The Terrible Catsafterme

MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY – SEASON 1 – ABC

NOTE: The series was titled “Make Room for Daddy” for the first three seasons, before becoming “The Danny Thomas Show.” During many of the syndicated runs, the title of the later episodes reverted to “Make Room for Daddy”

Music composed by Herbert W. Spencer and Earle Hagen

• 001. Uncle Daddy – 9/29/1953
  • Unavailable for viewing
• 002. Party Dress – 10/6/1953
  • Danny Williams (Danny Thomas), New York nightclub comedian and singer, argues with piano player Benny Lessy (himself) about having to rehearse in the afternoon, leaving him with less time to be with his wife Margaret (Jean Hagen), daughter Terry (Sherry Jackson), and son Rusty (Rusty Hamer). He especially espouses the joy of raising his 11-year old daughter and shows off a doll he is bringing home for her. When he gets home, he finds Margaret and the maid Louise (Louise Beavers) fussing over alterations on a new dress that Terry intends to wear to a school dance, and consequently Terry has no interest in the new doll. Danny adamantly objects to her going to a dance that age, causing Terry to retreat to her room in tears. Terry’s would-be date Donald Cooper (Walter Hamer) comes to see Terry, but Danny sends him on his way and tells him that Terry can’t go. Later while giving a bath to Rusty, Danny overhears Terry discussing her father with Margaret, who maintains that her father wants what is best for her, mostly because he doesn’t trust boys – since he was one – and knows that they are nothing but trouble. Danny thinks it over and expresses concern to Louise that his daughter might grow up to be an old maid if she never trusts in boys. Margaret sends Terry to butter up her father by telling him that he knows best, and that she’d rather stay home with him and play horsie. He tells her that she needs to get out and see boys because not all men are bad, and insists that she go to the dance. Donald is outside the door waiting, and says he knew it would work out because he always goes through this on his dates. Danny works at the Club Paul nightclub on the night of the dance, telling jokes about his daughter growing up, before singing Daddy’s Little Girl. He comes home that night and laments about his little girl growing up, but when Margaret has him peek in on her, she is clutching the new doll that he bought for her. 2/27/21

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SEASON 1 – FOX

Theme music: “Boss of Me” by They Might Be Giants

• 001. Pilot – 1/9/2000
  • The Wilkerson family are a slightly dysfunctional family living in the Midwest comprised of father Hal (Bryan Cranston), mother Lois (Jane Kaczmarek), and brothers Reese (Justin Berfield), Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), and Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan). They also have an older brother Francis (Christopher Masterson) who has been sent away to Marlin Academy military school for his behavioral issues. Malcolm’s mother arranges a play date with Stevie Kenarban (Craig Lamar Traylor), a black kid in a wheelchair. Malcolm is unenthusiastic until he finds out that Stevie has a massive comic book collection. Malcolm also is tested at school, found to be a child genius, and forced against his will to move to a gifted class known as the Krelboyne class, where Stevie is also a student. A group of bullies led by Dave Spath (Vincent Berry) pick on Malcolm and others, but Malcolm stands up to him in the school yard and dodges a punch that ends up grazing Stevie. The kids turn against Spath for hitting a kid in a wheel chair. Malcolm’s first teacher is played by Merrin Dungey, while the teacher in his new class, Caroline Miller is played by Catherine Lloyd Burns. Will Jennings is Eraserhead. Landry Allbright is Julie Houlerman. Kristin Quick is Flora Mayesh. 3/1/14

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SEASON 1 – NBC

Created by Michael G. Moye and Ron Leavitt

Theme music: “It’s Your Move” composed by Rik Howard and Bob Worth, performed by Mark Riddles

• 001. Pilot – 9/26/1984
  • Matthew Burton (Jason Bateman) is a teenage con artist of sorts, living with his widowed mother Eileen (Caren Kaye) and sister Julie (Tricia Cast). He is very loyal to his mother and often slips her money unbeknownst to her. Matt and his chubby sidekick Eli (Adam Sadowsky) are planning a term paper sale with his other friends, having hid the papers in the floorboards in the apartment across the hall. Building managers Lou Donatelli (Ernie Sabella) announces that he’s rented the apartment, and the renter turns out to be a fledgling write from Chicago named Norman Lamb (David Garrison). Matt tries to arrange for Norman to be out of the apartment by pretending to interview Julie so that Matt can retrieve the papers, but Norman ends up on a date with Eileen. Matt attempts to have Eileen’s suitor Mort Stumplerut propose marriage, but Matt accidentally nails him into Norman’s apartment, thinking that it is Norman. Matt’s last-ditch effort is to forge a letter from Newsweek offering Norman a job in New York, but Norman knows it’s a fake since Eli has misspelled a word. Matt agrees to let Norman continue to see his mother as long as he promises to be good to her and admits to forging a second letter from Atlantic Monthly indicating that Norman has sold an article, leading him to buy an expensive bracelet for Eileen, expecting the arrival of the check). River Phoenix appears as Brian. Beto Lovato is Manuel. 3/1/14 Read the rest of this entry »

SEASON 1 – ABC

Theme music: “The I’m Dickens – He’s Fenster March” by Irving Szathmary

• 001. A Small Matter of Being Fired – 9/28/1962
  • Harry Dickens (John Astin) and Arch Fenster (Marty Ingels) are somewhat inept carpenters for the McKendrick Construction Company. Harry’s wife Kate (Emmaline Henry) and Arch discuss Harry’s nervousness about the potential for him to be promoted to foreman of the crew. They head off to work on a house, and Harry gets upset because the boss Myron Bannister (Frank De Vol) cannot remember his name. Harry meets Arch’s new girlfriend Lorna (Vitina Marcus), and then realizes that his only competition for the job is Arch himself. Arch has no interest in the job, but Harry starts to talk bad about him about work. When Harry ultimately is promoted, his first job is to fire Arch because of all of the ‘rumors’ circulating…ones that Harry actually started. Arch voluntarily gives up his position, but Harry now goes to bat for him and admits that Arch is actually a better carpenter. The foreman position is then reconsidered based on the new info. Harry then finds out that Arch is now dating Hillary Bannister (Yvonne Craig), the daughter of his boss. Henry Beckman plays Mulligan, David Ketchum plays Mel Warshaw, and Noam Pitlik plays Bentley. 3/1/14 Read the rest of this entry »

SEASON 1 – CBS

Created by Ed James.

This series is a continuation of the radio show of the same name that aired between 1949-1954. The show’s pilot was part of “The Ford Television Theatre” in an episode entitled “Keep It in the Family”

Theme song: “Waiting” by Don Ferris and Irving Friedman. Unused lyrics were written by Leon Pober. Rod O’Connor is the announcer.

• 001. Bud Takes Up the Dance – 10/3/1954
  • Jim Anderson (Robert Young) is a middle-class insurance agent living with his wife Margaret (Jane Wyatt) and children Betty (Elinor Donahue), Bud (Billy Gray), and Kathy (Lauren Chapin) in the town of Springfield. Jim is ready for a nice quiet evening at home, when he hears commotion going on in Bud’s room. Bud is teaching himself to dance from an antique dancing book but is embarrassed to tell anyone. Betty finds out and spills the beans to her parents, but they are concerned that bud is taking a girl named Marcia (Susan Whitney) who is known by the nickname “Dynamite.” Jim goes to visit Kathy and her grandmother (Claire Meade) and finds out that Kathy is just as shy about admitting that she can’t dance. Her nickname comes from her explosive nature on the debating team. Jim offers to teach her to dance, and then goes home and insists that Bud leave the basement, where he hides away when embarrassed, and let Betty teach him to dance. Jim and Margaret chaperone the dance, and Margaret notes that Bud and Marcia’s dancing seems to have come from the same source. 3/1/14

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