Occasional Wife

I too loved this show as a teenager. It didn't last long but I remember it well. I thought I might be the only one who did until I looked it up and read the other reviews. It was a funny show with what I thought was a lot of potential for hilarious episodes. There was a lot of climbing in and out of windows and a lot of close calls when they were almost caught in separate apartments or with other people. It seemed to fit with the popular situation comedies of the time (Bewitched, That Girl, I Dream of Jeannie). I've always wondered why it didn't catch on. I wonder what was on the other networks at the same time. Would that explain why it was overlooked? I don't know if I would feel the same if I saw the episodes today but I would love to give it a try.

"Occasional Wife" ran for one season on NBC from September 13, 1966 until May 9, 1967. The series was one of the first to forego the use of a laugh track. Its narration is by legendary sportscaster Vin Scully. "Occasional Wife" got off to a good start, tying at 18 in the Nielsen ratings with "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.". It began facing tougher competition from rival networks, dropping to 64 and was cancelled after 30 episodes.

The show centers around Peter Christopher (Michael Callan), a happy bachelor who is pressured to find a wife to please his family and to advance his career. His boss Max Brahms (Jack Collins) of Brahms Baby Food Company is a firm believer in family men. Peter enlists the help of a young hat check girl Greta Patterson (Patricia Harty), in exchange for paying for her art lessons and setting her up with an apartment two floors above his, to play the role of his wife whenever needed. The series rides this plot with the complications of hiding the fact they aren't married from their colleagues, friends and family.

Reflecting upon the series, after watching each episode, "Occasional Wife" is a rather farcical sitcom featuring an outlandish premise. Early on, I found many episodes struggled to maintain flow with plots feeling somewhat strained. As such, I think the series would have had much more success as a feature film expanding upon the pilot with elements of other episodes. The plot of hiding the "occasional wife" routine became overplayed in my eyes. As the series progressed, I feel the best episodes are those that doesn't depend on this premise.

Michael Callan and Patricia Harty developed a very comfortable chemistry (they married months after the series ended). However, their comedy style was more of that of a straight man, forcing the comedy to come from interactions with others. I like the casting of Jack Collins as Peter's pushy, family-first boss Mr. Brahms.

The series was at its best with the comedy of talented guest stars: John Astin in "I Do, We Don't", Dick Wilson in "One Plus One Equals Too Many", Don Penny in "My Occasional Brother's Keeper", etc.). Stuart Margolin's meek Bernie could engage the viewer and provide comedy. The series would have benefited greatly if he was a regular in some capacity. It was also fun to watch Jack Riley as Peter's snake-in-the-grass office rival, years before he became a treasured deadpan scene stealer in "The Bob Newhart Show".

Among subpar offerings, there are some good episodes in the series.

It seems there were a LOT of 11 year old people (who are all, as of this writing in June, 2019, in their SIXTIES!) who remember series TV from fifty years before. Personally, I believe one of the best and most clever things about "Occasional Wife" (a clever premise in itself) was the casting of a man who not long ago had an L.A. street named after him - the road to Dodger Stadium - the great Vin Scully. Vinnie was "The Voice Of The Dodgers" since The Brooklyn Dodgers became The Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of the 1950's, and he did that better than just about anyone who is the Team Announcer for just about ANY Major League Baseball team. Scully's wry delivery during the opening of the show should have won an Emmy all by itself. "...And so they set up housekeeping. Peter, in his apartment on the 7th floor, and Greta, in her apartment on the 9th floor... to the lasting confusion of the fellow in between!" If you're a real die-hard for this show, please forgive my memory if I messed up a word or two there. At any rate, "Occasional Wife" was a comedy that was actually funny! And that's something many of today's sitcoms only wish THEY were.

I was 11 when O.W. premiered in 1966 and I really enjoyed this very amusing sitcom. I too was sad to see this series end only after one year. I remember reading that NBC was on the fence about canceling O.W., but they decided to go ahead and cancel this charming show. In 1992 Comedy central aired the reruns of O.W. and I was thrilled. I taped a handful of them and I still watch them occasional:) I hope that this show is released on DVD someday. Many short-lived shows have been released on DVD recently...The Monkees; Good Morning World; Ned & Stacy; Lotsa Luck; Gidget; well the list goes on and on...Please release O.W. and include interviews with Michael Callan, Patricia Harty and Bryon O'Byne. There is an audience out there who would love to get their hands on this series!

This was my favorite show when I was in the sixth grade, and I was heartbroken when it was canceled.

Michael Callan and Patricia Harty had terrific chemistry (they would later marry, although not for long). Jack Collins was also perfect as Callan's boss, and the reaction shots of the Man In The Middle (i.e. the guy who had the apartment in between those of Callan and Harty) were priceless.

Back in the 60s, we accepted absurd premises on TV shows without giving it a second thought -- the beauty of Occasional Wife was that the actors performed as if there was nothing at all absurd in their situations.

Sure would love to see it again!