The Girl from NEPHEW

[broadmoor]

The 60s spy-craze certainly seemed to make its presence known in many sitcoms of the era. In "My Favorite Martian," Tim and Martin fought with Butterball on a few occasions. "Hillbillies" had Jethro involved in his double-naught spy doings. "Gilligan's Island" had a particularly amusing episode involving an attache case and subsequent dream sequence. There was a late b&w episode of "My Three Sons" involving young Ernie emulating James Bond, spying on Mike and his old girlfriend. Also seem to recall a later color episode in which Steve is at some Washington party, beset by spies. There's also the "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" episode with the "Man from UNCLE" crossover. Undoubtedly several other examples.

Thus, we also have TPDS serving up the "Girl from NEPHEW" episode from the third season. Which, has a few mildly amusing lines and the nice attraction of teaming up Patty and Ross for a misadventure.... but it's basically a misfire, and a pretty strained one at that. It's also quite indicative of how the series lost a bit of its bearings after it moved production out to CA for season-three. There's a real feel of dissonance as the new production team seems to be trying to re-mold the show into a doggedly more generic, cookie-cutter sitcom pattern. Previously the series had been a uniquely airy confection with a pretty strong emphasis on characterization, so the switch to broad, somewhat two-diminsional farce was disatisfying. To put it mildly. Luckily, they seemed to back off this trend somewhat as the season continued to progress, but the series never quite recaptured its delightfully unique charm.

Anyway, I might have liked a good spy-theme episode of TPDS, but "The Girl from NEPHEW" really didn't fit the bill. A bit of a low-point, I'm afraid. They might have had better success going with some kind of wacky dream sequence, like that aforementioned "Gilligan" episode.

[MickeyMac]

I gotta disagree. I like this episode.

[Cathy_Lane]

While this is a fun episode, it does seem to lack that certain something that the best episodes of TPDS have. It plays a bit too broadly, and tries too hard to be "wacky", as do many of the worst Season 3 episodes. The teaming of Patty and Ross seems too forced in many of these later episodes. It almost seems like everyone involved was tired of writing for Cathy. Without the yin and yang of Patty and Cathy to anchor the series, it just becomes generic.

(Although I will admit to being a bit biased toward Cathy...as evidenced by my screen name here!)

[1960'sTVfan]

The 3rd season brought some changes to the series, no doubt about that. One thing I like about the last season, it wasn't always Patty and Cathy all the time. Ross was given more to do in the episodes, he and Patty are funny together and The Girl From NEPHEW episode is a good example. I enjoy this episode also.

The Patty Duke Show started off with emphasis on the Patty/Cathy identical cousins gimmick, but after 2 seasons and 72 episodes the idea was wearing a little thin and aside from a few exceptions, Cathy's laid back personality isn't usually that interesting. Cathy was still there in the 3rd season, but Ross became more involved and overall the results were positive. It was a needed and refreshing change for the series.

If I recall, Patty Duke didn't like the last season all that much, saying that the 3rd season was a drag. It was still a good show, but I think Patty was tiring of the series and playing the dual role. She was ready to move on and do other things.

[bliss]

Originally Posted by Cathy_Lane

While this is a fun episode, it does seem to lack that certain something that the best episodes of TPDS have. It plays a bit too broadly, and tries too hard to be "wacky", as do many of the worst Season 3 episodes. The teaming of Patty and Ross seems too forced in many of these later episodes. It almost seems like everyone involved was tired of writing for Cathy. Without the yin and yang of Patty and Cathy to anchor the series, it just becomes generic.

(Although I will admit to being a bit biased toward Cathy...as evidenced by my screen name here!)

Agree. The show was about the characters of Cathy AND Patty not some silly run-of-the-mill wacky family sitcom. This is what made the show unique.

So Patty has a wacky adventure with the little brother with humorous results. Meanwhile, Cousin Cathy is sitting at home waiting for her obligatory appearance in just the intro and tag scene.

[1960'sTVfan]

The identical cousins gimmick might have been the shows original premise, but Cathy was boring most of the time. So it was a good change for the 3rd season to have a little less Cathy and a little more Ross. It livened up the proceedings, and I think Patty Duke was growing tired of playing the dual role anyway.

[randyrandy]

Originally Posted by Cathy_Lane

While this is a fun episode, it does seem to lack that certain something that the best episodes of TPDS have. It plays a bit too broadly, and tries too hard to be "wacky", as do many of the worst Season 3 episodes. The teaming of Patty and Ross seems too forced in many of these later episodes. It almost seems like everyone involved was tired of writing for Cathy. Without the yin and yang of Patty and Cathy to anchor the series, it just becomes generic.

(Although I will admit to being a bit biased toward Cathy...as evidenced by my screen name here!)

I was trying to come up with a few comments about this episode, but you pretty much hit the nail on the head, Cathy.

Not one of my favorite episodes, to say the least.

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

I gotta disagree. I like this episode.

Yes it's a funny episode, one of the best from the excellent 3rd season. Another good one is the episode where Patty and Ross get accidentally handcuffed to each other, some good laughs to be had there also. The episodes that feature Patty and Ross are among the best of the series, those two were always funny together.

[dakert]

I liked this episode

[broadmoor]

Actually, I always liked the character of Ross and felt he was a bit under-utilized, so I like the fact he's more prominent in the 3rd-season. But this is undercut by the depressing marginalization of Cathy. I still find that the pleasing balance of the Patty/Cathy dynamic is what draws me into the series. The way their opposite personalities bounce off each other. With a Patty-only series, I'd probably eventually find her wildly headstrong nature rather wearying, and with a Cathy-only series, her meekness might ultimately become a bit exasperating. But together, watching them bring each other back towards a grounded center, it works like a charm.

[1960'sTVfan]

There are several Patty/Cathy episodes I enjoy, but to me Patty is by far the more interesting character of the two. Playing the double role and contrasting personality types in this show gave Patty Duke the opportunity to display her acting versatility. In the 3rd season, I think Patty was getting a little tired having to play the two roles, so the writers gave Ross a little more to do and Patty wouldn't have to be Cathy quite as often.

[Zoneboy]

Link

SYDNEY (AP) - Murray Rose, a four-time Olympic champion distance swimmer for Australia, died Sunday. He was 73.

Swimming Australia said Murray died of leukemia.

The Scotland-born Rose won three golds at the 1956 Melbourne Games, becoming a national hero at 17. He won a gold, silver and bronze four years later in Rome. His golds in 1956 came in the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle events and the 4x-200-meter freestyle relay. In Rome, he won the 400 free, took silver in the 1,500 and bronze in the 4x200 free relay.

"I'm just extremely sad at the passing of one of the greatest swimmers of all time and a great mate," said John Konrads, who beat out Rose for the 1,500 gold in Rome.

Rose eventually set 15 world records, including marks in the 400, 800, and 1,500 freestyles.

"Murray Rose is part of the swimming DNA in this country," Swimming Australia president David Urquhart said. "His success inspired a generation and our thoughts and p rayers are with his family and close friends during this difficult time."

Rose represented Australia for the last time at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, winning all four of his events.

Kieren Perkins, a two-time Olympic 1,500 champion, described Rose's passing as "absolutely devastating", saying he was "a true gentleman" and pioneer for Australian distance swimmers.

"Murray was one of those statesmen of Australian sport and it's almost beyond describing the impact that he had not only on swimming but Australian sport in general," Perkins said. "I was fortunate enough to interact with him before the 1992 Olympics and he gave me valuable advice that helped me achieve what I did at those games."

Born Jan. 6, 1939, in Nairn, Scotland, Iain Murray Rose and his family moved to Australia shortly after World War II. He began swimming as a child.

After the Melbourne Olympics, Rose moved to the United States to attend the University of Southern Cali fornia. He continued competing while at the Los Angeles school, where he studied drama and television and graduated in 1962.

In a joint statement, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Sports Minister Kate Lundy said Australia had lost one of its greatest Olympians.

"Murray was a true pioneer of Australian swimming and his impressive feats in the pool helped to shape Australia's destiny as a successful sporting nation," the statement said. "There is no disputing that the Olympian was a champion in the pool, but Murray also made an immense contribution to the community through charity work and as patron of The Rainbow Club, which teaches children with a disability to swim."

Rose adhered to a vegan lifestyle during his career, earning the nickname "The Seaweed Streak."

He continued swimming into his later years in masters competitions.

Rose was one of eight people who carried the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony for the 2000 Sydney Games. He appeare d with other Australian Olympic stars on postage stamps to commemorate the games.

He appeared on Groucho Marx's radio program "You Bet Your Life" and was a guest on the TV show "To Tell the Truth" in the 1950s.

Rose appeared in the 1964 movie, "Ride the Wild Surf."

The Australian Olympic Committee said Rose was survived by his wife Jodi and son Trevor.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

[jehobden]

Originally Posted by broadmoor

The 60s spy-craze certainly seemed to make its presence known in many sitcoms of the era. In "My Favorite Martian," Tim and Martin fought with Butterball on a few occasions. "Hillbillies" had Jethro involved in his double-naught spy doings. "Gilligan's Island" had a particularly amusing episode involving an attache case and subsequent dream sequence. There was a late b&w episode of "My Three Sons" involving young Ernie emulating James Bond, spying on Mike and his old girlfriend. Also seem to recall a later color episode in which Steve is at some Washington party, beset by spies. There's also the "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" episode with the "Man from UNCLE" crossover. Undoubtedly several other examples.

The 1965-66 tv season seemed to be the high point of the sitcom spy craze. Mr. Ed also had several of its last Sunday afternoon episodes that season devoted to "Oat-Oat Seven", and The John Forsythe Showchanged its format at midseason to have Forsythe's character turn into an international spy.

[bliss]

Not a good episode. I tried to like it but it's unbelievable that someone her age would be acting that way. Going overboard with the whole spy thing.

[CosmicCharlie]

Patty & Ross had good chemistry - the show isn't about Rocket Science - any plot can work with the right actors