The Paul Lynde Show (1972–1973)

Paul Simms, a quiet, respectable attorney living with his wife and two daughters has his life turned upside down when his eldest daughter's new husband, Howie, takes up residence in the ... See full summary »

Stars:

Paul Lynde, Elizabeth Allen, John Calvin

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Paul Lynde	...	Paul Simms (26 episodes, 1972-1973)
Elizabeth Allen	...	Martha Simms (26 episodes, 1972-1973)
John Calvin	...	Howie Dickerson (26 episodes, 1972-1973)
Jane Actman	...	Barbara Simms Dickerson (26 episodes, 1972-1973)
Pamelyn Ferdin	...	Sally Simms (26 episodes, 1972-1973)

Storyline

Paul Simms, a quiet, respectable attorney living with his wife and two daughters has his life turned upside down when his eldest daughter's new husband, Howie, takes up residence in the Simms' household which drives Paul to distraction.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 September 1972 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Warner Bros. Ranch - 411 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ashmont Productions, Screen Gems Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (26 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Elizabeth Allen visited Washington, D.C., during a tour to promote the series. When told that the local ABC affiliate, WMAL-TV Channel 7 (now WJLA-TV), aired the series on weekend afternoons rather than in its scheduled prime time slot, she exclaimed rhetorically "How do they expect us to get good ratings?!"

---

Quotes

Sally Simms: Dad, how's the rat race?
Paul Simms: The rats are winning.

---

Connections

Featured in I Love the '70s: Volume 2: 1972 (2006)

User Reviews

Judging from Premiere Episode, Wrong Format for Lynde

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.