Love That Jill

Love That Jill
GenreSitcom
StarringAnne Jeffreys
Robert Sterling
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
ProducerAlex Gottlieb
Running time30 mins.
Production companyHal Roach Studios
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseJanuary 20 (1958-01-20) –
April 14, 1958 (1958-04-14)
Robert Sterling as Jack Gibson and Anne Jeffreys as Jill Johnson in Love That Jill

Love That Jill is an American sitcom that aired on ABC during the 1957–58 television season. The series stars Anne Jeffreys and Robert Sterling as the heads of rival modeling agencies in Manhattan.

Synopsis

Jill Johnson and Jack Gibson are the heads of rival New York City modeling agencies in Manhattan.[1][2] Jack is romantically attracted to Jill, but each of them constantly tries to take clients and models away from the other.[1][2] Richard is Jill′s secretary, Pearl is Jack′s secretary,[2] Ginger is one of Jill's models,[1][2] and Melody and Peaches are among the other models at their agencies.[2]

Cast

Production

Hal Roach Studios produced Love That Jill.[3] Alex Gottlieb served as producer for the series.[1] Hal Roach Jr. was the executive producer, and William A. Seiter was the director.[3]

Anne Jeffreys and Robert Sterling were married in real life.[3]

The program replace The Guy Mitchell Show, with Max Factor as the sponsor. Episodes were filmed in black and white with a laugh track.[3]

Broadcast history

Love That Jill premiered on ABC on January 20, 1958.[1][2] It lasted only 13 episodes, the last of which aired on April 14, 1958.[1][2] It was broadcast at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Mondays throughout its run.[2]

Episodes

No.
overall 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Tonight's the Night"UnknownUnknownJanuary 20, 1958 (1958-01-20)
Jill invites Jack to her home for dinner — and plans a giant double-cross.
2"The Mating Machine"UnknownUnknownJanuary 27, 1958 (1958-01-27)
Alternative title "Find Your Perfect Mate." Before Jack and Jill appear on the television show Find Your Perfect Mate, Jack decides to ensure that he will win a week of dates with Jill by manipulating the punched cards used in an electronic computer.
3"Who Done It?"UnknownUnknownFebruary 3, 1958 (1958-02-03)
Jill finesses Jack in a ruse that will give her — rather than an attempted burglary — front-page publicity.
4"They Went Thataway"UnknownUnknownFebruary 10, 1958 (1958-02-10)
While Jack and Jill are in Arizona to film a potato chip commercial, a man named Cliff makes advances toward Jill. Jill leads Jack on to make him jealous of Cliff, but in fact Cliff is interested in the hotel clerk, Sandy, and a justice of the peace marries Cliff to Sandy. During the episode, Jack and Jill sing "There's Silver on the Sage Tonight." Guest star: Chuck Connors.
5"Vote for Me, Darling"UnknownUnknownFebruary 17, 1958 (1958-02-17)
Selected as one of five finalists in the "Most Glamorous Career Woman" contest, Jill attempts to woo key votes out of three male judges.
6"Operation Double Cross"UnknownUnknownFebruary 24, 1958 (1958-02-24)
Jack plots with a beautiful model from Jill's agency to garner publicity for his own agency.
7"Kiss Me, Sergeant"UnknownUnknownMarch 3, 1958 (1958-03-03)
Jack talks Jill into going out to dinner with him and his buddy, a United States Army sergeant — who turns out to be a glamorous woman.
8"Hug That Hillbilly"UnknownUnknownMarch 10, 1958 (1958-03-10)
When Jill decides to send one of her underage models back to her home in the Ozarks, Jack finds the model′s hillbilly father trying to force him into a shotgun wedding.
9"Kid Stuff"UnknownUnknownMarch 17, 1958 (1958-03-17)
Jill promotes a golf lesson from Jack — leading to her takeover of one of his key accounts, a baby food company, at contract renewal time.
10"Two for the Money"UnknownUnknownMarch 24, 1958 (1958-03-24)
Jack can collect an inheritance if he can establish that he is married to Jill.
11"Bess of the Bowery"UnknownUnknownMarch 31, 1958 (1958-03-31)
The normally stylish and glamorous Jill dons disguises — including nondescript clothing and a shaggy wig — to win an important vitamin company account from Jack's agency.
12"Love That Foreign Sportscar"UnknownUnknownApril 7, 1958 (1958-04-07)
Jill meets a swindling playboy.
13"Make Mine Marriage"UnknownUnknownApril 14, 1958 (1958-04-14)
Jack and Jill do their best to break up the nuptials of their respective secretaries.

Sources[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

Critical response

A review in the trade publication Variety said that the premiere episode "simpered through a thoroughly contrived plot", adding that Jeffreys's contributions were "a sly grin and a silly wiggle" and that Sterling's work was "restricted by the asinine lines".[15] The review acknowledged that the episode had some potential, but it added that humor was rare.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f McNeil, Alex, Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming From 1948 to the Present, Fourth Edition, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, ISBN 0 14 02 4916 8, p. 497.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 819. ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Leszczak, Bob (November 8, 2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-7864-9305-0. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "Television Highlights," Schenectady Gazette, January 20, 1958, p. 6.
  5. ^ "Television Highlights," Schenectady Gazette, February 3, 1958, p. 15.
  6. ^ "Television Highlights," Schenectady Gazette, February 17, 1958, p. 11.
  7. ^ "Television Highlights," Schenectady Gazette, February 24, 1958, p. 4.
  8. ^ "Television Highlights," Schenectady Gazette, March 3, 1958, p. 13.
  9. ^ "Television Highlights," Schenectady Gazette, March 10, 1958, p. 20.
  10. ^ "Television Highlights," Schenectady Gazette, March 17, 1958, p. 7.
  11. ^ "Television Highlights," Schenectady Gazette, March 24, 1958, p. 13.
  12. ^ "Television Highlights," Schenectady Gazette, March 31, 1958, p. 15.
  13. ^ "Television Highlights," Schenectady Gazette, April 7, 1958, p. 16.
  14. ^ "Television Highlights," Schenectady Gazette, April 14, 1958, p. 15.
  15. ^ a b "Love That Jill". Variety. January 22, 1958. p. 47. Retrieved December 7, 2023.