Having watched all four seasons of The Odd Couple on DVD, I think that while the show was still very enjoyable, by season four the writers were beginning to run out of original ideas. As a result, some of the episodes lack the comedic edge and originality of previous seasons. In early seasons, the plots of episodes didn't matter so much, because the back-and-forth dialogue between Felix and Oscar was really the focus of the show and could keep any plot afloat. However, in season four, the writers seemed to get away from that formula by bringing in a lot of extra characters and fleshing out storylines rather than focusing on the interplay between the roommates.
For this fourth season the writers framed a lot of shows around flashbacks and recollections, which frankly are some of the series' weakest episodes. However, there are still a few strong episodes that help to make up for the weaker ones. "Cleanliness is Next to Impossible" is a classic episode that has the roommates in a role reversal, as Oscar all of a sudden becomes a neat freak when a date is turned off by his slovenliness. "Maid for Each Other" has Felix going on strike, Oscar bringing in junk food, and Felix hiring a cleaning woman to help around the house.
Like a lot of 1970s series, this season of The Odd Couple featured quite a few famous and semi-famous guest stars. Let's Make A Deal host Monty Hall, Playboy's Hugh Hefner, tennis players Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, Dick Clark, dancer Edward Villella, former Detroit Lions star Alex Karras, singer Jaye P. Morgan, DJ Wolfman Jack, opera star Marilyn Horne, and actors John Byner, Teri Garr and executive producer Garry Marshall make appearances.
Here's a rundown of the 22 episodes presented on four DVDs on The Odd Couple - The Fourth Season DVD Set.
1. "Gloria Moves In" - Felix's ex-wife is having her house painted, and when Felix offers her a place to stay he gets his hopes up for reconciliation, driving Oscar and Gloria (Janis Hansen) crazy in the process. A surprisingly weak season opener.
Article comments