When people rank the all time greatest sitcoms, usually The Odd Couple is never on that list. Is it underappreciated?

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yes it is

It's always in my top 10 list of the best sitcoms. In fact, once I believe I put it first, followed by The Honeymooners but my lists don't mean anything since they're not published in a magazine.

Oh without a doubt Odd Couple is highly underrated.

It's one of my favorites.

It's always in my top 10 list of the best sitcoms. In fact, once I believe I put it first, followed by The Honeymooners but my lists don't mean anything since they're not published in a magazine.


Since you're an actual viewer, I think people like youand your top 10 list means a heck of a lot more! IMO

Oh without a doubt Odd Couple is highly underrated.

It's one of my favorites.


I am glad others feel the way I do! :D

The Odd Couple is one of my all time favorite sitcoms. They just don't make shows of that genre anymore.

I read somewhere that Jack and Tony were always threatened that the show was going to be canceled. It doesn't seem that the show ever got the respect it deserved.

The Odd Couple is one of my all time favorite sitcoms. They just don't make shows of that genre anymore.

I read somewhere that Jack and Tony were always threatened that the show was going to be canceled. It doesn't seem that the show ever got the respect it deserved.

I was too young to watch the Odd Couple during its original run on ABC, but I can't believe this show struggled in the ratings.
Accorging to Wikipedia, ABC cancelled The Odd Couple at the end of every season, but the show did well in summer reruns so it was always renewed.

It goes to show you how important reruns can be for a struggling series. Nowadays networks don't do summer reruns of their regualr season lineup.

I agree with everyone else; this show was and is highly underrated.

The acting and the scripts were top notch; Klugman and Randall were at the top of their game here, and the show really came to outshine the original movie, imo.

I have been a fan of The Odd Couple for many years and even though it wasn't a ratings success in its first run, it has been a major syndicated sensation. Tony Randall and Jack Klugman were one of the best TV comedy teams of all-time and they were very funny.

I always liked the show too - and always watched it when it orig. ran (I was a young teenager back then.) Maybe it was overshadowed by other 70s shows like All In The Family or Mary Tayler Moore. Just speculating. And even if it was, that doesn't take away from the fact that it was a very funny show, and certainly better than a lot of other shows. I happily watch it when it comes my way.

I was too young to watch the Odd Couple during its original run on ABC, but I can't believe this show struggled in the ratings.


My family used to watch the first-run episodes regularly (but I don't recall ever seeing reruns in the summer months -- I watched less TV in the summer).

That surprises me that the show ever struggled -- I tried to never miss it.

I think under-appreciated is more apt. I remember when it first aired and I enjoyed it. Maybe it sometimes gets taken for granted because it was around the same time as All In The Family and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and got eclipsed by them. Just speculating.

Too bad the O.C. does seem to get taken for granted, because it had some REALLY FUNNY moments like (the Pushover Page character, Felix's constant honking--lol he could have done voice-overs for geese commercials, and that great ep where Oscar sleepwalks and keeps hitting Felix) - funny the moments you remember about a show. The O.C. deserves its loyal fan base - I reflect fondly on my recollections about the show.

The Odd Couple is one of my all time favorite sitcoms. They just don't make shows of that genre anymore.

I read somewhere that Jack and Tony were always threatened that the show was going to be canceled. It doesn't seem that the show ever got the respect it deserved.

The show was not a big hit in its network run, so renewal was always iffy.

I read that similarly, The Brady Bunch would only be renewed in half-season increments (13 weeks). It was never renewed for a full season.

I think the show is underrated, a true classic. I think it became a bigger hit in syndication. TV Land or Retro TV should be showing it.

The Odd Couple is underrated in part due to not being shown in syndication anymore some people don't remember it as well. I haven't seen the show in syndication since the 80's.

It's really a shame that The Odd Couple isn't seen on TV anymore. Retro TV should be showing it. It's a classic show that holds up still.

My mom and I like the show and its very underrated. Why the show isnt on somewhere, I'll never know? I never watched it, but it seems like its like the show Arrested Development. I mean it was critically acclaimed but never got any traction, ratings wise. Same goes for The Odd Couple.

"The Odd Couple" was on TIME's 100 Best TV Shows of All Time- this is what it said:

It's the concept that launched a million lousy pitches. ("He's an uptight accountant in jail for securities fraud! His cellmate's a fast-talking pimp! They're the original odd couple!") But this classic sitcom made lightning strike twice by casting Tony Randall and Jack Klugman as finicky Felix and slovenly Oscar, fitting the roles as perfectly as Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau did in the film (based on the Neil Simon play). The pair were lonely ex-husbands—at a time when it had just become acceptable to talk about D-I-V-O-R-C-E on TV—slowly, reluctantly realizing their faults and culpability for their problems. Urban, urbane and stagey in the best sense of the word, this sitcom affirmed that opposites could attract an audience. I still don't forgive it for the Lethal Weapon movies, though.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1651341_1659196_1652620,00.html

Is it true that The Odd Couple was cancelled at the end of each of its first through fourth seasons due to mediocre ratings/viewership, and was only brought back for another season because the ratings/viewership for the summer reruns were high?

Is it true that The Odd Couple was cancelled at the end of each of its first through fourth seasons due to mediocre ratings/viewership, and was only brought back for another season because the ratings/viewership for the summer reruns were high?

I know it was always on the bubble for the first four years, but I don't think they could use summer ratings as a barometer, because shows start filming during the summer.

Had the show been cancelled at the end of a season, everyone would have been given their walking papers and by the time the network changed its' mind, it would have been too late to write new scripts, get the cast and crew back together, etc.

But I'm just speculating and surmising here....

Garry Marshall has said consistently over the years that even though Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley were far more successful, The Odd Couple was the best show he ever worked on.

Garry Marshall has said consistently over the years that even though Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley were far more successful, The Odd Couple was the best show he ever worked on.

It appeared that no one on Laverne & Shirley was happy, they came off to me as spoiled brats who were lucky to be working actors on a hit show, but felt they were suited for better and more prestigious things.

And the egos and infighting sabotaged that show's last infamous season, as we all know.

From what's been written and said, the casts of Odd Couple and Happy Days seemed to get along well for the most part and enjoyed working together, coming together in the best way creatively.

I would like to sample the show but it isn't on any channel

We're always reminded that Garry Marshall worked on this series due to the Penny Marshall appearances as Myrna:
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To me, I may not go all-time "top ten" for The Odd Couple, but if not, then certainly not far from making the cut...!

I couldn't get into because I saw neither one of them on a date or anything and I just lost interest. Made me feel like I was watching two middle age homo's

LOL

I couldn't get into because I saw neither one of them on a date or anything and I just lost interest. Made me feel like I was watching two middle age homo's

LOL

"Homo's."

Not only are you beyond enlightened as a human being, but you can't even use the apostrophe right.

;)

"Homo's."

Not only are you beyond enlightened as a human being, but you can't even use the apostrophe right.

;)



well I am sorry I can't watch a show centered around 2 single guys who are never on dates or involved with woman

Felix did have a steady woman for a time, Miriam (Elinor Donahue). They were also seeing the Pigeon sisters at times. Also, the episodes where the ex-wives appear remind us that Oscar & Felix weren't gay.

well I am sorry I can't watch a show centered around 2 single guys who are never on dates or involved with woman

I think you are confusing Oscar and Felix wit Bert and Ernie! :p

Two guys who have problems with women are a lot funnier than two roommates who are in stable, secure relationships.

It's one of those unwritten rules of the sitcom.

I couldn't get into because I saw neither one of them on a date or anything and I just lost interest. Made me feel like I was watching two middle age homo's

LOL


I guess you don't need a TV for that. Just a mirror.