MovieChat Forums > The Odd Couple (1970) Discussion > Least favorite episodes?

Least favorite episodes?

posted 16 years ago by Stubby-9
28 replies | jump to latest

What do you think are the weakest episodes of the show?
I maintain that even a bad "odd couple" episode is still better than most of
the crap out there, and Tony and Jack always did their best even
if the writing wasn't so funny.

That said, one of the weaker episodes in my opinion was "I'm Dying of Unger".
Felix getting bitten by the animals was funny ("Hello, little frog! Bebebebebe!!!") and of course, Murray's nose in the peep hole of the apartment door is classic, but there really isn't much to the rest of the episode that makes sense...

--Oscar is given *three days* to write a complete book?
--He does no research whatsoever, and gives up after *one day* of trying?
--Felix is entirely motivated by the hope that Oscar will dedicate the book to him?
--Out of nowhere, Murray suddenly has a cabin?

===============================
"If intelligence equals power, you sir, are a weakling" Stubby-9

[–] fuggedaboudit 16 years ago

I'm not a fan of the Roy Clark episode. Way too much singing, and hardly any humor.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go fill my freezer with my own blood"

[–] bmovies 16 years ago

"--Oscar is given *three days* to write a complete book?"

If I recall correctly, Oscar had plenty of time, but he procrastinated and had to get that three day extension, leading the publisher on to think that the book was already mostly done.

Anyways, I didn't care for the episode where Oscar, Felix, and Nancy get locked in the basement (Trapped).

"The Hideaway" (Oscar prevents an Alaskan college football player from being corrupted by professional football)

Scrooge Gets an Oscar (After turning down the role of Scrooge in a Christmas play, Oscar dreams his own version of "A Christmas Carol.")

Where's Grandpa? (Felix's grandfather, tossed out by his wife because of his insane jealousy, takes up residence with Oscar)

[–] Stubby-9 16 years ago

I enjoyed "Trapped", I thought it was one of the stronger episodes of the first season. I always thought the first season was not their best; they didn't really hit their stride until they added the studio audience in Season Two.
Anyone else agree?

===============================
"If intelligence equals power, you sir, are a weakling" Stubby-9

[–] fuggedaboudit 16 years ago

Yes I agree. I rarely watch any of the first season episodes, but I've seen all the other seasons over and over.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go fill my freezer with my own blood"

[–] SonnyNStitch626 16 years ago

I actually Love all the episodes mentioned except for the one w/ the Alaskan football player. The Roy Clark ep is a huge fave of mine. Love the Xmas ep where Oscar plays ScroogeAnd I don't care about facts in a sitcom, I think it's hysterical when Felix keeps getting bitten by every animal in the forest. Lmao!!I guess I just LOVE THIS SHOW!!!But I do agree w/ the 1st season being the weakest.I guess one of my least faves is when Felix has the braclet engraved for Gloria.~SonnyGal~"MY BUSINESS IS TO CREATE"

[–] ellery-6 16 years ago

Agree that the first season was the weakest, probably because it followed the movie a little more closely and didn't totally have it's own identity yet.

With the addition of the live audience, the show really hit its stride, and it became more "Garry Marshall-esque" - which I would usually consider a negative thing but when it comes to this show I mean it as the highest type of compliment. You could really feel his mark in the middle and later seasons - in the best way possible.

[–] RobBase086-1 15 years ago

I loved all of the episodes and my favorite was Sleepwalker. LOL I loved it when Oscar would go to bed and was so angry with Felix that in the middle of the night he would wake up and go hit Felix on top of the head with a newspaper or magazine. LOL That is a classic in my book for me.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! www.deefilmroll.com/usa-uan/

[–] purplerush44 15 years ago

It's All Over Now Baby Bird
Bunny Is Missing Down By The Lake
Oscar's New Life
The Odd Couples
Don't Believe In Roomers
The Rain in Spain
The Oddessy Couple

are all epsiodes I feel are the worst of the bunch.
7 out of 114 though isn't bad.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] pepperdoggie 15 years ago

I don't much care for that first-season episode with Harvey and Phyllis ("a jelly doughnut for a jellyfish"). Two one-off characters we're supposed to care about who we're never going to see again.

[–] MrsC2007 15 years ago

Absolutely love the Christmas episode but have never liked the one about the Eskimo College football player. Share the same opinion with most here that the first season tended to be weak.

[–] tgibbs279 15 years ago

I agree with the original poster that even the "weak" episodes are watchable, for Randall and Klugman's performances -- and the great character actors who would pop up in supporting roles.
Someone mentioned the "Harvey and Phyllis" episode in season one, and I agree it's not particularly funny. But I love George Furth and Joyce Van Patten. John Astin, Ed Platt from 'Get Smart,' David Ketchum, Dub Taylor, Albert Brooks, Alice Ghostley, Barney Martin, and Michael Constantine (among others) pop up in the first season alone. Thanks to them, plus Klugman and Randall, the episodes are watchable, though I agree the first season's shows are rarely funny. Losing the laugh track would have helped.

[–] AustinTripper 15 years ago

"Where's Grandpa?" is my least favorite episode. There are also several episodes from the first season that weren't very good, but they were still watchable. Nearly every episode from Seasons 2-5 is a classic.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] AliciaHuberman59 14 years ago

The Alaskan Football Player/Cellist is pretty bad. Sometimes, when they have a guest star (with the exception of Howard Cosell) I feel like they were getting kind of desperate and compensating that way.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] markb63 14 years ago

I was never a big fan of the ballet episode. But as others have written, even a bad episode of The Odd Couple has plenty of laughs and is better than most shows' good episodes! The Odd Couple is simply the best show ever!

[–] Qanqor 14 years ago

My choice would be: any episode with Nancy. She was completely not funny, and I found it rather annoying the way she was supposed to be Oscar's babe but she somehow always took Felix's side.

[–] purplerush44 13 years ago

by jozefkafka

"Good, Bad Boy" is not a bad episode at all -- in fact it has some classic Felix lines
____________________________________________

And you....cupcake! Spill your guts!!

[–] markb63 12 years ago

The two episodes with Oscar's mother were kind of dumb.

There was some funny stuff when Oscar and Felix pretended to be married again (not to each other, of course!), but the motivation for it was stupid -- his mother would eat a lot of chocolate if she found out Oscar was divorced! Really, that's the best they could come up with?

The other one with the Greek dancing girl was a very forgettable episode.

[–] vicsbooth1-1 14 years ago

Laugh Clown Laugh with Richard Dawson is unwatchable. Felix singing the title song goes on forever. This late in the fifth season, Felix and Oscar had met or known way too many celebrities. I always thought this was the worst of the series.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]