The Odd Couple: Trapped

The Odd Couple: Trapped
ABC
March 26, 1971
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This Shyer & Mandel story ends the season with the roomies and Nancy trapped in the basement, while wearing costumes.  As with so much of this season, it's not bad but it just doesn't feel like they're living up to their potential.

Christopher Shea makes his last appearance as Phillip.  Russell Thorson is Herman and would be Mr. Coswell, while David Ketchum in the Cop here and would play Jock later in the year.  And, yes, that's Ellen Grandma Walton Corby as Florence.  This time Belson directs.

Odd Couple in its first season ranges from C- to B-, but over two-thirds of the episodes get C+s, and that's of course the average.  Early on, it straddled the C/C+ border, again and again, but it starts to get its bearings around the midpoint.  Nothing against the poker buddies or the Pigeon sisters, but I don't think that Randall and Klugman have as strong a supporting cast as they deserve.  The writing also needs to be much sharper.  Interesting situations come along but they're not developed well, or the lines don't have any emotional or humorous punch.

Had I been twenty rather than two when this premiered, I doubt I'd have stayed tuned to ABC on Friday nights after That Girl to watch this.  Even when it hit syndication later in the '70s, I watched it occasionally but not much stayed with me beyond the opening credits.  Certainly there are no moments of recognition now, as there would be for me with other sitcoms of its era.  That said, it's interesting to revisit and I have higher hopes for Season Two, with Marshall's sister Penny and a live studio audience and whatever other changes are coming.