JordanThomasHall
Joined Feb 2014
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Dean Stoner (Ned Wever) finds no interest from his professors about the prospect of representing the university on television. He pleads to them as a "golden opportunity to broaden the cultural base of our nation" and "pave the way" for other universities. They collectively remain firm that it is below their dignity, then individually sneak back to discuss the opportunity with the dean. Each make their pitch and Dean Stoner decides it with a coin flip which goes to Professor Crayton. "Crayton on Books" will be a Sunday book review program, reading extracted passages. At the studio, the director (Elliott Reid) struggles to get Professor Cryaton to grasp the concept of staging for the audience. When the camera rolls, he freezes thinking of all those watching him. Those around him, praise his performance, but the studio receives multiple letters criticizing his choice of book, and cancel his show. Mrs. G takes it upon herself to organize a letter writing campaign to reverse the tide.
As a previous reviewer noted, it's interesting to see cancel culture in this time. I personally found the plot resolution contrived and of course predictable. While there's more attempt at comedy here than most episodes to this point in the series, it still comes off dry.
As a previous reviewer noted, it's interesting to see cancel culture in this time. I personally found the plot resolution contrived and of course predictable. While there's more attempt at comedy here than most episodes to this point in the series, it still comes off dry.
Mrs. G asks Professor Cryaton if she can switch her course from sociology to psychology after becoming fascinated reading a book on child psychology. She wants to better understand her two-year-old grandchild, but the professor says it's too in the semester to change. Mrs. G is lent more child psychology books from new parents George and Irma upstairs. When she visits her granddaughter Mrs. G comes at odds with Suzy, Jerry, and Jerry's mother Jenny (Mae Questel, the unforgettable elderly, ditzy Aunt Bethany in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and voice of Betty Boop) over child rearing. Jenny: "I don't have to read Freud to life a spoon of spinach." It culminates in an argument between Jerry and Suzy in which Suzy leaves. Mrs. G still doesn't relent in analyzing those around her, but begins questioning her actions.
While the comedy is still light, it's perhaps a bit more than the other early episodes to this point. The gooey, sentimental warmth isn't here, but in it's place is what I found to be an unlikable turn by Mrs. G's character. While Shirley Booth's "Hazel" showed you can have a successful series around a budding-in wisecracker, here the character is developed without dramatic warmth or comedic flair; it just kind of plods along.
While the comedy is still light, it's perhaps a bit more than the other early episodes to this point. The gooey, sentimental warmth isn't here, but in it's place is what I found to be an unlikable turn by Mrs. G's character. While Shirley Booth's "Hazel" showed you can have a successful series around a budding-in wisecracker, here the character is developed without dramatic warmth or comedic flair; it just kind of plods along.
The Gertrude Berg Show
Joe is concerned about his grades. He has a deferment until he graduates to hopefully join naval aviation. However, if he fails his classes, he will have to join the Navy now. When Professor Crayton has the student's book reviews returned with their grades, Joe can't believe he got an F. He becomes irate, confrontational, and storms out the classroom. When Mrs. G tries to take up for Joe privately with the professor, he explains that it was clear Joe didn't read the book. Mrs. G, Maxy, George and Irma are all concerned about Joe's whereabouts in his state of mind and try phoning places across town. Joe still hasn't returned by the next morning. George informs Mrs. G that one of his students saw Joe in town at the Navy recruiting office. Maxy drives Mrs. G to the office where she runs into Lt. Charles 'Chick' Hennesey, MD (Jackie Cooper in a crossover of his own series "Hennesey")- her nephew's naval doctor. Mrs. G explains the situation and it's brought to the naval commander, where the influencing decision rests with Professor Crayton.