Wait Till Your Father Gets Home: Love Story

Alice tries to talk Harry into a more modern wardrobe.

Wait Till Your Father Gets Home: Love Story
Syndicated
October 17, 1972
Cartoon, Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this story by Jack Elinson and Norman Paul, Alice falls for another Norman (voiced by Marvin Kaplan), a young man who begs for a living.  He proposes to 16-year-old Alice, so Harry puts his foot down.  The twist is that Norman is actually from a wealthy family and is a smart investor, so Alice is turned off.

Gidget: Don't Defrost the Alligator

Gidget: Don't Defrost the Alligator
ABC
April 21, 1966
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This is a very silly episode to end on, as symbolized by the fact that the most recognizable guest star is Marvin Kaplan.  Of course, no one knew that Gidget wouldn't be renewed, and it was in fact a hit in summer reruns.  But this was the end of the line for this particular series, although of course not for Gidget the character.  The show was never amazing, but it was solid (averaging out to a B-) and could've run another couple years, maybe till Gidget went off to college.  That said, it's so representative of the mid-'60s that it is hard to quite imagine how it would've looked in '68, let alone beyond.