The genius of tv sitcoms, James L Brooks, wrote this episode, and unfortunately, the only one for the series. A missed opportunity.
This is interesting. The focus is strictly on Robbie and Katie, who invite another married couple, Larry (Robert Dunlap) and Denise (Lynn Loring) to spend some "quality' time with them. And instead of just sitting around and having a friendly chat... Denise, who is a psychology student, suggests they spice things up and play a mind game. The object is to tell each other what they "dislike" about their friendship or marriage partner.
If you are a sitcom fan, you'll immediate note the connection to an old I LOVE LUCY episode, where Ricky tells a couple, about to be married, what to expect from each other. Brooks kind of dusted this off a bit, and added a 60s psychological slant.
You know what's going to happen, but there's a neat twist to it all.
Brooks would soon create the MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, RHODA, LOU GRANT and the biggest hit of all, the SIMPSONS. Need we say more?
Lynn Loring has had a distinguished career. Aside from being a popular child actress, she later became a producer and, eventually, president of MGM/UA television. Likewise, Robert Dunlap became a producer and a doctor, earning his PHD as a noted sex therapist. Great trivia question material.
Applause to director Fred De Cordova for doing such an excellent job with this cast. A different type of episode for the series, to be sure. From SEASON 8 EPISODE 27 remastered.
This is interesting. The focus is strictly on Robbie and Katie, who invite another married couple, Larry (Robert Dunlap) and Denise (Lynn Loring) to spend some "quality' time with them. And instead of just sitting around and having a friendly chat... Denise, who is a psychology student, suggests they spice things up and play a mind game. The object is to tell each other what they "dislike" about their friendship or marriage partner.
If you are a sitcom fan, you'll immediate note the connection to an old I LOVE LUCY episode, where Ricky tells a couple, about to be married, what to expect from each other. Brooks kind of dusted this off a bit, and added a 60s psychological slant.
You know what's going to happen, but there's a neat twist to it all.
Brooks would soon create the MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, RHODA, LOU GRANT and the biggest hit of all, the SIMPSONS. Need we say more?
Lynn Loring has had a distinguished career. Aside from being a popular child actress, she later became a producer and, eventually, president of MGM/UA television. Likewise, Robert Dunlap became a producer and a doctor, earning his PHD as a noted sex therapist. Great trivia question material.
Applause to director Fred De Cordova for doing such an excellent job with this cast. A different type of episode for the series, to be sure. From SEASON 8 EPISODE 27 remastered.
