This is it. The TV show that defined my youth. I adored everything about it. Based on a novel by Max Shulman and coming off a movie in the early fifties, it centered on the amorous desires of a teenager named Dobie Gillis, played perfectly by Dwayne Hickman. I am sure I have talked about this here before, but....
It was a tricky part for Hickman because he had to be lascivious yet still likable. The love of his life was played by Tuesday Weld (Thalia Menninger). Dobie's parents owned a grocery store and a common plot line was avoiding his job there. Maynard G. Krebs (Bob Denver) was his friend, a beatnik.
Dobie spent a lot of time pondering his life in direct conversation with the audience. His intentions were noble--it was love and romance he was after, not sex. Or so I thought at age ten.
Filmed in black and white, its sets were primitive but its words were lofty. Good show.
For more remembrances of forgotten movies, see Todd Mason.
NOT SURE WHY SOME COMMENTS ARE NOT SHOWING UP. OH, BLOGGER, WHEN WILL YOU RETURN TO YOUR FORMER GLORY?
22 comments:
I always liked this one. Tuesday Weld. 'Nuff said.
I'm not sure he would've minded sex.
Nor that that was meant to be ignoble. However, the Weld character was meant to be pretty despicable, as I recall, perhaps incorrectly.
So, how much did ARCHIE COMICS's Reggie influence the Warren Beatty character's creation, I wonder?
She used Dobie when it suited her, but in a sexy way. She was the sexiest teenager up until that time.
Not sure about Beatty. I barely remember him on the show.
Jerry House has left a new comment on your post "Forgotten TV Shows: THE MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS...":
Noted a good show, Patti, a great show! Certainly one of my favorite shows; I can't remember a single clunker of an episode (something I can't say about the later Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis).
Dwayne Hickman headed one of the great ensemble casts: Frank Faylan, Florida Friebus, Bob Denver, Sheila James, William Shallert, even Warren Beattie in his six-episode stint. And, of course, Tuesday Weld. The beautious Tuesday. The object of many dreams of my youth.
Sadly, the two Max Shulman books are probably my least favorite of his many books. Good, but not as good as his other work.
Weird. Jerry's comment was up when mine went up (same minute timestamp), and vanished since. I wonder if it's that delightful refusal to cooperate between Firefox and Blogger, again, somehow.
One of my all-time favorites, too. I'm not sure there's ever been a better TV buddy/sidekick than Maynard.
A long time favorite of mine as well. I'm of that generation that when I think of Bob Denver, Maynard comes to mind way before Gilligan.
And Tuesday Weld as well...mmmm!
I've actually never seen an episode. I've seen bits and pieces about it so I know what it was. Just never watched it. It was probably a time schedule thing
No, you were too young.
It got sporadic repeat clearance. It was certainly one of the major draws of the early "low-power" station network American Independent Television, and before that it got some Nickelodeon play, aside from straighforward syndicated repeats in the '60s and '70s. So I might've seen more of Beatty's episodes from time to time over the decades than you did, Patti...
Probably the very primitive sets didn't help it remain in reruns very long. The grocery stores especially seemed made of cardboard.
Although he is pretty much forgotten today, Max Shulman (the inventor of Dobie Gillis) wrote several other funny novels. Later on in the Sixties, Shulman had a column that ran in college newspapers. Again, very funny!
Love Rally Around the Flag Boys.
I'm 45 years old and have NEVER seen the show. I don't know how it wasn't rerun no matter where I lived. Of course I did watch Gilligan's Island and I loved finding out that Bob Denver was a life long stoner.
I think you need to be older. More like 65. (Or 64 in my case).
I'm older, but don't remember seeing it either. Perhaps it was on when something my parents wanted to watch was on, since - of course - we had only one TV set.
It was on CBS from 59-63 at 8:30 on Tuesday and then Wednesday night. Definitely a show for teenagers. I doubt my mother watched it. We only had one TV for a long time too. And I can't remember where the second one was once they bought it. A tiny thing.
Well, what can I tell you...I'm 47 and have seen episodes off and on over the decades. It probably helped that I've always lived near good-sized television markets where there were a lot of stations running whatever might work at various times.
There are several "complete" episodes available to watch on YouTube. One called "The Flying Millicans" with Yvonne Craig. Others include "Who Needs Elvis," "Caper at the Bijou" -the pilot, "Bachelor Father...And Son," and so on.
Oh this was a great show, Patti. I remember watching faithfully. Warren Beatty. Who knew? Everyone on the show was terrific. Thanks for remindiing me. :)
My sister and I first saw it on Nick at Nite in the early 90s and we both fell in love with it. It's now available at 5:30am Monday through Friday on the digital TV sideband network Me TV.
Did not grow up with this in real time but I caught a few episodes in syndication growing up. Have no idea on what channel - probably Nick at Nite.
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