My Living Doll

"My Living Doll" marked Bob Cummings' return to series television after a short-lived adventure-comedy series, "The New Bob Cummings Show", flopped in 1961. The veteran actor/light comedian, who had enjoyed a memorable film career (IT STARTED WITH EVE, KING'S ROW, SABOTEUR, DIAL 'M' FOR MURDER) without ever quite achieving 'superstar' status, had found, in television, the ideal medium for his likable persona. His second, best-known series, "The Bob Cummings Show" (later called "Love That Bob") offered a crew-cut, energetic Cummings as a fashion photographer with a roving eye and a family and friends who were always interfering with his love life. The success of the long-running comedy extended Cummings' career far beyond many of his contemporaries, and he hoped "My Living Doll" would achieve the same kind of magic.

In "My Living Doll", Cummings played Dr. Bob McDonald, a military psychiatrist assigned to 'train' a human-like robot (portrayed by the astonishingly sexy Julie Newmar, before her 'breakthrough' role as 'Catwoman' on "Batman"), for future space missions. Attempting to keep his 'project' a secret, as he teaches her how to be 'human', he develops an affection for her, although her literal compliance to his orders creates often embarrassing moments. Meanwhile, his hormonally-charged neighbor, Dr. Peter Robinson (played by Jack Mullaney, who made a career out of such roles) becomes smitten with Newmar, and her apparent willingness to do whatever he commands. Episodes would frequently involve Robinson's attempts to get McDonald 'out of the way' so he could share a romantic tryst with her.

While Cummings liked the initial premise of the series, he was not pleased with the one-dimensional direction the series was taking, and wanted to return the focus back to the doctor/'human' relationship between his character and Newmar. Producer Jack Chertok, who had achieved a major success with "My Favorite Martian", a year earlier, disagreed, however, believing the chemistry between Mullaney and Newmar had greater ratings potential than the 56-year old Cummings could provide (even if the actor's strict health regimen helped him maintain a youthful appearance). The series that was supposed to provide Cummings' 'comeback' role had moved his character into a decidedly 'supporting' part, and he quit the show.

With Mullaney now 'in charge' of the robot, however, the lecherous nature of his character had to be changed (maybe it would have worked on French television, but NEVER in America!), and the series quickly disappeared off the air.

The strange thing is, looking back on the short-lived series from a forty-year perspective, what remains in mind is neither Cummings nor Mullaney, but Julie Newmar, who was so devastatingly beautiful as the robot. Long after the silly plotlines were forgotten, her presence, sexy yet innocent, would linger on!

There was one other person besides Bob (and later Peter) who was privy to Rhoda's true identity. That would be Dr. Carl Miller, played by Henry Beckman, perhaps best known as the salty Captain Clancey on Here Come The Brides. Miller was the actual catalyst, having created the robot, but was only seen in two other episodes besides the pilot. Bob told everyone that Rhoda was Carl's niece, which accounts for the last name. I personally wish Beckman had put in more appearances because he seemed like an interesting character. I mean, anyone who can create such a gorgeous robot...In the pilot, he's called away to Pakistan, leaving the robot in Bob's care and creating all kinds of pandemonium for the psychiatrist. A side note--the parallel with I Dream Of Jeannie is very interesting. IMHO, Bill Daily as Roger was a rather cheap carbon copy of Jack Mullaney's interesting portrayal as Peter Robinson.

-Roy

As mentioned in the info provided at IBDm that the theme of this show was that Julie Newmar portrayed a mechanical 'Doll' of a beautiful woman. Newmar's character kept getting Cummings into much the same kind of trouble 'Jeanie' (Barbara Eden) got 'Tony'(Larry Hagman) into in their series on NBC later. Not the 'magical' or 'genie' stuff, but 'mechanical woman problems'! Was a great series and the only thing I can figure for why it didn't make it was that the world wasn't ready for that 'concept' just yet. When presented by NBC with the 'Jeanie' and 'astronaut' tie-in, it worked...some 3 years later! Nonetheless, Newmar went on to be Catwoman on Batman (and a great one) and Cummings went home to fly his plane, enjoy retirement until he passed on.

I was only seven years old when I saw this show and I STILL remember it!

Ahhhhhh, Julie Newmar :] (dreamy gaze) I was amazed by her beauty and that siren voice. She was a stunner. This was a funny show that I recall. Too bad it didn't catch on. I know that I looked forward to watching it with my Dad who liked her too. I think I know why it got sacked. The wives of America MADE their husbands change the channel!!

Why isn't this show on TV LAND??

Before Valerie Harper's Rhoda there was another. The beautiful Julie Newmar who later went on to fame as Catwoman on Batman was a robot named Rhoda in this short lived but often times hilarious show. It's been ages since I've seen this show and doesn't seem to be anywhere on TV. Perhaps TV Land could run the episodes sometime.