My Living Doll
Encyclopedia
My Living Doll is an American science fiction
sitcom
that aired for 26 episodes on CBS
from September 27, 1964 to September 8, 1965. This series was produced by Jack Chertok
and was filmed at Desilu studios by Jack Chertok Television, Inc., in association with the CBS Television Network. The series was unusual in that it was bought by the network without a formal pilot film (at the request of CBS' president, James T. Aubrey), due to the success of Chertok's previous series, My Favorite Martian
.
) in the form of a sexy, Amazonian
female, by her creator, a scientist who did not want her to fall into the hands of the military.
Rhoda's real name was AF 709
, and she was a prototype robot that Dr. Carl Miller (Henry Beckman
) built for the U.S. Air Force
. When Dr. Miller was about to be transferred to Pakistan
, he gives his friend, Air Force psychologist
Bob McDonald, the job of completing the education of the sophisticated (yet naive) robot. Bob's job is to teach Rhoda how to be a "perfect" woman, and keep her identity secret from the world.
Other regular cast members included:
's Bonanza
on Sunday nights, moving to Wednesday nights in December). Writers reassigned his character to Pakistan, and in episode #22, Peter learns Rhoda's secret and takes over the position of watching over her. Nora Marlowe
appeared in several of the final episodes as Peter's housekeeper, Mrs. Moffat.
Although My Living Doll was somewhat popular during its short run, it did not rank inside the top 30, as it was scheduled against highly-rated
shows such as Bonanza
, The Virginian
and The Patty Duke Show
. As a result, it didn't deliver the ratings that network executives had hoped for and was canceled.
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.
* Cummings' final appearance
will release My Living Doll- The Official Collection, Volume 1 on DVD in Region. The 2-disc set will feature the first 11 episodes of the series.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that aired for 26 episodes on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from September 27, 1964 to September 8, 1965. This series was produced by Jack Chertok
Jack Chertok
Jack Chertok was an American film and television producer perhaps best known to modern viewers as producer for the 182 black and white episodes of The Lone Ranger.-Career:...
and was filmed at Desilu studios by Jack Chertok Television, Inc., in association with the CBS Television Network. The series was unusual in that it was bought by the network without a formal pilot film (at the request of CBS' president, James T. Aubrey), due to the success of Chertok's previous series, My Favorite Martian
My Favorite Martian
My Favorite Martian is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from September 29, 1963 to May 1, 1966 for 107 episodes...
.
Series background
The series starred Bob Cummings as Dr. Bob McDonald, a psychologist who is given care of Rhoda Miller, a life-like android (played by Julie NewmarJulie Newmar
Julie Newmar is an American actress, dancer and singer. Her most famous role is Catwoman in the Batman television series.-Early life:...
) in the form of a sexy, Amazonian
Amazons
The Amazons are a nation of all-female warriors in Greek mythology and Classical antiquity. Herodotus placed them in a region bordering Scythia in Sarmatia...
female, by her creator, a scientist who did not want her to fall into the hands of the military.
Rhoda's real name was AF 709
IBM 709
The IBM 709 was an early computer system introduced by IBM in August, 1958. It was an improved version of the IBM 704 and the second member of the IBM 700/7000 series of scientific computers....
, and she was a prototype robot that Dr. Carl Miller (Henry Beckman
Henry Beckman
Henry Beckman was a Canadian stage, film and television actor. He appeared in well over 100 productions in the United States and Canada, including recurring roles as Commander Paul Richards in the 1954 Flash Gordon space opera television series, Bob Mulligan in the ABC sitcom I'm Dickens, He's...
) built for the U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. When Dr. Miller was about to be transferred to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, he gives his friend, Air Force psychologist
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
Bob McDonald, the job of completing the education of the sophisticated (yet naive) robot. Bob's job is to teach Rhoda how to be a "perfect" woman, and keep her identity secret from the world.
Other regular cast members included:
- Peter Robinson (a somewhat lecherous neighbor who decides that Rhoda is the girl of his dreams – played by Jack MullaneyJack MullaneyJack Mullaney was an American actor, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mullaney acted in several television series and films throughout his career....
) - Irene Adams (Bob's sister who decides to move in as his housekeeper and to make sure that nothing inappropriate is going on – played by Doris DowlingDoris DowlingDoris Dowling was an American actress of film, stage and television.After her time as a chorus-girl on Broadway, Detroit-born Doris Dowling followed her elder sister Constance to Hollywood. Her first credited film role was that of Gloria, barfly and drinking companion to fellow alcoholic Ray...
).
Cummings' departure and ratings reception
Bob Cummings was written out of the series after 21 episodes reportedly after he asked to be released from his contract due to the series' initial poor ratings (it initially appeared opposite NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
on Sunday nights, moving to Wednesday nights in December). Writers reassigned his character to Pakistan, and in episode #22, Peter learns Rhoda's secret and takes over the position of watching over her. Nora Marlowe
Nora Marlowe
Nora Marlowe was an American film and TV character actress from Worcester, Massachusetts best known for her role as Flossie Brimmer on the CBS drama The Waltons and as Sara Andrews on the CBS sitcom The Governor and J.J. and for her roles in films including The Thomas Crown Affair and...
appeared in several of the final episodes as Peter's housekeeper, Mrs. Moffat.
Although My Living Doll was somewhat popular during its short run, it did not rank inside the top 30, as it was scheduled against highly-rated
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
shows such as Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
, The Virginian
The Virginian (TV series)
The Virginian is an American Western television series starring James Drury and Doug McClure, which aired on NBC from 1962 to 1971 for a total of 249 episodes. Filmed in color, The Virginian became television's first 90-minute western series...
and The Patty Duke Show
The Patty Duke Show
The Patty Duke Show is an American sitcom which ran on ABC from September 18, 1963, until May 4, 1966, with reruns airing through August 31, 1966. The show was created as a vehicle for rising star Patty Duke...
. As a result, it didn't deliver the ratings that network executives had hoped for and was canceled.
According to The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, My Living Doll is the source of the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
phrase "Does not compute
Does not compute
"Does not compute", and variations on it, is a phrase often spoken by computers, robots and other artificial intelligences in science fiction works of the 1960s to 1980s...
" in popular culture.
Episodes
| # | Name | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boy Meets Girl? | September 27, 1964 |
| 2 | Rhoda's First Date | October 4, 1964 |
| 3 | Uninvited Guest | October 11, 1964 |
| 4 | Rhoda's Debut | October 18, 1964 |
| 5 | Lesson In Love | October 25, 1964 |
| 6 | Something Borrowed, Something Blew | November 1, 1964 |
| 7 | The Love Machine | November 8, 1964 |
| 8 | Leave 'Em Laughing | November 15, 1964 |
| 9 | My Robot The Warden | November 22, 1964 |
| 10 | The Beauty Contest | November 29, 1964 |
| 11 | Just Lucky, I Guess | December 6, 1964 |
| 12 | The Language Barrier | December 13, 1964 |
| 13 | Little White Lie | December 16, 1964 |
| 14 | I'll Leave It to You | December 23, 1964 |
| 15 | The Perfect Woman | December 30, 1964 |
| 16 | Sky Divers | January 6, 1965 |
| 17 | Pool Shark | January 13, 1965 |
| 18 | Color Me Trouble | January 20, 1965 |
| 19 | The Kleptomaniac | January 27, 1965 |
| 20 | The Astronaut | February 3, 1965 |
| 21 | The Witness |
February 10, 1965 |
| 22 | Boy Gets Robot | February 17, 1965 |
| 23 | Dancing Doll | February 24, 1965 |
| 24 | The Mannequin | March 3, 1965 |
| 25 | Murder, He Says | March 10, 1965 |
| 26 | Brother Harry | March 17, 1965 |
DVD release
On February 28, 2012, MPI Home VideoMPI Home Video
MPI Home Video is a home entertainment company that produces and distributes popular documentaries, films and television series on DVD & Blu-ray for the home video market. MPI Home Video is a subsidiary of MPI Media Group which was founded in 1976 by brothers Malik & Waleed Ali...
will release My Living Doll- The Official Collection, Volume 1 on DVD in Region. The 2-disc set will feature the first 11 episodes of the series.