1049 Park Avenue: An Odd Couple Podcast

In this episode, we compared a final draft script of S1's The Hideaway and a first draft script of the first episode filmed for S2 Hospital Mates to the filmed versions.  And before we get into the scripts, we discuss four new instances of The Odd Couple IP / the cast in the zeitgeist.  

In this new episode, we discuss the differences between the filmed episode and the "Revised Final Draft" script for the third-to-last episode aired Old Flames Never Die.    If you want to read the script along with us, please email us at 1049pod@gmail.com for the Dropbox link.

In this episode we discuss a trove of documents from the Garry Marshall archives at Northwestern University.  Topic covered are - Testing of the episodes Hospital Mates and Felix's Ex-Wife's Boyfriend. - A bombshell of a memo about what S2 of The Odd Couple could have been. - The Writers room needs for a "script girl" - Episode budget details - Script needs for the back half of S1 - A mysterious s...

In this episode we discuss a script we have obtained for an unproduced episode for S4 of The Odd Couple entitled The Decision Of The Judge Is Final in which Oscar judges a beauty contest.  We also cover some clips of The Odd Couple in pop culture and a TV Guide cover article from 1972.  If you would like a PDF of the article/script discussed here please email us at 1049Pod@gmail.com    

In this episode of 1049 Park Avenue we review two very important documents: 1) Courtesy of the Garry Marshall archives at Northwestern University is the actual pilot testing report for the first episode of The Odd Couple – “The Laundry Orgy”. 2) The script for The Rain In Spain which we compare to the actual filmed episode. Also, Garrett has a new book out about the famous screenwriter and playwri...

Scott Marshall returns for part two of our interview with him to celebrate his father’s legacy.  In this second installment we discuss Laverne and Shirley, Mork & Mindy, Angie, Joanie Love Chachi, The New Odd Couple, the 2010s Odd Couple reboot, failed pilots and hit on Garry’s movie career too especially Nothing in Common / Jackie Gleason.  We also cover Scott’s acting work on the sitcoms and...

In this episode we are joined by Scott Marshall, Garry Marshall’s son, who provides us an inside, charming and humorous look at his father’s legendary career and his exposure to all of it growing up.  This is only part one of our interview as there is so much to cover.  We discuss: Garry’s upbringing in the Bronx and his family His college days at Northwestern University Writing for Jack Paar and...

This week we welcome Lowell Ganz back for part two of our interview.  In these two hours we cover: The trouble with The Odyssey Couple The furniture in Take My Furniture Please The stories behind the appearances of Hugh Hefner, Bobby Riggs and Rob Reiner Why there was a series finale when most 5-season shows don’t get that chance What the plans were if there was a S6 Lowell’s move to Happy Days Ho...

In this episode we are honored to be joined by Lowell Ganz who, with his partner at the time Mark Rothman, wrote more episodes of The Odd Couple than anyone else - 12.  They were also on the writing staff for S3-S5 so they have a hand in all episodes for those seasons. In this first of a two-part interview we discuss Mr. Ganz's background and the incredible story of how he got his first job in sho...

In this episode we review an original "pre-production" script for S5E13  The Bigger They Are.  Among the topics covered are 1) how John Byner's casting, which was clearly not known at the time of this draft, changed several key elements of the script, 2) the difference in motivations for Felix and Oscar in the script vs. the finished episode, 3) what distinguishes catsup vs. ketchup [will make sen...

This week we are joined by one of television's best comedy writers Dave Mandel (SNL, Seinfeld, Veep) to discuss an unproduced episode of The Odd Couple for which we have obtained an official script from 1973.  It is a Thanksgiving episode and would have been for the 4th season to air in November 1973.    We start by discussing Dave's history with The Odd Couple and how it influenced his TV writing...

In this episode we welcome Adam Klugman to talk about his father’s legendary career in depth – for more than two hours.  Among the many topics we cover are:  Jack’s childhood in Philadelphia and a shocking story about his mother; how he discovered acting; his early working days in theater and live television; The Twilight Zone; performing in The Odd Couple the play; of course playing Oscar on the...

In this episode we analyze the differences in “final” scripts vs the filmed episode for Win One For Felix and Oscar In Love.  The script for Win One For Felix is called Little League Football and is lacking four pages so we spend less time on this one.  Also, it is not dramatically different than the filmed episode but it is missing the emotional motivations behind Felix’s actions as we discuss. T...

We welcome back Marty Nadler to discuss his TV writing career after The Odd Couple including his work on Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Chico & The Man, The Last Resort (not a well-known show), and Perfect Strangers.  Marty shares some get great inside stories about such topics as 1) ABC wanting to rename Happy Days "Fonzie's Happy Days", 2) the toxic environment of Laverne & Shirley, 3)...

In this episode we interview TV writer Marty Nadler who worked for Garry Marshall for 40 years. As one of his first jobs Marty punched up scripts and wrote jokes for S5 of The Odd Couple.  Marty discusses the process of how Odd Couple scripts were written; a few specific classic bits he remembers witnessing; interacting with some of the show’s famous guest stars and other insider knowledge from so...

We are honored and delighted to welcome Heather Randall to the podcast.  Heather was married to Tony Randall from 1995 until his passing in 2004 and they had two children together.  Heather shares many stories passed down by Tony and those she lived through regarding: his early life in Tulsa, Oklahoma, career beginnings on stage and radio, becoming a star on Broadway and movies, The Odd Couple of...

This week we welcome a special guest – Peter K Ackerman who is the son of Elinor Donahue and legendary TV producer Harry Ackerman.  He has written a new book called Mom, Dad, Me and Classic TV about their lives and his experiences growing up as the son of two TV legends. It is available wherever books are sold including here on Amazon We discuss his father’s career helping to create I Love Lucy, p...

In this episode we discuss the differences between original production scripts for Felix The Horseplayer (known as The Stung on the script) and Two On The Aisle.  Both scripts feature known-but-never-seen characters who are referenced during the series that are supposed to make actual on-camera appearances but were written out before the episodes were filmed.  There are some other significant scen...

In this episode we review two early drafts of these classic episodes and how different they are from the actual filmed episodes.  Among the topics covered are: 1) Whether or not the most famous line from The Odd Couple about assuming is in the script for Court. 2) The fact that the script for Court is structured as a flashback and how so many of the classic gags from the episode are missing while...

This week we discuss scripts for two more episodes of The Odd Couple - this time from S3 - The Odd Monks and The Ides of April - and the differences between what's on the page and what's on the air.  In a major piece of revelation we find out what was said in the missing Louis Guss scene at the IRS in the Ides of April.  We also find out how The Odd Monks could have been very different as the scri...

In this episode we discuss the differences between  "Revised Final Scripts" for the two S2 episodes "Security Arms" and "You Saved My life" and the actual released episodes.  If you want access to PDFs of the scripts please email us at 1049Pod@Gmail.com .  

We celebrate Felix Unger Day with a new podcast previewing an exciting new project that will fuel some more episodes of 1049 Park Avenue.  Take a listen to find out more details!

The second half of our discussion about Jack and Tony's series after The Odd Couple contains in-depth looks at The Tony Randall Show (1976-78), Love Sydney (1981-1983) and You Again? (1986-87).

In this episode we start looking at the four series Jack and Tony did after The Odd Couple - Quincy, The Tony Randall Show, Love, Sydney and You Again?.  This is part one where we cover only Quincy.  The next episode will cover the three sitcoms.  

This episode covers Jack Klugman and Tony Randall's TV appearances as themselves - on talk shows, in ads, on Dean Martin roast, and in song.