1049 Park Avenue: An Odd Couple Podcast

"The New Car"

It’s our one year anniversary and 50^th recorded episode! Oscar and Felix win a new car which ends up causing more problems than benefits in “The New Car”.  We discuss 1) the geographic inconsistencies this episode causes regarding where Felix and Oscar live 2) the many external street scenes 3) John Byner and 4) Bella Bruck who plays Pushover Page  

"The Odd Holiday"

In “The Odd Holiday”, a flashback episode, Felix and Oscar go to the Caribbean with their wives and Felix tries to help Oscar’s marriage while not realizing his in jeopardy.   

"That Was No Lady"

Felix falls for a football player’s wife but doesn’t know she is married in S4E4 “That Was No Lady”. Topics covered include: 1) Listener feedback to our question about the line “Every body loves pizza and beer” in our last episode 2) The biography of guest stars Alex Karras and Patricia Harty 3) phrases we are not familiar with such as “good offices”, “honky tonk”, “red dog”.  4) the way this episode celebrates romance in NYC 5) how the episode tells an emotional story in a short period of time 6) the significance of a “Chicano” musical named Lettuce 6) how this episode proves Miriam means nothing to Felix 

"The Odd Decathalon"

Felix and Oscar compete in athletic events to prove who is the better insurance risk in S4E3 “The Odd Decathlon”.  Topics discussed include 1) Our confusion as to why the studio audience applauds at the line “Every body needs Pizza and beer”, 2) Murray's terrible refereeing skills and 3) The state of employment insurance in the 1970s 

"Last Tango In Newark"

World-renowned ballet dancer Edward Villella guest stars in S4E2.  We discuss 1) the selling of orange and orange beverages at theaters 2) the potential skittishness of ABC regarding the assumption that ballet implies lack of manliness 3) the resume of Dan Dailey and 4) the physical humor of Jack Klugman in this episode.

"Gloria Moves In"

Gloria stays at Felix and Oscar’s apartment while her house is being painted in the 4th season premiere “Gloria Moves In”.  Topics covered include 1) When this episode was filmed vs aired and how that impacts the living room furniture which had just been changed in the prior aired episode 2) The directing flourishes of Garry Marshall 3) Tony Randall’s great performance of Felix playing cards while drunk 4) the glimpses we get as to why Gloria divorced Felix 5) how sex is discussed in this episode 6) another cut musical scene 7) 1970’s mores regarding a single man being alone in a hotel 8) the inside references to the play 9) and a major continuity error involving luggage

"The Murray Who Came To Dinner"

Murray has a fight with his wife and moves in with Felix and Oscar in the season three finale The Murray Who Came For Dinner.  We discuss the fact this episode was the third filmed for the season but the last to air and speculate about why this was.  We also cover in-depth that the actress who plays Murray’s wife also played Oscar’s mother this season.  Other topics include: McGuffins vs red herrings; how good Al Molinaro is in the episode; rollerderbys; and the unnecessary use of recycled outdoor footage and establishing shots.

”Take My Furniture, Please”

Felix buys new furniture for the apartment but his tastes and Oscar's are very different in S3E22.  We discuss the fantastic set design in this episode; the legendary character Charles Lane who makes an appearance; the terrible doormen in 1049 Park Avenue who let anyone up at anytime; the fact Miriam and Felix show mild affection here and the episode's great sight gags.

"The Odyssey Couple"

Felix finds Oscar a date who isn’t what she seems in order to make Oscar’s mother happy in S3E21 The Odyssey Couple.  We talk about: 1) how people used to call a phone number to get the exact time, speculate about why there is a new actress play Oscar’s mother, 2) the 70s references to Dom DeLuise, Liz & Dick, John and Yoko and Raquel Welch, 3) the endless dancing in this episode, 4) the connection between this episode and the classic Saturday morning show Shazam! 5) the history of Lynne Miller who plays Helena 6) the significance of Boys In The Band, 7) the inappropriate age difference between Oscar and Helena.

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"Let's Make A Deal"

Monty Hall guest stars as Oscar burns Felix's custom mattress and tries to win a new one on Let's Make A Deal in S3E20.  We make a few corrections/additions from the prior week's episode about My Strife in Court, play a short clip from Gilmore Girls referencing The Odd Couple, discuss Monty Hall's bio and why he was on the show, and cover the origins of a quote misattributed to Abraham Lincoln.