Elderly hypnotist Professor Misto (great English actor Reginald Owen, 1935's "A Christmas Carol", "Mary Poppins") is visiting the Lindseys. Peter pretends to be under his dog spell for the professor's sake. This prompts the professor to show it to his agent Mel Alexander (Jack Albertson, "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", "Chico and the Man"). Peter pretends once again. Mel says the only act that would work today is his Bridey Kelley bit in which he hypnotizes someone back into the past. Getting deeper, Peter decides to say he's suddenly no longer able to be hypnotized, but when the professor tries the post hypnotic suggestion, Peter insists he's Stephen Foster. Mel feels it would be more successful than the Bridey Kelley act. Peter admits to Mel and the professor to faking being hypnotized, but doesn't remember being Stephen Foster. When a bell rings, he indeed thinks he is Stephen Foster and only a snap of a finger brings him back to normal. Mary tries to shield him from bells. Peter arranges for the professor to come and remove the post hypnotic suggestion, but not before an important meeting with Dean Merrick (Wilton Graff) about teaching a class at the college.
While not an original idea, we've seen the "post hypnotic suggestion gone wrong" work in sitcoms, namely the hilarious Dick Van Dyke Show episode "My Husband Is Not a Drunk". Here, nothing works. It is so contrived that it is hard to watch.
While not an original idea, we've seen the "post hypnotic suggestion gone wrong" work in sitcoms, namely the hilarious Dick Van Dyke Show episode "My Husband Is Not a Drunk". Here, nothing works. It is so contrived that it is hard to watch.