This episode is the reason why the show was so popular. A comedy of errors, written by director Peter Tewksbury, sitcom material bordering on LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE. During its first season, the series tied at #13 with 77 Sunset Strip in the Top 20 Neilson ratings. Off to a terrific start.
In the middle of the night(!) Bub gets a call from a friend who needs a helping hand, so he has to leave ASAP. Ba' Bye! This leaves Steve in a jam, having no choice but to call a temp housekeeper. No worries, right? Steve tells Mike to call an agency -- who tells Robbie to do it -- who tells Chip to DO IT?
Don't ya love it?
Chipper grabs a phone book and dials wrong, calling a matchmaking agency instead. Noneother than Anne Seymour (perfectly cast) plays Mrs. Barr, who immediately heads over to the house to get the feel of the place as to what type of woman would be an ideal partner for Steve. At the same time(!) a real maid (Dorothy Konrad) enters the house -- suitcases in hand -- ready to take charge, also treating herself to a long, hot soapy bath upstairs?
Best of it is the dialogue between Steve and Mrs. Barr. He says he ONLY needs a woman to clean, clean, clean and cook, cook, cook. Take it or leave it! Outraged, Mrs. Barr says he's a horrible person to use his "future wife" as a servant! Laugh out loud stuff, Seymour's stunned expressions are the best. She appeared in many classic movies and tv shows during a lengthy career. Also having fun is Dorothy Konrad, who played a variety of character and bit roles ( as maids too), frequently guesting on THE LUCY SHOW.
By the way, listen for the famous "Oh, oh" laugh in the background, often heard on I LOVE LUCY. That was a recording of Lucille Ball's real-life mother who often sat in the audience and watched the show.
The ending is classic MTS, watching warn out Steve roll back into bed, but unable to pull the covers over his feet? Again shades of Dagwood Bumstead without Blondie. Fred MacMurray was our hero.
SEASON 1 EPISODE 15 remastered dvd box set. Seasons 1 through 5 (known as the Bub episodes) are on dvd. All 12 seasons are now available in one dvd box set. According to Amazon, no word yet if and when seasons 6 through 12 will be released individually on dvd or blu ray. Thanks to METV for running every episode.
