This sitcom featured some of the same scripts from the 1970s version but africanamerican actors ron glass and demond wilson filled the roles. Created by danny jacobson, joe keenan, matthew perry. As the odd couple continues its hiatus because of the ncaa basketball tournament airing on cbs, i thought it would be a good opportunity to take a look back at the history of the show. Feb 19, 2015 the odd couple stars matthew perry as endearing slob oscar madison and thomas lennon as uptight neat freak felix unger, two former college buddies who become unlikely roommates after the demise of their marriages. What may be surprising is how little the spine of the show has changed. The odd couple female version is neil simons adaptation of his timeless hit that originally premiered on broadway in 1965 and ran for over 960 performances.
Horrible bosses, the new version of the odd couple is more of an ensemble show, according to perry. Olive and their group of girlfriends are enjoying their weekly trivial pursuit night in olives messy and illequipped apartment. The new odd couple is an american sitcom television series that aired on abc from 1982 to 1983, and was an updated version of the 1970s television series the odd couple. As the game continues, florence arrives, fresh from being dumped by. It is the seventh screen production based on the 1965 play written by neil simon, following the 1968 film, the original 1970s television series, a 1975 saturday morning cartoon, a 1982 reboot of the 1970 series, the odd couple.
After being kicked out of their houses by their wives, two friends try to share an apartment, but their ideas of housekeeping and lifestyles are. All performances of the odd couple have been canceled. Feb 18, 2015 at one point in the movie version of the odd couple, matthaus oscar gives felix a back rub, to ease his spasming neck. A new look at the odd couple neil simons latest version of the odd couple is a new paint job on an old vehicle. Madison has invited the girls over for an evening of trivial pursuit. When lewis stadlen showed up to audition for neil simons new version of the odd couple, he found himself in somewhat unnerving company. Thanks for the a2a the other answers have pretty much nailed it. Theatreworks offers up a new version of the odd couple.
The first was barefoot in the park which also premiered on september 24. Holly kozelsky writes for the martinsville bulletin. Most people know about the original 1965 version of the odd couple, neil simons affectionate comedy about two unlikely roommates, or about the 1970s sitcom it inspired. Cbss the odd couple is a revival without a reason time. It is the story of two divorced men neurotic neatfreak felix ungar and funloving slob oscar madison who decide to live together, even though their. Flea market experience in new zealand the odd couple sl duration. Particularly, at the fact that this new version of the odd couple is not the shows first tv revival. Odd couple female version is familiar and appealing the. Rogers, and the shubert organization at the broadhurst theatre on. Actor thomas lennon left and actorexecutive producer matthew perry speak onstage during the cbsshowtime panel for the 2015 winter television critics association. Matthew perry needs to stop playing different versions of chandler. Neil simons revision of his hugely successful play, the odd couple, sees the lead characters transformed into olive madison and florence unger. The odd couple female version judson theatre company. Neil simons original version of the odd couple spawned a million imitators over the years, with just about any film about friendship drawing at least some inspiration from the tonyaward.
Actor thomas lennon left and actorexecutive producer matthew perry speak onstage during the cbsshowtime panel for. It has been 26 years since beit lessin theatre last presented the female version of the comedy the odd couple, one of neil simons most famous plays, and just like every other classic it doesnt. Horrible bosses, the new version of the odd couple is more of an ensemble show, according to. An african american remake of the television series inspired by the neil simon play about two friends living together despite their completely disparate attitudes to life. Oscars jackofalltrades assistant, dani, and his longtime agent, teddy, have. The car has lost some of its original charm and the engine shows. Odd couple female version is familiar and appealing. It was threatened with cancellation every year it was on. The odd couple cancelled no season 4 at cbs tvline. Matthew perry is a fan of the odd couple, particularly the 1968 film version, which served as the main source of inspiration for the. Why was the television series the odd couple cancelled.
Neil simons the odd couple, female version open casting. The new odd couple episode 5 brother can you spare a job november 26, 1982. Cbss new odd couple, starring matthew perry and thomas. Amanda bearse and teresa ganzel are olive madison and florence unger in neil simons reworking of his riotously funny comedy classic centered around two wildly mismatched roommates living together in new york city. Aug, 1985 when lewis stadlen showed up to audition for neil simons new version of the odd couple, he found himself in somewhat unnerving company.
The odd couple is an american multicamera sitcom television series that aired on cbs from february 19, 2015 to january 30, 2017. In the odd couple, ruggles plays olive, the female version of oscar. Ive noticed that people who remember the popular jack klugman and tony randall. The odd couple, female version concord theatricals.
Judson theatre company presents the odd couple female version by neil simon unger and madison are at it again. The result is an excruciatingly mediocre, largely laughfree, wholly uninspired comedy. Its not long after oscar lets felix move in that oscar fears hes made a monumental mistake. The female version of the odd couple was first presented on broadway by emanuel azenberg, wayne m. I watched the first 6 episodes of the 2015 version of the odd couple. After being kicked out of their houses by their wives, two friends try to share an apartment, but their ideas of housekeeping and lifestyles are as different as night and day. Its the mid1980s and olive madison and her group of. The two main characters were renamed olive madison and florence unger, and instead of poker, they got together with their friends for a weekly game of trivial pursuit. I think the pilot started in a good way, fast comedy is present which is really good comparing to the new comedies filled up with empty unnecessary pauses. Simon adapted the play in 1985 to feature a pair of female. Luckily all the episodes except one were available for free on.
In the early 1980s, producer garry marshall decided to remake the odd couple tv show, this time with a primarily africanamerican cast. The show is based on the 1965 play of the same name, which was. It is entirely without innuendo, one guy helping out his highstrung pal. The odd couple female version orange community players. Oscar and felix return to abc for the new odd couple, this time portrayed by demond wilson oscar and ron glass felix and with a predominantly africanamerican cast 1985. There was the new odd couple in the early 1980s, and a portuguese version of the odd couple in the early 1990s. There was an instructive brilliance to the layout on the television version of the odd couple.
The odd couple, female version in offoffbroadway at. In the original 1968 film version of neil simons stage play, walter matthau and jack lemmon are indeed extremely funny as oscar and felix, but they are more threedimensional, more nuanced in conception, both as written and as performed. How popular is the team of nathan lane and matthew broderick. The odd couple never reached the top 30 in ratings during its 5 year run. Produced by garry marshall, the premise of the new version has two black actors, ron glass as felix and demond wilson as oscar. In 1982, abc aired a new version of the series, entitled the new odd couple. Thankfully, the cast at lake city playhouse brings a little something extra to the. Feb 26, 2015 neil simons original version of the odd couple spawned a million imitators over the years, with just about any film about friendship drawing at least some inspiration from the tonyaward. The odd couple female version breaks little new ground but rather embraces the audience in the familiar. In this version, simon reimagines oscar madison and felix unger, his famous polar opposites, as independent women living in new york city during the gogo 1980s. With matthew perry, thomas lennon, lindsay sloane, yvette nicole brown. Matthew perry found out the odd couple is canceled in.
Starring matthew perry and thomas lennon, the multicamera comedy appeared ripe for cancellation in november, when cbs decided not to. Many will be familiar with the screen version of simons famous. At one point in the movie version of the odd couple, matthaus oscar gives felix a back rub, to ease his spasming neck. What kind of re is this new odd couple actually the second new odd couple, not counting a 1975 cartoon, anyway a reboot. Bedwell plays the obsessively clean and neurotic florence, the female version of felix. Jack did a great job interpretating the directors version of oscar madison. The odd couple has been neil simons greatest popular success, running for 964 performances in its broadway debut and then spawning a popular movie version, an even more popular television series, and eventually a kind of sequel or female version that tells the same story with the genders reversed. The new odd couple was the second attempt to remake a series of one of neil simons plays with a primarily africanamerican and europeanamerican cast.
With ron glass, demond wilson, john schuck, bart braverman. Following its premiere on broadway in 1965, the characters were revived in a successful 1968 film and 1970s television series, as well as several other derivative works and spinoffs. This version of neil simons the odd couple with female main characters is light, enjoyable summer theatre for fans of broadway. Starring matthew perry and thomas lennon, the multicamera comedy appeared ripe for cancellation in november, when cbs decided not to extend its episode. In addition to the 1968 film and 1970s television series, a cartoon adaptation of the odd couple premiered in 1975. Instead, he took his iconic 1965 comedy the odd couple and adapted it in 1986 to feature female versions of neurotic neatnik felix unger and slobby sportswriter oscar madison. The odd couple episode 1 01 pilot sneak peek 3 youtube. The odd couple tv show on cbs ratings cancel or renew. The odd couple takes place in three acts, all in the new york city apartment of oscar madison. Florence unger and olive madison, that is, in neil simons hilarious contemporary comic classic. A staggering 19 shows were given new season orders, leaving the odd couple, 2 broke girls and freshman the great indoors as the. To play these characters the new actors must create their own version of felix and oscar. The odd couple is a 1968 american technicolor buddy comedy film in panavision, written by neil simon, based on his play of the same name, produced by howard w.
It stars tony randall as felix unger and jack klugman as oscar madison, and was the first of several sitcoms developed by garry marshall for paramount television. The result is an excruciatingly mediocre, largely laughfree, wholly uninspired comedy featuring florence unger and olive madison. Often times i feel like they are trying to imatate tonys and jacks version. The odd couple, premiering thursday on cbs, is an odd choice for the latest act of dusting off a tv relic. May 16, 2015 the original television version of the odd couple ran for five seasons on abc and jack klugman and tony randall were beloved in their.
The new odd couple episode 1 the ides of april october. This is a digitized version of an article from the timess print archive, before the start of online. Then, in 1982, marshall launched the new odd couple. Stars matthew perry and thomas lennon make a fine oscar and felix, but the odd couple s flat jokes and canned laughter are pretty old hat. Only 38 years old and possessed of a perfectly adequate. The classic male version of the odd couple transferred to the female gender does work but does require an adaptation of both mechanics and mental processes. Complete information about the odd couple, female version in offoffbroadway at historic palace theatre. The play was written in the 1960s, but the message is somewhat universal, so that it could be and. The odd couple garnered both critical acclaim and boxoffice success. The odd couple, formally titled onscreen neil simons the odd couple, is an american sitcom television series broadcast from september 24, 1970, to march 7, 1975, on abc. Sep 12, 2017 in the odd couple, ruggles plays olive, the female version of oscar. Casting the odd couple, female version, a comedy by neil simon. Koch and directed by gene saks, and starring jack lemmon and walter matthau. The odd couple stars matthew perry as endearing slob oscar madison and thomas lennon as uptight neat freak felix unger, two former college buddies who become unlikely roommates after the demise of their marriages.
In anticipation of the series return back in february, usa today ran a great article on the programs. Rogers, and the shubert organization at the broadhurst theatre on june 11, 1985. He wrote a new version of the play which featured female characters in the lead roles. In the 1980s, neil simon also got into the act of remaking the odd couple. However, this version is very funny and new generations will probably never explore the past versions.
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