Fifth Season

[Sheila]

Sounds great ! Anybody know when season 5 is coming to the U.K?

[ray]

Just as Doris could use a song like a scene and act through it, she does the same with her modeling. In season five you can't take youe eyes off her with every movement, the bikini stole the show and Doris looked great!!!

[ray]

Terry's first wife Melissa Whittaker is on the first show of the fifth season as Peter's date.

[John M]

After Season 4, I really wasn't looking forward to Season 5 too much.

I just finished the first 2 discs of the set, and I gotta say that I think there was a HUGE jump in quality this year. Much of Season 4 was just dreadful and stupid (the Christmas murder episode, the Doris-Jarvis jewelry store robbery episode, etc.) But the writing on Season 5 seems to be much smarter and a bit more sophisticated. Still not up to the quality of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but miles ahead of all other seasons of TDDS. It really makes me wish they had done another year. The relationship with Cy is also a bit more detailed and interesting. And for the first time, I don't miss the kids. I still miss Rose Marie, though. While I love Jackie Joseph, I'm not crazy about the character they had her play. I prefer Myrna.

And I think it was really something to feature a gay couple as neighbors in 1972. No other show in the 70's did that. And I especially like the fact that the other neighbors just accepted them. Their "gayness" was no more of a quirk or issue than the one couple being Jewish or the other couple being newlyweds and always, um, doing what newlyweds do. Very cool, in my mind.

I love Cy's line when Doris asks for a loan: "What's your collateral? A great wardrobe and some freckles?"

[jmichael]

Having just finished watching the first 3 disks from Season 5, I have to say I agree completely with John's assessment. This season is much better than the prior year. It's as if they realized the need to improve the quality of the writing and the direction. There is a more realistic and even serious tone in a few of the episodes. A real departure was the show about Doris falling for a younger rock star. I also noticed they decreased the frequency and volume of the laugh track in Season 5. It's as if they weren't trying to force the humor on the audience.

I wonder if the fact that Doris took over as Executive Producer had anything to do with it. Does anyone know? And why did Doris replace Terry as EP of the show?

I was amused at how much Doris cared about the color of her clothes and the way they photopgrahed on film. Clearly, she was totally hands-on when it came to her fashion and hairstyle choices. And I was astounded at how impeccable her abs were in that bikini shot. My God, what a bod.

[Barb_DDD]

And why did Doris replace Terry as EP of the show?
I think that the fifth season was about the time Terry had his motorcycle accident and was in the hospital for a long time.
Barb

[Jas1]

I can't wait to see season 5 [especially having read some of the above posts] - that is if it EVER comes to UK!!!!

I agree season 4 lost something [and not just a plethora of great co-stars]! For me season one had a realism and some of Doris' performances are so so real. Season 2 perhaps had the best mix of realism with funky Sanfrancisco; allowing Doris to dress to the nines etc and provided the great co-stars, still retaining the realism of the boys and Buck etc. The ending of a season 2 episode I watched again recently really effected me-the one where Buck thinks he is getting old and Doris is putting the boys to bed and they question her about ageing and her acting is just superb here, with tears in her eyes, so real!

Season 3- is still my favourite though, with most of the shows great fun to watch.

Season 4 - I didn't like as much although I watched a few recently again and liked them better, the one with the charity con, Doris at Sea, etc

[Jas1]

I can't wait to see season 5 [especially having read some of the above posts] - that is if it EVER comes to UK!!!!

I agree season 4 lost something [and not just a plethora of great co-stars]! For me season one had a realism and some of Doris' performances are so so real. Season 2 perhaps had the best mix of realism with funky Sanfrancisco; allowing Doris to dress to the nines etc and provided the great co-stars, still retaining the realism of the boys and Buck etc. The ending of a season 2 episode I watched again recently really effected me-the one where Buck thinks he is getting old and Doris is putting the boys to bed and they question her about ageing and her acting is just superb here, with tears in her eyes, so real!

Season 3- is still my favourite though, with most of the shows great fun to watch.

Season 4 - I didn't like as much although I watched a few recently again and liked them better, the one with the charity con, Doris at Sea, etc

[John M]

jmichael, wasn't that bikini shot AWESOME! That was one hot body!!

Jas1, yes, the charity con episode was pretty good. If you like that one, I think you'll LOVE Season 5. It's more in that vein. I can't believe you guys don't have it yet. I though you always got them about a month earlier than we did.

[howard]

I have to agree with you guys - season five is really superior. The writing became much sharper giving the series a much-needed lift! Too bad it had to end ... but it ended on a pleasant note!

[Tanja]

Hi @ all,

I found a review on the Doris Day Show Season Five and Doris Day ToDay:

Doris Day Show Season Five
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review.php?ID=31637



WOW!



Doris Day ToDay
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=31586






Tanja

[Sheila]

Thank you Tanja for posting those photos, they may just keep me going until Santa arrives with mine

[John M]

OUCH!! While I didn't think Doris Day Today was up to the quality level of The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special, that review was pretty harsh. Yikes! It wasn't that bad.

[Barb_DDD]

I've been watching Season 5 many times. And I just finished watching episode # Jimmy the Gent. The last tag gag on the show is Peter telling Cy "Not to fool with mother nature." I know that came from a margarine commercial of the time. I don't remember much about it, except that Mother Nature was all upset that the margarine tasted like real butter. I can sort of hear Mother Nature's voice in my head and it sounds a lot like the nurse. Does anybody know if Florida Friebus played Mother Nature in the commercial?
Barb

[howard]

She did play Mother Nature. That's what made that line so funny!

[Barb_DDD]

Thanks Howard, I thought so. And the thunder that struck just after Peter said Don't fool with Mother Nature. was all so from the commercial.
Barb

[ray]

I thought the show with Doris Martin being press secreatry to Joanathan Rusk was very good and had an adult theme Does anyone remeber when Poss Hunter had an idea for an hour show for Doris playing different chararters each week? I read this in 1974 or so, Paul would know i bet about this project that never was. Loretta Young had a similar show in the 1950's with differnet characters each week.

[Renny]

Howard, I repectfully disagree with you who played Mother Nature in the old '70s Chiffon Margarine commercials. The actress's name is Dena Dietrich. I verified this by going to imbd.com. In fact, that old commercial is on YouTube. Have a fantastic holiday!

[ray]

The single Doris Martin of season four and five is really an extension of Jan Morrow from Pillow Talk. Jan enjoyed being single dateing several men. That role made Doris the career Gal of the 60's and number one at the movie box office.

[jmichael]

Ray makes a good point about the 4th & 5th seasons where Doris Martin became an extension of career girl Jan Martin. I think that is exactly what they were doing and it improved the quality of the show.

Points to Renny for correctly identifying Mother Nature as Dena Dietrich.

Finally, I agree the review of Doris Day Today is a bit harsh but most of the problems stem from the time it was produced. It followed the tried and true formula of musical numbers, comedy sketches and guest stars that were the trademarks of Carol Burnett, Laugh-In, Sonny & Cher shows of that era. There was nothing innovative or radically different about the format of the show.

I think the reviewer makes a great point about the network not trusting enough in Doris the singer and just letting the whole hour be about music. Now just think what a compelling hour that could have been if they had Doris perform with Sinatra in one segment, Ella in a second segment, then all 3 of them together, and they wrap it all up with Doris closing the show with one or two solo numbers. She could have done a contemporary pop set with Sinatra (along with a revisit of Young At Heart), a jazz set with Ella, and then topped the show with a rousing finale.

[ray]

That JMichael would have been a dream show...if only it could have happened!!!! But Doris singing Day By Day and The Way we Were was total magic and a once in a lifetime event for us all!!!

[John M]

I gotta say that I never cared for the song "Day By Day" (from the special). I wasn't a big "Godspell" fan anyway, but that song is just so repetitive and doesn't go anywhere. I would have much prefered she sang the classic "Day By Day."

I agree she should have done a different format. The Sinatra/Ella thing would have been awesome. Or just her singing for the hour would have been divine, sort of like seeing her in concert.

But I do adore the John Denver segments. They were so good together.

As far as the series goes, after seeing the improved Season 5, now I wish there was another season to enjoy.

[jmichael]

John, I agree, there are many things to love about this special and I'm very fond of the musical segments with John Denver. At the risk of getting a tad sentimental here, I am so moved by her duet with him on "Follow Me." Notice how quietly and unobtrusively she harmonizes with him, as if she does not want to overshadow his performance. This is the mark of a professional who is confident and sensitive enough to understand that less is more. I have a special soft spot for that song because my mother used to sing it around the house.

I am also a huge fan of Streisand and have always felt her version of The Way We Were was definitive. That is until I heard Doris perform it on this show. I can't say Doris' version is better but it stands beside it in full glory. Doris had a directness that enabled her to make any song her own. There isn't an ounce of contrivance in her singing. That kind of talent is direct from God. No voice teacher can instruct or inspire that kind of magic.

[dayniac]

JMichael - you said it !! What a perfect description of Doris' singing.

This special has good and bad points that you've all pointed out. I think it was just a product of its time. That's the kind of thing that was on TV back then. Kind of a strange time in many ways. Too bad it wasn't the "dream" special you've described - that would have a special for all time.

[John M]

JMichael: That song is awesome. John's singing of it is superlative, and Doris' harmonizing is terrific. Really a wonderful moment. And I agree that Doris did a marvelous job on "The Way We Were." While some of the special was sub-par (especially for Doris' talents), she looked gorgeous in it.

[Heatherlicious]

We did Godspell when I was still involved with theatre. I have to say it's a nice song I suppose, it was one of my least favorites from the show. But then again I've never seen Doris perform it.

[ray]

Guys and Gals rewatch season five and you will see good story lines and witty interaction with Peter Lawford. One show reminds me of the old Thin Man series with Peter lawford right down to the spiral staircase, its called Jimmy The Gent. Doris's fashions are up to the minute and so is her portrayal of a classy older Lady with a good job and healthly love life dateing several men. The real single Lady's lifestyle. Men could date many and Doris showed so can woman. The kids were in reform school for burning down the country house and they slapped Buck in Shadey Pines rest home. McLean Steveson and Rose Marie were laid off due to downsizing with the recession. Doris invented the single woman on the screen and was far more attractive and inviting then TV's Mary Tyler Moore. I liked Mary but Doris dazzled