User Reviews

"Fellini, Bergman, and Partridge" is a well remembered episode, as Keith attends a screening of avant garde films, and naturally deduces he can do better. Laurie typically bets him that he can't, so with Danny's help he begins his shooting of "The History of the World" (with apologies to Mel Brooks), retitled by producer Danny "16 1/2." Home movie footage of Keith jumping through the sprinklers, Shirley dramatically clipping hedges, Chris painting, Tracy waving from her bath, etc. Danny enthusiastically wields the clapperboard for Laurie- "Cleopatra being sexy, take one!" soon yawning through "Cleopatra being dull, take one" (Susan Dey sexy and funny). The capper comes when Reuben shows up for what he thinks is a costume party, dressed as the Good Fairy (one of the show's most enduring images). The cast includes Richard Stahl, Judson Pratt, and Tony Ballen. The featured song is "Hello Hello," composed by Wes Farrell and Tony Romeo, taken from the LP SHOPPING BAG. We also hear another reprise (the last) of "Together," composed by Shorty Rogers and Kelly Gordon (previously heard in the pilot, plus episodes 3 and 35).

What I found shocking about this episode was the scene with Tracy in the bathtub. We've all seen how bathtub scenes are made for television. We have the tub neck high with water and the bather covered with lots and lots of soap bubbles. The idea is to suggest nudity without showing any.

However, in this scene we get Tracy (9 years old) in waist deep water. There are almost no suds to speak of. We see Tracy naked from the neck to her waist. Yes, topless. I know she prepubescent girl lacking breast. Yet, it has always been the norm to dress girls fully by age 6. It just looks wrong.

As if the scene didn't have enough cringe factor. We have Keith and Danny filming her with full lighting while Keith moves in for a close up. A Close Up! Meanwhile Tracy holds a rubber duck and smiling Then comes the question how did they talk her into this? Was Shirley aware of what her sons were doing? And Tracy is so casual being naked in from her brother. And then comes the behind the scenes questions. Who green lit this? Was it necessary? How did tv censors miss this?