The Terrible Catsafterme

SEASON 1 – CBS

Created by James Fritzell.

Theme song: “Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)” composed by Jay Livingston, lyrics by Ray Evans, sung by Doris Day.

• 001. Dinner for Mom – 9/24/1968
  • After her husband Steve passes away, Doris Martin (Doris Day) and her two sons Billy (Philip Brown) and Toby (Todd Starke) move from their home in New York to their father Buck Webb’s (Denver Pyle) ranch in Mill Valley, California, which is tended by housekeeper Aggie Thomson (Fran Ryan) and ranch hand LeRoy B. Simpson (James Hampton). Doris is celebrating her birthday and her boys have been saving up to take her out on a dinner date. Doris plans to bring along some of her own money to cover any extras, but the boys hide her wallet so that they can handle the bill. Doris dresses up for a fancy night, but when they arrive, she finds that it is a seedy cafe ran by a crotchety proprietor (Norman Alden). After ordering three fillets at $5.00 each, it becomes clear to Doris that their money, which amounts to $7. 36 is not going to cover the bill. She tries to phone home, but Aggie has the line tied up talking to a friend about Gone with the Wind. She also talks to the manager, but he has no patience for the kids and demands payment. After Billy talks to the manager and asks for a birthday cake, and tells him how he and his brother plan to pay with their own money, the manager softens and lowers the bill to the amount that the boys have… and even throws in a birthday cake. After returning home and reporting about the night, they find that Aggie is still on the phone. Leonard Stone is the waiter. Lord Nelson is Nelson the Sheepdog. 6/3/18 

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SEASON 1 – CBS

Created by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll

NOTE: The series was based on characters created by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, who performed the roles of Amos and Andy on the radio show “Amos ‘n Andy” from 1928-1943 as a nightly radio serial, from 1943-1955 as a weekly situation comedy, and from 1954-1960 as a nightly variety show called “The Amos ‘n’ Andy Music Hall”. Additionally Gosden and Correll appeared in a 1930 film as the characters in “Check and Double Check”. 

Theme music: “Angel’s Serenade” by Gaetano Braga, performed by the Jeff Alexander Chorus

• 001. Kingfish Gets Drafted – 6/28/1951
  • George “Kingfish” Stevens (Tim Moore), the leader of the Mystic Knights of the Sea lodge in New York City, is mistaken for a 19-year old man with the same name and is sent an army draft notification, where he shares this news with his friend Andrew Hogg Brown (Spencer Williams, Jr.). Andy suggests that Kingfish see his lawyer Algonquin J. Calhoun (Johnny Lee), who suggests that the best recourse would be to have Kingfish’s wife Sapphire Smith Stevens (Ernestine Wade) make a plea to the draft board on his behalf. This doesn’t work as planned, because Sapphire thinks Kingfish has volunteered and is thrilled with his patriotism. Kingfish then decides to go into the army but is then informed by Mr. Thompson (Vince Townsend) from the draft board that his draft notice was mistake. He tries to enlist in all branches of the service, but is rejected on all fronts. The lodge throws a big party for Kingfish attended by Andy, their friends taxi driver Amos Jones (Alvin Childress), and Henry Van Porter (Jester Hairston) who presents Kingfish with an expensive watch. Kingfish later tells Henry that he will be assigned to the 135th outfit, based on a street sign that he sees. When the real 135th outfit is shipped out to Fort Bragg, Kingfish begins hiding in the lodge basement. Sapphire and her Mama Ramona Smith (Amanda Randolph) start to head off to see Kingfish, but when he finds out, he has Andy pose as Western Union and tell Sapphire that he is on furlough and will be coming home. Kingfish designs a makeshift military outfit to wear home, but the plans are foiled when a report phones Sapphire for statement about her husband shipping out overseas. This prompts Sapphire and Mom to beat Kingfish so severely that he winds up in the hospital. Nick Stewart aka Nick O’Demus plays Lighnin’ the janitor at the lodge hall. Corny Anderson is Walters. Zelda Cleaver is Mrs. Jackson. 6/2/18

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SEASON 1 – CBS

Theme song composed by Roy Ingraham, Charles Koff, and Edward Paul

NOTE: This series was based on the 1937 film of the same title, as well as its two sequels “Topper Takes a Trip” (1938) and “Topper Returns” (1941). The original film was based on the 1926 novel “Topper” and its 1932 sequel “Topper Takes a Trip,” both written by Thorne Smith. The 1945 radio series “The Adventures of Topper” also pre-dates the television series.

• 001. Topper Meets the Ghosts – 10/9/1953
  • As he is returning from a business trip, stuffy banker Cosmo Topper (Leo G. Carroll) and his wife Henrietta (Lee Patrick) bump into socialite couple George (Robert Sterling) and Marion Kerby (Anne Jeffreys) at the airport. The Kerbys are heading out for their fifth anniversary weekend at a ski resort. While there, they encounter an alcoholic St. Bernard that they name Neil (Buck). All three are killed by an avalanche but have the ability to materialize as ghosts at will. Meanwhile, Topper and Marion consider buying the Kerbys’ old house, which they are shown by realtor Mr. Moulton (Lyle Talbot). The Kerbys make themselves visible to Topper only and give him background info on the house, as well as sabotage the deal so that Topper can get the house at a low price. 5/31/14

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