What did Ozzie do for a living? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MAU · 05-21-2002, 05:55 PM

What did Ozzie do for a living?

Greg K. · 05-23-2002, 08:10 PM

Hi, Mau!

As far as I know, I don't believe Ozzie's occupation is ever mentioned on the show. In the over 100 episodes that I've seen, not one of them ever refers specifically to his job.

Greg

oldiesfan · 08-25-2002, 12:01 AM

The classic reply has always been along the lines of:

"He didn't have one."

or

"It was never revealed."

APPLEI · 12-19-2002, 01:05 AM

ozzie wrote and produced a sitcom about his wife and sons

thats what ozzie did for a living!

strong · 03-07-2003, 12:16 AM

He was an orchestra leader. Harriet was the singer

twinkle44301 · 03-08-2003, 12:39 AM

In real life they were, but I don't remember them every saying what his occupation was on the show....

strong · 03-08-2003, 11:50 AM

I heard it on a triva quiz once. The host said it was mentioned in one episode. It could be wrong

tesiay · 03-08-2003, 04:18 PM

I think Ozzie did not talk about his being an orchestra leader because that is what Ricky Ricardo did on I Love Lucy.

twinkle44301 · 03-08-2003, 06:53 PM

Strong...I'll bet you're right. I can't imagine never mentioning what they did in real life. I just hadn't heard it, but then I haven't seen all the episdoes either....

tesiay...I never thought about the I Love Lucy thing...that's interesting.

I just wish someone would air all the episodes!

PracTz · 03-16-2003, 08:13 PM

In Real Life, he was a VERY hard worker behind the scenes from being a band leader to supervising the whole show but he once explained that by never stating his character's occupation or showing him at work, the audience could somehow ID with him better than. I'm not sure about that, but that was his rationale.

mcgwirefan · 04-03-2003, 06:44 PM

In the movie, "Here Come the Nelsons" he was in advertizing, on O&H it was never established.

Throckmorton · 04-26-2003, 03:18 PM

I'm about 75% through Ozzie's autobiography, and just came across the part of it where he talks about this.

It's probably easier to just quote him verbatim:

Throckmorton · 04-26-2003, 03:22 PM

Oops. Hit "enter" by mistake. Here you go:

"If I have had a good night's sleep and have plenty of time, I will carefully explain that we have always tried to keep the swhow honest--that when we started onr adio back in 1944 I was a bandleader both on the show and in real life, and that if I were suddenly to become a plumber or an insurance salesman it would simply not ring true, also I would further explain that our scenes were almost always played as if it were a Saturday or Sunday, and that we were careful never to have me at home while boys went off to school--that I did occasionally go downtown to an office, but I never designated the kind of work I did because by my not designating a specific job people were able to identify with me more readily.

"As I say, this is the explanation I give if I have had plenty of rest and am not especially rushed for time. Otherwsie, I simply smile and say, "i was a bum"

twinkle44301 · 04-26-2003, 04:01 PM

Thanks for posting that information. I sure didn't remember him saying what he did for a living, but now that I think about it, all the shows did seem to take place on the weekend. The only shows I remember having anything to do with school was when the boys were in college.

O&H is one of my all-time favorites. I wish I could pick it up somewhere on one of our many channels...

OH Nuts! · 07-29-2007, 09:57 PM

I remember reading somewhere, that on the O&H series, he didn't have an occupation. This was done purposely. The rationale being this way anyone could identify with Ozzie easier.

In real life, Ozzie was of course, a bandleader, and obviously later on a writer and a producer. But he started off going to law school, and when his band started taking off (late 20's/early 30's) he became a bandleader.

Maybe this is why the boys ended up working for a law firm on the series.

05-21-2002, 05:55 PM	#1
MAU Member First Time Poster Join Date: May 21, 2002 Posts: 1	What did Ozzie do for a living? What did Ozzie do for a living?

08-25-2002, 12:01 AM	#3
oldiesfan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 15, 2002 Location: Phoenix Posts: 14	The classic reply has always been along the lines of: "He didn't have one." or "It was never revealed."
	__________________ Split feed cable networks: All times Eastern/Pacific. Central, one hour earlier. Mountain? You're at the mercy of the stupid cable company!

03-07-2003, 12:16 AM	#5
strong Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Mar 07, 2003 Location: denver Posts: 3	Ozzie's job He was an orchestra leader. Harriet was the singer

03-08-2003, 11:50 AM	#7
strong Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Mar 07, 2003 Location: denver Posts: 3	Not sure I heard it on a triva quiz once. The host said it was mentioned in one episode. It could be wrong

03-16-2003, 08:13 PM	#10
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	Career! In Real Life, he was a VERY hard worker behind the scenes from being a band leader to supervising the whole show but he once explained that by never stating his character's occupation or showing him at work, the audience could somehow ID with him better than. I'm not sure about that, but that was his rationale.

05-23-2002, 08:10 PM	#2
Greg K. Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 10	Hi, Mau! As far as I know, I don't believe Ozzie's occupation is ever mentioned on the show. In the over 100 episodes that I've seen, not one of them ever refers specifically to his job. Greg

12-19-2002, 01:05 AM	#4
APPLEI Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 16, 2000 Location: JACKSON MI. 49203 Posts: 810	ozzie wrote and produced a sitcom about his wife and sons thats what ozzie did for a living!

03-08-2003, 12:39 AM	#6
twinkle44301 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 24, 2001 Posts: 351	In real life they were, but I don't remember them every saying what his occupation was on the show....

03-08-2003, 04:18 PM	#8
tesiay Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 18, 2003 Location: canada Posts: 71	I think Ozzie did not talk about his being an orchestra leader because that is what Ricky Ricardo did on I Love Lucy.

03-08-2003, 06:53 PM	#9
twinkle44301 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 24, 2001 Posts: 351	Strong...I'll bet you're right. I can't imagine never mentioning what they did in real life. I just hadn't heard it, but then I haven't seen all the episdoes either.... tesiay...I never thought about the I Love Lucy thing...that's interesting. I just wish someone would air all the episodes!

04-03-2003, 06:44 PM	#11
mcgwirefan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 03, 2003 Posts: 458	Ozzie's TV job In the movie, "Here Come the Nelsons" he was in advertizing, on O&H it was never established.
	__________________ Rockin' with Rick (aka Rick Nelson fan!)

04-26-2003, 03:18 PM	#12
Throckmorton Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 25, 2003 Location: PA Posts: 17	I'm about 75% through Ozzie's autobiography, and just came across the part of it where he talks about this. It's probably easier to just quote him verbatim:

04-26-2003, 03:22 PM	#13
Throckmorton Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 25, 2003 Location: PA Posts: 17	Oops. Hit "enter" by mistake. Here you go: "If I have had a good night's sleep and have plenty of time, I will carefully explain that we have always tried to keep the swhow honest--that when we started onr adio back in 1944 I was a bandleader both on the show and in real life, and that if I were suddenly to become a plumber or an insurance salesman it would simply not ring true, also I would further explain that our scenes were almost always played as if it were a Saturday or Sunday, and that we were careful never to have me at home while boys went off to school--that I did occasionally go downtown to an office, but I never designated the kind of work I did because by my not designating a specific job people were able to identify with me more readily. "As I say, this is the explanation I give if I have had plenty of rest and am not especially rushed for time. Otherwsie, I simply smile and say, "i was a bum"

04-26-2003, 04:01 PM	#14
twinkle44301 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 24, 2001 Posts: 351	Thanks for posting that information. I sure didn't remember him saying what he did for a living, but now that I think about it, all the shows did seem to take place on the weekend. The only shows I remember having anything to do with school was when the boys were in college. O&H is one of my all-time favorites. I wish I could pick it up somewhere on one of our many channels...

07-29-2007, 09:57 PM	#15
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I remember reading somewhere, that on the O&H series, he didn't have an occupation. This was done purposely. The rationale being this way anyone could identify with Ozzie easier. In real life, Ozzie was of course, a bandleader, and obviously later on a writer and a producer. But he started off going to law school, and when his band started taking off (late 20's/early 30's) he became a bandleader. Maybe this is why the boys ended up working for a law firm on the series.