"The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959) TV series 1959-1963

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

29 September 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

Dobie Gillis is an average teenager living in average Central City with an average desire--girls! He lusts after many nubile women...

Plot Keywords:

Cult TV | Cult Favorite | Monologue | Breaking The Fourth Wall | Sitcom

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Dwayne Hickman	...	Dobie Gillis (147 episodes, 1959-1963)
Bob Denver	...	Maynard G. Krebs (142 episodes, 1959-1963)
Frank Faylen	...	Herbert T. Gillis (110 episodes, 1959-1963)
Florida Friebus	...	Winifred Gillis / ... (87 episodes, 1959-1963)

(more)

Series Directed by
Rodney Amateau		(101 episodes, 1959-1963)
Guy Scarpitta		(19 episodes, 1960-1963)
Stanley Z. Cherry		(9 episodes, 1961-1963)
Ralph Murphy		(6 episodes, 1959-1962)
Robert Gordon		(4 episodes, 1960-1961)
David Davis		(4 episodes, 1962-1963)
Tom Montgomery		(2 episodes, 1963)

Series Writing credits
Max Shulman		(44 episodes, 1959-1963)
Joel Kane		(40 episodes, 1959-1963)
Arnold Horwitt		(22 episodes, 1960-1963)
Dean Riesner		(16 episodes, 1959-1963)
Bud Nye		(16 episodes, 1960-1963)
R.S. Allen		(14 episodes, 1959-1961)
Rodney Amateau		(8 episodes, 1959-1962)
Lawrence Williams		(8 episodes, 1960-1962)
Maggie Williams		(8 episodes, 1960-1962)
Lester Pine		(5 episodes, 1961-1962)
Irving Elinson		(3 episodes, 1959-1960)
Fred S. Fox		(3 episodes, 1959-1960)
Ben Starr		(2 episodes, 1959-1960)
Terry Ryan		(2 episodes, 1960-1961)
George Beck		(2 episodes, 1960)
Phil Davis		(2 episodes, 1960)

Series Produced by
Rodney Amateau	....	producer (147 episodes, 1959-1963)
Joel Kane	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Martin Manulis	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Guy Scarpitta	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Earle Hagen		(unknown episodes)
Lionel Newman		(unknown episodes)
Max Shulman		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
James Van Trees		(109 episodes, 1959-1963)

Series Film Editing by
Johnny Ehrin		(56 episodes, 1959-1963)
Willard Nico		(31 episodes, 1959-1962)
Robert Moore		(18 episodes, 1962-1963)

Series Art Direction by
Edward L. Ilou		(unknown episodes)
Charles Myall		(unknown episodes)
Jack Martin Smith		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Chester L. Bayhi		(unknown episodes)
Walter M. Scott		(unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Addison Schaumer Jr.	....	assistant director (16 episodes, 1961-1963)
Joseph Lenzi	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1961)

Series Stunts
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (unknown episodes, 1961)

Series Editorial Department
Larry Heath	....	supervising editor (1 episode, 1962)

Production Companies

• 20th Century Fox Television
• Martin Manulis Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1959-1963) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• Philip Morris Cigarettes  original sponsor: Marlboro cigarettes
• Pillsbury  original sponsor (Pillsbury flour/refrigerated goods)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

Zelda knew Dobie loved her because she wrinkled up her nose and Dobie involuntarily did it back in spite of himself.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
[whenever Dobie exasperates him]
Herbert T. Gillis: I gotta kill that boy. I just gotta...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Horrors of Spider Island (#11.11)" (1999)

Dobie Gillis--An American Bertie Wooster

Now all you Wodehouse fans don't have a cow...

Dobie is not a copy of Bertie. Bertie comes from money, Dobie's parent run a Mom-an-Pop grocery store. Bertie has a continental charm, Dobie has a corn-fed earnestness. Bertie spends all of his time running from women, Dobie spends all of his time chasing girls. Bertie has Jeeves, Dobie has Maynard G. Krebs, and I think that says it all.

Though I enjoyed the series when I saw it as a kid (first run), I didn't really get much of the sweet heartache of the show until I was in high school and trying to catch the attention of my own Thalia.

Thing that I loved: Episodes opening with Rodin's "The Thinker" and Dobie trying to think his way out of his current situation...Dobie addressing the camera...Maynard's reaction to the word, "Work!"

Let me encourage anyone who can to get the short story collection by Max Schulman. It is a complete delight and gave me a real appreciation for how well the TV show adapted the tone and snap of the book.

Shulman also wrote "Rally Round the Flag, Boys" and "The Tender Trap" both made into enjoyable movies.