That Girl: The Good Skate

That Girl: The Good Skate
ABC
September 14, 1967
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Tom and Helen's fourth TG script never seems to jell, although some of that may be due to Jeff Hayden's direction (his first of two for TG).  I can see they're trying to derive humor from both Ann's skating mishaps and Don's failure as an actor, but the bowling episode was better and the one about him writing for her clicked more.  Also, the whole time I was watching, I kept thinking Why is your soft drink named after a snack cake? (A snack cake that had been around for over 35 years at that point.)  Still it is kind of fun to hear someone as square as Donald keep talking about "the groove."

Rob Reiner makes his final appearance on TG, as a Hairdresser.  Richard Jury is a Businessman here and would be an Airman later.

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.

That Girl: All About Ann

That Girl: All About Ann
ABC
December 1, 1966
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This is Milton Pascal's second TG script and again features Ann training to be a better actress.  But mostly the episode is about a misunderstanding, where Don is gathering information on Ann for an article he wants to surprise her with, while she, encouraged by best friend Judy, thinks he's cheating on her with a girl from her acting workshop.  It sounds farcical, but it plays out so that we feel Ann's pain, and that makes the episode less enjoyable.  If this were a more cartoonish show, like Three's Company, we could shake our heads at the failure to communicate, while here Donald and Ann are enough like real people that it's like watching our friends be stupid.  I think both are to blame, he for keeping the article secret, and she for jumping to conclusions.

This is the first of ten TG episodes John Erman would direct.  And, yes, that's nineteen-year-old Rob Reiner as Chuck, his first of three TG roles.