The Ann Sothern Show

infobox television
show_name = The Ann Sothern Show


caption =
rating =
format = Sitcom
runtime = 30 minutes
(per episode)
director =
creator =
starring = Ann Sothern
Don Porter
Ann Tyrrell
Jesse White
Jack Mullaney
country = USA
network = CBS
first_aired = October 6, 1958
last_aired = September 25, 1961
num_episodes = 93
list_episodes =
imdb_id = 0051251
tv_com_id = 4457

"The Ann Sothern Show" is an American sitcom that aired on CBS for 93 episodes. The series began on October 6, 1958, and ended on September 25, 1961. The series starred Ann Sothern as Katy O'Connor, assistant manager of the plush Bartley House Hotel in New York City. The series also starred Don Porter, Ann Tyrrell, Jesse White, Ernest Truex, and Reta Shaw. "The Ann Sothern Show" was Sothern's second sitcom for CBS. Sothern's first series, "Private Secretary", ended in 1957 after a contract dispute occurred between Sothern and "Secretary's" producer Jack Chertok.

Cast and changes

Katy O'Connor (Sothern) was the assistant manager of the Bartley House, a swank, New York hotel. Katy's boss, Jason Macauley (Ernest Truex), was a timid, elderly man who was constantly bullied by his overbearing wife, Flora (Reta Shaw). Katy's secretary, roommate, and best friend Olive was played by Ann Tyrrell, who had also appeared in Sothern's first series, "Private Secretary", in a similar role. Other characters included Johnny Wallace (Jack Mullaney), a bellboy who had a crush on Katy, and Paul Scott (Jacques Scott), a suave, French room clerk.

After twenty-three episodes, the show was retooled. Katy's boss, Mr. Macauley was transferred to the Bartley House hotel in Calcutta, along with his wife, Flora. Don Porter, who had also appeared in "Secretary" as Sothern's character's boss, portrayed James Devery, Mr. Macauley's replacement. Mr. Devery was a younger, somewhat stubborn manager who tended to get carried away with some new, far-fetched idea. After Porter joined the cast, several other characters were written out.

In 1960, the series changed again with the addition of three new recurring characters. Jesse White, another "Private Secretary" alum, appeared as Oscar Pudney, a dishonest newsstand owner who was Katy's nemesis. Child actor Jimmy Fields joined the cast as Richy Gordon, a child prodigy who Katy helped, along with Dr. Delbert Gray (Louis Nye), a dentist who became Olive's boyfriend and eventually, her husband.

ynopsis

Storylines usually revolved around the personal lives of the staff and the guests of the Bartley House hotel. Throughout the series run, a storyline of potential romance between Katy and Mr. Devery lingered. This was finally brought to fruition at the conclusion of the series.

----NEILSON RATINGS

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Guest stars

Lucille Ball, one of Sothern's close friends and part owner of Desilu Studios (where "Ann Sothern" was produced) guest starred on series in an episode entitled, "The Lucy Story". In one of the earliest television crossovers, Ball appears as Lucy Ricardo (her well known character from "I Love Lucy"), Katy's old high school chum who checks into the Bartley House Hotel after having an argument with her husband, Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz). The Ricky character was mentioned throughout the episode, but did not appear. Other notable guest stars included: Sal Mineo, Eva Gabor, Connie Stevens, Joe Besser, and Joel Grey.

yndication and DVD releases

Cable channel Nick at Nite ran "The Ann Sothern Show" from 1987 to 1990.

To date, no plans for a DVD release have been announced.

Awards and nominations

Golden Globe Award
*Won: Best TV Show, "The Ann Sothern Show" (1959)

Emmy Award
*Nominated: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series, Ann Sothern (1959)

External links

*
* [http://www.tv.com/show/4457/summary.html "The Ann Sothern Show" at TV.com]
* [http://www.sitcomsonline.com/theannsothernshow.html Sitcoms Online: "The Ann Sothern Show"]