"The Odd Couple" (1970) TV series 1970-1975

Writers:

(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

24 September 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Two men, a neat freak and a slob separated from their wives, have to live together despite their differences.

Plot Keywords:

Odd Couple | Perspective | Friends Who Hate Each Other | Roommate | Cult TV

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Tony Randall	...	Felix Unger / ... (114 episodes, 1970-1975)
Jack Klugman	...	Oscar Madison / ... (114 episodes, 1970-1975)
Al Molinaro	...	Officer Murray Greshler (45 episodes, 1970-1975)

Series Directed by
Jerry Paris		(18 episodes, 1970-1975)
Jack Donohue		(14 episodes, 1971-1975)
Hal Cooper		(11 episodes, 1970-1973)
Mel Ferber		(11 episodes, 1971-1974)
Frank Buxton		(9 episodes, 1973-1975)
Bruce Bilson		(6 episodes, 1970-1971)
Garry Marshall		(6 episodes, 1971-1974)
Jay Sandrich		(6 episodes, 1971-1974)
George Tyne		(5 episodes, 1970-1972)
Harvey Miller		(5 episodes, 1974)
Robert Birnbaum		(4 episodes, 1972-1973)
Norm Gray		(4 episodes, 1973-1975)
Jerry Belson		(3 episodes, 1971-1973)
Alan Rafkin		(3 episodes, 1971)
Charles R. Rondeau		(2 episodes, 1970)
Alex March		(2 episodes, 1972)
George Marshall		(2 episodes, 1972)

Series Writing credits
Lowell Ganz		(12 episodes, 1973-1974)
Mark Rothman		(12 episodes, 1973-1974)
Garry Marshall		(8 episodes, 1970-1973)
Harvey Miller		(8 episodes, 1970-1973)
Dick Bensfield		(7 episodes, 1970-1974)
Perry Grant		(7 episodes, 1970-1974)
Ron Friedman		(7 episodes, 1970-1973)
Bill Idelson		(6 episodes, 1970-1972)
Albert E. Lewin		(6 episodes, 1970-1972)
Neil Simon		(6 episodes, 1970)
Rick Mittleman		(6 episodes, 1971-1974)
Peggy Elliott		(5 episodes, 1970-1972)
Ed Scharlach		(5 episodes, 1970-1972)
Mickey Rose		(5 episodes, 1971-1974)
Frank Buxton		(5 episodes, 1972-1975)
Jack Winter		(4 episodes, 1971-1975)
Bob Brunner		(4 episodes, 1972-1973)
David W. Duclon		(4 episodes, 1973-1975)
Jerry Belson		(3 episodes, 1970-1972)
Art Baer		(3 episodes, 1972-1974)
Ben Joelson		(3 episodes, 1972-1974)
Michael Leeson		(3 episodes, 1972-1974)
Joe Glauberg		(3 episodes, 1972-1973)
Bill Angelos		(3 episodes, 1973-1975)
Buz Kohan		(3 episodes, 1973-1975)
Bob Rodgers		(2 episodes, 1970-1972)
Gordon Mitchell		(2 episodes, 1970-1971)
Lloyd Turner		(2 episodes, 1970-1971)
Martin Cohan		(2 episodes, 1971-1972)
Alan Mandel		(2 episodes, 1971)
Dennis Klein		(2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Phil Mishkin		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)
Martin Donovan		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
John Rappaport		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Howard Merrill		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Garry Marshall	....	executive producer (9 episodes, 1970-1975)
Jerry Belson	....	executive producer / associate producer (7 episodes, 1970)
Jerry Davis	....	producer (7 episodes, 1970)
Charles Shyer	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1970)

Series Original Music by
Neal Hefti		(6 episodes, 1970)
Harry Geller		(unknown episodes)
Kenyon Hopkins		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Lester Shorr		(8 episodes, 1970-1973)

Series Film Editing by
Robert James Kern		(39 episodes, 1971-1975)
Bob Moore		(9 episodes, 1970-1973)
Rod Stephens		(5 episodes, 1972-1973)
Jerry Dronsky		(2 episodes, 1970)

Series Casting by
Millie Gusse		(1 episode, 1970)

Series Art Direction by
John M. Elliott		(7 episodes, 1970-1972)
Bill Ross		(7 episodes, 1970-1972)
Monty Elliott		(2 episodes, 1973-1975)

Series Set Decoration by
Anthony D. Nealis		(9 episodes, 1970-1975)

Series Makeup Department
Sharleen Rassi	....	key hair stylist (87 episodes, 1971-1975)

Series Production Management
James H. Brown	....	unit manager (6 episodes, 1970)
Ted Leonard	....	executive production manager (6 episodes, 1970)
Edward K. Milkis	....	post-production supervisor (6 episodes, 1970)
Sam Strangis	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1970)
Byron Chudnow	....	post-production supervisor (5 episodes, 1970)
Jack Sonntag	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marty Moss	....	assistant director (6 episodes, 1970)
Norm Gray	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1972-1975)
Richard Learman	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
James R. Wright	....	sound mixer (7 episodes, 1970-1972)
Doug Grindstaff	....	supervising sound effects editor (6 episodes, 1970)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
James V. King	....	camera operator (111 episodes, 1970-1975)

Series Casting Department
Millie Gusse	....	casting supervisor (7 episodes, 1970-1973)
Mike Hanks	....	casting (6 episodes, 1970)

Series Editorial Department
Rod Stephens	....	assistant editor / assistant film editor (22 episodes, 1970-1973)
Ed Cotter	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1973)

Series Music Department
Jerry MacDonald	....	music editor (6 episodes, 1970)
Neal Hefti	....	composer: theme music (4 episodes, 1970-1975)
Kenyon Hopkins	....	music supervisor (4 episodes, 1970-1972)
Leith Stevens	....	music supervisor (3 episodes, 1970)
Richard Lapham	....	music editor (3 episodes, 1972-1975)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver / production driver (7 episodes, 1973-1975)

Series Other crew
Jerry Belson	....	developed for television by / executive consultant (9 episodes, 1970-1975)
Douglas S. Cramer	....	executive vice president in charge of production (6 episodes, 1970)
Carl Kleinschmitt	....	executive story consultant (6 episodes, 1970)
Anthony W. Marshall	....	assistant to executive producer (6 episodes, 1970)
Garry Marshall	....	developed for television by (6 episodes, 1970)
David W. Duclon	....	assistant consultant / assistant: producer (2 episodes, 1972-1975)
Harvey Miller	....	creative consultant / executive consultant (2 episodes, 1972-1975)
Bruce Lansbury	....	vice president of creative affairs (2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Carl Mahakian	....	post production coordinator (2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Lowell Ganz	....	executive story consultant / story consultant (2 episodes, 1973-1975)
Mark Rothman	....	executive story consultant / story consultant (2 episodes, 1973-1975)
Thomas D. Tannenbaum	....	senior vice president in charge of production (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Paramount Television

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1970-1975) (USA) (TV)
• CBS Paramount Domestic Television (2006-2007) (USA) (TV)
• CBS Paramount International Television (2004-2007) (non-USA) (TV)
• CBS Television Distribution (2007-) (worldwide) (TV)
• Paramount Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (season 1)
• Paramount Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (season 2)
• Paramount Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD) (season 3)
• Pro 7 (1989-1990) (West Germany) (TV)
• Sat.1 (1992-1999) (Germany) (TV)
• Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (1972-1975) (West Germany) (TV)

Runtime:

30 min (114 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

1049 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Television

Trivia:

Felix's father was an optometrist in Chicago. In fact, one of his father's patients was Oscar's father.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Felix Unger: [to Oscar] Let this be on your head.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Two and a Half Men: Whipped Unto the Third Generation (#7.2)" (2009)

One of the best

I'm about the only person I know who prefers the first season (shot in cinematic style with a single camera) to later seasons, but even after they switched to the multiple-camera technique and live audience (with the accompanying broadening of the humor), it was still better than 90% of TV sitcoms ever (unlike, say, *Happy Days*, on which quality plummeted when they made a similar change).

The only thing that really interferes with my enjoyment of *TOC* is the horrible, horrible celebrity cameos.

I mean, Rodney Allen Rippy?