DVD Review by Allen Pollock

From being the top female box-office movie star at the beginning of the 60’s to ultimately entering the world of television sitcom by its end, must have seemed worlds’ apart for Doris Day. Having been signed to such a contract without prior knowledge by her husband/agent/manager Marty Melcher, he had unfortunately died in the meantime leaving Doris to switch gears into the small-screen-media she had not previously considered. However, having always overcome personal knocks, Doris soon knuckled down to THE DORIS DAY SHOW which launched in 1968; bouncing into the show’s family-friendly cheerfulness with her usual effortless charm and vitality. Playing an attractive widow, Doris Martin, who had left the city and a career to take care of two kids at her father’s farm, the rural setting seemed the ideal vehicle for the sunny star.

Clip from Season 3 © Arwin Productions Inc. courtesy MPI Home Video real player video 56k | cable

Truth to tell Doris was far from happy with this premise which beyond the allocated twenty-eight episodes really had nowhere to go in terms of plot development. Hence the second year series dumped this formula in favour of a career in San Francisco (a big city return is hinted at in programme 11) to allow for more scope for romantic entanglements and a touch of sophistication so typical of her latter-day movies.

Following its surprise but welcome release on DVD in the States, the first box-set has now reached the UK where later episodes of the show originally only reached the small screen via certain British regional TV companies in the early 70’s, with episodes from this first series airing on Bravo satellite channel around twelve years ago. Viewing these episodes thirty-five years on, is a nostalgic and fascinating experience with Doris looking great and probably far too glamorous for the farm setting, but I’m sure her fans would not want it any other way! As an on-screen mother her natural believability carries over to the kids (Philip Brown and Todd Starke) who are not brats in the Hollywood sense and inter-act in a totally convincing way. Described by VARIETY as “Charming and unpretentious” the plot-bound need to retain mild wholesome rural corn does mean the episodes are uneven in quality; having to rely on the humour of the characters with the grizzled, gruff kind-hearted father, Buck (Denver Pyle) and likeable but accident-prone handyman, Leroy B. Simpson (James Hampton) on hand, assisted by the housekeeper Aggie (Fran Ryan who was superseded without explanation after the first ten episodes by Naomi Stevens as the soft-hearted Juanita). Doris’ character occasionally gets involved in mild romance and even occasional bursts of song but generally the tone involves the functional family unit immersed temporarily in misunderstandings with the world outside, with a suitably conveniently contrived solution found before each episode’s end. Even the baddies turn out to be likeable as played by some well-known character actors in various episodes and in one episode there’s a very young Jodie Foster on hand well before she cracked fame in the movies! Emotions range from slapstick humour to heartbreak and sentimentality which of course allows Doris to utilise her unaffected acting ability. In other words it’s a warm-hearted wholesome show which has lost none of its special magic despite the passing years and as nostalgia will enthral all Doris Day admirers as well as everyone else in the family from youngsters to granny and maiden aunt!

The DVD set comprises six discs in a slip case (unlike the US release which managed with just four) and each DVD is available separately. However, I recommend purchasing the box-set, particularly as it is the cheaper option. The final disc also contains indispensable extras; some quirky video messages from Doris promoting the show in 1968, two entertaining 1950s Day appearances on WHAT’S MY LINE?, and interviews with then-child-actor Philip Brown plus James Hampton. The remastering is faultless with excellent colour definition and sound quality; the laughter track is for real and not synchronized; and Doris’ biggest hit song, QUE SERA, SERA (WHATEVER WILL BE, WILL BE) tops and tails each episode. Total running time: approximately 13 hours.

DINNER FOR MOM
Original airdate: 24 September 1968

• Toby and Billy take Doris out to dinner for her birthday with money they've earned, but aren't prepared for the size of the check
• Guest(s): Norm Alden, Leonard Stone
• Written by Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant; Directed by Bob Sweeney
  
   

THE UNIFORM
Original airdate: 1 October 1968

• Envious of Billy's Little League uniform, Toby announces that he has a uniform as well, referring to a choir robe, despite the fact that try-outs for the choir haven't yet taken place
• Guest(s): Woodrow Parfrey, Scott Crawford
• Written by Sid Morse; Directed by Bruce Bilson
  
  

THE FRIEND
Original airdate: 8 October 1968

• Doris agrees to pose in a "family" photo for a milk promotion with her kids and two temporary "sisters," then has a potential problem when the girl Toby recruits is black
• Guest(s): Woodrow Parfrey, Peggy Rea, George Morgan, Lisa Gerritsen, Raymond Mark, Cheri Grace, Raymond Kark, R.G. Armstrong
• Written by E. Duke Vincent, Bruce Johnson; Directed by Bob Sweeney
  
  

THE MATCHMAKERS
Original airdate: 22 October 1968

• The boys try to play cupid for Doris, setting their sights on the local Deputy Sheriff, who also happens to be the town wolf and local sports hero
• Guest(s): Frank Maxwell, Carl Byrd, Noam Pitlik
• Written by Richard Baer; Directed by Bruce Bilson
  
  

THE SONGWRITER
Original airdate: 29 October 1968

• Doris saves Leroy from losing his money by exposing a phony song publishing racket
• Guest(s): Jerry Hausner
• Written by Joseph Bonaduce; Directed by Gary Nelson
  
  

THE ANTIQUE
Original airdate: 12 November 1968

• When two old ladies con the kids out of a valuable antique which is Buck's pride and joy, Doris has to plot a way to get it back
• Guest(s): Estelle Winwood, Maudie Prickett
• Written by Dorothy Cooper Foote; Directed by Bob Sweeney
  
  

LEROY B. SIMPSON
Original airdate: 19 November 1968

• In the story that introduces Leroy to the cast, he is found hiding in the pumphouse and being fed by the boys, though Buck is sure that he's just a chicken-stealing tramp
• Written by Sid Morse; Directed by Bob Sweeney
  
  

THE BLACK EYE
Original airdate: 26 November 1968

• When Billy comes home from school with two black eyes and admits that he didn't fight back, Buck is convinced that the boy is a coward
• Guest(s): Lisa Gerritsen, Woodrow Parfrey
• Written by Ray Singer; Directed by Bob Sweeney
  
  

THE LIBRARIAN
Original airdate: 3 December 1968

• Leroy poses as an expert on poetry to impress the local librarian, whom he's fallen for, but is in a bind when she asks him to recite a poem in front of her poetry group
• Guest(s): Ryan MacDonald, Kelly Jean Peters, Keith Taylor
• Written by Harry Winkler; Directed by Bruce Bilson
  
  

THE CAMPING TRIP
Original airdate: 10 December 1968

• Buck takes the boys on a camping trip with an old Indian friend, then becomes jealous when the boys become enthralled with the Indian's tales of prowess
• Guest(s): Henry Corden
• Written by Jerry DeVine, Directed by Bruce Bilson
  
  

THE JOB
Original airdate: 17 December 1968

• Doris agrees to go back to New York for a week to help out her former employer, who returns with Doris determined to convince the family that Doris should come back to the big city for good
• Guest(s): Linda Watkins, Jo Miya
• Written by James L. Brooks; Directed by Bob Sweeney
  
  

BUCK'S GIRL
Original airdate: 31 December 1968

• Buck and the local veterinarian both fall for the new manicurist downtown
• Guest(s): Walter Sande, Kay Stewart, Paul Barselow
• Written by Carl Kelinschmitt; Directed by Gary Nelson
  
  

LOVE A DUCK
Original airdate: 7 January 1969

• A local rascal is suspected of poaching ducks on the Martin ranch, so Doris sets out to catch him
• Guest(s): Strother Martin
• Written by Jerry Devine; Directed by Gary Nelson
  
  

LET THEM OUT OF THE NEST
Original airdate: 21 January 1969

• The boys get a job delivering eggs, but Doris gives them too much assistance and soon finds herself carrying the entire load
• Guest(s): Hal Smith, Raymond Kark, Barbara Pepper, Robert Graham, Keith Huntley
• Written by Peggy Elliott, Ed Scharlach; Directed by Bruce Bilson
  
  

THE CLOCK
Original airdate: 28 January 1969

• Leroy is conned into purchasing an antique clock as a gift for Doris, which backfires when the clock bongs so loudly that she can't make up the sleep she's been losing while helping with the delivery of a new calf
• Guest(s): Strother Martin, Peggy Rea
• Written by Joe Bonaduce; Directed by Bruce Bilson
  
  

THE BUDDY
Original airdate: 4 February 1969

• An old marine "buddy," a female major, comes to visit while Doris is out of town, and puts the household on a military regimen
• Guest(s): Mary Wickes, Willis Bouchey
• Written by Harry Winkler, Directed by Gary Nelson
  
  

THE FLY BOY
Original airdate: 11 February 1969

• Doris is wooed by an Air Force colonel who has been sent to the farm to pay for damages caused by the sonic booms produced by the jets at the base nearby
• Guest(s): Frank Aletter, Tom Curry, Al Travis, James Truesdell, Tom Falk
• Written by Howard Leeds, Directed by Gary Nelson  
  
  

THE TOURNAMENT
Original airdate: 18 February 1969

• Leroy is recruited to replace Buck's injured partner in the annual horseshoe tournament
• Guest(s): Walter Sande
• Written by Perry Grant, Dick Bensfield; Directed by Bruce Bilson
  
  

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
Original airdate: 4 March 1969

• A local deadbeat plots for his son to marry Doris in order to avoid paying an old debt
• Guest(s): J. Pat O'Malley, Read Morgan
• Written by Sid Morse; Directed by Harry Falk
  
  

THE CON MAN
Original airdate: 11 March 1969

• While fundraising for a new convention center, Doris falls for an architect who turns out to be a con man
• Guest(s): Joseph Campanella, Madge Blake, James Millhollin, Peter Brocco, Bard Stevens, Kay Stewart, Evelyn King, Dodie Warren
• Written by Si Rose; Directed by Bruce Bilson  
  
  

THE MUSICAL
Original airdate: 18 March 1969

• Buck volunteers Doris to direct the grammar school musical, but he and his old buddy, the school principal, are appalled at the modern way the kids are dancing
• Guest(s): Ray Teal, Gary Dubin, Michele Tobin
• Written by Sid Morse; Directed by Bruce Bilson
  
  

THE BABY SITTER
Original airdate: 25 March 1969

• Doris spends the night sitting for some unruly children while their parents are at the hospital for the arrival of another sibling
• Guest(s): Paul Smith, Peggy Rea, Jodie Foster, Julie Reese, Ted Foulkes, Lynnel Atkins
• Written by Bruce Howard; Directed by Harry Falk
  
  

THE STILL
Original airdate: 1 April 1969

• Doris confiscates the goods of some mischievous old ladies who have been producing moonshine in an effort to keep them out of jail, then suffers a flat on her way to dispose of the evidence
• Guest(s): Barney Phillips, Jesslyn Fax, Florence Lake, Jeff DeBenning, Tom Falk
• Written by Lloyd Turner, Whitey Mitchell; Directed by Gary Nelson
  
  

THE GIFT
Original airdate: 8 April 1969

• The family plans to send Leroy on a trip to see his grandmother as a present, with everyone pitching in to handle his chores while he’s away, but Leroy misreads the preparations and thinks he is going to be fired
• Written by Arthur Alsberg, Don Nelson; Directed by Harry Falk
  
  

THE TIGER
Original airdate: 15 April 1969

• A friendly tiger escaped from a circus van stows away in Doris' truck
• Guest(s): Barney Phillips, Bard Stevens
• Written by Norman Katkov; Directed by Gary Nelson
  
  

THE DATE
Original airdate: 22 April 1969

• Doris arranges a date between Juanita and the owner of the local sporting goods store, but Buck scares off the man with marriage talk
• Guest(s): Joe De Santis
• Written by E. Duke Vincent, Bruce Johnson; Directed by Bruce Bilson
  
  

THE FIVE DOLLAR BILL
Original airdate: 29 April 1969

• Billy returns a lost wallet, but is accused of theft when the money in it is $5 short
• Guest(s): Shirley Mitchell, Stuart Lee, Jerry Hausner
• Written by John McGreevey; Directed by Gary Nelson
  
  

THE RELATIVES
Original airdate: 6 May 1969

• Doris sets out to teach Buck a thing about "man's work" by painting and wallpapering part of the house while he is away with Leroy and the boys for the weekend: but she and Juanita are foiled when three of Leroy's cousins show up and try to help
• Guest(s): Alan Sues, Dennis Fimple, Robert Easton, J.P [Patrick] Cranshaw, Bard Stevens
• Written by Bruce Howard; Directed by Harry Falk
  
  

Have information or a photo for this listing?
Please send it in or discuss it with other fans in this site's Forum.