My Living Doll

My Living Doll is an American science-fiction sitcom starring Bob Cummings and Julie Newmar. The series was aired on CBS from September 27, 1964, to March 17, 1965. It was produced by Jack Chertok and filmed at Desilu studios by Jack Chertok Television Productions, in association with the CBS Television Network.

Series background

The series starred Bob Cummings as Dr. Bob McDonald, a psychiatrist. His friend Dr. Carl Miller (Henry Beckman), a scientist with the U.S. Air Force being transferred to Pakistan, shows Bob his latest invention: a lifelike android in the form of a sexy, Amazonian female, AF 709. Miller gives the prototype robot, also called Rhoda (Julie Newmar), to Bob. Bob is initially reluctant, but soon becomes intrigued by the experiment of educating this sophisticated but naive robot. The series' episodes center around Rhoda's attempts to learn how human society works, and Bob's attempts to teach Rhoda how to be "the perfect woman", which he defines as one who "does what she's told" and "doesn't talk back." He also strives to keep her identity secret by saying that she is Carl's niece.

Rhoda also begins showing (or at least emulating) rudimentary emotions as the series progresses. For example, in the episode "The Kleptomaniac", she displays a childlike, playful attitude. At one point McDonald notices this and utters, "What a goofy robot!", to which Rhoda replies, beaming, "The goofiest!" At the conclusion of this episode, Rhoda giggles without prompting after pulling a plot-resolving prank on another character. Another episode, "The Pool Shark", has Rhoda displaying apparent enjoyment in playing pool. The series does not explore whether these are truly learned behaviors or the result of programming, or if, in the fantasy context of the series, Rhoda is truly learning human emotion.

Other regular cast members included:

• Doris Dowling as Irene Adams, Bob's sister, whom he asks to move in as his housekeeper and chaperone to keep his neighbors from thinking that something inappropriate is going on between Rhoda and him. She was dropped from the cast when Bob was transferred to Pakistan.
• Jack Mullaney as Peter Robinson, a lecherous colleague and neighbor of Bob's who decides that Rhoda is the girl of his dreams. A regular supporting character in episodes 1-20, he learns the truth in the fifth-to-last episode, after Bob is transferred to Pakistan. As of episode 21, he becomes Rhoda's guardian (and series co-lead).
• Nora Marlowe as Mrs. Moffat, Peter's housekeeper. She was added to the cast when Peter became Rhoda's guardian.

Production

The show was created by Jack Chertok based on the Pygmalion–Galatea myth. The series was unusual in that it was bought by the network without a formal pilot, at the request of CBS's president James T. Aubrey, due to the success of Chertok's series My Favorite Martian.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The show was announced in April 1964.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Filming began at Desilu Studios in July 1964.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Outdoor scenes for the opening episode ("Boy Meets Girl") were filmed at Space Park under the pseudonym of "Space Research Center" (SRC).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was there in Redondo Beach, California that Rhoda was shown wandering off the campus, but was soon found by Dr. McDonald across the street at a drive-in named "Phil's Freeze" in Manhattan Beach.

The series was developed with Julie Newmar in mind for the female lead. CBS had been looking for a vehicle for Newmar for two years, and found this to be the best project for her.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Producers originally wanted Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. for the male lead, originally meant to be a "straight" role opposite Newmar. However, CBS also had Bob Cummings under contract, and overruled them to place Cummings in the series.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The New York Times, reviewing the show in September, said it:

...very probably has the makings of a popular novelty hit... with Miss Newmar giving a light and amusing performance as the automated dish, the premise could work out... Bob Cummings, an old hand at chaperoning pretty girls, again is cast in his familiar assignment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>{{#if:|

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Cummings' departure

Despite good reviews, early ratings were poor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The show was initially scheduled opposite NBC's Bonanza on Sunday nights, but was shifted to Wednesdays in December in an attempt to improve ratings. This did not work, and in January, Cummings asked to be written out of the show after 21 episodes. CBS did not announce a replacement for him, indicating that they did not want to continue the series.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

At the time, reportedly Cummings and Newmar were not getting along during production,<ref>Daily Variety, January 11, 1964</ref> with Newmar stating in a 1965 interview that Cummings had tried to teach her how to act, was unhappy that she appeared to be getting more press attention than he was, and was "trying too desperately to hold on to his long-gone youth".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> However, this is denied by Newmar and show producer Howard Leeds<ref name=Popcolorture>Template:Cite web</ref> in The Living Doll Story, a featurette included in the 2012 DVD release.

Another report said that Cummings was unhappy with the size of his role in comparison to Newmar's.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In later years, Newmar said the trouble was Cummings' addiction to methamphetamine. She says this contributed to his erratic behavior on set, as well as his increasing depression and insecurity. He demanded that the show focus more on his character. CBS refused and Cummings left.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Cummings' last appearance was in "The Witness", the show's 21st episode, which aired on 10 February 1965. The following week's episode explained that his character had been transferred to Pakistan; the Peter character learns Rhoda's secret and takes over the position of watching over her.<ref name="tvobscurities">Template:Cite web</ref> This was the plot device for the last five episodes of the season, and the series was not renewed for a second season.

Filmink argued "the concept pre-empted I Dream of Jeannie but there are key differences which sink it (it's far more mean-spirited than Jeannie, and the female lead has far less agency)".<ref name="film">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Opening credits

Two versions of the opening credits were created. The first version had Rhoda wearing short lingerie similar to a teddy; according to an interview with Newmar included on the DVD release, this version was rejected as being too risque, so a new version with Rhoda wearing a long dress (though a little suggestive of lingerie) was filmed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This latter version is the one used on the versions of the episodes that were broadcast and released to DVD; however, the unofficial circulation of several episodes used the teddy version of the credits.Template:Citation needed

Episodes

Template:Episode table Template:Note Episode is lost.

Home media

On March 20, 2012, MPI Home Video released My Living Doll—The Official Collection, Volume 1 on DVD in Region 1. The 2-disc set features 11 episodes of the series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The episodes featured on the DVD collection were created from 16mm prints of the show held by collectors, as the one known set of original 35mm negatives were destroyed in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In popular culture

According to The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, My Living Doll is the source of the science fiction phrase "Does not compute" in popular culture.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

My Living Doll producer Howard Leeds went on to create Small Wonder, a 1980s sitcom featuring a young girl robot named Vicki. He also employed composer George Greeley, who wrote the music for My Living Doll.Template:Citation needed

Leeds, when in the employ of Reg Grundy Productions Australia producing Chopper Squad, proposed and produced a new My Living Doll presentation pilot, "Billion Dollar Baby", using an all-Australian cast.Template:Citation needed

In 2018, Jack Chertok Television Productions producer Peter Greenwood apparently had posts on his LinkedIn account stating that he had begun active development of a new My Living Doll limited series; his account also featured a bound set of the original series scripts as part of the post.<ref name=LinkedIn>Peter Greenwood LinkedIn account, retrieved (?) 2018-08-18</ref> The posts may also have stated that the reboot "would be more in tune with present-day morals and would change a great deal of the format to highlight the character, based on the current need for positive, intelligent and meaningful female role models."<ref name=LinkedIn/>Template:Better source needed

It has been speculated that the Star Trek: Voyager character Seven of Nine's name is a homage to Rhoda's original designation as AF 709.<ref>Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Seven of Nine|https://whatculture.com/film/star-trek-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-seven-of-nine?page=8</ref>

External links

• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0057774

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• Template:Epguides
• My Living Doll at Television Obscurities
• My Living Doll in My Living Color at Pop Colorture