While his parents and in-laws gather to watch color TV, college student Jerry (Jerry Fogel) announces he's managing a rock group. The hippie quartet is The Seeds (as The Warts) and they need $500 for "a good dub" (first record demo). The parents refuse until reminded about how present-day rock groups quickly sell millions of records. Roger (Roger C. Carmel) and Herb (Herbert Rudley) agree to sponsor the group. The Seeds sing their song "Pushin' to Hard" but the in-laws are not impressed. Eve (Eve Arden) suggests they revamp the group, to save their investment. Kaye (Kaye Ballard) thinks they need to visit a good barber, although her hairstyle looks just like the boys in the band. Finally, the Hubbards and Buells decide a cover of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Some Enchanted Evening" would be a groovy first record...
This was the last aired episode of the season and ends on a high note. Sky Saxon and the Seeds give the story genuine youth appeal. Many sitcoms would hire imitation rockers and use "pseudo" rock 'n' roll music in situation comedies. The Seeds' song "Pushin' to Hard" is a real psychedelic garage-band classic from the era. The "adult pop" music it balances is also used well. Desi Arnaz directed this episode from a script by Don Nelson (Ozzie's brother), so the music and comedy was in knowing hands. The one-note band "leader" in the final scenes is Joe Besser, one of the latter-years "Three Stooges" and excellent in his role...
"The Mothers-In-Law" was a fine comedy, although perhaps too derivative in story ideas. To be fair, Desi-Lucy shows did the same sort of borrowing, sometimes going back to radio comedies. More often than not, plots were modernized. Despite the quality, TV ratings were not as high as NBC expected and they nearly canceled "The Mothers-In-Law". Fortunately, it was renewed for another season. However, this was the final episode with Roger C. Carmel as the actor and Desi Arnaz' production company parted company. When you consider how TV series replacements usually work out, he was very successfully replaced by Richard Deacon.
******* How Not to Manage a Rock Group (4/28/68) Desi Arnaz ~ Eve Arden, Kaye Ballard, Roger C. Carmel, Herbert Rudley
This was the last aired episode of the season and ends on a high note. Sky Saxon and the Seeds give the story genuine youth appeal. Many sitcoms would hire imitation rockers and use "pseudo" rock 'n' roll music in situation comedies. The Seeds' song "Pushin' to Hard" is a real psychedelic garage-band classic from the era. The "adult pop" music it balances is also used well. Desi Arnaz directed this episode from a script by Don Nelson (Ozzie's brother), so the music and comedy was in knowing hands. The one-note band "leader" in the final scenes is Joe Besser, one of the latter-years "Three Stooges" and excellent in his role...
"The Mothers-In-Law" was a fine comedy, although perhaps too derivative in story ideas. To be fair, Desi-Lucy shows did the same sort of borrowing, sometimes going back to radio comedies. More often than not, plots were modernized. Despite the quality, TV ratings were not as high as NBC expected and they nearly canceled "The Mothers-In-Law". Fortunately, it was renewed for another season. However, this was the final episode with Roger C. Carmel as the actor and Desi Arnaz' production company parted company. When you consider how TV series replacements usually work out, he was very successfully replaced by Richard Deacon.
******* How Not to Manage a Rock Group (4/28/68) Desi Arnaz ~ Eve Arden, Kaye Ballard, Roger C. Carmel, Herbert Rudley