The Paul Lynde Show

It's supposed to be about a harried lawyer with a wife and kids but with Lynde it's actually about a campy gay man with a wife and kids. A full season was probably fifteen episodes too long.

I believe my mom summed up "The Paul Lynde Show" accurately, after watching an episode or two. "He's really funny in short segments," she said, "but 30 minutes of him at a time is just too much."

Apparently Mom wasn't the only one who felt that way. Still, the series had one great trailer moment. Paul walks from his car, toward the door of the house, and someone (Howie, the son-in-law, I believe) cries out "How goes the rat race?" Lynde, in his patented style, gives a grimacing smile and replies "The rats are winning!" (Incidentally, has anyone ever tried to DESCRIBE Paul Lynde to someone who has never seen him on TV? Unless one can actually imitate his voice & mannerisms, it isn't easy!)

The plot, of course, was Paul being frustrated by his over-educated, unambitious, freeloading son-in-law. (Sound like any other 1970s sit-coms?) Lynde and the crew gave it a good whirl and the show wasn't bad at all. It was just as Mom said -- in snippets on Bewitched, Hollywood Squares, guest appearances on The Munsters and numerous sit-coms, or in his classic performance in Bye, Bye Birdie, Paul Lynde earned his reputation as one of the funniest comics of the 1960s and 1970s. But, like the Brylcream ad of the day, "A little dab'll do ya!"

I have only seen the premiere episode of THE PAUL LYNDE SHOW. Perhaps there were better episodes. If the premiere episode is any indication, however, it seems that Lynde's talents were misused.

Lynde had successfully played an uptight father griping about the younger generation in the Broadway and Hollywood versions of BYE BYE BIRDIE, so it's easy to understand why producer William Asher believed Lynde would triumph in this role on television. But his manic persona which was appropriate for the larger than life stage and film mediums comes off too strong in the intimate television medium. Another liability is Lynde's lack of chemistry with the other actors who play his wife and children. He acts in a campy farcical manner while they act in a restrained realistic style. Lynde never connects with them as a husband or father, merely treating them as straight people. If this was always the case on every episode, it's no wonder THE PAUL LYNDE SHOW only lasted one year.

The most successful televison sitcom fathers have down-to-earth Everyman qualities. Think of Carroll O'Connor's Archie Bunker, Tom Bosley's Howard Cunningham and even Ed O'Neill's Al Bundy. Paul Lynde became famous because he was memorably fey and iconoclastic. He could never credibly head a typical sitcom family.

Probably the single most underrated sitcom of the 70's. Brilliant performance by Sir Paul and deserving of acting and writing awards! A solid supporting cast and fun, quick, witty plot lines that gave everyone great one liners and quick comebacks.

I've seen 23 of the 26 episodes and this show really isn't as bad as most reviews let on. While it is nearly impossible to believe Paul as a straight family man, it doesn't hurt the show at all. The writing and plots tread on very familiar ground--that of many other sitcoms of the 60's and 70's--so at times, the show can get predictable. Having Paul head the show, however, is what gives it a unique twist and even when the plots may seem like they've been done before they still feel new. The first time I watched the show I was reminded of the feeling I got the first time I watched the Joey Bishop Show sitcom from the mid 60's. Lynde's character can be described as a flamboyant 1970's Joey Barnes. I do agree with the other review regarding cast chemistry which is pretty thin. Some highlights do come from the various guest stars that are sprinkled throughout, including Jerry Stiller. Recommended and entertaining!