So You Want a Television Set

WELL NOW, JUST where do we start? This episode of the MC DOAKES Series may well be dated in many respects, but so what? It's now over 62 years old. That's to be expected. While lacking all of the modern amenities that we now expect, the short is energetic and is an excellent vehicle for taking us back to those "innocent" 1950's. (a time which a "Baby Boomer" such as Schultz and me can recall quite well)

THE OPENING SCENE and central premise are all too true in their presentation of "how things were." From the cessation of hostilities in both Europe (V E Day) and in the Pacific rim (V J Day) until the mid '50's the knew medium of television finally emerged and took center stage. It had been waiting patiently in the wings all during World War II, but it gave the impression that it had emerged magically from nowhere in 1945. (actually the first commercial TV stations of the U.S. were licensed in 1940, with those in the U.K. having preceded them by few years)

NOW, GETTING BACK to this short, it was perhaps the most "lavish" Mc Doakes installment in some time. Number of cast members, complex shooting of what are supposed to be television programs and old movies would most likely have been too costly for a one reeler movie short. So, what happened? Well we'll never tell. Watch it and see! BUT, BEFORE WE sign off for the night, let us make just a few more observations about this edition.

APPARERNTLY THE STUDIO felt that George O'Hanlon's stock had risen some; evidenced by his always getting credited for co-writing the shorts. There was also a "kinder and gentler" Joe depicted in the first title card following their sensational "Behind the 8 Ball" opening.

IT FEATURED AS w have already intimated, a large cast of supporting players. Phyllis Coates (Alice) and Rodney Bell (Marvin) were regulars. Additionally, we have Gail Bonney, Ralph Brooks, Steve Carruthers, Fred Kelsey (semi-regular), Jack Mower (also semi-reg) and Mabel Smaney (Marvin Wife # 2). Unusual participants included Phillip Van Zandt (from CITIZEN KANE and many others) and Pro Wrestler Tor Johnson (known in the Ring as "The Super Swedish Angel").

IN FURTHER CASTING, it presented us with a couple of other non roster players ("Uncredited" to you, Schultz!) in Miss Doris Day and Mr. Gordon Mac Rae. They were present to give a little publicity for their then current feature film, BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON; which just (not so) coincidentally was also from Warner Brothers.

AS AN ADDENDUM to what we thought was the final words, yet another observation struck us. Now the way that the new Television Set caused problems in the Mc Doakes household, as contrasted with the manner in which Joe's trip to the local movie house and relative peace, quiet and good fortune is portrayed; one would think that maybe the Brothers Warner were sending us a message about the movies being superior to the small screen in your living room.

NO, THEY WOULDN'T pull a stunt like that, would they, Schultz?

What do you expect them to say in the movies? When Phyllis Coates talks George O'Hanlon into finally buying a television set, they find that it brings with it a bunch of freeloaders to drink their beer, change the channel, and a show that consists of a host guzzling the sponsor's beer between ten-second clips from an old movie.

The movie industry had been suffering from the inroads of television since 1946, as people preferred to stay home and watch their shows that way, even with all the freeloaders. Writer-director Richard Bare runs his usual zany collection of people who oppress O'Hanlon, and include a brief bit with Doris Day and Gordon Macrae too.

The story begins with Mrs. McDoakes insisting they have a television...although she had already bought one before she even asked Joe about it. Soon, their dopey neighbor arrives to mess things up and when the television is actually working, lots of moochers show up to watch TV.

"So You Want a Television Set" seems to be an incredibly self-serving installment in the Joe McDoakes series. After all, the short film is all about why having a television set is lousy and overrated. And, at the end, there's a cameo by Doris Day and Gordon McCrea in order to promote their latest film! Because of this and the lack of big laughs, I'd consider this among the weaker entries in the series.

Many of us old enough to remember early 1950s recall that owning a TV, even just a B&W console, made you a local neighborhood celeb of sorts. I remember other kids coming to our home to watch shows such as Ding Dong School and Howdy Doody with me as well as the prime time shows I watched with Mom and Dad. ☺ ... .

This is one of the shorts in the Joe McDoakes series. There will be spoilers ahead:

George O'Hanlon (probably best known as the voice of George Jetson in The Jetsons) starred in a series of one-reel live action shorts as Joe McDoakes, a man continually getting himself into situations as a result of either his own stubbornness or his wife's prodding.

Here, O'Hanlon takes the opportunity to take a few semi-good-natured pokes in the ribs at "the enemy"-television, which was making inroads into the movie business. Joe McDoakes is sitting at dinner and reading the paper when his wife asks him for a television set. He argues against it, she begins crying, he caves and she unveils a set already in the house, allowing O'Hanlon to do a "take".

Joe and a buddy "install" the TV, allowing for several mishaps. The bulk of the short consists of Joe and his wife trying to find a program they both want to watch, with all the standard jokes about TV being trotted out-limited programming options, bad reception, annoying commercials and so on. The obligatory reference to pro wrestling is prominent.

They finally settle on a movie when the first of the visitors arrives and basically take over the living room and the TV. Joe tries to be a bad host, but his wife is all to happy to entertain their guests. As more people show up, Joe gets madder and madder, until they start fighting over which program to watch and soak Joe in beer, at which point he blows his top and stomps out to a movie theater.

In contrast to his evening at home, his theater-going experience is a dream come true. The film he goes to see is By the Light of the Silvery Moon, which is probably why this is an extra on the DVD release of the film. There's a hilarious ending, featuring two cameos. I won't spoil it here.

This short is well worth watching.