The Tony Randall Show (1975-77)

Judge Franklin, Mario Lanza.

None of that was the least bit funny, OP.

Sorry, I got the years wrong: It aired from 1976-78.

You had me until "Golden Girls," OP.

I do not approve of the furniture placement.

Rachel Roberts was great as the housekeeper too.

Only on DL would a sitcom written by the past or future producers of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, the Bob Newhart Show, M*A*S*H, WKRP in Cincinnati, Family Ties and Cheers be called unfunny.

I don't remember this show at all. I do remember Love, Sidney

[quote] Only on DL would a sitcom written by the past or future producers of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, the Bob Newhart Show, M*A*S*H, WKRP in Cincinnati, Family Ties and Cheers be called unfunny.

Mary!

They must be INCAPABLE of failure!

It was ok. But, not in the same league as the other MTM shows.

Even Phyllis, which was kinda dumb, was better.

The only thing I remember about that show was the girl who showed her bush in The Betsy replaced George C. Scott's daughter, as Tony Randall's daughter.

(Devon Scott, Penny Peyser)

I get Penny Peyser mixed up with Penny Fuller.

R12 You'e Fuller shit.

Not funny. Painful actually

Every line a one liner joke. Yeah, people really talk like that.

That was the way sitcoms were done in the 70s--it was just one-liner after one-liner.

Sitcoms had taken that form from all the Jewish-American NYC comedy writers who had written comedy routines for Borscht Belt comedians, and one-liners were what they knew from that experience. The genius of someone like Mary Tyler Moore (both on her show and The Dick van Dyke Show) was that she made the humor come much more out of her reactions and character than out of the one-liners, and on her own show, the best of the other comic actors (like Betty White and Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman followed suit). That paved the way for shows like "Cheers" where the comedy was more character based than one-liner based.

I can't help thinking of "Cheers" while I watch the OP's clips because although Allyn Ann McLerie is fine as Miss Ruebner, someone like Bebe neuwirth could have made her jokes ten times funnier by being more deeply in character (Miss Ruebner is like a sketch for Dr. Lilith Sternin-Crane if Lilith had been a Republican). I think comedians were urged to play their roles more deeply in character by the time of "Cheers."

(Interesting side fact: both McLerie and Neuwirth started out as dancers, and moved into comedy acting.)

All in the Family, Golden Girls, were full one liners but they also had dialog, character development, and relationships. Maybe why they are beloved shows. Which this appears not to have.

I remember this was show that was discussed at work the next day ... I guess a "water-cooler show" of the time. But obviously it wasn't popular enough to last. But it was one of my favorites at the time. I hope one of the mesothelioma channels picks it up despite the fact that there aren't that many episodes out there.

Penny Peyser's father was a Congressman from New York.

I remember when it was on but didn't know anyone who watched it and never heard it discussed.

McLerie really stole the show! This show seemed to be boring when she wasn't on it.

I remember her years later as Molly Dodd's mother.

Michael Keaton in an episode.

And there's an old fashioned cigarette machine at the end! Those used to be EVERYWHERE.

Vaguely remember it. Must have not made much of an impression on me. I recall much better other shows at that time.

As stated above, Welsh actress Rachel Roberts excelled at playing a dour, German housekeeper. Unfortunately an alcoholic in real life, Roberts would later kill herself by swallowing insecticide (or possibly rat poison) at her Los Angeles home at age 53.

"Miss Reubner, have you ever thought seriously about suicide?"

"If you're not satisfied with my work, I'd rather just quit."

L O L

I didn’t watch the whole compilation OP so I’m not sure if this exchange is in it, but I’ve remembered it since I was a kid:

“I figure skated as a child. I have very strong thighs”

“Well let’s see them Miss Rubber!”

^^ ok - autocorrect made that even more risqué.

Penny Peyser was adorable.

If she had played Tony's daughter in season 1, the show might have made it.

The original daughter (George C. Scott's real-life daughter) was a water buffalo.

For the first time in his career, Randall played it straight, which he allegedly was in real life.

I just can't wrap my head around Tony really being straight!

He would have been 100 years old next spring.

Watched it long enough to see 3 scenes and none of them made me even smile.

I couldn't finish the clip either. The secretary is just annoying.

The secretary is fabulous!

Well it may have had a lot of things going for it.....but then it also had Tony Randall.....

Just what are you implying, R30?

Tony was a complete asshole. I have a friend who worked with him, and he was a nightmare.

When he was on the old Hollywood Squares daytime he used to sit in the bottom right corner. He wore big black rimmed sunglasses and had a pissy look on his face.

When someone called on him - usually because they HAD to for a block. He would take off the sunglasses and spit out an answer then put the sunglasses back on. He never tried to make a joke or have fun with Peter Marshall or the other "stars." It was hilarious when he was wrong.

If he didn't want to be there, why did they ask him to come? He was a jerk.