Post by Poppy on Jan 15, 2020 14:43:57 GMT -5
"Pilot" Director: Philip Rapp, Writers: Arthur Stander, Phil Sharp. This is the very first episode. Those of you familiar with the normal set will see a difference in the decoration of their house. Jim Backus seems to be having the time of his life in this one. It opens with Judge Stevens giving counsel in chambers to a couple (Shirley Mitchell and Hal March) who are about to get a divorce. He regales them with the story of how he met Joan, then a fledgling airline "hostess." Joan comes up with some very funny physical shtick on the rocking plane. The second half finds Joan attempting to conceal the purchase of a Persian lamb coat from Brad. Hope Emerson plays her neighbor, Minerva. In a frantic move, Joan hides the coat by putting it in the top-loading deep freeze. This episode is actually funnier than even we remember it, with lots of clever business and an almost improvised easy-breezy feel between Joan and Jim. Joan sings "Way Down Upon the Swanee River" accompanied by Jim on air banjo. Sweet.