The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple is a play by Neil Simon. 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 spin-offs. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates: the neat, uptight Felix Ungar and the slovenly, easygoing Oscar Madison. Simon adapted the play in 1985 to feature a pair of female …
Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau was an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his film roles opposite Jack Lemmon, playing Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple, and its 1998 sequel, The Odd Couple II, and Max Goldman in Grumpy Old Men and its sequel, Grumpier Old Men. Matthau also …
When did the odd couple start and end?
The Odd Couple (1970 TV series) The Odd Couple, formally titled onscreen Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, is an American television situation comedy broadcast from September 24, 1970, to March 7, 1975, on ABC. It stars Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison, and was the first of several sitcoms developed by Garry Marshall...
What is the plot of the Odd Couple?
The Odd Couple is a play by Neil Simon. 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 spin-offs. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates: the neat, uptight Felix Ungar and the slovenly, easygoing Oscar Madison.
Who was the original Oscar in the Odd Couple?
"The Odd Couple" began as a play written by Neil Simon that was performed on Broadway starting in 1965, starring Walter Matthau as Oscar and Art Carney as Felix. Later in the show''s run, Jack Klugman took over the role of Oscar.
Where did the odd couple live in New York City?
An apartment on Riverside Drive, New York City. The Odd Couple is a play by Neil Simon. 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 spin-offs.
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Why did odd couple get Cancelled?
While The Odd Couple was a smash hit for CBS for its midseason placement in early 2015, the network decided to keep the limited episode orders going for Season 2 rather than making the sitcom a fall entry.
How did The Odd Couple end?
In the final first-run episode, "Felix Remarries", Felix finally wins his ex-wife Gloria back and they remarry, as Oscar regains the freedom of living alone again. The final scene unfolds in this way, as the two say their goodbyes: Felix: Your dinner's in the oven; turn it off in 20 minutes.
What happened to the new odd couple?
The series was cancelled in 1983.
What was Jack Klugman cause of death?
Prostate cancerJack Klugman / Cause of deathKlugman died from prostate cancer at his home in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles on December 24, 2012, aged 90.
Did Tony Randall and Jack Klugman get along?
STAMBERG: Jack Klugman and Tony Randall became friends in their five TV seasons together, but they didn't socialize much outside of work.
When was the last episode of The Odd Couple?
March 7, 1975The Odd Couple / Final episode date
Is Tony Randall still alive?
May 17, 2004Tony Randall / Date of death
Is Jack Klugman still alive?
December 24, 2012Jack Klugman / Date of death
How did Felix and Oscar meet?
Three different stories were given as to how Felix and Oscar met and became friends. The original opening narration to the show claimed that they were childhood friends. Several times during the series, however, it was claimed they met while they were both serving in the army.
Did Jack Klugman wear a toupee on The Odd Couple?
Peter Cushing often wore a toupée in films in later years, but equally often appeared without it, letting the character he was playing dictate the hair style. Jack Klugman - he wore one during his time on The Odd Couple and Quincy, M.E., but his appearances on Match Game during the same time, he did not wear one.
What was wrong with Jack Klugmans voice?
Klugman, who lost his voice to throat cancer in the 1980s and trained himself to speak again, died with his wife at his side. "He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it and he would encourage others to do the same," son Adam Klugman said.
Where is Jack Klugman buried?
Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary, Los Angeles, CAJack Klugman / Place of burialPierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary is a cemetery and mortuary located in the Westwood Village area of Los Angeles. It is located at 1218 Glendon Avenue in Westwood, with an entrance from Glendon Avenue. Wikipedia
How many seasons did The Odd Couple have?
5The Odd Couple / Number of seasons
How many seasons was Matthew Perry's odd couple?
3The Odd Couple / Number of seasons
How many seasons did the new odd couple have?
1The New Odd Couple / Number of seasons
How many episodes of The Odd Couple were there?
114The Odd Couple / Number of episodes
Who played Oscar in The Odd Couple?
The Odd Couple was being adapted for television by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson, who, despite pushback from the network, were able to cast Jack as Oscar and Tony Randall as Felix. Explains Bob, “Garry Marshall had seen Jack in a play called Tchin-Tchin, but it was actually his sister, Penny Marshall, who recommended Jack. She had worked with him on a show that I was surprised only lasted a single season called Then Came Bronson. When Garry was deciding who should be cast as Oscar Madison, it was Penny who brought him up.”
What did Jack Klugman do in The Odd Couple?
The character was featured in four TV movies before being spun off into his own series which ran from 1976 to 1983. “It was a different kind of show,” reflects Bob, “but he was still kind of cranky, still had the cigar and there were definitely elements of Oscar Madison. Again, it was a more serious show, but there were elements of Klugman and Oscar that carried over to the Quincy character .”
What did Jack love about Tony Randall?
According to Ed, what Jack loved about working with Tony Randall in particular is that he felt there was no better improvisational partner that he worked with over the course of his career. Muses Ed, “Like most people, when you say improvisation, you probably think, ‘You’re just kind of talking off the top of your head.’ As Jack point out in his book, Tony and Me, and when we spoke in 2010, improvisation is not just talking. It goes back to what acting really is about, which is reacting. He said what made Randall so good at improvisation is that he would provoke a response from his acting partner. Jack cited several examples of how Randall would do that on The Odd Couple. The one that springs to mind immediately is where Oscar teaches Felix how to play football. In the episode, you can see they’re supposed to line up like an offensive player and a defensive player. Tony lined right up, nose-to-nose with Jack, which he wasn’t supposed to do. In real life, Tony Randall was one of the biggest sports fans in New York City and a Giants fan, but as Felix he lined up in his own way and got right into Oscar’s face. And the response he provoked in Jack, which remains in the episode, was him saying, ‘I don’t want to kiss you, Felix.’”
Who was Ethel Merman's husband?
“Ethel Merman had abandoned Broadway,” Geoffrey details, “to get married to Robert Six, who was the president of Continental Airlines. Then she found out that her husband was cheating on her in New York City, so she wanted to come back to Broadway. She did Happy Hunting in 1956 and then there was Gypsy, which wasn’t Miss Merman’s part. She played Gypsy’s mother and they needed somebody who was the right age, meaning that he could reasonably look like Ethel Merman’s lover. He also had to be funny, had to have pathos, be able to handle himself with masculinity, he had to be able to deliver the dramatic moments and he had to do the one thing Jack really couldn’t do, which was sing.
Did Tony Randall and Jack Klugman have a friendship?
Or we could assume that Jack Klugman and Tony Randall already had a friendship based on kindness and love, and because of that kindness and love Tony helped him. Either way, how many costars can you point to from a television series who were that deeply involved in one another’s life? The only other sitcom I can think of where two of the stars of the show ended up deeply caring for one another was I Love Lucy with Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance. Even Jackie Gleason and Art Carney, who each did lovely things for the other, weren’t in constant touch and didn’t have any sort of social life together.”
Where is the odd couple?
The Odd Couple (play) The Odd Couple. (play) An apartment on Riverside Drive, New York City. The Odd Couple is a play by Neil Simon. 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 spin-offs.
What year was the odd couple made?
1968 film. Main article: The Odd Couple (film) In 1968, The Odd Couple was made into a highly successful film starring Jack Lemmon as Felix and Walter Matthau reprising the role of Oscar. Much of the script from the play is the same, although the setting is expanded: instead of taking place entirely in Oscar's apartment, ...
What is the setting of the Odd Couple?
English. Genre. Comedy. Setting. An apartment on Riverside Drive, New York City. The Odd Couple is a play by Neil Simon. 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 spin-offs.
Who played Oscar in the 1970s?
Main article: The Odd Couple (1970 TV series) The success of the film was the basis for the 1970–75 ABC television sitcom, starring Tony Randall as Felix and Jack Klugman as Oscar. Klugman was familiar with the role as he had replaced Walter Matthau in the original Broadway run.
When did the odd couple come out?
Walter Matthau and Art Carney in the 1965 production. The Odd Couple premiered on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre on March 10, 1965, and transferred to the Eugene O'Neill Theatre where it closed on July 2, 1967, after 964 performances and two previews.
Who are the roommates in the play The Odd Couple?
Simon adapted the play in 1985 to feature a pair of female roommates (Florence Ungar and Olive Madison) in The Female Odd Couple. An updated version of the 1965 show appeared in 2002 with the title Oscar and Felix: A New Look at ...
Who played Florence in the movie The Female Odd Couple?
Directed by Gene Saks, responsible for the 1968 film version, the leads were Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno as Florence (Felix) and Olive (Oscar), respectively, with Lewis J. Stadlen and Tony Shalhoub (in his Broadway debut) as the Costazuela brothers.
Who was the odd couple?
Koch and written by Neil Simon, based on his 1965 play. It was produced by It stars Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau as two divorced men , neurotic neat-freak Felix Ungar and fun-loving slob Oscar Madison, who decide to live together.
What year was the odd couple?
The Odd Couple. (film) The Odd Couple is a 1968 American comedy film directed by Gene Saks, produced by Howard W. Koch and written by Neil Simon, based on his 1965 play.
How long did it take for Lemmon and Matthau to reunite?
The sequel, The Odd Couple II, reunited Lemmon and Matthau 30 years later, one of the longest gaps between an original film and its sequel featuring the original lead actors.
How did Felix Ungar kill himself?
Felix Ungar checks into a sleazy hotel near Times Square with the intention to kill himself by jumping from the ninth floor, but he throws his back out while trying to open the window. He leaves the hotel and slowly limps along, and attempts next to get drunk while watching Go-go dancers at the Metropole Cafe; he ends up hurting his neck when he throws back his head and drinks a shot. He leaves, stands on a bridge, and contemplates jumping into the water.
Why does Felix leave Oscar?
Felix complies, but leaves Oscar with a major-league guilt trip for having abandoned his still-in-need friend. Feeling guilty about throwing Felix out, and not knowing where he has gone, Oscar assembles Speed, Roy and Vinnie to help search New York City for Felix with Murray in his NYPD police car.
What does Oscar's wife tell him about Felix?
Murray's wife calls and tells him that Felix is missing. Oscar then calls Felix's wife Frances, who informs him that she and Felix have broken up.
How much did The Odd Couple make in 1968?
It grossed over $44.5 million in the United States, making it the third highest-grossing film of 1968.
How many critics are there for The Odd Couple?
The Odd Couple has received mixed reviews from critics. On Metacritic, season one has a score of 42 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
When did the odd couple 2 air?
The Odd Couple II. External links. Website. The Odd Couple is an American multi-camera sitcom television series that aired on CBS from February 19, 2015, to January 30, 2017. It is the seventh screen production based on the 1965 play written by Neil Simon, following the 1968 film, the original 1970s television series, ...
Why did Teri Hatcher leave the community?
However shortly after announcing on August 30, 2014 that she was leaving Community due to a family emergency, she was upgraded to a series regular role on October 6, 2014. On September 10, 2015, it was announced that Teri Hatcher was cast as a recurring character named Charlotte, who's a new love interest for Oscar.
When will Odd Couple season 2 be released?
The first season of The Odd Couple was released on DVD on April 5, 2016. The second and third seasons were individually released on October 24, 2018, via Amazon.
Who apologized for the Srebrenica tragedy?
On May 10, 2016, the show's executive producer, Bob Daily , apologized for the line, saying, "We were unaware of any connection to the terrible tragedy in Srebrenica. We would never intentionally disrespect or make light of such an event and sincerely apologize to anyone we may have offended."
Who is Oscar's father on the TV show?
On October 31, 2016, CBS announced that the fourth episode of the third season would pay tribute to the late Garry Marshall, creator of the original TV version in 1970. Marshall previously guest starred in the second season of the current series as Oscar's father, Walter.
Who plays Felix's estranged wife?
Christine Woods as Ashley: Felix's estranged wife. She announced that she was separating from Felix, and later on in the first season she files for divorce. She begins dating guys which makes Felix jealous.
Overview
The Odd Couple is a play by Neil Simon. 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 spin-offs. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates: the neat, uptight Felix Ungar and the slovenly, easygoing Oscar Madison. Simon adapted the play in 1985 to feature a pair of female roommates (Florence Ungar and Olive Madison) in The Female Odd Couple. An …
History
Sources vary as to the origins of the play. In The Washington Post's obituary of Simon's brother Danny, a television writer, Adam Bernstein wrote that the idea for the play came from his divorce. "Mr. Simon had moved in with a newly single theatrical agent named Roy Gerber in Hollywood, and they invited friends over one night. Mr. Simon botched the pot roast. The next day, Gerber told him: "Sweetheart, that was a lovely dinner last night. What are we going to have tonight?" Mr. Si…
Plot overview
Felix Ungar, a neurotic, neat freak news writer (a photographer in the television series), is thrown out by his wife, and moves in with his friend Oscar Madison, a slovenly sportswriter. Despite Oscar's problems – careless spending, excessive gambling, a poorly kept house filled with spoiled food – he seems to enjoy life. Felix, however, seems utterly incapable of enjoying anything and only finds pur…
Characters
• Felix Ungar: A fastidious, hypochondriac news writer whose marriage is ending.
• Oscar Madison: A slovenly, recently divorced sportswriter and Felix's best friend.
• Murray: A NYPD policeman, one of Felix's and Oscar's poker buddies.
Productions
The Odd Couple premiered on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre on March 10, 1965, and transferred to the Eugene O'Neill Theatre where it closed on July 2, 1967, after 964 performances and two previews. Directed by Mike Nichols, the cast starred Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison and Art Carney as Felix Ungar. The production gained Tony Awards for Walter Matthau, Best Actor (Play), Best Aut…
Female version
In 1985, Neil Simon revised The Odd Couple for a female cast. The Female Odd Couple was based on the same story line and same lead characters, now called Florence Ungar and Olive Madison. The poker game became Trivial Pursuit with their friends becoming the girlfriends: Mikey, Sylvie, Vera, and Renee. The English-born Pigeon sisters became the Spanish-born Costazuela brothers, Manolo and Jesus.
Film and TV adaptations
Neil Simon sold film and TV rights to Paramount Pictures in 1967. Paramount produced two theatrical films, three live-action TV series and an animated series based upon the play.
In 1968, The Odd Couple was made into a highly successful film starring Jack Lemmon as Felix and Walter Matthau reprising their roles from the play. Much of the script from the play is the same, although the setting is expanded: instead of taking place entirely in Oscar's apartment, some sce…
External links
• The Odd Couple (1965 production) at the Internet Broadway Database
• The Odd Couple (1985 production) at the Internet Broadway Database
• The Odd Couple (2005 production) at the Internet Broadway Database
Overview
The Odd Couple is a 1968 American comedy film directed by Gene Saks, produced by Howard W. Koch and written by Neil Simon, based on his 1965 play. It stars Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau as two divorced men, neurotic neat-freak Felix Ungar and fun-loving slob Oscar Madison, who decide to live together.
Plot
Newly separated Felix Ungar wanders New York City in a daze with vague ideas of committing suicide.
Divorced sports writer Oscar Madison and his card-playing cronies Murray, Speed, Roy and Vinnie have assembled in Madison's Washington Heights apartment for their Friday night poker game. Murray is concerned because their mutual friend Felix Ungar is unusually late for the game. Murr…
Cast
• Jack Lemmon as Felix Ungar
• Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison
• Herb Edelman as Murray
• John Fiedler as Vinnie
Production and casting
The Odd Couple was originally produced for Broadway and the original cast starred Art Carney as Felix and Walter Matthau as Oscar. For the film version, Matthau reprised his role as Oscar, and Felix was portrayed by Jack Lemmon. At one point, Frank Sinatra (as Felix) and Jackie Gleason (as Oscar) were reportedly considered for the film version. Dick Van Dyke and Tony Randall were also among those considered for the role of Felix (Randall later portrayed Felix in the 1970 TV series)…
Release and reception
The Odd Couple garnered both critical acclaim and box-office success; it opened at New York's Radio City Music Hall on May 2, 1968 and ran there for a record-breaking 14 weeks with a record gross of $3.1 million. It grossed over $44.5 million in the United States, making it the third highest-grossing film of 1968. The Odd Couple received universal acclaim from critics, earning a 97% "Fresh" rating on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes based on 35 reviews, with a weigh…
See also
• List of American films of 1968
External links
• The Odd Couple at IMDb
• The Odd Couple at the TCM Movie Database
• The Odd Couple at AllMovie
• The Odd Couple at the American Film Institute Catalog