The Babysitter

Happily there's the usual amount of series laughs. Alice gets a telephone installed that Ralph said was too expensive, which is his way of getting out of off-hours work. Due to a mix-up with the phone number, Ralph thinks his beloved is cheating on him even though she's just babysitting to help pay for the phone. So he thunders off to confront her supposed paramour, and you can guess the rest.

A highlight is when our favorite blowhard asserts his exalted "captain of the ship" status, telling poor Alice that next to him she's nothing but a lowly scullery maid. Meadows was such a good foil for blustery moments like this, a sturdy rock in a big wind storm. Norton gets some amusing moments, but nothing special. There are more scene changes and supporting cast than usual. Otherwise, it's a typically lively entry in that exceptional series.