How To Lose 30 Pounds In 30 Minutes.

[OH Nuts!]

This S5 ep convinced me S5 is where Hazel JTS.

Smart as a whip Hazel, who is the S1-4 Mensa maid constantly outsmarting lawyers and tycoons, gets “duped” into signing a $250 ($2,059 today) contract with a weight loss facility. Why didn’t she have a lawyer look it over first? Even with Mr. B gone she surely must have known some lawyers through all her connections.The S1-4 Hazel I know never would have done something this dumb. So disappointing to see Hazel portrayed this way. Your thoughts?

[Wawwie]

It did seem very out of character for Hazel to be bamboozled into such a dopey scam. At least in the end, Hazel was smart enough to sell her subscription to that other lady. Still, it was so unlike Hazel to be outsmarted in the first place.

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

It did seem very out of character for Hazel to be bamboozled into such a dopey scam. At least in the end, Hazel was smart enough to sell her subscription to that other lady. Still, it was so unlike Hazel to be outsmarted in the first place.

Yeah, and the show wasn’t the same without Mr. B and Missy.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

Yeah, and the show wasn’t the same without Mr. B and Missy.

The Mr. B and Missy seasons were much better than the Steve/Barbara/Susie Baxter seasons. It's also so strange that neither Deidre or George ever mentioned Steve in the previous seasons. Also, on that Thanksgiving episode with the Baxter mom feeling useless, there is her daughter who complains that she never learned to cook. So George and Deirdre had another sister? Why was she never in any other episodes or even mentioned ever again?

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

The Mr. B and Missy seasons were much better than the Steve/Barbara/Susie Baxter seasons. It's also so strange that neither Deidre or George ever mentioned Steve in the previous seasons. Also, on that Thanksgiving episode with the Baxter mom feeling useless, there is her daughter who complains that she never learned to cook. So George and Deirdre had another sister? Why was she never in any other episodes or even mentioned ever again?

Good points. All shows seem to have quirks like this though. Diedre was a great character though- and always love how she gets shown up.

[1960'sTVfan]

The series had several changes in the 5th season, moving from NBC to CBS might have resulted in different writers being hired, this could explain the out of character Hazel in the weight loss episode. CBS targeted a younger demographic of viewers by hiring Ray Fulmer and Lynn Borden to replace Don DeFore and Whitney Blake, I wonder if this might have also been a cost cutting move because I imagine the salaries of Fulmer and Borden were less compared to what CBS would have paid to DeFore and Blake. Fulmer and Borden were good in their roles but it's true the series wasn't quite the same without Mr. B. and Missy.

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

The series had several changes in the 5th season, moving from NBC to CBS might have resulted in different writers being hired, this could explain the out of character Hazel in the weight loss episode. CBS targeted a younger demographic of viewers by hiring Ray Fulmer and Lynn Borden to replace Don DeFore and Whitney Blake, I wonder if this might have also been a cost cutting move because I imagine the salaries of Fulmer and Borden were less compared to what CBS would have paid to DeFore and Blake. Fulmer and Borden were good in their roles but it's true the series wasn't quite the same without Mr. B. and Missy.

I agree that Fulmer and Borden were quite decent. But DeFore and Blake were FANTASTIC. Decent compared to Fantastic works out to mediocre, relatively speaking. Which is why S5 is so lackluster.

[stevea]

This isn't the only episode where Hazel was not so smart. Stay tuned...

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

I agree that Fulmer and Borden were quite decent. But DeFore and Blake were FANTASTIC. Decent compared to Fantastic works out to mediocre, relatively speaking. Which is why S5 is so lackluster.

I don't describe the 5th season as lackluster but it is different. I like most of the episodes that season, there are a few lesser ones but not many. It's been said that Shirley Booth had some health issues going on during season 5, I notice in some episodes she seems tired, lacks her usual energy and not as feisty as she usually is.

[stevea]

I agree about season 5. Most of the episodes are quite watchable. There are a couple of clinkers, but there are in the earlier seasons, as well.

Supposedly Booth's health issues are why she ended it. It had fairly good ratings.

[Hazel Anyday]

I posted about this particular episode once or twice actually before (the 30 Pounds ep.). This is the only episode where Hazel just totally acts out of character, she's suddenly a simple minded idiot who falls for anything and then the most horrifying scene of all (for a Hazel fan) is when Hazel actually sinks into a chair in total defeat and starts balling like a baby without a brain in her head. Really, you'd have thought Shirley Booth would have refused to do this ridiculous and totally out of character scene esp. that crying like she's a helpless simp.

OH, another thing about this episode (which is the only good thing) is that Hazel for the first time in history when she has to buy something more than 3 bucks actually shells out $200. She doesn't claim she's broke as she does every other time she needs to buy anything slightly expensive. This is something that has always bothered me, why is Hazel constantly broke? She claims in some shows to have saved money and has a retirement account yet anytime she has to buy something suddenly her bank account is empty and she's destitute. Even buying a present at Christmas for Mrs. B she has to get a 2nd job, she doesn't have $15? Come on. In another show she has enough to lend her nephew money but she doesn't have 15 bucks for herself? Maybe Hazel was the last living slave and was never paid.

Back to "30 Pounds..." even if you can buy that Hazel has suddenly developed a case of the stupids and is bamboozled by Catwoman at the gym would she really sink into babbling tears?

This has to be, for me the worst episode of the whole series of Hazel. Just for the way they changed Hazel into a babbling idiot. The acting of everyone else is just fine but Hazel herself is outrageously not herself.

As for thoughts about 5th season in general, I used to always hold the belief that the 5th season was the worst season. But in recent decades I no longer look at it this way. I can appreciate the last season for what it is. I like the new (but not improved) Baxters, the daughter is cute and makes a good companion for Harold and for him to have scenes with her he never could have had as the only child.

Do I think it would have been 100% improved with the real George & Dorothy? Most definitely, no doubt about it. But I can appreciate and enjoy Steve & Barbara on their own and as their own characters. They may not be as good as the originals but neither are they unwatchable, they are just enjoyable in different ways from George & Dorothy. These changes to season 5 were not preferred but it certainly does not denigrate the series overall either. Season 5 is different, that's all. George & Dorothy are missed to be sure but Steve & Barbara are pretty good too.

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by Hazel Anyday

I posted about this particular episode once or twice actually before (the 30 Pounds ep.). This is the only episode where Hazel just totally acts out of character, she's suddenly a simple minded idiot who falls for anything and then the most horrifying scene of all (for a Hazel fan) is when Hazel actually sinks into a chair in total defeat and starts balling like a baby without a brain in her head. Really, you'd have thought Shirley Booth would have refused to do this ridiculous and totally out of character scene esp. the that crying like she's a helpless simp.

Even if you can buy that Hazel has suddenly developed a case of the stupids and is bamboozled by Catwoman at the gym would she really sink into babbling tears?

This has to be, for me the worst episode of the whole series of Hazel. Just for the way they changed Hazel into a babbling idiot. The acting of everyone else is just fine but Hazel herself is outrageously not herself.

As for thoughts about 5th season in general, I used to always hold the belief that the 5th season was the worst season. But in recent decades I no longer look at it this way. I can appreciate the last season for what it is. I like the new (but not improved) Baxters, the daughter is cute and makes a good companion for Harold and for him to have scenes with her he never could have had as the only child.

Do I think it would have been 100% improved with the real George & Dorothy? Most definitely, no doubt about it. But I can appreciate and enjoy Steve & Barbara as replacements, they're not as great as George & Dorthy, but neither are they unwatchable, they are just enjoyable in different ways from George & Dorothy. These changes to season 5 were not preferred but it certainly does not denigrate the series overall either. Season 5 is different, George & Dorothy are missed to be sure but Steve & Barbara are pretty good too..

The only really good thing about S5 is seeing a young Ann Jillian. But otherwise, I miss Mr. B and Missy.

I agree that the S5 eps are watchable, but not as entertaining as the earlier season eps.

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by stevea

This isn't the only episode where Hazel was not so smart. Stay tuned...

Where? When? I’ll keep my eye out...

[stevea]

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

Where? When? I’ll keep my eye out...

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=388853

[i29u]

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

The series had several changes in the 5th season, moving from NBC to CBS might have resulted in different writers being hired, this could explain the out of character Hazel in the weight loss episode. CBS targeted a younger demographic of viewers by hiring Ray Fulmer and Lynn Borden to replace Don DeFore and Whitney Blake, I wonder if this might have also been a cost cutting move because I imagine the salaries of Fulmer and Borden were less compared to what CBS would have paid to DeFore and Blake. Fulmer and Borden were good in their roles but it's true the series wasn't quite the same without Mr. B. and Missy.

That episode wasn't written by a new Hazel writer, it was written by Robert Riley Crutcher who wrote more Hazel episodes than any other writer. By the way, that episode is also the only Hazel episode where the actress who played Millie is listed as Ann Jillian instead of Ann Jilliann.