Quella strana ragazza

Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas, Danny Thomas' daughter in case you've never heard) is a single lady living in Manhattan. Her ambition is to make it as an actress on Broadway but between small gigs on children's television, commercials and experimental theater, she must work other jobs. These include news stand salesclerk (where she meets someone special), waitress, door-to-door shoe hawker, and more. On one of her first days in NYC, she meets Don Hollinger (Ted Bessell) and its an auspicious beginning. They both want to buy the same rolltop desk for sale in the same building and Don interrupts a commercial Ann is shooting after hours. But, in short order, they go to dinner. Pretty soon, they are stepping out steadily and, after a disastrous picnic, meet Ann's folks. While Ann's mother (Rosemary DeCamp) is loving and kind, Ann's father, Lew (Lew Parker, hilarious) is a prickly restaurateur. He, Ann, and Don often clash on many topics. Also, Ann is on very friendly terms with the couple across the hall, Judy and Leon, and Don's co-workers include Bernie (Bernie Kopell) before he went to the Love Boat. By the fifth season, will Ann and Don finally tie the knot? This will always be one of my favorite shows from childhood. First, it was and is very funny, with Thomas exhibiting very comedic talents as zany Ann. Bessell is a perfect foil and Parker is a delight, too. Secondly, Ann was a single lady decorating her own apartment, pursuing her own dreams, choosing her own friends and more. Yes, most gals like me wanted to get married AT SOME POINT but, first, we wanted to live the good life by our own merits! Naturally, Ann's costumes are terrific, her hairstyle was one we tried to copy, and her tastes became our tastes. Dear Marlo Thomas, as Ann's alter ego, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A HEROINE TO ME. After all, you were one of the first to show women everywhere that women's goals and ambitions MATTERED!

I wonder how many preteen boys had a crush on Marlo Thomas like I did during the run of this program. She was soooo beautiful, and Ted Bessell seemed like an awfully lucky guy to me, except that he had to live in constant fear of Ann Marie's father, which was realistic enough as Mr. Marie was rather menacing, which by the time the series ended I realized was because he considered the Donald Hollister character a threat to his daughter's virginity. (Wonder how much different, if any, Danny Thomas was about that issue in real life?) In retrospect, this show requires suspension of disbelief even more than most sitcoms, as Ann, a supposedly struggling actress, had a better apartment and nicer clothes than many steadily-employed New Yorkers could have possibly have afforded, then or now. It's a shame that the show only went as far as Donald's bachelor party; it would seem to have been better if they had actually shown the wedding with the implication that "they all lived happily ever after" and that this show, after all really was a modern fairy tale. A fun aspect of the show was seeing how they were going to work the words "that girl" into the opening sequence.

One TV Encyclopedia I consulted claims that since THAT GIRL was canceled in mid-season in 1971, there are "lost episodes" which were never aired, having to do with Ann and Don's wedding plans. IS ABC/TVLAND holding out on us? Can any one confirm or debunk this? As I recall-being 10 years old at the time---the couple spend that entire season looking at furniture, dreaming of a new house, pricing the wedding dress, etc. Also, I find it strange, given that the two are engaged during the last season, that Marlo Thomas supposedly demanded the marriage never take place? What was she going to do; have Ann leave Don at the altar?

Four years before the debut of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, this was the first show to feature an independent woman who wanted to make it on her own without having to rely on her parents or her boyfriend. This was a great show with a great cast that really worked well together. The other thing that I really loved about this show was the fact that the humor was very broad and that Ann, even though she was independent, often found herself in some very awkward situations. I especially loved the last season in which we really saw Ann's relationship with Donald really blossom as they finally became engaged. Too bad it ended before they walked down the aisle.

This is a charming, funny and lovely show. A pleasure to watch anytime. I didn't know about this show until it came out on DVD and now I love it. I'll buy every season. The main characters Ann and Donald (her boyfriend) have such chemistry. The show is basically about Ann Marie (an actress starting out) and her life in New York with work, friends and family. Marlo Thomas and her writers ensured the same consistent thread of quality in every show so the show has continuity. I find most shows that have stars as producers or in some power capacity are higher quality as they care about the show and characters. Marlo produced this show via her Daisy Production company as we learn in the first season booklet. I was disappointed to hear that everyone on the show wanted the show to continue but she didn't so she shut down after a few seasons. I think this show is a classic TV show. Ted Bessell as her boyfriend is perfect and they make a great on screen couple. Casting for this show was excellent.

If you are looking for sex in the city or Seinfeld this isn't it. This is a charming TV show that makes me long for the 1960's when life was a bit more simple and pleasurable and less rushed. I'd highly recommend this if you are looking for something just fun to watch but keep in mind it is from the 60's.