My Living Doll

My Living Doll is a great show that uses many of the same production staff from My Favorite Martian. Having seen over ten of the episodes in a restored state they are funny and entertaining. Julie Newmar is wonderful as the Doll, a child like super machine she displays grace and a comic charm that is timeless. The major problem at this point is tracking down film elements to restore this gem. If you want to see this show complete please contact me as I work for the Chertok company and we are doing our best to bring it back. Be a part of the return of this show, give future generation a chance to see this science fiction comedy complete.

Before Valerie Harper's Rhoda there was another. The beautiful Julie Newmar who later went on to fame as Catwoman on Batman was a robot named Rhoda in this short lived but often times hilarious show. It's been ages since I've seen this show and doesn't seem to be anywhere on TV. Perhaps TV Land could run the episodes sometime.

Ok, although it COULD be easily dismissed these days as outstandingly sexist nonsense I think that Newmar's character is rather subversive in many ways. She often does not function in the was she is supposed to and this generates quite a few humorous situations. And, in doing so, makes Cummings look like the awkward idiot he so desperately tries not to be. It's interesting to dissect and My Living Doll is not so easily consigned to television oblivion. It's, of course, fascinating to study Newmar who seems to be in possession of a great comic gift and is stunning to look at and to listen to, i e a true star. Now..a gripe. Amazon Prime seems to think that cutting off the credits at the end of this show (and many others) is okay. It isn't. It's extremely annoying. There are some of us older viewers out there who would like to see who the guest stars were or, and it's our right, to hear theme tunes and even to see what studio it was filmed at.

I was very young when the series appeared on Television, however even as a boy I remember thinking about how beautiful Julie Newmar was at the time. I have a great memory about my child hood days. I hope that someone, somewhere still has all the episodes from the show. If they do, I would like to see it re-mastered into a complete DVD collection. I for one would happily buy the complete set, and I am sure that their are others, who like me would do likewise. The show was funny, and the risqué aspects totally eluded my understanding as a child, but somehow means a lot more to me as an adult, when I recall what the show was about. The show had a certain sixties innocence, and charm that I tend to appreciate about Classic Television. Something long gone now unfortunately, in the world of Television programs of today. Well there you have it, my comments relating to one of my all time favorite Television shows.

Sincerely I remain, Howard Daniel Rollins III

There was one other person besides Bob (and later Peter) who was privy to Rhoda's true identity. That would be Dr. Carl Miller, played by Henry Beckman, perhaps best known as the salty Captain Clancey on Here Come The Brides. Miller was the actual catalyst, having created the robot, but was only seen in two other episodes besides the pilot. Bob told everyone that Rhoda was Carl's niece, which accounts for the last name. I personally wish Beckman had put in more appearances because he seemed like an interesting character. I mean, anyone who can create such a gorgeous robot...In the pilot, he's called away to Pakistan, leaving the robot in Bob's care and creating all kinds of pandemonium for the psychiatrist. A side note--the parallel with I Dream Of Jeannie is very interesting. IMHO, Bill Daily as Roger was a rather cheap carbon copy of Jack Mullaney's interesting portrayal as Peter Robinson.

-Roy