“Super” 70’s: “Bowl”-ed Over by Football Themed Episodes from classic ‘70’s Sitcoms.

By Michael Lyons

Looking to get in the right Super Bowl frame of mind and don’t have time to invest in the movies “Any Given Sunday,” “The Longest Yard,” “Brian’s Song” or even “Gus” (ya know, the live-action Disney epic about the football kicking mule)?  You may want to consider some of these episodes of classic ‘70’s sitcoms that celebrate the sport of football, in their own unique way.

“The Odd Couple”: “Big Mouth” (Originally aired September 22, 1972)

With Oscar Madison a Sportswriter for the fictional New York Herald newspaper, there were a number of episodes that centered around football, but this one is not only hysterical, it sets up a fictional rivalry between Oscar (Jack Klugman) and guest star, sportscaster Howard Cosell, that would carry over to another episode in a later season.

In the episode, photographer Felix (Tony Randall) has been given the assignment of photographing Cosell for a magazine ad.  When Oscar finds out, it ignites an ongoing feud between him and Cosell, who was known for his loud, large personality.

When Oscar accidentally prints a ridiculing column about Cosell, the sportscaster gets even but inviting Oscar, at the last minute, into the booth during a “Monday Night Football” game.  When Oscar freezes in front of the microphone, Felix (known for his lack of athletic knowledge) grabs the mic, with hilarious results.

With “Monday Night Football” and Cosell both at the height of their popularity at this time, coupled with the fact that it aired on ABC, along with “The Odd Couple,” this could almost be considered an early example of a “crossover” episode, or, at the very least, ingenious marketing synergy.

Most of all, like all episodes of “The Odd Couple,” it’s extremely funny, with the humor generated from the character’s clashing personas and Cosell fitting in perfectly stuck in the middle.

“The Brady Bunch”:  “The Subject Was Noses” (Originally aired February 9, 1973).

Known to fans everywhere as the “Oh my nose!” Episode, Marcia accidentally takes a football to the face while Bobby and Peter play a game of catch in the backyard.  For Marcia (Maureen McCormick) this is nothing short of tragedy, as her nose bruises and swells, just as she is about to go out on a date with her high school’s football star, Doug.

However, Marcia broke a date with nice guy Charley to go out with Doug and she soon learns a humbling lesson about beauty being skin deep.  Filled with the standard “Brady Bunch” perspective of life’s small trials and tribulations, this episode has become very well known among fans (mostly for the slow motion and multiple replays of the football colliding with Marcia’s face during a funny “dream sequence”).

There have been other football themed episodes of “The Brady Bunch”- one guest starring Joe Namath and another where Greg kidnaps a rival football team’s mascot - but this particular episode wins...by a nose.

“Happy Days”:  “Football Frolics” (Originally aired January 20, 1976)

While gathered around the ol’ black and white TV in 50’s Milwaukee, Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) and the gang watch The Bears win and become obsessed with getting tickets to the next big game.

When they realize they can’t afford the price for the tickets, Richie, along with Potsie and Ralph, (Anson Williams and Donny Most) hatch a plan to open a day camp in their house, (“Camp Cunningham”) charging parents to watch their kids.  Little do the three teens know how difficult it is to corral a group of out of control, hyperactive children.

The easy charm and humor of this series is in full display here, along with the rare appearance of spinoff friends Laverne and Shirley (Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams).

What’s most fun is how it provides a glimpse into fandom during the early, innocent days of football on TV, before the sport became the behemoth of broadcasting it is today.

“Where’s Huddles?” (1970)

Here’s not just one episode, but an entire football-themed series.  Never heard of this Hanna Barbera animated sitcom?  Don’t worry, you’re not alone.  This rarity from the far reaches of the HB vault ran for just ten episodes.

In the mold of “The Flintstones” and “The Jetsons,” “Where’s Huddles?” followed a family, but not from the Stone Age or the future, this family was contemporary, as the show followed the misadventures of the title character Ed Huddles, quarterback for the fictional Rhinos football Team.

Also on the show, Ed’s best friend Bubba McCoy, center for the Rhinos and their fellow teammate Freight Train.  Rounding out the cast was Ed’s wife Marge, their daughter Pom Pom, Coach Maddog, Claude Pertwee, their officious neighbor and the Huddles’ dog Fumbles (a Mutley-like clone who always wore a helmet and cleats).  In fact, the Huddles were SO into football that their house was designed to look like a stadium and their front yard like a football field.

Like “The Flintstones” and “The Jetsons,” “Where’s Huddles?” also ran in prime time.  While not one of the Studio’s shining moments, “Where’s Huddles?” is still extremely “Hanna-Barbara-y,” from its music, to limited animation and voices: Mel Blanc is Bubba, Jean (Wilma Flintstone) Vander Pyl is Marge and none other than Paul Lynde himself is Claude Pertwee.  This, like many of Hanna Barbera’s offerings, doesn’t make it high art, but it does make shows like “Where Huddles?” a comforting reminder of a TV time gone by.

While the Super Bowl will take center stage on most TVs, remember that each of these football-themed shows are only about 30 minutes, which would leave plenty of time to get your game face on or, more importantly, watch one of the many million-dollar commercials while dunking another Buffalo wing in ranch dressing!

Sources: IMDb

Wikipedia