The Odd Couple (Matthew Perry-Thomas Lennon)

Said the man from Tennessee to the one from NYC.

 

One is a state, the other is a city. This comparison exercise really isn't for you.
.

 

The rest of NY is the same as all of Tennessee.

 

It was so weird to watch this, then the finale of Two and Half Men, last night.

 

I liked it. Laughed quite a bit. I'll definitely continue to watch. Love the movie and original TV series, by the way.

 

The definition of a pointless remake.

I dialed up the originals on Hulu and laughed three times as much.

 

Absolutely spot on, especially Grammer/Hyde-Pierce.

 

Well, I don't usually like to be "spit on", but thanks

 

LOL, corrected!

 

The wife and I enjoyed it. I was expecting a complete train wreck but was pleasantly surprised.

Best line: "It took me two days to figure out what F.U. meant".

 

they used to run the Odd Couple every week-night around 11ish back in the late 70's or 80's?...it was great. No home video yet...I was thrilled to get them on DVD! Time-Life did them first. I still have the first season box from them.

 

I find the movie hard to watch because Lemmon plays the role too straight...he's more sad and pathetic than funny.

 

Wow, I've never heard that before. I'm watching it with their son's commentary, and all 3 of us are cracking up.

 

Which is from the original play/film.

 

I agree! it is almost a drama !

 

Not familiar with Black Comedy ?

 

Yep. And, of course, Matthau.

 

Have you read his first memoir, "Rewrites"? It's wonderful if you are a fan of Simon which it sounds like you are. He talks about it at length in there. Movie - yes, TV not a dime... "not a dime" may be his actual quote in there. Sure, it may have been a package sale and technically you may be correct... but as writer, creator - he never got any money from an ongoing series which in these days would never happen. I can't recall how a creator of something didn't get royalties... but he explains in the book. Movie, he still gets money. Also, he recounts not making a dime on "Chorus Line" - his own generosity for a friend on that one (though he sounds like he sure regrets not claiming his "help" on the "book" there after it was such a hit!)

Anyway, so it sounds like this sitcom is cannibalizing the play to some extent - especially if the best bits from those who have seen it are indeed from Simon's play (and film script). Really says something when a 50 year old joke still nails it - and is better than what their own writers can do.

So Neil's gotta be making money on this TV series...

What's Simon's credit on this? Does it have the "Neil Simon's The Odd Couple" (where his name may not be less than 50% the size for the title? That's the play licensing caveat.) Or is "Based on the play by..." "Characters by..."

Just curious.

BTW, the film version is wonderful. The only thing I would have changed is to keep the original beginning and ending. The play is literally perfect - Oscar comes full circle. Starts at the poker game at Oscar's (what a mess, where's Felix?) and ends with the poker game (Oscar's cleaned up his act, thanks to Felix, who once again, is not at the poker table - but for better reasons this time).

I thought the credit intro with Lemmon failing to kill himself was unnecessary and took away from the beginning. The story arc is actually about Oscar, not Felix. The play is just brilliant and Lemmon and Matthau are wonderful - Matthau originally wanted to play Felix because he thought Oscar was just too easy for him... but it was the role he was born to play, and knock it out of the park he did! (Damn, what a great film... just reminded me of when Oscar gets a call from the baseball box from Felix asking him what he wants for dinner..)

Top 10 Comedy Films for me. And the original play - readily available in print form, is perfection.

Jeff

 

"Take your frankfurters and... !"

 

Wow, I've been away from sitcoms for too long. Both Dave Foley and Matthew Perry were unrecognizable.

It didn't do too much for me. I heard the theme and immediately wanted to see the Klugman/Randall show, which I haven't seen in decades.

 

IIRC, the tv credits read :"Based on the film 'The Odd Couple'".

 

Not the play? Now that is odd.

 

The pilot is available for free on iTunes for a limited time...

https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/the-odd-couple-season-1/id959105706?ign-mpt=uo=4