."

Welcome Back, Kotter Barbarino's Boo-Boo

Welcome Back, Kotter Barbarino's Boo-Boo
ABC
October 21, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
C

The show switched over to Saturdays at 8, nudging Carter Country (then in its second and last season) to 8:30.  I followed WBK over, since I wasn't watching Rhoda or CHiPs, and I still felt somewhat invested in the cast.  This episode though, despite the presence of both Kotter and Barbarino, isn't exactly the kind of thing that would've won me over as a new viewer.  It starts out OK, with Vinnie dealing with both disapproving Nurse Bonney (Dulo) and bunion surgery patient Woodman.  Even Vinnie misplacing Woodman is all right, but it leads to some unfunny slapstick, including against random patients.  This is the first of four WBK stories by Linda Morris and Vic Rauseo, so I guess in a way it's their boo-boo.

That Girl: The Hi-Jack and the Mighty

That Girl: The Hi-Jack and the Mighty
ABC
October 3, 1968
Sitcom
DVD
B-

The Ruth Brooks Flippen script is an improvement, with an intriguing concept, as Ann has a chance to play stewardess "on the air and in the air."  Unfortunately, there's too much going on and the focus keeps shifting, with subplots brought up and then abandoned, like Ann and Donald planning to spend time together in Miami, despite Lew's disapproval, and the real stewardess, Terry (Arlene Golonka), being romantically interested in Donald.  The "hi-jack" of the title is relatively timely, as are the references to Castro's Cuba.  I do like how the rumors spread on board, and the passengers are funny.

Leon Colker makes his second of four TG appearances, this time as Hoffman, while Arthur Julian makes his third of four, as Binswanger.  And this time Jane Dulo is Mrs. Stevenson.

That Girl: This Little Piggy Had a Ball

That Girl: This Little Piggy Had a Ball
ABC
March 23, 1967
Sitcom
DVD
B

This middle of five collaborations between Arnold Margolin and Jim Parker has Ann in a very Lucy Ricardo kind of situation, with her toe stuck in a bowling ball when she has to go to a banquet on behalf of a friend, but it does play out differently.  We again see how supportive, literally as well as figuratively, Donald is and the last scene with them is sexy as well as sweet.  The episode is also notable for funny people in minor roles, including the first of two TG guest shots for Teri Garr (then going by Terry) and the second of three for Rob Reiner.  The instantly recognizable Jane Dulo plays the Nurse (a typical role for her, she'd be a Nurse on Welcome Back, Kotter for instance) and would return to the show later.

Shirley Bonne plays Sharon Hackett and was Charlotte on the Pilot.  Burt Taylor was a Waiter, is Frank here, and would be an M.C. later.  The Fireman is the second of four roles Jerry Fogel would play on the show.