Howie

All of Paul Lynde's TV show projects should be seen. This one named "Howie" from the very early 60s is hilarious and should have been a huge hit going on for years! First off,I love the fact that because it is from the very early 60s,it has a strong 50s vibe. This reveals how early it is in Paul Lynde's career. Female lead Peggy Knudson has a very 50s styled blonde do and is beautiful in that 50s kinda way and very engaging and funny!

Will (Sugarfoot) Hutchins as the braniac but eccentric son in law who ends up moving into Lynde's home with his newly wedded daughter played by Mary (Spider Baby, Dementia 13) Mitchel. A million stories could have been built around the very funny premise of the awkward relationship between Lynde and Hutchins. Also, around this time, Paul was very active in film work being featured in several big named big screened hits like Son of Flubber (62), Bye Bye Birdie (63), Under the Yum Yum Tree (63), For Those Who Think Young(64), Send Me No Flowers (64), Beach Blanket Bingo (65), The Glass Bottom Boat (66), and How Sweet it Is! (68). He worked with cinema's big hitters of that era in the 60s, Fred MacMurray, Ann Margret, Dick Van Dyke,Edie Adams, Imogene Coca, Tina Louise,Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Carol Lyndley ,Doris Day, Rod Taylor, Dom Deluise, Debbie Reynolds, and James Garner to name a few. Always hilarious and brilliant in any of the screen time he has in all of them. His other TV series attempt in 1972 with The Paul Lynne Show is also very funny. Plus,his bizarre and classic Halloween special from 1976 has acquired cult status with that crazy mixed bag of celebrity guests such as Donny and Marie Osmond, Betty White, KISS, Florence Henderson,Tim Conway, Billy Barty, Roz Kelly, Billy Hayes and Margaret Hamilton. He's a genius!

"Howie" is a failed TV pilot, though when I saw it was actually surprised the networks passed on it. Perhaps they thought the show's humor was a bit broad, perhaps they wanted something different. Regardless, I enjoyed seeing it.

When the story begins, Mr. And Mrs. Simms (Paul Lynde and Peggy Knudsen) are excited. Their oldest daughter has apparently married some guy who they never met...but the way the daughter describes him, he's quite the catch. He sounds very rich...though once they arrive, Mr. Simms realizes his daughter WAY oversold her hubby. He's NOT rich and is, in fact, very annoying (today Howie would be described as someone on the Autism Spectrum). While very bright, Howie is stunted in his abilities to interact with people and he seems to be able to annoy everyone around him. What's next? See the show and find out for yourself.

While I do think Howie's character should have been toned down just a bit, the show was funny and seemed like it might have made a very good series. But, it didn't materialize.

By the way, the show was produced by William Asher...the same producer for "Bewitched" and who remembered Lynde and cast him as a semi-regular, Uncle Arthur.