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Remember this series!? What catches your spying-eye radar!?
“The Odd Couple” originally aired on ABC, 09/24/1970 – 03/07/1975. Based on the stage play of the same name written by Neil Simon, this series was developed by Garry Marshall for Paramount Television after the success of the 1968 film version, which starred Jack Lemmon & Walter Matthau (who later starred in ‘Grumpy Old Men’). Original cast considerations for the TV version included Mickey Rooney & Martin Balsam as “Oscar” & Dean Martin or Art Carney as “Felix”; Tony Randall (“Felix”) & Jack Klugman (“Oscar”) were hired. The 1st season was filmed (with a laugh track) to resemble the stage play while the apartment set resembled the film version. Remaining seasons were filmed using the 3-camera method & performed like a stage play in front of a live audience. The show struggled in the Nielsen ratings causing ABC to cancel it after every season; but, due to high summer rerun ratings, ABC renewed it 5 times, each time giving it a new timeslot. Regular supporting actors-actresses included Monica Evans (“Cecily Pigeon”), Carole Shelley (“Gwendolyn Pigeon”), Elinor Donahue (“Miriam Welby”), Al Molinaro (“Murray The Cop”) & Penny Marshall (“Myrna Turner”). Special guest stars included Leif Garrett, Alice Ghostley, Richard Stahl, Herbie Faye & Jean Simmons, while several celebrities played themselves, including Roy Clark, Howard Cosell, Jaye P Morgan, Marilyn Horne, Monty Hall, Richard Dawson, Wolfman Jack, Hugh Hefner, Allen Ludden, Betty White, Bobby Riggs, Billie Jean King, Paul Williams & Dick Clark.