The New Odd Couple

The New Odd Couple is an American sitcom television series that aired on ABC from 1982 to 1983, and was an updated version of the 1970s television series The Odd Couple. The New Odd Couple was the second attempt to remake a series of one of Neil Simon's plays with a primarily African-American and European-American cast. The first was Barefoot in the Park (which also premiered on September 24, 1970, the same day the original Odd Couple series did).

The New Odd Couple
GenreSitcom
Based onThe Odd Couple
by Neil Simon
Developed byGarry K. Marshall
Written byLowell Ganz
Mark Rothman
Millee Taggart
Kurt Taylor
Directed byJoel Zwick
StarringRon Glass
Demond Wilson
John Schuck
Bart Braverman
Jo Marie Payton
Liz Torres
Theme music composerNeal Hefti
ComposersDan Foliart
Howard Pearl
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes18 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersGarry Marshall
Tony Marshall
Running time2224 minutes
Production companiesHenderson Production Company Inc.
Paramount Television
DistributorCBS Television Distribution
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseOctober 29, 1982 (1982-10-29) 
May 26, 1983 (1983-05-26)
Chronology
Related showsThe Odd Couple

Synopsis

In this series, Felix and Oscar were both African-American college buddies who met in the 1950s. Felix was portrayed by Ron Glass and Oscar was portrayed by Demond Wilson. The characterizations were still the same, as Felix was a prissy neatfreak and Oscar was a fun-loving and sloppy character. John Schuck also appeared as Murray the Cop, who was kept Caucasian, as was the character of Roy, who was played by Bart Braverman.

The show ran for 18 episodes; eight of the episodes used recycled scripts from the original series. By the time the writers began producing new scripts, it was too late, as the show never found an audience. The series was cancelled in 1983.

Cast

Production

The New Odd Couple was executive produced by Garry and Anthony W. Marshall, and produced by Paramount Television. The theme music was still the same as the original series (composed by Neal Hefti), but it was played with a more updated urban arrangement.

This marked the second time Ron Glass and Demond Wilson collaborated; nearly a decade prior, they appeared together in two episodes of Sanford and Son : "Card Sharps" (S2, E6) and "Once a Thief" (S4, E15).

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Ides of April"Joel ZwickLowell Ganz & Mark RothmanOctober 29, 1982 (1982-10-29)
Felix receives a letter from the IRS. While correcting the error at the IRS office, he accidentally gives away the information about Oscar's tax violations. Felix helps Oscar with his backlogged taxes and saves the day.
2"The Hustler"Joel ZwickLowell Ganz & Mark RothmanNovember 5, 1982 (1982-11-05)
Oscar is suckered into a contest with a pool hustler.
3"Frances Moves In"Joel ZwickLowell Ganz & Mark RothmanNovember 12, 1982 (1982-11-12)
Felix' ex-wife moves in, interrupting the weekly poker game.
4"That Was No Lady"Joel ZwickLee KalcheimNovember 19, 1982 (1982-11-19)
Felix falls for the girlfriend of a boxing great, KO'ing Oscar's hopes of writing a book on the champion.
5"Brother, Can You Spare a Job?"Joel ZwickJerry RossNovember 26, 1982 (1982-11-26)
At Felix' prodding, Oscar demands a raise and is immediately promoted into the ranks of the unemployed.
6"The New Car"Joel ZwickLowell Ganz & Mark RothmanDecember 3, 1982 (1982-12-03)
In this episode, Felix and Oscar win a car. The car becomes a problem when the two are forced to take turns getting up early to move it across the street. Problems are made worse when Felix refuses to let Oscar drive the car for fear that something will happen to it. Eventually they decide to get rid of the car so that it does not come between their friendship.
7"The Cordon Blues"Joel ZwickJeffrey Duteil & Ralph FarquharDecember 10, 1982 (1982-12-10)
A socialite friend thinks Felix has the panache to manage her new restaurant.
8"The Odd Triangle"Joel ZwickNorman BaraschDecember 17, 1982 (1982-12-17)
Felix suspects the model Oscar is dating is using his roommate to get to Felix—and his influence as a fashion photographer.
9"Opening Night"John TracyMary Cory Miller & Kurt TaylorDecember 31, 1982 (1982-12-31)
Felix helps Oscar review a Broadway play whose backer insists on a favorable notice—or else.
10"Security"Joel ZwickJerry BelsonJanuary 7, 1983 (1983-01-07)
In the aftermath of a robbery, Felix gets a guard dog and looks for an apartment with tighter security.
11"Bachelor of the Year"Joel ZwickMark C. Miller & Kurt TaylorJanuary 14, 1983 (1983-01-14)
Felix and Oscar are pitted against each other in a magazine's Man of the Year contest.
12"A Grave for Felix"Joel ZwickDick Bensfield & Perry GrantJanuary 21, 1983 (1983-01-21)
The money Felix entrusts to Oscar for a cemetery-plot deposit becomes ready cash for Oscar's gambling.
13"My Strife in Court"Joel ZwickLowell Ganz & Mark RothmanJanuary 28, 1983 (1983-01-28)
Oscar can't find a date for a concert, so Felix gets them both arrested for scalping at the door.
14"Oscar Dates Felix's Frances"Joel ZwickStu SilverFebruary 18, 1983 (1983-02-18)
Oscar agrees to accompany Felix' ex-wife to a boring lecture. The unexpected happens when Oscar and Frances decide to begin dating.
15"Murray's Hot Date"Joel ZwickMadeline Sunshine & Steven SunshineFebruary 25, 1983 (1983-02-25)
Oscar gives the household money to Charity—a prostitute he hires as Murray's date for the civil servant.
16"The Perils of Pauline"Joel ZwickJeffrey Duteil & Barry O'BrienMay 13, 1983 (1983-05-13)
Murray's palm reading points to bad luck down the line for Felix, beginning with Oscar ruining his roommate's chances to enter a photo exhibition.
17"The Only Way to Fly"Joel ZwickMadeline Sunshine & Steven SunshineMay 20, 1983 (1983-05-20)
A crazed man throws a brick through Felix' studio window, and it's wrapped with a message threatening Felix for dating his wife.
18"The Night Stalker"Joel ZwickRalph FarquharMay 26, 1983 (1983-05-26)
Oscar's pals surprise him with a word processor, but Oscar can't compose without "Pauline"—his trusty typewriter.

US TV Ratings

Season Episodes Start Date End Date Nielsen Rank Nielsen Rating Tied With
1982-83 18 October 29, 1982 May 26, 1983 60[1] N/A N/A

Syndication

Reruns of the series aired on BET in the early 1990s. TV Land occasionally aired reruns when they were airing reruns of the original 1970s series.

References

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