Dobie Gillis

An engaging teen-age comedy, thanks to solid casting, more than the usual 1950's imagination, and a willingness to ridicule our national obsession with greed. Dobie's (Hickman) an ordinary teen from a modest background, with a grouchy grocer dad and a sweet-tempered mom. In short, besides a warm personality, he doesn't have much going for him. The trouble is that the girls he's constantly falling for at school are all looking for money or status, which Dobie doesn't have. Doesn't sound humorous, does it.

But thanks to clever scripts, rapid-fire dialog, and Bob Denver as the hopelessly dim beatnik, Maynard, it's funny as heck. The best entries are the early ones, where Dobie tries to win the affections of that greedy little vixen Thalia Meninger (Tuesday Weld). Weld is simply perfect as a cute blonde snot who keeps reminding Dobie of how ordinary he is, while she looks for a rich guy instead. Not many series, serious or otherwise, were willing to raise this sort of class envy on TV, but this one does. Poor Dobie. His only consolation is talking to the camera and ruminating over his girl problems. Cleverly, there's a statue of The Thinker in the background as he speaks to us. That way we know what he's saying is what he's thinking without the script having to tell us so. It's a good imaginative touch breaking the wall between character and viewer. I believe this break with convention is the only TV instance of that day.

But Weld was too good and soon went into movies. So Dobie goes through other similar cuties for whom, in humorous fashion, he's still not good enough. I love the silly poetic way Dobie addresses his reluctant lady friends. Stuff like: "My perfume of India" or "You shine like the stars of my mountain". It's perfect for conveying the show's facetious touch.

The trouble is that after the first year or so, the premise became too predictable, plus the boys are looking a little old for high schoolers. So Dobie and Maynard join the army, but the hijinks are not nearly as funny. As a result, they're soon out of uniform and back in town, enrolled in college where Dobie can resume his problem with girls. Note too how much larger Denver's role becomes as the series continues. Clearly, however, as good as some episodes are, by that time the writers were running out of variations on the old premise. So, in what appears desperation, they try out ill-advised fantasies like Dobie and Maynard as loony South American revolutionaries. By 1963, the series had clearly run its course.

Nonetheless, it's hard to say enough about the supporting cast that had so much to do with the show's success. Frank Faylen as dad Gillis is often over the top but fits right into the show's usual snappy pace. Then there's Florida Friebus as long-suffering mom Gillis, the one character not exaggerated for laughs. And, of course, there's little Sheila James as plain Jane Zelda, smart as heck but hopelessly stuck on Dobie, while forced to put up with his constant rejections. And finally, there's Steve Franken as spoiled rich kid Chatsworth Osborne Jr. who's constantly getting in Dobie's way, flaunting his superiority. (Warren Beatty was the original rich snob, but like Weld, went quickly into the movies.)

Now, if you think about it, the ideas here of romantic rejection, social climbing, and a talentless Dobie could quickly sour if not handled correctly. So it's to the credit of the cast, writers and directors, that they kept the material as light and humorous as they did. And especially to Hickman who made the hapless Dobie so likable without becoming sappy. All in all, for at least a year, this was arguably one of the best, most imaginative shows on TV, and still merits revival.

It's a grand shame that very few people these days remember this fine sitcom about teenage life in the early 60s. Dwayne Hickman is endearing as simple-minded Dobie Gillis, the typical American teenager, who just wants a girl. Bob Denver is brilliant as his buddy, Maynard Krebs. Who needs Gilligan? Sheila James is fantastic as Zelda...always chasing after Dobie. Frank Faylen and Florida Friebus as Dobie's parents are too-oft forgotten for their parts on this show...they couldn't have gotten a better pair of actors.

There was some really sharp, funny writing on this series, and that, mixed with the snappy editing, jazzy soundtrack and over-the-top situations, made for some very funny episodes. Plenty of hip, jazzy lingo to go around. Lovely Tuesday Weld was also around for a number of episodes during the first season (and a couple later on) as Dobie's object of affection, Thalia Menninger. It's too bad that they couldn't keep her on for more sporadic appearances, because it is the episodes that she appears in, which I consider to be the zenith of the series. The show started to get a little too silly during its last season, when the focus went towards Maynard and Dobie's cousin, Dunkie, but it was still unique.

Without question, one of the high points of 1960s TV, and one of the most winning sitcoms of all time. It's a shame that it hasn't gotten the same kind of exposure in recent years as some of the other shows of the time. Hopefully it gets picked up and restored for a full DVD release sometime soon. It's just waiting to be rediscovered.

i enjoyed this show in middle school and junior high (first runs)and it's still funny now. the writing is clever (max shulman is brilliant), the actors are good comedians, and the issues of looking for love but being too shy are still pertinent. (it's an idealized version. this is about the 50's. but the goofiness is deliberate, and it works.)

This is a classic, classic show. Nick At Nite used to show it 15 years ago, but I guess it is too intelligent for the types who run TVLand and Nick now, & who refuse to show any comedies unless they got big Neilsen's. Hey, TVLand, I've got your Big Neilsen right here!!

Bob Denver is far better in this than in the hideously over-rated "Gilligan's Island". This may have been Dwyane Hickman's last really good role. I seem to remember him in a Civil War series with his brother, Daryl. Frank Faylen and Florida Friebus were wonderful as Mr & Mrs Howard T Gillis. Who'd have thought watching Warren Beatty(as Milton Armitage) that he'd give us a masterpiece like "Bulworth"? Tuesday Weld as Thalia Meninger in her best work until "Falling Down".

DVD's & VHS tapes of Dobie Gillis are available, but for $20 for a 2-episode, 1 hour disc or tape, it ain't worth it. We need someone to bring out some season sets.

On 29 Jan 2010, Dwayne Hickman(using his wife's account)posted the following on a Dobie Gillis Facebook page: "...As for the DVD question, the estate of Max Shulman has agreed to make a deal to release the show, however, with the current economy the studio does not want to release it. That is what I have been told. When and if I hear anything I will post it on my web site www.dwaynehickman.com"

It can't be too soon for me. Heck, I might even pay list price.

Now all you Wodehouse fans don't have a cow...

Dobie is not a copy of Bertie. Bertie comes from money, Dobie's parent run a Mom-an-Pop grocery store. Bertie has a continental charm, Dobie has a corn-fed earnestness. Bertie spends all of his time running from women, Dobie spends all of his time chasing girls. Bertie has Jeeves, Dobie has Maynard G. Krebs, and I think that says it all.

Though I enjoyed the series when I saw it as a kid (first run), I didn't really get much of the sweet heartache of the show until I was in high school and trying to catch the attention of my own Thalia.

Thing that I loved: Episodes opening with Rodin's "The Thinker" and Dobie trying to think his way out of his current situation...Dobie addressing the camera...Maynard's reaction to the word, "Work!"

Let me encourage anyone who can to get the short story collection by Max Schulman. It is a complete delight and gave me a real appreciation for how well the TV show adapted the tone and snap of the book.

Shulman also wrote "Rally Round the Flag, Boys" and "The Tender Trap" both made into enjoyable movies.