My Friend Irma (TV series)

Last updated
My Friend Irma
GenreComedy
Created byCy Howard
Written by
  • Cy Howard
  • Jay Sommers
  • John L. Greene
  • Paul West
Directed by
  • Richard Whorf
  • George Cahan
Starring
  • Marie Wilson
  • Mary Shipp
  • Richard Eyer
  • Cathy Lewis
  • Gloria Gordon
  • Donald MacBride
  • Sid Tomack
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes39
Production
Producers
  • Cy Howard
  • Nat Perrin
Running time30 min
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseJanuary 8, 1952 (1952-01-08) 
June 25, 1954 (1954-06-25)

My Friend Irma is an American comedy television series [1] that was broadcast on CBS from January 8, 1952, until June 25, 1954. [2]

Contents

Premise and characters

My Friend Irma began on radio and moved to television with a similar format. Irma Peterson ("the proverbial dumb blonde" [3] ) and her roommate lived at Kathleen O'Reilly's boarding house in Manhattan. Irma was secretary for Milton J. Clyde, the owner of a real estate company. Her initial roommate, Jane Stacy, was secretary for Richard Rhinelander III, the owner of an investment company. Stacy's transfer to Panama in 1953 brought Kay Foster, a newspaper reporter, in as Peterson's new roommate. Both Stacy and Foster sometimes spoke directly to the viewers, commenting on developments in an episode, [1] a technique that George Burns used on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show . [2]

When the program began, Peterson was in love with Al (no last name given), an unemployed con man. Al was replaced by Joe Vance, a "more respectable boyfriend", who worked for a cleaning company. Other characters who frequently appeared were Brad Jackson, Kay's boyfriend; Professor Kropotkin, Irma's neighbor; and Bobby, Peterson's nephew. [1] In 1953-54, Kropotkin was gone and Mr. Corday, an eccentric actor, was added. [4]

Cast

Characters and Actors on My Friend Irma's TV Version
CharacterActor
Irma Peterson Marie Wilson [1]
Jane Stacy Cathy Lewis [1]
Kay FosterMary Shipp [1]
Al Sid Tomack [1]
Joe Vance Hal March [1]
Richard Rhinelander IIIBrooks West [1]
Brad Jackson Gerald Mohr [1]
Milton J. Clyde Donald MacBride [1]
Professor Kropotkin Sig Arno [1]
Mrs. O'ReillyGloria Gordon [1]
Bobby Peterson Richard Eyer [1]
Mr. Corday John Carradine [1]
Richard's mother Margaret DuMont [1]

Frank Bingham and Bob Lemond were the announcers. [1]

Schedule and production

My Friend Irma debuted at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays. From April 1952 through June 1953, it was broadcast at 9:30 p.m. E. T. on Fridays. From October 1953 through June 1954, it was on Fridays at 10 p.m. E. T. [4]

Cy Howard created the program. Richard Whorf was the director, and Nat Perrin was the producer. [2] Howard and Frank Galen were the writers. [3] Sponsors included Lever Brothers (Swan soap), and Kool cigarettes. [1] The October 4, 1952, episode of My Friend Irma came from a "nearly completed" sound stage in CBS's new Television City facilities, [5] making it the first series to be broadcast from that Hollywood site. [2]

Critical reception

Critic Jack Gould wrote in The New York Times that the series's debut episode "was a decided disappointment". [3] He felt that the innocent, fragile nature of Peterson was an asset, but that benefit was undermined because Wilson seemed to recite her lines more than portraying her character. [3] Gould praised Lewis's performance for providing substance and pace. He criticized the writers for using "trite coincidences and old jokes". [3] Whorf's direction received mixed reviews, described as "on the erratic side" although "in some of the lesser scenes he had nice imaginative touches". [3]

Proposed sequel

When My Friend Irma ended, Wilson still had a $100,000-per-year contract with CBS. Network officials worked with Burns to try to develop a sequel, My Wife Irma, with Wilson as the star, but CBS rejected it. [6] My Friend Irma had ended with Peterson's becoming engaged to Vance. The sequel would have picked up with her adapting to life as a newlywed. [7]

Episode status

UCLA has one 1952 episode of the program in its archives. [8]

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References

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  4. 1 2 Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 700. ISBN   0-345-42923-0.
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