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(More customer reviews)MPI Home Video just keeps bringing out more rarities to please their fans! They planned to release The Mothers-In-Law last year in 2009, but decided to do both seasons- which is the entire series- together in one set. They are not rushing the release of this series as they are remastering the original film into pristine condition, like they have been doing for Here's Lucy and the Lucy specials and have stated to me that this set will be LOADED with bonus materials! After hearing all this, I can't wait until July 27, 2010 to be able to see this darling sitcom again!
This sitcom was the complete project of Desi Arnaz after he resigned as President from Desilu Studios in 1963, which followed his divorce from Lucy. He put together this show along with the same writers from I Love Lucy- Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis. By the time he had scripts and the cast it was ready for it's premiere in 1967. Desi produced, directed and even guest starred in The Mothers-In-Law.
Even though the show was placed right in the middle of NBC's top shows, Bonanza and The Wonderful World Of Disney, the shows ratings were very unimpressive. NBC wanted to cancel the show after this first dismal year, but Desi talked NBC to give them a second chance on a second season, with no pay raises for anyone in the show. NBC agreed to this and all the cast agreed with no raises except for Roger C. Carmel who played Roger Buell- Kaye Ballard's husband. Even when Desi pleaded with him to accept his same pay for the second year of $2,000.00 a week with residuals, Roger refused. Roger's ungratefulness to Desi Arnaz got around the studios and he had a hard time finding work for years. After this second year did even worse on the ratings, the show was cancelled.
This show was actually quite cute and had the same premise as I Love Lucy, 2 couples who quarrel, with the addition, that they meddle into their childrens lives. The young couple were cute as well played by Deborah Walley and Jerry Fogel. On the second season the couple have twins- a girl and boy to add to the storyline. Desi guest starred as Raphael Del Gado, a matador from Barcelona, Spain in both seasons and had guest stars in the first season of Rob Reiner, Larry Storch, Alan Reed (voice of Fred Flintstone), Desi Arnaz Jr. (played Tommy), Joe Besser (3 Stooges) and on the last show of the first season The Seeds (Pushin' Too Hard). Trying to pick the ratings up on Season 2, Desi even had more guest stars: Jeanette Nolan, Paul Lynde, Desi again guest starred with Desi Jr., John Byner, Mel Blanc, Ozzie Nelson, Alice Ghostly, Jimmy Durante, Terri Garr, Don Rickles, Marni Nixon (opera star- she did all of Audrey Hepburn's singing in My Fair Lady) and Mary Jane Croft.
I personally saw the show back in the sixties and thought it was cute- probably more fifties I Love Lucy style, and perhaps that's why it failed in the ratings in the late sixties. We were all watching Laugh In, the Smothers Brothers, Peyton Place, That Girl, Lost In Space, Man From UNCLE- the times were changing into more space, spys, mod, music and politics. I have to say, I'm really excited to have this old treasured sitcom on dvd with lots of bonus materials. It will be wonderful to enjoy this show in a different time!
The cast from Season 1 and 2 were the same with the exception of Roger C. Carmel quitting after season 1 and being replaced by Richard Deacon as Roger Buell in Season 2. I have to give a big THANK YOU MPI for bringing out more great rare shows that are pristinely cleaned up and loaded with bonus materials, that will be such a joy to see again!
THE CAST:
Eve Arden........Eve Hubbard
Herbert Rudley...Herb Hubbard
Deborah Walley...Suzie Hubbard Buell
Kaye Ballard.....Kaye Buell
Roger C. Carmel..Roger Buell (Season 1)
Richard Deacon...Roger Buell (Season 2)
Jerry Fogel......Jerry Buell
SHORT CAST BIOS:
EVE ARDEN: 1908-1990,at age 82 died of cancer and heart disease; survived by 4 children from second husband. Best known as high school teacher in OUR MISS BROOKS and as Rydell High School principal in GREASE and GREASE 2.
HERBERT RUDLEY: 1910-2006,at age 96 died of natural causes. Best known as Herb Hubbard in MIL and as psychiatrist, Dr. Twombey in The Beverly Hillbillies.
DEBORAH WALLEY: 1943-2001, at age 57 died from throat cancer; survived by 3 sons. Best known as her role as Gidget and other sixties beach movies.
KAYE BALLARD: 1925-present, never married yet and breast cancer survivor. Best known as Kaye Buell in MIL and as Italian restaurant owner and landlord to Doris Day in The Doris Day Show.
ROGER C. CARMEL: 1932-1986, at age 54 died from congestive heart failure. Best known as the flamboyant criminal Harry Mudd on Star Trek.
RICHARD DEACON: 1921-1984, at age 63 died from heart disease. Best known as Mel Cooley on the Dick Van Dyke Show, also was a gourmet chef with several cookbooks.
JERRY FOGEL: 1936-present. Best known as Jerry Buell in MIL and as Bill Donahue in White Shadow, but I know him best as the director's assistant Ernie when they are shooting a commercial in the very first episode of THAT GIRL.
Season 1 Episodes:
1. (09-10-67) ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN, LOHENGRIN- The Hubbards and Buells can't agree on their children's wedding plans.
2. (09-17-67) EVERBODY GOES ON A HONEYMOON- The Hubbards and Buells almost ruin their children's honeymoon when they show up at the resort.
3. (09-24-67) ALL FALL DOWN- Kaye goes skiing and both Kaye and Eve end up with broken legs.
4. (10-01-67) A NIGHT TO FORGET- Eve and Kaye accidentally get locked inside a store together for a night until it opens the next day. (Desi Arnaz guest stars)
5. (10-08-67) THE NEWLYWEDS MOVE IN- Suzie and Jerry move in to the apartment in Suzie's parents garage and Eve and Kaye promise not to bud into their lives.
6. (10-15-67) THE CAREER GIRLS- Eve and Kaye both try out for parts in a show. (Rob Reiner guest stars)
7. (10-22-67) WHO'S AFRAID OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR?- When both Herb and Roger admit they would like to have dinner with the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor, both Eve and Kaye throw them out of their houses.
8. (10-29-67) MY SON, THE ACTOR- Jerry gets help from both his parents and in-laws in getting a part in the school play.
9. (11-05-67) HOW DO YOU MOONLIGHT A MEATBALL?- To help Jerry pay off Suzie's ring, Kaye sells her famous spaghetti and meatballs with Eve's help on the college campus.
10. (11-12-67) I THOUGHT HE'D NEVER LEAVE- The Hubbards have a fugitive hiding out at their home. (Larry Storch guest stars)
11. (11-19-67) THE GREAT BICYCLE RACE- The Buells and Hubbards both enter a cycling race.
12. (11-26-67) THROUGH THE LURKING GLASS- The entire family show up in costumes when Roger is arrested, to try and rescue him. (Alan Reed (best known for his voice of Fred Flintstone) guest stars)
13. (12-03-67) DIVORCE-MOTHER-IN-LAW STYLE- To teach their intruding mothers a lesson, Suzie and Jerry pretend they are going to divorce.
14. (12-10-67) THE NOT COLD ENOUGH WAR- When Eve is getting a new refrigerator, she makes a big mistake by giving her old refrigerator to Kaye.
15. (12-17-67) YOU CHALLENGE ME TO WHAT?- After Herb and Roger have a fight, Roger challenges Herb to a duel.
16. (12-31-67) EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A WRITER- When Kaye and Eve decide to try and write a television script, they find out that the exact story was probably written by another writer.
17. (01-07-68) THE KIDS MOVE OUT- Eve and Kaye's constant meddling and interfering in their children's lives, cause Jerry and Suzie to move.
18. (01-14-68) THE HOMBRE WHO CAME TO DINNER-PART 1- The Hubbards bullfighting friend Raphael Del Gado from Spain comes to visit and stays longer than they'd like. (Desi Arnaz guest stars)
19. (01-21-68) THE HOMBRE WHO CAME TO DINNER-PART 2- Both the Hubbards and Buells get to visit Mexico. (Desi Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. (as Tommy) guest star)
20. (01-28-68) DON'T GIVE UP THE SLOOP- The Buells and Hubbards both won a boat in a game show and have a fight over ownership.
21. (02-04-68) I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT WE'RE NOT SPEAKING- When the Buells and Hubbards stop speaking to each other, Jerry and Suzie sign them up for group therapy sessions.
22. (02-11-68) HERB'S LITTLE HELPERS- When Herb's secretary is sick, Eve takes her place.
23. (02-25-68) BYE, BYE BLACKMAILER- Roger pays back a loan, by Eve lending Kaye Herb's money, without telling Herb it's his own money he's getting back.
24. (03-03-68) THE WIG STORY- When Kaye wears a blonde wig she borrowed from Eve, she thinks Roger has fallen in love with the wig.
25. (03-10-68) IT'S ONLY MONEY- When eating out at a fancy restaurant, Roger says they'll split the bill, even though Roger and his wife Kaye ordered the more expensive dishes, making Herb want to get even.
26. (03-17-68) I HAVEN'T GOT A SECRET- Roger finally has his scripts considered for a television series and when he asks wife Kaye to keep mum about it, she just can't keep a secret.
27. (03-24-68) JERRY'S NIGHT OUT WITH THE BOYS- When Suzie doesn't want Jerry spending a night to play poker every week with his buddies, all 4 parents take sides in the argument.
28. (03-31-68) THE LONG, LONG WEEKEND- During a visit to their cabin in the mountains, the Buells and Hubbards get trapped in a snowstorm.
29. (04-07-68) JEALOUSY MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER- When Herb gets an unexpected visit from a former girlfriend, Eve gets very jealous.
30. (04-28-68) HOW NOT TO MANAGE A ROCK GROUP- A new rock group called The Warts catches the interest of the Hubbards and Buells, who decide they'd like to invest...Read more›
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It's a funny family feudfrom Desi Arnaz and the writers of I Love LucySet in the swinging late 1960s, THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW centers on the laugh-filled misadventures of longtime neighborsin suburban Los Angeles who become related to each other when their children suddenly get married.Legendary actress Eve Arden (Our Miss Brooks, Grease) stars as Eve Hubbard, the sophisticated wife of straight-laced lawyer Herbert Hubbard (Herb Rudley). Veteran comedienne Kaye Ballard plays Kaye Buell, the outspoken wife of bombastic television writer Roger Buell(Roger C. Carmeland Richard Deacon). To the dismay of their hapless husbands, the strong-willed mothers are determined to meddle in the lives of newlyweds Jerry (Jerry Fogel) and Suzie Hubbard (Deborah Walley).
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