bkoganbing Without missing a beat, Neil Simon's The Odd Couple went from successful movie to successful TV series. After seeing the antics of Felix Unger and Oscar Madison on the big screen, we had them in our living room once a week for five seasons.Two very big film names, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau weren't about to be had for a weekly TV series. But Tony Randall as the fussy Felix and Jack Klugman as Oscar whose room at their apartment was designed by the brothers Collier were a perfect fit for The Odd Couple.Tony Randall as Felix was the last word in anal retentive. No wonder he drove his wife Gloria played on the series by Janis Hansen in occasional appearances crazy and she threw him out. Still she loved the fuss budget and as the series ended they were going to give marriage a try.When that happened Oscar could go back to living like a pig. If I let it slide I would be as sloppy as Oscar. But that's why I have someone cleaning up for me. I always thought it was that Jack Klugman thought a maid was a luxury he could not afford. That was the job of the wife in this case his then real wife Brett Somers playing Blanche.Somers appearances were few and were gold. Her scenes with Klugman reminded me of the famous Bickersons from radio's golden era. Could those two scrap and Klugman and Somers were just great. I'm not sure some of that wasn't adlibbed.In the film version it begins with Felix coming over to Oscar's place and interrupting a weekly poker game. Those pasteboard parts from the film became real characters. We got to know Murray the cop played by Al Molinaro and Speed played by Garry Walberg and the others.This was a great series, a real New York slice of life courtesy of Neil Simon.

voisybay I grew up at a time when the Odd Couple was on ABC 09:30 Friday nights--people have said the show was a "hit" but in reality it was almost cancelled every year it was on---when it was in repeats during the summer the ratings were much higher which led ABC to renew the show every year---Jack Klugman was frustrated by the ratings and believed that once the show was off the air and in syndication that it would then be a major hit---he ultimately convinced Tony Randall to forgo a salary and take a percentage of the syndication rights--Randall although sceptical agreed--as it turned out Klugman was absolutely right---the show was an absolute gold mine in syndication (at one point you could watch it on almost every channel in the 1980's)--the Odd Couple made both Randall and Klugman very rich men

Syl For some people, Felix and Oscar will always be Jack Lemmon and Walter Mathau but not for me. To me, it will always be Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. They always seemed perfect together. The writing was always crisp and fresh. I never thought Tony Randall was gay. Just because you socialize or befriend Rock Hudson does not mean that Tony is gay. In fact, Tony was married to the same woman, Florence, for 54 years which is unbelievable nowadays. In fact, their marriage was stronger than most marriages today. When he lost Flo, he never thought that he would get married again much less become a father in his seventies. Tony Randall was the unsung hero of theater, television and film. He deserved America's highest honor to be inducted into the Kennedy Center Honors. He founded the National Theater Company with his own money. His love for theater was obvious. He loved to act also even on television. The Odd Couple was one of the best television shows of the seventies. It was a better adaptation from any comedic film and it's most successful series as well. Tony Randall hosted a weekend salute to this show on a local channel. I forgot how fresh and alive comedy could be. A great supporting cast like Al Molinaro, Elinor Donahue, and Penny Marshall. Even though they film in Los Angeles, it was very much a New York television show. I can't imagine a better odd couple and I will always regret not seeing them on stage in London in 1996. Rest in peace, TOny. We miss you.

Jerry Ables I remember this series from as far back as seeing it in reruns when I was a small child and it has always very easily been one of my all time favorites. I can't help but laugh out loud when Felix and Oscar argue because of how completely opposite they are but it's also very refreshing to see how they always stay friends in the end despite their differences. I very highly recommend it to anyone who is in need of a good laugh.