Ozzie's Girls

Ozzie's Girls comes at a time when TV was changing dramatically. All in the Family and the likes had become the new bar to shoot for and shows like Ozzie's Girls, well, they didn't stand a chance. And maybe this show should have been given a chance. My understanding is that Ozzie wanted to start the second season, and was devastated to here the show would not be picked up. Harriet on the other hand seemed ready to step out of the limelight. Anyway, the existing episodes are warm, mildly funny and contain an interesting array of young folks who would become stars. And if you're an "Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" fan, naturally you'll enjoy seeing these two (along with many other old cast members) perform for us once more. Same house, occasional references to Rick and Dave and directed by Dave, these shows have a lot to offer fans and enough for the casual viewer. Try it.

The Nelsons, Ozzie, Harriet, David, Ricky, June, Kris, Wally and Ginger had been off of the Tube for 7 years when the idea came along to add a little appendage to the 14 year run of "THE ADVENTUIRES OF OZZIE & HARRIET" (1952-1966). Their longevity had made them into a Real and True Cornerstone of American TV Comedy/Family faire. There must be a lot of people out there who'd watch again; after all, The Mythic Nelson Home had been left, unseen for all that time, but they were surely not forgotten...

We knew that the house was now officially an "Empty Nest", for the boys had moved on, with David marrying June (Woo,woo,woo,woo!) and Rick tying the knot with Kris (Woo, woo, woo, woo!). So the new "spin-off" would have some problems with which they would have to contend, and fix before the Show's inaugural. Such "problems" would have to include the rapidly changing landscape of American Culture, be it Pop-culture or otherwise.

It is of course, no secret that things in the USA were very different in 1973 than they were when last OZZIE & HARRIET left the tube in 1966. There had been Political Strife, Anti-War movement, The Bra-Burners, the Civil Rights Movement, the Homosexual Lobby and Loud Talking & Giggling in Line! The World was surely a different place; but then again, there is always change.

Change is the one only true constant; albeit not in such volume nor as in as many areas. Some minor tweaking of the 'old' OZZIE & HARRIET formula could result in another hit, all over again. But what and how? It was decided to follow this road-map, and see just how far it would take them.

Ozzie & Harriet are the same people, same characters. We all know that Dave and Rick have gone off on their own in real life, so why would it shock us to see their TV homestead any different? Any empty home and two still youthful, fit and healthy Grandparent types equals the start of something.

Harriet comes up with the idea of renting out part of the house, the upstairs room, formerly being the Boys' bunk house. They put an advertisement in the local College Newspaper for a room to let for a student. Before long (it's only a half-hour Pilot episode); a young Hippie-Type (in costuming) young white girl Student (Susan Sennett)(Woo,woo,woo,woo!) comes in about renting the room and strikes a deal with the Nelsons. Shortly thereafter, another female Student comes to inquire about renting the place. This is a Black Girl (Brenda Sykes)(Woo, woo,woo, woo!).

At first when informed that it is already rented, she believes that it was said to her because of her being Black. (The scene and issue handled tactfully and without belabouring anything.) But Brenda soon sees that they were being truthful, when Susie showed up again the two hit it off okay in conversation. They decide, along with the kindly, old Nelsons to become room mates, thus splitting the cost of rent.

Meanwhile, Ozzie is out shopping or something, when he runs into two of the guys from the College's Football Team, and (yeah, you guessed it), one's Black, the other one White. Somehow or other, Ozzie get's the guys to come over and meet the two co-eds.

Well, there you have it, all set up for a season. The show has all of the potential to be a good extension of the "Original". They have the Parents, the "Older Generation". Next we have the 'kids', the Younger Generation. Generational differences, as well as other family situations, were always a big part of the "OZZIE & HARRIET" charm. And along with these elements, they had Sex.

Now this Sex was very elementary and basic. It surely was not explicit as we might see today. This was really the way the situations like these were always handled in the original series. Basically, it was a lot of ambiguous titillation and innocent dating and "crushes". If filmed today, of course, we couldn't see any episode without plenty of "Ts' and "As" and a lot of 'Humpin'.

Creator/Producer/Writer/Director/Actor Ozzie Nelson did not ignore the then current developments in our domestic scene. The emergence of the Black Man and the Civil Rights movement were given a fair share of the storyline, in a manner without being obvious and preachy. The very premise of having a Black and White kids bunking together and sharing in on double dating was low key, subtle in conveying the feeling and message from "America's Favourite Family". And that is one of the best wishes and future for all, while we go about our daily chores in relative peace and harmony.

Well, at least we can do is to "Live and Let Live!" Now, that shouldn't seem too radical to anyone!

The big downfall of this program is that Ozzie and Harriet had been long typecast as the wholesome all American family. Everybody remembered them in the 1950s as "America's Favorite Family".

As the 1950s became the 1960s, tastes changed, the sons grew up and the the show's popularity slipped down lower and lower. By its last season, not every ABC affiliate was airing the show.

Fast forward to the 1970s, tastes really changed! The new strategy was to push the envelope and be the first to do something really radical. The "toilet heard around the world" was flushed on "All in the Family" in 1971. Next, hot issues were brought out in a comical manner on shows like MASH. Next, we have "Ozzie's Girls"! In other words, we have Ozzie and Harriet back on prime time! Good wholesome humor in a time when good wholesome humor is not in demand? Ozzie Nelson knew what he was doing. He was no fool! Had the networks gave the show a chance, it might had succeeded. Remember "The Waltons"? Here was a series that CBS saw as a sure fire flop so CBS aired it against NBC's number one on the Nielson Ratings all time hit series, "The Flip Wilson Show". "The Waltons" staggered and floundered like the networks expected. Then, almost suddenly, it shot up in the ratings and became a hit and it was "The Flip Wilson Show" got the ax.

Ozzie did push the envelope as well, tackling a controversial issue. Remember that he was renting to two female college students, one was black and the other was white female. The two females went on dates, which were of course inter-racial. This could've provided a ton of comedy potential.

Too bad nobody gave it a chance.

Ten years after their long running family situation comedy went off the air, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson made this ill-advised attempt at a comeback. Still playing themselves, the hook was that in their retirement, they suddenly decide to take in two female college students as boarders. The two girls were played by two minor actresses whose main claim to fame was having played nude scenes in such exploitation films as "Mandingo" and "Big Bad Mama." The attempts at humor were heavy-handed riffs on the generation gap (like Ozzie mentioning to Harriet that one of the girls "needed a bath.") What fun! Or another laugh riot in which Ozzie decides to go on an all ice cream diet. This was only broadcast in syndication and that for only about ten seconds. Good riddance.

Though I was particularly young when this show aired I have fond memories of it. In fact this show represents the first time I was introduced to Ozzie and Harriet of whom I was later to become a big fan. I can remember sitting with my mother and watching the show and laughing and laughing. A true testament to it's appeal, at least to me.

Though probably not a television masterpiece, it represents a simpler time in America. A quieter, happier, simpler time. A time that is conspicuously and sorely missed in today's media, in my opinion. I for one would love to see this show be released to DVD, along with the many seasons of the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet of course.