Each episode of The Odd Couple - The Third Season begins with the familiar narration by William Woodson: "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?"
The series is reminescent of a Broadway play with its live studio audience laughter and applause and pits two divorced bachelors in the living room stage setting of Oscar's pad. Oscar's authority always dominates and takes precedence in this totally opposite relationship, while Felix, in a perpetual Tigger-like parody, tries to persuade Oscar to his point of view. Oft times, Felix's logic seems to win-the-day, but he always runs enthusiastically beyond the boundary of success and slams into disaster as seen in "My Strife in Court" and "The Murray Who Came to Dinner."
Familiar faces are found in supporting cast members: compassionate NY cop and friend Murray Greshler (Al Molinaro - Happy Days), Felix's girlfriend Miriam Welby (Elinor Donahue - Father Knows Best) and vivacious but innocent Myrna Turner (Penny Marshall - Laverne and Shirley) plays Oscar's secretary who will dance her way into your hearts in "Myrna's Debut." Monty Hall, Betty White and Allen Ludden are TV hosts while the two bachelors make their way toward uncertain winnings as they appear as guests on "Password" and "Let's Make a Deal." Jean Simmons is the height of elegance in "The Princess" as she softens Oscar's heart into a marriage proposal. You'll enjoy sportscaster Howard Cosell as he attempts to shut Felix's "Big Mouth", while Deacon Jones and Bubba Smith bring their expertise to "Felix's First Commercial" and "Take My Furniture, Please." Garry Marshall and Jerry Paris excel in the background of this production and kudos to the writers of The Odd Couple - The Third Season for creating a series so much in the tradition of Neil Simon that you'll think you're sitting in the audience of a Broadway play. I thoroughly enjoyed the constant bickering of these two personality wrestlers and wait with anticipation for future seasons to emerge on the DVD scene.
