"The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959) TV series 1959-1963

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

29 September 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

Dobie Gillis is an average teenager living in average Central City with an average desire--girls! He lusts after many nubile women...

Plot Keywords:

Cult TV | Cult Favorite | Monologue | Breaking The Fourth Wall | Sitcom

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Dwayne Hickman	...	Dobie Gillis (147 episodes, 1959-1963)
Bob Denver	...	Maynard G. Krebs (142 episodes, 1959-1963)
Frank Faylen	...	Herbert T. Gillis (110 episodes, 1959-1963)
Florida Friebus	...	Winifred Gillis / ... (87 episodes, 1959-1963)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The character of Dr. Imogene Burkhart was played by Jean Byron, who was born Imogene Burkhart.

Quotes:

Herbert T. Gillis: So you told him I was cheap, huh?
Winifred 'Winnie' Gillis: He'd have found it out sooner or later.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "I Spy: There Was a Little Girl (#1.26)" (1966)

Dobie Gillis--An American Bertie Wooster

Now all you Wodehouse fans don't have a cow...

Dobie is not a copy of Bertie. Bertie comes from money, Dobie's parent run a Mom-an-Pop grocery store. Bertie has a continental charm, Dobie has a corn-fed earnestness. Bertie spends all of his time running from women, Dobie spends all of his time chasing girls. Bertie has Jeeves, Dobie has Maynard G. Krebs, and I think that says it all.

Though I enjoyed the series when I saw it as a kid (first run), I didn't really get much of the sweet heartache of the show until I was in high school and trying to catch the attention of my own Thalia.

Thing that I loved: Episodes opening with Rodin's "The Thinker" and Dobie trying to think his way out of his current situation...Dobie addressing the camera...Maynard's reaction to the word, "Work!"

Let me encourage anyone who can to get the short story collection by Max Schulman. It is a complete delight and gave me a real appreciation for how well the TV show adapted the tone and snap of the book.

Shulman also wrote "Rally Round the Flag, Boys" and "The Tender Trap" both made into enjoyable movies.