The Odd Couple: Natural Childbirth

The Odd Couple: Natural Childbirth
ABC
September 17, 1971
Sitcom
DVD
B-

The series is now filmed in front of a live audience and it definitely makes a difference, for the better.  Yes, the performers, especially Tony Randall, are playing it broader, but that works for this farcical but sentimental Idelson & Miller story.  Felix assumes what you expect him to assume when he finds a pregnant young woman waiting for Oscar in the (redesigned for three cameras) apartment.  After the opening credits (where Oscar is Felix's friend but no longer from childhood), we discover she's actually Oscar's 18-year-old ex-niece, that is the niece of his ex-wife.  (The young lady is played by Hilarie Thompson, who among other things would be a love interest for Greg on the amusement park episode of The Brady Bunch.)  Except for some mildly sexist and borderline racist lines, the dialogue is better than in the first season, and I like how Dr. Nancy fits into the debate about natural childbirth.  And, yes, it looks like we're going to be getting more of Murray as a cop than as a poker buddy, which is perfectly fine with me.

This time Ogden Talbot plays Howard and Jessica Myerson the Instructress.  Driver Shawn Michaels would later be a Reporter.