Diff'rent Strokes: The Tutor

Diff'rent Strokes: The Tutor
NBC
February 9, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

In this Sandy Veith story, the title character, Danny Rose (Barry Diamond, who'd be Albon Degas on Bosom Buddies), has an informal, sort of Kotteresque approach, which rubs Mr. Drummond the wrong way.  I could've done with less of the ethnic accents, as well as Mr. D calling his Japanese client "inscrutable."  I do like how Danny figures out why Willis has a block about 1975, the year his father died, although that's not exactly the year most identified with Watergate.

Soap: Episode 43

Soap: Episode 43
ABC
February 8, 1979
Dramedy
DVD
B

This Harris & Silver episode is again an improvement over most of the season, although it does start with the worst recap poem so far.  Burt finds out that Sally lied about him sleeping even with her, and that she's being blackmailed by Ingrid Svenson.  Corinne's baby makes the whole household lose sleep.  Alice and Danny meet, and she's surprised he's Jodie's brother, while he's surprised she's gay.  (He's apparently never heard of lesbians before.)  Mary and Jessica discuss the pros and cons of affairs, and Jessica decides to have one with Detective Donahue.   Unfortunately, Chester returns home, and the last scene is near perfect, especially of course Benson.  Note that Benson calls Mary by her first name, while Jessica is always "Mrs. Tate" to him.

By the Fall, Caroline McWilliams and Inga Swenson would both be on Benson, but the former does make one more appearance on this show.  Eunice is mentioned but not shown, and Chuck and Bob aren't even mentioned, but then no scenes are set at the Campbell household.  This is the first of 32 Soap episodes J.D. Lobue would direct, although the only one for this season.  And this is the 300th B I've given.

Mork & Mindy: Mork Goes Erk

Mork & Mindy: Mork Goes Erk
ABC
February 8, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
B-

I wish I could give this a B, considering it has not only Poston and Fairchild, but David Letterman as an EST-like motivational speaker.  But I feel like it's not as good as it could be.  Still, I like seeing the various personalities bounce off each other, and of course I like that Mindy gives Mork a little kiss to convince him that, one, he does have emotions and that's a good thing, and two, he therefore shouldn't leave Earth.  Cora is absent, although there is a scene set at the music store.  And we get to see Susan's apartment again.  (It's nothing like before as far as I recall.)

Three's Company: The Catered Affair

Three's Company: The Catered Affair
ABC
February 6, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This Gordon & Mendelsohn story would get the standard B- but it's a bit creepy that not only does the President of Chrissy's company, Mr. Penrose (Macon McCalman), hit on her, but her boss, JC Braddock (Emmaline Henry again), and roommates let her risk "losing something besides her job" just so his wife can catch him making a pass at Chrissy.  And at the risk of sounding pervy myself, I do have to note that Chrissy is wearing a sheer dress which is very revealing during the moments when the front ruffles are raised.  Even though this aired almost three months after the previous Braddock episode, she's only been working for JC a couple weeks.

Macon McCalman had played Dr. Malcolm on The Bob Newhart Show and it adds to the creepiness of this episode that he'd come back, twice, as Janet's father!

M*A*S*H: C*A*V*E

M*A*S*H: C*A*V*E
CBS
February 5, 1979
Dramedy
DVD
B

If you can get past Hawkeye and Margaret having previously unmentioned fears-- claustrophobia and loud noises respectively-- this Balmagia & Graham story is good.  I like them confiding in each other, briefly finding comfort in each other's arms (just a hug, but a small echo of their one night together, and BJ refers to "the backseat"), and then overcoming their fears to save a patient.  Also, it's nice to have a different setting for most of the episode.  Notice that BJ humbly takes a patient's advice, while Charles remains both whiny and arrogant.  And we find out that Charles, Klinger, and Father Mulcahy all have the same blood type.

Basil Hoffman (this time Maj. Bartruff), Enid Kent (Bigelow), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), and Jennifer Davis Westmore (like before, a nameless Nurse) return.  Radar is referred to but his absence unexplained.

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."

Diff'rent Strokes: The Relative

Diff'rent Strokes: The Relative
NBC
February 2, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Sanford and Son's Lawanda Page guest-stars as the boy's cousin from Detroit, Myrtle Waters, in this Fox & Jacobs story.  I might've gone with a B-, but I'm not sure how much we're supposed to believe Myrtle even after her confession.  By this point in the season, the studio audience is tuned into Arnold's most famous catchphrase, and "Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis?" even gets a little applause.