"The Odd Couple" (1970) TV series 1970-1975

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Writers:

(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

24 September 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Two men, a neat freak and a slob separated from their wives, have to live together despite their differences.

Plot Keywords:

Odd Couple | Perspective | Friends Who Hate Each Other | Roommate | Cult TV

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 13 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 21	2:00 AM	CW	What Does a Naked Lady Say to You?	#1.23
Wed. July 22	2:00 AM	CW	Trapped	#1.24

Cast

Tony Randall	...	Felix Unger / ... (114 episodes, 1970-1975)
Jack Klugman	...	Oscar Madison / ... (114 episodes, 1970-1975)
Al Molinaro	...	Police Officer Murray Greshler / ... (44 episodes, 1970-1975)

(more)

Series Directed by
Jerry Paris		(18 episodes, 1970-1975)
Jack Donohue		(14 episodes, 1971-1975)
Hal Cooper		(11 episodes, 1970-1973)
Mel Ferber		(11 episodes, 1971-1974)
Frank Buxton		(9 episodes, 1973-1975)
Bruce Bilson		(6 episodes, 1970-1971)
Garry Marshall		(6 episodes, 1971-1974)
Jay Sandrich		(6 episodes, 1971-1974)
George Tyne		(5 episodes, 1970-1972)
Harvey Miller		(5 episodes, 1974)
Robert Birnbaum		(4 episodes, 1972-1973)
Norm Gray		(4 episodes, 1973-1975)
Jerry Belson		(3 episodes, 1971-1973)
Alan Rafkin		(3 episodes, 1971)
Charles R. Rondeau		(2 episodes, 1970)
Alex March		(2 episodes, 1972)
George Marshall		(2 episodes, 1972)

Series Writing credits
Lowell Ganz		(12 episodes, 1973-1974)
Mark Rothman		(12 episodes, 1973-1974)
Garry Marshall		(8 episodes, 1970-1973)
Harvey Miller		(8 episodes, 1970-1973)
Dick Bensfield		(7 episodes, 1970-1974)
Perry Grant		(7 episodes, 1970-1974)
Ron Friedman		(7 episodes, 1970-1973)
Bill Idelson		(6 episodes, 1970-1972)
Albert E. Lewin		(6 episodes, 1970-1972)
Neil Simon		(6 episodes, 1970)
Rick Mittleman		(6 episodes, 1971-1974)
Peggy Elliott		(5 episodes, 1970-1972)
Ed Scharlach		(5 episodes, 1970-1972)
Mickey Rose		(5 episodes, 1971-1974)
Frank Buxton		(5 episodes, 1972-1975)
Jack Winter		(4 episodes, 1971-1975)
Bob Brunner		(4 episodes, 1972-1973)
David W. Duclon		(4 episodes, 1973-1975)
Jerry Belson		(3 episodes, 1970-1972)
Art Baer		(3 episodes, 1972-1974)
Ben Joelson		(3 episodes, 1972-1974)
Michael Leeson		(3 episodes, 1972-1974)
Joe Glauberg		(3 episodes, 1972-1973)
Bill Angelos		(3 episodes, 1973-1975)
Buz Kohan		(3 episodes, 1973-1975)
Bob Rodgers		(2 episodes, 1970-1972)
Gordon Mitchell		(2 episodes, 1970-1971)
Lloyd Turner		(2 episodes, 1970-1971)
Martin Cohan		(2 episodes, 1971-1972)
Alan Mandel		(2 episodes, 1971)
Dennis Klein		(2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Phil Mishkin		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Martin Donovan		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
John Rappaport		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Howard Merrill		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Jerry Belson	....	executive producer / associate producer (6 episodes, 1970)
Jerry Davis	....	producer (6 episodes, 1970)
Garry Marshall	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1970)
Charles Shyer	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1970)

Series Original Music by
Neal Hefti		(6 episodes, 1970)
Harry Geller		(unknown episodes)
Kenyon Hopkins		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Lester Shorr		(6 episodes, 1970)

Series Film Editing by
Robert James Kern		(30 episodes, 1971-1973)
Rod Stephens		(5 episodes, 1972-1973)
Bob Moore		(4 episodes, 1970-1973)
Jerry Dronsky		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Millie Gusse		(1 episode, 1970)

Series Art Direction by
John M. Elliott		(6 episodes, 1970)
Bill Ross		(6 episodes, 1970)

Series Set Decoration by
Anthony D. Nealis		(6 episodes, 1970)

Series Makeup Department
Sharleen Rassi	....	key hair stylist (90 episodes, 1971-1975)

Series Production Management
James H. Brown	....	unit manager (6 episodes, 1970)
Ted Leonard	....	executive production manager (6 episodes, 1970)
Edward K. Milkis	....	post-production supervisor (6 episodes, 1970)
Sam Strangis	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1970)
Byron Chudnow	....	post-production supervisor (5 episodes, 1970)
Jack Sonntag	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marty Moss	....	assistant director (6 episodes, 1970)
Norm Gray	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)
Richard Learman	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Doug Grindstaff	....	supervising sound effects editor (6 episodes, 1970)
James R. Wright	....	sound mixer (6 episodes, 1970)

Series Casting Department
Mike Hanks	....	casting (6 episodes, 1970)
Millie Gusse	....	casting supervisor (5 episodes, 1970)

Series Editorial Department
Rod Stephens	....	assistant film editor (2 episodes, 1971)
Ron Meredith	....	assistant film editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Jerry MacDonald	....	music editor (6 episodes, 1970)
Kenyon Hopkins	....	music supervisor (3 episodes, 1970)
Leith Stevens	....	music supervisor (3 episodes, 1970)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver / production driver (8 episodes, 1973-1975)

Series Other crew
Jerry Belson	....	developed for television by (6 episodes, 1970)
Douglas S. Cramer	....	executive vice president in charge of production (6 episodes, 1970)
Carl Kleinschmitt	....	executive story consultant (6 episodes, 1970)
Anthony W. Marshall	....	assistant to executive producer (6 episodes, 1970)
Garry Marshall	....	developed for television by (6 episodes, 1970)
Thomas D. Tannenbaum	....	senior vice president in charge of production (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Paramount Television

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1970-1975) (USA) (TV)
• CBS Paramount Domestic Television (2006-2007) (USA) (TV)
• CBS Paramount International Television (2004-2007) (non-USA) (TV)
• CBS Television Distribution (2007-) (worldwide) (TV)
• Paramount Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (season 1)
• Paramount Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (season 2)
• Paramount Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD) (season 3)
• Pro 7 (1989-1990) (West Germany) (TV)
• Sat.1 (1992-1999) (Germany) (TV)
• Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (1972-1975) (West Germany) (TV)

Runtime:

30 min (114 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

1049 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Television

Trivia:

At the conclusion of the show's run, Felix remarried Gloria and moved out of the apartment.

Quotes:

Oscar Madison: You ruined my wine.
Felix Unger: Here's a dollar. Buy another three bottles.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Mork & Mindy' (2005) (TV)

One of the great sitcom classics of the 1970's

Let me asked you this question................

How many TV shows do you know were major hits after they were made into feature films? How many of those movies made the transition into a great TV series?

Answer: "The Odd Couple","M*A*S*H","Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"(Alice),and "In The Heat Of The Night".

First off,let me say that "The Odd Couple" was the first and foremost based on a Neil Simon play to successfully make the transition from being on Broadway,to motion pictures,and finally to television as a weekly series. In 1968,the motion picture version starred Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon,and on September 24,1970,the television series version premiered on ABC-TV and it starred Tony Randall and Jack Klugman and was produced by Garry Marshall.

The television series was one of ABC-TV biggest hits and it won back to back Emmys during its incredible five year run on the network from 1970 to 1975. It also in the top ten Nielsen during its run making it one of the most funniest shows of the decade. Tony Randall and Jack Klugman offered more to the roles than the movie or the Broadway play put together and every comedical line was simply magic. Indeed,the show was wickedly funny and sometimes having the two end up in some various situations especially,Randall(who played Felix Unger)who always tries to do the impossible for him and his divorced roommate Klugman(who played Oscar Madison),but ends up with hilarious results.

The show was produced by Garry Marshall,who went on to produced "Happy Days","Laverne and Shirley",and under the supervision of the playwright himself,Neil Simon who oversaw the production. Speaking of "The Odd Couple",this series hasn't been shown in years and it needs to be brought back,since the last time it was shown was on Nick-At-Nite's sister channel TV Land,and the former cable network TNN( formerly The Nashville Network and changed it title to The National Network which is now these days Spike TV).

**Getting back to the other shows that were great feature films and went on to become great TV shows: "M*A*S*H"(CBS-TV:1972-1983),"Alice" (CBS-TV:1976-1985),"In The Heat Of The Night"(NBC-TV:1986-1992 and also on CBS-TV:1992-1994)