The Odd Couple

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ABC (ended 1975)
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Show Summary

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If comedy thrives on contrasts, The Odd Couple offered a perfect situation. Felix was a prim, fastidious photographer, a compulsive cleaner; Oscar was a gruff, sloppy sportswriter for the fictional New York Herald, to whom a floor was a place to toss things. The conflicts were obvious and endless, as each upset the other's way of life. Frequently seen early in the series were Oscar's poker partners, notably Murray the cop, Speed the compulsive gambler, and meek Vinnie. Later supporting characters included Dr. Nancy Cunningham, who would treat Felix and date Oscar, Miriam Welby, a girlfriend for Felix and Myrna Turner, Oscar's secretary. Introduced in the second half of the first season, the memorable opening narration (intoned by William Woodson) went: "On November 13th, Felix Unger was asked to remove himself from his place of residence. That request came from his wife. Deep down he knew she was right. But he also knew that someday he would return to her. With nowhere else to go, he appeared at the home of his childhood friend, Oscar Madison. Sometime earlier, Madison's wife had thrown him out, requesting that he never return. Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?" By the second season, the "childhood" reference was deleted and the narration was eliminated entirely in the fourth and fifth seasons in favor of clips from earlier episodes. 114 color episodes were filmed at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. This show never ranked above #25 in the Nielsen Ratings, even though it went as high as #36 in the 1972-73 season. Primetime time slots that The Odd Couple held during its 5 year run: September 24, 1970 to January 14, 1971: Thursdays from 9:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. January 22, 1971 to September 7, 1973: Fridays from 9:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. September 14, 1973 to January 11, 1974: Fridays from 8:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. January 18, 1974 to September 6, 1974: Fridays from 9:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. September 12, 1974 to January 23, 1975: Thursdays from 8:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. January 31, 1975 to July 1975: Fridays from 9:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. The Odd Couple was based on the Neil Simon stage play and the 1968 movie of the same name. Simon has said Felix was based on the life of his own brother. Time-Life released the first season on DVD on August 18, 2006.moreless
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Episode Guide

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S 5 :  Ep 23 Aired 9/24/93
S 5 :  Ep 22 Aired 3/7/75
S 5 :  Ep 21 Aired 2/28/75
S 5 :  Ep 20 Aired 2/21/75
S 5 :  Ep 19 Aired 2/14/75

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Fan Reviews (10)

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  • The Odd Couple really shows a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the dramatic opening which pulled in until the very end, simply fades out at the end.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By Maxkid1_06, Nov 05, 2011
    The Odd Couple really shows a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the dramatic opening which pulled in until the very end, simply fades out at the end. It's unfortunate but that's a big problem with many shows on tv today. Great start to pull everyone in but botches it up at the end.

  • The Chemistry that Tony Randall and Jack Klugman have is simply amazing. Very few actors today work so well together. If you are a fan of the show then I strongly recommend Jack Klugman's book Tony and Me.moreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Jfeva, Nov 18, 2008
    The fact that I can still recite word for word some of the lines, makes this show a classic. I love it. I was so happy when Paramount decided to release them on DVD. I own them all. A couple of episodes are average at best. However there are many that hit a home run. Every season there are at least a dozen episodes that are laugh out loud funny. I grew up watching the reruns of this show. The show has left a life long list of memories. They just don't make shows like this anymore. Actors like Tony Randall and Jack Klugman are one in a millionmoreless

  • The Odd Couple had what I always thought was a brillant premise:teaming a slovenly sportswriter with a neat photographer,and use the differances to play them off each other.First a play then a movie,it finally hit TV with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall.moreless

    9.7
    "Superb"
    By drwoowoocl, Sep 07, 2006
    The casting was perfect.No one could do fussy better than Tony Randall,and while Jack Klugman was pretty much unknown at the time,he made a likeable slob.One thing I like about the series was,through all the differances,there was always the friendship.These two guys really cared about each other,even if they had funny ways of showing it.Early on,the show tried to be too much like the play and the movie,with Klugman even coming on too much like Walter Matthau in the earliest episodes.But the decision to shoot the series in front of an audience the 2nd season helped to define the shows distinct personality.The Odd couple premiered in 1970,just as sit-coms were beginning to change,but this show pretty much stayed the same,which I think kept its appeal for me.Even as I discovered shows like All in the Family and MASH,I still loved The Odd Couple,because of its simplicity.Garry Marshall has gone on to do a lot of great shows and movies,but for me The Odd Couple will always be his masterpiece.Its a shame it never get the respect from the network that it deserved.They never kept it in one place,and that led to its cancellation.In a rare instance,a cancelled show was able to end the series by tying up loose ends.Imagine what hype there would have been if the show ended in this day and age.Now all is left is to put this great show on DVD!moreless

  • A wonderful old show that works just as much today as it did back then.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By huntnikk, Aug 10, 2006
    THis is one of the all time great shows, comedy or other-wise. It had two great actors and an awesome supporting cast. I think the only thing that made it less then a 10 rating for me was that there are flaws as to how Oscar and Felix met. THe first season opening them says they are long time friends. One episode explains how they met in Jury duty. Another episode says they were friends in the army. I also believe there was a third explanation in another episode. But despite this the show was funny episode after episode and I don't think there was a signal bad episode in its run. I only wish that there were more shows like this today. I guess we did recently have shows like Friends and Seinfeld and everyone loves raymond, but non of these rank as high as the Odd Couple did, for me anyway.moreless

  • An absolutely fabulous and hilarious sequence of events displaying what folly can occur whenever two walk together where they are not agreed.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By gwactuary, Mar 09, 2006
    On May 17, 2004, Tony Randall was asked to remove himself from his place of residence. That request came from his Creator. Deep down he knew He was a righteous Creator. And he also knew that some day he would appear face to face with Him. Within the twinkling of an eye, he appeared at his eternal home. Some time earlier, this place was reserved especially for Tony Randall. One day, we too will know where this eternal home is located.

    moreless
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The Odd Couple Forums


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  • Live audience
    Do you prefer the live audience episodes later in the series to the first season, where there was a laughtrack?Typically I prefer ...
    By ct02809sb, Jan 30, 2010
    01/30/10
    1
    Reply
  • odd couple on DVD
    Hi, I have seen the odd couple advertised by a few companies on dvd. They are copies privately made, has anyone ordered from ...
    By sholz, Jan 07, 2006
    01/20/10
    5
    Reply
  • Music alterations on Season 5
    I just got my copy of season 5 on DVD and Im enjoying it, except for one thing: on the episode "Strike Up the Band or else....." a...
    By drwoowoocl, Nov 20, 2008
    11/20/08
    1
    Reply
  • Episode name please
    Can anyone help me out with the name of this episode please..As best as I remember it, Oscar has saved Felix life, or so he has pe...
    By Witewood, Sep 10, 2007
    06/01/08
    6
    Reply
  • re: the best ever
    I just mentioned on another site that I thought the "Password" episode was the best of the series. I would follow that with the fi...
    By billsav57, Dec 02, 2005
    08/24/07
    9
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70s, Sitcoms

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