Pretty Good

Don't Believe the Hype

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

While Joi Lansing was indeed the supermodel adored by all male viewers Barbara Nichols was indeed memorable as ditzy blonde Marian Billington whose catch phrase was to affectionately refer to Bob as "Liddy-bear!" ~ The show's instrumental theme song actually had lyrics. Mickey Rooney performed that song "I'm a bachelor guy" on a prime time variety show but sadly I'm unable to find any video or recording of Mickey or anyone singing the song.

Robert Cummings was a handsome movie star of the late 1930's through to the early 50's appearing in all sorts of roles, with some of the screens biggest female co-stars, and in some big films like 'Kings Row', 'Dial M For Murder', 'The Lost Moment' etc. He was one of the first big screen stars to go into television, and finally became a 'Superstar' of that medium, his forte was always comedy, and he could play it with the best of them. Billing himself as just Bob Cummings from 'The Bob Cummings Show' on, as the aforementioned reviews say, it was a trailblazer in many ways for it's time, and a pity to date, it's never been released officially as a series on DVD. To me, he was even funnier in his very first series, 'My Hero' where he played a more 'bumbling' character, which he could do with great finesse, I just wish there was someone as good at playing comedy today!

Fairly good-bought some of those 3 episodes for a buck discs at Walmart today, and this was one of them. Pretty good show-Cummings seems to have been forgotten somewhat, mostly because you don't see this show on in repeats much, and his movies-well who can name one? I can't-though am sure he was a co-star or second lead in several.But the show-Rosemary De Camp as well-meaning sister, Nancy Culp, as well, Mrs. Drysdale, and Bob Cummings as a playboy photog/Air Force reserve guy-made for some pretty fun situations. I enjoyed seeing him play Gramps too-reminded me some of Dick Van Dyke's old men if you wanna know. Heck this show even has Rose Marie in it-you gotta know that the Van Dyke show was produced by some of the same people just watching it.Bob is funny, droll, gives these exxagerated takes, it's all good clean fun and worthy of checking out again.***

I watched this show when it first aired and in many reruns over the following decade. Bob Cummings demonstrated impeccable comic timing while supported by an equally outstanding ensemble. Especially noteworthy for me were Dwayne Hickman, Ann B. Davis, Nancy Kulp and King Donovan. This show has often been criticized as "sexist" whereas it was, in fact, just the opposite. The primary theme of the show centered around Bob's constant womanizing which almost always ended in his getting his comeuppance. Bob often poked fun at himself in this series for example: making fun of health-foods through Nancy Kulp's character even though he was himself a health-food "addict" long before such became fashionable or portraying himself (i.e. Bob Cummings the actor) as an arrogant egotist. I strongly disagree with the "if you liked this" suggestions. This is hardly in the same category as Mr. Ed. Better choices would be Dobie Gillis or the Phil Silvers show.