ODD COUPLE, THE: LET'S MAKE A DEAL (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about Oscar Madison and Felix Unger, two divorced men who share an apartment in New York City.
Oscar is playing cards with his friends, including game show host Monty Hall, who is an old friend of Oscar’s from college. Oscar likes Monty, but doesn’t care very much for his hit show “Let’s Make a Deal.” After Monty leaves, Oscar gets Murray to help him dispose of Felix’s bed, which he accidentally ruined the previous night by falling asleep with a lit cigar. However, Felix returns and sees the whole thing.
Felix is incensed about the destruction of his bed, and Oscar offers a cot for him to sleep on temporarily. The cot bends Felix all out of shape and he expects Oscar to pay him for damages to the bed, but the cost is quite high. Miriam arrives and thanks Oscar for getting her and her mother tickets to “Let’s Make a Deal,” where they won a television set. This gives Oscar the idea to get Felix on “Let’s Make a Deal” so he could win enough money to get a new bed.
On the “Let’s Make a Deal” set, Oscar coaches Felix on how to get noticed on the show. Monty arrives and Oscar explains the situation, but Monty cannot; the rules of the show prevent friends or relatives from appearing in the audience. However, Oscar conspires to get Felix on the show anyway.
Oscar tries to disguise Felix in an outlandish chicken costume, but Miriam immediately sees through it. After trying several other costumes, Felix declares he has an idea for a “very special” costume that will conceal his identity, but he needs Oscar’s help. They appear on the show disguised in a horse costume, which manages to attract Monty’s attention. They are offered either a waffle iron plus a mystery item, a mystery box, or an envelope with an undisclosed amount of money. Before they can decide, Monty unmasks Felix and Oscar. He decides not to disqualify Oscar, amused at seeing him in the horse costume.
Felix decides to take the money envelope and wins $800. However, he elects to trade the money for a mystery curtain, but instead “wins” several cases of canned squid. Monty offers them either a mystery message on a note on one of the squid cans, or the $800 back plus an additional $200; Felix takes the money back, relieved that all he lost was another can of squid. However, Monty reveals to the audience the show’s “no friends or relatives” rule and declares that Felix and Oscar will “donate” the money to an orphanage.
Oscar and Felix have Monty over for dinner. Oscar explains that he will gradually pay Felix back for the bed. The episode ends as Felix serves dinner, “Let’s Make a Deal”-style. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 23, 1973 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:29:39
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:12776
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1970-1975
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – Avon cosmetics
- TV – Commercials – Coca-Cola soft drink
- TV – Commercials – Kraft salad dressing
- TV – Commercials – Nair hair removal spray
- TV – Commercials – Pine-Sol cleaning fluid
- TV – Commercials – Ruffles potato chips
CREDITS
- Garry Marshall … Executive Producer, Developed by
- Jerry Davis … Executive Producer
- Frank Buxton … Producer, Director
- Tony Marshall … Producer
- Jerry Belson … Developed by
- David W. Duclon … Writer
- Joe Glauberg … Writer
- Neil Simon … Based on the play "The Odd Couple" by
- Neal Hefti … Music by
- Jack Klugman … Cast, Oscar Madison
- Tony Randall … Cast, Felix Unger
- Monty Hall … Cast, Himself
- Elinor Donahue … Cast, Miriam
- Al Molinaro … Cast, Murray
- Garry Walberg … Cast, Speed
- Tom Scott … Cast, Producer