Television Review: LOVE THAT BOB: "It's Later Than You Think" (1955)

LOVE THAT BOB a.k.a. THE BOB CUMMINGS SHOW: "It's Later Than You Think" (1955 NBC-TV/Laurel-McCadden Productions)  Original Air Date: January 16, 1955.  Starring Bob Cummings as Bob Collins, Rosemary deCamp as Margaret MacDonald, Ann B. Davis as Schultzy, Dwayne Hickman as Chuck MacDonald, King Donovan as Harvey Helm, Lee Millar as Sid, Suzanne Alexander as Louise, Diane Jergens as Francine.  Written by Paul Henning and Bill Manhoff.  Directed by Rod Amateau.

Series overview for THE BOB CUMMINGS SHOW at this link.

In the midst of shooting a lipstick commercial, Bob offers a little method acting assistance for his model to show that "just been kissed" look.  It's merely a preview for after work plans:  Bob's three Air Force buddies from WW2 are coming to Los Angeles for a pilot's reunion, and our playboy has lined up dates for his old comrades.  Before leaving work, Lt. Harvey Helm informs Bob he'll need one fewer: he's happily married to wife Ruthie (three kids!) and sad that his old flyboy friend is missing out on wedded bliss. 

"If man has fine record collection, why play same tune every day?"

Harv isn't alone in being unable to fathom a man their age avoiding domestication: he, Sid and Keith have definitely been grounded since The Big One.  Bob finds himself silently caught in the crossfire of wallets filled with baby pictures and pediatrician debates.  It's enough to send our shutterbug home early (for once).  Back at the house, Bob sees nephew Chuck getting serious about Francine as a life-long partner and quoting the titular Chinese proverb, and full-blown is setting in.

"USAF now stands for Uninteresting, Settled, Adoring Fathers!"

Man, talk about peer pressure.  The full proverb is "enjoy yourself--it's later than you think!" but our matrimony minded meddlers remove the first two words (which would definitely make it fit Bob's lifestyle choice, not theirs) and turn it into an ominous reminder that the good times can't last forever.  

This third ever episode of LOVE THAT BOB is the show's first real classic.  Helm isn't yet the henpecked, harried Harv we will see once we actually meet Ruthie (in The Sergeant Wore Skirts); he's dotingly baby talking to his wife and daughter via phone at night-night time and genuinely feeling sorry for "Bobby boy" rather than envious.  Young Chuck is ready for married adulthood (which wasn't out of step for Silent teens of 1955) but within a month would be emulating Uncle Bob's roving eye and pickup lines--even when "steady" with Francine or (later) Carol.

"I'd hate to see Chuck married and you still running around, a white-haired Playboy!"

Nevertheless, while we are still in the show's embryonic stage we see the foundation taking shape.  Grandpa Collins won't appear in the flesh for another three months, but the picture Margaret paints triggers a hilarious dream sequence that gives us Grandpa's voice, look, and general mannerisms as Bob sees his potential future.  This initial look at an aged Bob isn't quite as robust as the octogenarian Collins will prove to be, though.  Grandpa doesn't require a cane like "aged Bob", nor does he exhibit symptoms of Parkinson's (which would sadly claim both Cummings and Hickman many decades later).  But otherwise, the character is already in place, ready to make his debut (which would come in Bob to the Rescue).

But this being LOVE THAT BOB, the status quo that remains king turns everything else on television on its head in 1955. Other shows would have our lead tempted by a "bad girl" only to wind up back with his steady by episode's end--BOB CUMMINGS was showing us a different path right away, and an edge that even BILKO would hint at but not quite fully embrace when it premiered a half season later.  Schultzy's domestic efforts only serve to make Bob realize that he needn't be desperate for domesticity, thus easing his anxiety about aging.  Bob readies himself for another night of play after work with Louise, and Schultzy resigns herself to try, try again.  

 

While she's stuck in the friend zone, Schultzy will outlast Louise: after several appearances during the first season, Suzanne Alexander only appeared once after.  Alexander, who died way too young at 44, was another of those 1950's starlets who almost landed that career-defining role.  She and fellow LOVE THAT BOB alum Marla English (The Dominant Sex) were finalists for the role of Aouda in AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS, but Shirley MacLaine won the part over both.

DID BOB SCORE?

Louise was really angry when she thought he'd broken their date, but really quick to come back around and accept that cashable raincheck, so our boy was well on his way at the fade-out (if he hadn't scored with her already).

THE BOTTOM LINE:

While not the lightning paced BOB CUMMINGS SHOW that would develop by the dawn of season two, this early look indicates that Henning, Manhoff and Amateau are all firmly headed there.  One of the first of many, many rebukes to the 1950's status quo in both television and everyday life, It's Later Than You Think ends with Bob having his cake while eating it too.  As was the norm for this show, conformity would beckon, tempt mightily...but end up foiled again as our slippery subversive stayed footloose and fancy free at episode's end.  With the journey back to this show's status quo having a healthy number of laughs, always.  Great fun that holds up seventy years later.  (***1/2 out of four)

If you'd like to check out It's Later Than You Think, you're in luck!  Below is a two episode BOB CUMMINGS SHOW Collector's Source; it's the second of two episodes below, starting at 26:28.  The first episode is the aforementioned The Sergeant Wore Skirts!