Who Knew? The Odd Couple's Opening Credits Were Almost Ruined! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-02-2011, 11:27 PM

"In the show''s opening credits you can see me walking up Fifth Avenue as Felix with two suitcases, on my way to Oscar''s. The bags are awfully heavy and I put them down on the sidewalk and sit. A guy who was passing stopped and tried to help me with the bags. ''Hey, are you okay, buddy?'' He didn''t know who I was, or that we were filming. He just wanted to help me. He nearly ruined the take. Ordinarily you can drop dead on the streets of New York and no one''s going to help you. We kept it in the main titles."

Excerpt from Tony Randall''s book, Which Reminds Me

TVFactFan · 09-03-2011, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

"In the show''s opening credits you can see me walking up Fifth Avenue as Felix with two suitcases, on my way to Oscar''s. The bags are awfully heavy and I put them down on the sidewalk and sit. A guy who was passing stopped and tried to help me with the bags. ''Hey, are you okay, buddy?'' He didn''t know who I was, or that we were filming. He just wanted to help me. He nearly ruined the take. Ordinarily you can drop dead on the streets of New York and no one''s going to help you. We kept it in the main titles."

Excerpt from Tony Randall''s book, Which Reminds Me

I just saw it on youtube-LOL

I don't understand why they were filming if it was pouring down raining

Brian Damage · 09-03-2011, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I just saw it on youtube-LOL

I don't understand why they were filming if it was pouring down raining

Isn't youtube a great invention Sol? LOL

JR1 · 09-04-2011, 10:59 PM

I'm watching the show all over again (up to season four), and I had forgotten that the opening credits changed some, with Felix and his luggage getting the heave-ho later on in the show. As did the shots of that old lady and the boyscout hitting Felix, and Oscar sitting at his desk with the beer that fizzes onto the desk. I liked those openings best.

caladon · 08-09-2012, 03:24 PM

When I was a kid watching the opening credits; it always looked to me that the guy with the glasses was just walking down the sidewalk, noticed the camera (he looks right at the camera) filming and seems to connect the filming to Tony Randall and starts to talk to him about it; it also looks like TR
says something to him without looking up; perhaps something like we're filming just keep walking.

TVFactFan · 08-09-2012, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caladon

When I was a kid watching the opening credits; it always looked to me that the guy with the glasses was just walking down the sidewalk, noticed the camera (he looks right at the camera) filming and seems to connect the filming to Tony Randall and starts to talk to him about it; it also looks like TR
says something to him without looking up; perhaps something like we're filming just keep walking.

Just watched the opening credits on youtube and see no man with glasses in the opening credits

caladon · 08-10-2012, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Just watched the opening credits on youtube and see no man with glasses in the opening credits

I just watched the opening again; I think you're right. What makes me think he was wearing glasses is what looks like a dark line going from his eyes to his ears. Perhaps it was just the camera angle.

TVFactFan · 08-10-2012, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caladon

I just watched the opening again; I think you're right. What makes me think he was wearing glasses is what looks like a dark line going from his eyes to his ears. Perhaps it was just the camera angle.

I don't see anyone talking to Tony Randall in the opening credits

caladon · 08-10-2012, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I don't see anyone talking to Tony Randall in the opening credits

I was going by the body language of the two; still looks that way.

Oscar&Felix · 08-13-2012, 06:17 AM

The scene with the young man with the glasses also appears in the Breakup episode, when Felix is thrown out of Vinnie's house...I think it's a bit longer than in the credits but I'm not sure

Bronson · 08-19-2012, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

"In the show''s opening credits you can see me walking up Fifth Avenue as Felix with two suitcases, on my way to Oscar''s. The bags are awfully heavy and I put them down on the sidewalk and sit. A guy who was passing stopped and tried to help me with the bags. ''Hey, are you okay, buddy?'' He didn''t know who I was, or that we were filming. He just wanted to help me. He nearly ruined the take. Ordinarily you can drop dead on the streets of New York and no one''s going to help you. We kept it in the main titles."

Excerpt from Tony Randall''s book, Which Reminds Me

That is amazing. I do remember in the opening someone does stop and walk up to him. Never knew that was not scripted.

TVFactFan · 08-19-2012, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bronson

That is amazing. I do remember in the opening someone does stop and walk up to him. Never knew that was not scripted.

That opening must be on the DVD or a ABC version

KatieAnn · 10-02-2012, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oscar&Felix

The scene with the young man with the glasses also appears in the Breakup episode, when Felix is thrown out of Vinnie's house...I think it's a bit longer than in the credits but I'm not sure

That's the first time I noticed it, during that episode.

I'm just watching this series for the first time, and I don't remember seeing that scene in the first opening credits. In the middle of the first season the opening credits change to include a voice over explaining what happened to Felix (getting thrown out), and the scene is in that version.

hifijohn · 11-15-2013, 03:24 PM

you'de think felix would have taken the subway or cab.

09-02-2011, 11:27 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Who Knew? The Odd Couple's Opening Credits Were Almost Ruined! "In the show''s opening credits you can see me walking up Fifth Avenue as Felix with two suitcases, on my way to Oscar''s. The bags are awfully heavy and I put them down on the sidewalk and sit. A guy who was passing stopped and tried to help me with the bags. ''Hey, are you okay, buddy?'' He didn''t know who I was, or that we were filming. He just wanted to help me. He nearly ruined the take. Ordinarily you can drop dead on the streets of New York and no one''s going to help you. We kept it in the main titles." Excerpt from Tony Randall''s book, Which Reminds Me
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

08-13-2012, 06:17 AM	#10
Oscar&Felix Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 22, 2012 Location: Paris Posts: 9	The scene with the young man with the glasses also appears in the Breakup episode, when Felix is thrown out of Vinnie's house...I think it's a bit longer than in the credits but I'm not sure
	__________________ "You're so vain. I bet you think this song is about you"

09-04-2011, 10:59 PM	#4
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	I'm watching the show all over again (up to season four), and I had forgotten that the opening credits changed some, with Felix and his luggage getting the heave-ho later on in the show. As did the shots of that old lady and the boyscout hitting Felix, and Oscar sitting at his desk with the beer that fizzes onto the desk. I liked those openings best.

08-09-2012, 03:24 PM	#5
caladon Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Massachusetts state home for the bewildered Posts: 1,151	When I was a kid watching the opening credits; it always looked to me that the guy with the glasses was just walking down the sidewalk, noticed the camera (he looks right at the camera) filming and seems to connect the filming to Tony Randall and starts to talk to him about it; it also looks like TR says something to him without looking up; perhaps something like we're filming just keep walking.

11-15-2013, 03:24 PM	#14
hifijohn Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 07, 2013 Posts: 209	you'de think felix would have taken the subway or cab.