At the age of nine I was very interested when I heard that Imogene Coca, one of the stars of Sid Caesars' YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS, was returning to weekly television in this series called GRINDL. It was shown on Sunday nights from 8:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. just before BONANZA (and just after Walt Disney's show). Gifted comic performer in her own show in a perfect time slot - who could ask for anything more? The public could. GRINDL lasted for one season on television. Regrettably it help bury Ms Coca's television career, as she had only one lead role on any program after this, and never appeared regularly in support on any variety - comedy show. One can certainly regret that she was never a regular on Carol Burnett's show, which while it was terrific with the cast of regulars it had might have been more fun with Ms Coca as well. Well, possibly her comedy and Burnett's might have seemed too much alike to fit well together.
She would appear on another comedy show with Joe E. Ross about cavemen and astronauts, IT'S ABOUT TIME. The last things of note she would do were her appearance in the musical ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY with John Cullum, and an appearance on MOONLIGHTING as the mother of Mattie and David's receptionist/assistant/friend Agnes.
GRINDL was about a woman of that name (no other name given) who works out of "MRS. FORSTER'S EMPLOYMENT AGENCY", which is run by James Mulhollin. Mulhollin plays the prissy son of the unseen Mrs. Forster, and Grindl's less-than-fully understanding boss. His most notable role before this series was in the movie version of NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS, where he was the Air Force Major/Psychiatrist who regrets having to give a psychiatric review of Private Will Stockdale (Andy Griffiths) required for the completion of Will's training period. He was a capable performer, but nothing really special. Given that Jonathan Harris was available (and thriving) on television at this same time, one wonders if he would have given the role more power and drive than Mulhollin did. Fortunately for Harris, his defining moment on television (as the evil Dr. Zachary Smith in LOST IN SPACE) was just around the corner.
Each week Grindl would be given a new job assignment as maid, secretary, or whatever by Mr. Foster, and we would follow her adventure in this or that household or business. I have chosen to discuss the show here, in the opening episode (from September 15, 1963) where a Mrs. Hartman (Cathleen Cordell) hires her to be the new maid. We see Mrs. Hartman interview Grindl, and realize the woman is what would now be considered a control freak about her home. She is so neat as to make Felix Unger look shabby. She even has a pair of gold fish that she has numbered for proper care reasons. Grindl leaves the house to study the daily timetable before beginning the job the next day.
Soon we see a man drinking with some friends. The man proceeds home, and turns out to be Mr. Hartman. As soon as he is alone in the house with his wife he goes to the basement, and shortly calls to her to help him out there. Impatiently she goes down stairs - and we never see Mrs. Cordell again.
Grindl shows up the next day, to find Mr. Hartman there. He explains his wife has packed her bags and gone on a sudden trip. But shortly...well, you can see that Grindl will get suspicious and feel that Mrs. Cordell has gone on a trip that nobody returns from. She goes to the police to report her suspicions, and discovers that Mr. Cordell is actually Police Captain Cordell of the precinct. This makes the situation even stickier.
Of course, in the end, she does bring the Captain to book for the murder of his wife (buried, like Cora Crippen, by her husband in the basement). The exact comic bits leading to the exposure of the Captain are forgotten by me, but not two cast members of the story. The Captain (if you haven't checked the cast listing) was played by an up-and-coming performer, soon to be making his mark as a crime fighting, lollipop eating New York Police Lieutenant named Kojak. Yes, it was a younger (and slightly hairier) Telly Savalas. Also in a supporting role was Henry Kulky, at that time a well known "face" actor in shows like THE LIFE OF REILLY, as well as movies. But aside for their appearances, and the fact I recall the plot line a bit, it really was not a memorable show.
None of the episodes were. Coca deserved better, as she had certainly earned admiration for her work with Caesar, Howard Morris, and Carl Reiner. But she did not pick a really good series - in fact she was the only reason to watch it, which is why I give it a "6" (which it did not deserve - a "4" would be closer to it).
One macabre historical note to glance at here. As mentioned before, GRINDL was a Sunday night show, in a good time slot. If you look at the list of the 32 episodes that were made, there is one date that is out of line a little. An episode aired on time on Sunday, November 17, 1963. The next episode aired December 8, 1963. The episode for November 24, 1963 was canceled for that night (as was all regular television shows) for coverage of the assassination and funeral observances regarding President John F. Kennedy.
She would appear on another comedy show with Joe E. Ross about cavemen and astronauts, IT'S ABOUT TIME. The last things of note she would do were her appearance in the musical ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY with John Cullum, and an appearance on MOONLIGHTING as the mother of Mattie and David's receptionist/assistant/friend Agnes.
GRINDL was about a woman of that name (no other name given) who works out of "MRS. FORSTER'S EMPLOYMENT AGENCY", which is run by James Mulhollin. Mulhollin plays the prissy son of the unseen Mrs. Forster, and Grindl's less-than-fully understanding boss. His most notable role before this series was in the movie version of NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS, where he was the Air Force Major/Psychiatrist who regrets having to give a psychiatric review of Private Will Stockdale (Andy Griffiths) required for the completion of Will's training period. He was a capable performer, but nothing really special. Given that Jonathan Harris was available (and thriving) on television at this same time, one wonders if he would have given the role more power and drive than Mulhollin did. Fortunately for Harris, his defining moment on television (as the evil Dr. Zachary Smith in LOST IN SPACE) was just around the corner.
Each week Grindl would be given a new job assignment as maid, secretary, or whatever by Mr. Foster, and we would follow her adventure in this or that household or business. I have chosen to discuss the show here, in the opening episode (from September 15, 1963) where a Mrs. Hartman (Cathleen Cordell) hires her to be the new maid. We see Mrs. Hartman interview Grindl, and realize the woman is what would now be considered a control freak about her home. She is so neat as to make Felix Unger look shabby. She even has a pair of gold fish that she has numbered for proper care reasons. Grindl leaves the house to study the daily timetable before beginning the job the next day.
Soon we see a man drinking with some friends. The man proceeds home, and turns out to be Mr. Hartman. As soon as he is alone in the house with his wife he goes to the basement, and shortly calls to her to help him out there. Impatiently she goes down stairs - and we never see Mrs. Cordell again.
Grindl shows up the next day, to find Mr. Hartman there. He explains his wife has packed her bags and gone on a sudden trip. But shortly...well, you can see that Grindl will get suspicious and feel that Mrs. Cordell has gone on a trip that nobody returns from. She goes to the police to report her suspicions, and discovers that Mr. Cordell is actually Police Captain Cordell of the precinct. This makes the situation even stickier.
Of course, in the end, she does bring the Captain to book for the murder of his wife (buried, like Cora Crippen, by her husband in the basement). The exact comic bits leading to the exposure of the Captain are forgotten by me, but not two cast members of the story. The Captain (if you haven't checked the cast listing) was played by an up-and-coming performer, soon to be making his mark as a crime fighting, lollipop eating New York Police Lieutenant named Kojak. Yes, it was a younger (and slightly hairier) Telly Savalas. Also in a supporting role was Henry Kulky, at that time a well known "face" actor in shows like THE LIFE OF REILLY, as well as movies. But aside for their appearances, and the fact I recall the plot line a bit, it really was not a memorable show.
None of the episodes were. Coca deserved better, as she had certainly earned admiration for her work with Caesar, Howard Morris, and Carl Reiner. But she did not pick a really good series - in fact she was the only reason to watch it, which is why I give it a "6" (which it did not deserve - a "4" would be closer to it).
One macabre historical note to glance at here. As mentioned before, GRINDL was a Sunday night show, in a good time slot. If you look at the list of the 32 episodes that were made, there is one date that is out of line a little. An episode aired on time on Sunday, November 17, 1963. The next episode aired December 8, 1963. The episode for November 24, 1963 was canceled for that night (as was all regular television shows) for coverage of the assassination and funeral observances regarding President John F. Kennedy.
