ODD COUPLE, THE: THE ODD CANDIDATE (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 returns from a business trip to Chicago and Felix tells him that a political conflict is brewing about a bill introduced by city Councilman Simpson to destroy a number of playgrounds and replace them with office buildings. Oscar wrote a newspaper article decrying Simpson’s actions, and Felix says it has galvanized resistance to the bill and spurred another candidate to enter the race. However, Oscar is less than amused when he learns that he was selected as the candidate without his knowledge. Felix even takes the liberty of setting up a campaign headquarters for Oscar in what used to be a bakery. Oscar protests, pointing out that he has no idea how to run a political campaign and will simply end up embarrassing himself. However, he takes up Felix’s offer and they begin campaigning in earnest.
Felix finds anchorman Howard K. Smith at a steakhouse and along with Oscar tries to convince him to mention Oscar on television. Despite Smith’s reluctance to speak to them, he complies and reports a story about the election on his show. They continue campaigning, although Oscar becomes steadily more worn-out as the election approaches. One morning they read a news article claiming that Simpson has conceded on the playground issue, thus accomplishing the aim of their campaign. Oscar is relieved, as he and the volunteers working at his headquarters see no need to continue the campaign, although Felix believes otherwise. He makes various attempts to convince Oscar to resume his campaign, believing that he could accomplish a lot of good as a Councilman. Oscar does not agree until he gets a call from his publisher, asking him to continue due to the publicity it accrues and even offering to finance the campaign. In light of this development, Oscar agrees to continue the campaign.
Oscar appears on “The Igor Show,” a television host program for a series of horror films, in order to promote his campaign. Councilman Simpson also appears, accompanied by his family, urging voters to support him because of his extensive political experience. To counter this, Felix fetches several random people to stand in for Oscar’s “loved ones,” although they are of various distinct ethnicities, creating an awkward situation for Oscar. Oscar refuses to go on television with them and Felix fills in for him as best he can. Oscar interrupts him and tries to clear up the matter, asking voters to support him so that he can try his best to help them. After one last intense day of campaigning, Oscar loses the election to Simpson by a narrow margin. The mood at Oscar’s campaign headquarters turns morose, although Oscar is in high spirits, proud that they very nearly unseated Simpson. Felix, however, cries because he “wanted to win.” Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 30, 1999 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:29:04
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:12780
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Roommates
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1970-1975
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – Easy-Off oven cleaner
- TV – Commercials – JCPenney department stores
- TV – Commercials – Jell-O pudding
CREDITS
- Sheldon Keller … Executive Producer
- Garry Marshall … Executive Producer, Director, Developed by
- Tony Marshall … Producer
- Nick Abdo … Associate Producer
- Carl Mahakian … Associate Producer
- Jerry Belson … Developed by
- Mark Rothman … Writer
- Lowell Ganz … Writer
- Barry Rubinowitz … Writer
- Neil Simon … Based on the play "The Odd Couple" by
- Neal Hefti … Music by
- Tony Randall … Cast, Felix Unger
- Jack Klugman … Cast, Oscar Madison
- Guy Marks … Cast, Igor
- Elinor Donahue … Cast, Miriam
- Al Molinaro … Cast, Murray
- Howard K. Smith … Cast, Himself
- Peter Hobbs … Cast, Simpson
- Kapi Lindos … Cast, Gypsy
- Filip Field … Cast, TV Director