DVD Review by Allen Pollock

Voted top female box-office movie star during the early 60’s, Doris Day’s switch to the competitive world of television sit-com was not without its problems, but always a survivor, she soon changed gears and knuckled down to THE DORIS DAY SHOW. Bringing her usual vivacity and charm to the character of Doris Martin, a widow with two kids living with her father on a farm, Doris’ immense popularity ensured the necessary family audience for Season One but the rural setting limited plot development and by Season Two the storylines had expanded as the result of her character becoming a secretary for the magazine “TODAY’S WORLD” in San Francisco whilst commuting daily from the farm.

The third Season tweaks this formula by moving Doris with her two kids into an apartment in San Francisco; thus anchoring the show within a city milieu which widens script possibilities and allows the occasional romantic entanglement with the added element of sophistication so typical of her latter-day movies. Having the apartment rented from the owners of the Italian restaurant located beneath, enables the introduction of mercurial Louie and Angie Pallucci (played by Bernie Kopell and Kaye Ballard) who beyond their brash, funny and argumentative exterior really have hearts of gold. The two likeable and convincing kids (Philip Brown and Tod Starke) remain within the plot on occasions and Doris’ job at the “TODAY’S WORLD” magazine office continues interactive fun and complications with her Editor boss, Michael Nicholson (McLean Stevenson), friend and office colleague, Myrna Gibbons (Rose Marie) and Assistant Editor and flirt, Ron Harvey (Paul Smith) who combine their comic foil for the machinations of the plot. Also on board to add playful conflict for some episodes is her new neighbour, the prim Mr Jarvis played by Billy DeWolfe, an old supporting cast member from Day movies, LULLABY OF BROADWAY and TEA FOR TWO, who previously appeared as a guest in Season Two. The scripts are brisk and snappy and Doris gets to wear some funky way-out 70’s fashions.

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

Episodes involving “TODAY’S WORLD” include Doris interviewing a militant feminist writer and also singing icon Tony Bennett (where else but in San Francisco!) and while he sings JUST IN TIME the best moment is when he shares his hit song in celebration of the famous city in duet with Doris! It’s truly an unforgettable moment! A couple of episodes give Doris the dilemma of accepting an offer to abscond to a better paid magazine job. Further plots include a terrific Doris Day look-alike competition; bringing screen father (Denver Pyle, who appears occasionally and also directs a couple of episodes) to the big city for a vacation and there’s a plot involving former farm-hand Leroy and his bid to squander a fortune won in a rodeo. Another great moment is when Doris sings SILVER BELLS at the end of the Christmas episode.

Other guest stars include Meredith Baxter, Henry Fonda, Van Johnson (as Doris’ cousin), John Gavin (co-star MIDNIGHT LACE), Dick Van Patten, John McGiver, Stubby Kaye, Ricardo Montalban and John Astin with reappearances from the two previous seasons of Larry Storch (as the boxer, Duke Farentino), elderly Estelle Winwood, Lew Ayres and Edward Andrews.

THE DORIS DAY SHOW - SEASON 3 contains all 26 remastered episodes from the 1970-71 season, plus a wealth of rare and new bonus features including recent interviews with actors Bernie Kopell (Louie Pallucci) and Philip Brown (Billy Martin) plus another bloopers reel (with Doris having great fun between takes), outtakes of Doris' opening credits of her running down the spiral staircase and the trailer for the forthcoming THE WINNING TEAM plus lots more.

With her son, Terry Melcher as Executive Producer, the series succeeds in promoting the sunny Doris Day screen image, and fans and others will enjoy the lively situations which occur throughout. It’s a warm-hearted show which deserved the huge ratings it received during its USA transmission with some UK regional TV companies also taking options to show it. Such wholesome qualities ensures the special magic remains despite the intervening years and simply put, this nostalgia will enthral and appeal to everyone in the family whether young or old!

The DVD set covers twenty-six episodes on six discs (almost 12 hours running time!) in a slip case (unlike the US release which manages with just four). 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 the standard quirky cross-cut opening titles which set the scene for each episode. Available via Sanctuary Visual Entertainment SVEDF0224 in the UK.

DORIS FINDS AN APARTMENT
Original airdate: 14 September 1970

• Doris moves to an apartment in San Francisco over an Italian restaurant, but her lease is cancelled the first day
• Guest(s): Gene Dynarski, Jon Kowal, Alfred Daniels, Carol Worthington, Gordon Jump, Doe Hoover
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul; Directed by Denver Pyle
  
  

THE FEMINIST
Original airdate: 21 September 1970

• Doris is given the assignment to get the magazine rights to a militant feminist's book when the author refuses to deal with the men in the office
• Guest(s): Jason Evers, Elvia Allman, Robert Shayne, Lavina Dawson, Ralph Montgomery
• Written by Norman Paul, Jack Elinson; Directed by Denver Pyle
  
  

HOW CAN I IGNORE THE MAN NEXT DOOR?
Original airdate: 28 September 1970

• Mr. Jarvis moves into the apartment next to Doris, and conflict is immediately generated
• Guest(s): Morris Erby
• Written by Budd Grossman; Directed by Denver Pyle
  
  

DINNER FOR ONE
Original airdate: 5 October 1970

• Doris tries to help publicize Angie's and Louie's restaurant in order to get some much needed customers, but her efforts almost close the place down
• Guest(s): Stubby Kaye
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul
  
  

DORIS LEAVES TODAY'S WORLD (Part 1 & 2)
Original airdates: 12 & 19 October 1970

• Billionaire William Tyler returns and lures Doris away from Today's World magazine with a large salary and her own secretary. Doris then finds herself travelling all over the world, but worrying about her family at home.
• Guest(s): Lew Ayres
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul; Directed by Reza Badiyi
  
  

THE FASHION SHOW
Original airdate: 26 October 1970

• As Doris models the new line of fashions in a show, Myrna becomes an unwitting accomplice in a plot to sabotage the designer's bid for fashion supremacy
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul; Directed by Reza Badiyi
  
  

LOST AND FOUND
Original airdate: 2 November 1970

• Doris and Myrna begin searching for the lost manuscript of an article written by Ron, and wind up auditioning for go-go dancing jobs at a seedy night club
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul
  
  

DUKE THE PERFORMER
Original airdate: 9 November 1970

• Duke Farentino proves to be so rotten as a nightclub entertainer that his opening night becomes his closing night, so Doris vows to get him in shape for another round at it
• Guest(s): J Larry Storch
• Written by Fred S. Fox, Seaman Jacobs
  
  

DORIS THE SPY
Original airdate: 16 November 1970

• Doris is taken into custody by federal agents who believe her to be a foreign spy
• Guest(s): John McGiver, James B. Sikking, Estelle Winwood
• Written by Budd Grossman; Directed by Reza Badiyi
  
  

TONY BENNETT IS EATING HERE
Original airdate: 23 November 1970

• Thrilled but jittery, Doris gets a chance to interview singer Tony Bennett and unintentionally winds up getting him hopelessly cornered by a mob of adoring fans
• Guest(s): Tony Bennett
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul; Directed by Reza Badiyi
  
  

COUSIN CHARLIE
Original airdate: 30 November 1970

• Doris innocently transforms her cousin, a happy-go-lucky, globetrotting vagabond, into a nervous wreck of a businessman
• Guest(s): Van Johnson
• Written by Budd Grossman
  
  

LOVE MAKES THE PIZZA GO 'ROUND
Original airdate: 7 December 1970

• Doris' efforts to help inject some romance into the marriage of Angie and Louie produce a startling and unforeseen result
• Guest(s): Charles Circillo, Paula Victor
• Written by Budd Grossman
  
  

BUCK VISITS THE BIG CITY
Original airdate: 14 December 1970

• Doris persuades Buck to visit her and the boys in San Francisco for a week, then she has to figure out some way to keep him from being bored to death
• Guest(s): Denver Pyle, John Gallaudet, Iris Adrian
• Written by Budd Grossman
  
  

IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE CITY
Original airdate: 21 December 1970

• Mr. Jarvis drops a wet blanket over Doris' Christmas party when he begins to carry out an earlier threat to "take appropriate steps" if the party becomes too loud
• Guest(s): Denver Pyle
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul
  
  

DORIS VERSUS POLLUTION
Original airdate: 28 December 1970

• Doris puts Colonel Fairburn on the hot seat when she launches her own personal campaign against air pollution
• Guest(s): Edward Andrews
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul
  
  

THE FORWARD PASS
Original airdate: 11 January 1971

• Ron uses Doris for bait in an attempt to hook a swinging quarterback for an interview
• Guest(s): Dick Gautier, Tony Giorgio
• Written by Budd Grossman
  
  

DUKE'S GIRLFRIEND
Original airdate: 18 January 1971

• Doris sets out to rescue love-smitten Duke from the clutches of a blonde socialite whom Doris suspects is really a gold-digging phony
• Guest(s): Larry Storch
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul
  
  

JARVIS' UNCLE
Original airdate: 25 January 1971

• Jarvis gets a visit from his uncle who, to Doris' delight, proves to be not in the slightest like his nephew
• Written by Budd Grossman; Directed by Reza Badiyi
  
  

LASSOIN' LEROY
Original airdate: 1 February 1971

• Doris tries to save Leroy from frittering away the small fortune he has won as a rodeo prize
• Guest(s): James Hampton
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul
  
  

COLONEL FAIRBURN, JR.
Original airdate: 8 February 1971

• Doris is caught in the middle when the straight-laced Colonel's son turns out to be secretly a hippie
• Guest(s): Edward Andrews, Larry Gelman
• Written by Budd Grossman, Don Genson
  
  

BILLY'S FIRST DATE
Original airdate: 15 February 1971

• Billy announces that the prettiest girl in his class has agreed to be his date for a school dance, but Doris gets into a tiff by telephone with the girl's widower father about which of them will act as chaperone
• Guest(s): Ricardo Montalban, Alene Towne
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul; Directed by Reza Badiyi
  
  

DORIS GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
Original airdate: 22 February 1971

• Although she's amazed when she learns that she's won the Doris Day Look-Alike Contest, which the boys entered her in without her knowledge, Doris is uninterested in visiting Hollywood to collect her prize: a lunch with Miss Day
• Guest(s): Henry Fonda, Oscar Beregi, Joey Forman, William Tregoe, Bill Martel, Ralph Montgomery, Eddie Baker
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul, Don Genson
• In addition to her regular role, Doris Day makes an appearance as herself in this episode
  
  

SKIING ANYONE?
Original airdate: 1 March 1971

• A charming physician takes a powerful fancy to Doris after they meet at a swanky ski resort
• Guest(s): John Gavin
• Written by Jack Elinson, Norman Paul; Directed by Reza Badiyi
  
  

THE FATHER-SON WEEKEND
Original airdate: 8 March 1971

• Doris refuses to let her gender discourage her from escorting Toby on a YMCA father-son weekend campout
• Guest(s): John Astin, John Lupton, Richard Steele, Ted Foulkes, H.M. Wynant
• Written by Budd Grossman; Directed by Reza Badiyi
  
  

YOUNG LOVE
Original airdate: 15 March 1971

• Doris' young niece pays a middle-of-the-night visit to seek her advice on how to patch up her marriage, which is crumbling because her college-student husband can't stand the thought of becoming a father
• Guest(s): Meredith Baxter, Michael Bums, Brenda Sykes, Bobby Griffin, Abbi Henderson
• Written by Bob Sand, Bruce Bilson
• Unsold pilot for spinoff series starring Meredith Baxter
  
  

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