“On November 13th, Felix Unger was asked to remove himself from his place of residence...that request came from his wife. Deep down, he knew she was right, but he also knew that someday he would return to her. With nowhere else to go, he appeared at the home of his childhood friend, Oscar Madison. Sometime earlier, Madison’s wife had thrown him out, requesting that he never return. Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy.”
And so, with that opening narration, the classic TV series “The Odd Couple” would begin. With a random date thrown in and a devoted fan base for the show, November 13th (today!). Has become known in many “Odd Circles” as “Felix Unger Day” and a way to celebrate the series.
Debuting on September 7, 1970 and running through March of 1975, “The Odd Couple” was adapted from playwright Neil Simon’s hit Broadway Play and subsequent movie by the brilliant Gary Marshall (who would go on to reign supreme in the realm of ‘70’s sitcoms with shows like “Happy Days” and “Laverne & Shirley”).
The ongoing misadventures of a slob and a neat freak living together was perfect material for the realm of sitcoms and “The Odd Couple” is probably one of the most consistently funny of them all.
With sharp dialogue and strong writing, the shows not only have watchability, but ongoing re-watchability.
Additionally, although there have been many actors who have portrayed Felix and Oscar, Tony Randall and Jack Klugman’s amazing chemistry and comic timing have left their indelible mark on these characters.
It’s hard not to mention the obsessive compulsive Felix without thinking of Randall’s ability to make hypochondria funny and Klugman in a Mets baseball cap, holding a beer can is the true picture of Oscar.
The concept of “The Odd Couple” has been one that has endured (so much so that CBS re-booted the show several years ago). But, the magic of Randall and Klugman together, against a “true New York” backdrop, makes this series the best of them all.
If you’re already a fan, then, today, “Felix Unger Day” is the perfect day to break out the DVD’s and celebrate. If you’ve never seen this classic version of “The Odd Couple” before, well, what better day than today for an introduction?
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