The series starred Bob Cummings as Dr. Bob McDonald, a psychiatrist. His friend Dr. Carl Miller (Henry Beckman), a scientist with the U.S. Air Force being transferred to Pakistan, shows Bob his latest invention: a lifelike android in the form of a sexy, Amazonian female, AF 709. Miller gives the prototype robot, also called Rhoda (Julie Newmar), to Bob. Bob is initially reluctant, but soon becomes intrigued by the experiment of educating this sophisticated but naive robot. The series' episodes center around Rhoda's attempts to learn how human society works, and Bob's attempts to teach Rhoda how to be "the perfect woman", which he defines as one who "does what she's told" and "doesn't talk back." He also strives to keep her identity secret by saying that she is Carl's niece.
Rhoda also begins showing (or at least emulating) rudimentary emotions as the series progresses. For example, in the episode "The Kleptomaniac", she displays a childlike, playful attitude. At one point McDonald notices this and utters, "What a goofy robot!", to which Rhoda replies, beaming, "The goofiest!" At the conclusion of this episode, Rhoda giggles without prompting after pulling a plot-resolving prank on another character. Another episode, "The Pool Shark", has Rhoda displaying apparent enjoyment in playing pool. The series does not explore whether these are truly learned behaviors or the result of programming, or if, in the fantasy context of the series, Rhoda is truly learning human emotion.
Other regular cast members included:
Doris Dowling as Irene Adams, Bob's sister, whom he asks to move in as his housekeeper and chaperone to keep his neighbors from thinking that something inappropriate is going on between Rhoda and him. She was dropped from the cast when Bob was transferred to Pakistan.
Jack Mullaney as Peter Robinson, a lecherous colleague and neighbor of Bob's who decides that Rhoda is the girl of his dreams. A regular supporting character in episodes 1-20, he learns the truth in the fifth-to-last episode, after Bob is transferred to Pakistan. As of episode 21, he becomes Rhoda's guardian (and series co-lead).
Nora Marlowe as Mrs. Moffat, Peter's housekeeper. She was added to the cast when Peter became Rhoda's guardian.
Production
The show was created by Jack Chertok based on the Pygmalion–Galatea myth. The series was unusual in that it was bought by the network without a formal pilot, at the request of CBS's president James T. Aubrey, due to the success of Chertok's series My Favorite Martian.[1] The show was announced in April 1964.[2][3] Filming began at Desilu Studios in July 1964.[4] Outdoor scenes for the opening episode ("Boy Meets Girl") were filmed at Space Park under the pseudonym of "Space Research Center" (SRC).[5] It was there in Redondo Beach, California that Rhoda was shown wandering off the campus, but was soon found by Dr. McDonald across the street at a drive-in named "Phil's Freeze" in Manhattan Beach.
The series was developed with Julie Newmar in mind for the female lead. CBS had been looking for a vehicle for Newmar for two years, and found this to be the best project for her.[6] Producers originally wanted Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. for the male lead, originally meant to be a "straight" role opposite Newmar. However, CBS also had Bob Cummings under contract, and overruled them to place Cummings in the series.[7]
The New York Times, reviewing the show in September, said it:
...very probably has the makings of a popular novelty hit... with Miss Newmar giving a light and amusing performance as the automated dish, the premise could work out... Bob Cummings, an old hand at chaperoning pretty girls, again is cast in his familiar assignment.[8]
Cummings' departure
Despite good reviews, early ratings were poor.[9] The show was initially scheduled opposite NBC's Bonanza on Sunday nights, but was shifted to Wednesdays in December in an attempt to improve ratings. This did not work, and in January, Cummings asked to be written out of the show after 21 episodes. CBS did not announce a replacement for him, indicating that they did not want to continue the series.[10][11]
At the time, reportedly Cummings and Newmar were not getting along during production,[12] with Newmar stating in a 1965 interview that Cummings had tried to teach her how to act, was unhappy that she appeared to be getting more press attention than he was, and was "trying too desperately to hold on to his long-gone youth".[13] However, this is denied by Newmar and show producer Howard Leeds[14] in The Living Doll Story, a featurette included in the 2012 DVD release.
Another report said that Cummings was unhappy with the size of his role in comparison to Newmar's.[15][16]
In later years, Newmar said the trouble was Cummings' addiction to methamphetamine. She says this contributed to his erratic behavior on set, as well as his increasing depression and insecurity. He demanded that the show focus more on his character. CBS refused and Cummings left.[17][18]
Cumming's last appearance was in "The Witness", the show's 21st episode, which aired on 10 February 1965. The following week's episode explained that his character had been transferred to Pakistan; the Peter character learns Rhoda's secret and takes over the position of watching over her.[19] This was the plot device for the last five episodes of the season, and the series was not renewed for a second season.
Filmink argued "the concept pre-empted I Dream of Jeannie but there are key differences which sink it (it’s far more mean-spirited than Jeannie, and the female lead has far less agency)."[20]
Opening credits
Two versions of the opening credits were created. The first version had Rhoda wearing short lingerie similar to a teddy; according to an interview with Newmar included on the DVD release, this version was rejected as being too risque, so a new version with Rhoda wearing a long dress (though a little suggestive of lingerie) was filmed.[21] This latter version is the one used on the versions of the episodes that were broadcast and released to DVD; however, the unofficial circulation of several episodes used the teddy version of the credits.[citation needed]
When Space Agency psychiatrist Bob McDonald finds a top secret prototype female robot, her creator, Dr. Miller, asks Bob to take over her care and training when Miller is reassigned to Pakistan.
Bob purchases some new clothes for Rhoda. While Bob's out, she accepts neighbour Peter's request to go out for dinner. At the restaurant, her OFF button accidentally gets pushed. Believing that she had fainted, she is taken to the hospital.
3
"Uninvited Guest"
Ezra Stone
Roland Wolpert
October 11, 1964 (1964-10-11)
6255-03
Having Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" read to her by a young girl has had a peculiar effect on poor Rhoda. She's afflicted with spells of vertigo, as well as difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality. The situation is complicated by an unexpected visit from Bob's boss, who isn't supposed to know about Rhoda.
Bob is escorting a general's daughter to a V.I.P. reception and gives strict orders that Rhoda is not to leave the apartment, but, of course, that doesn't happen.
6
"Something Borrowed, Something Blew"
Ezra Stone
Bill Kelsay & Al Martin
November 1, 1964 (1964-11-01)
TBA
Bob is chairman of a psychiatric clinic's fund-raising drive, and he and Rhoda call on the donor with the greatest potential: millionaire playboy Walter J. Armbruster; the playboy takes a great liking to her and decides he wishes to marry her.
7
"The Love Machine"
Ezra Stone
Bernard Slade
November 8, 1964 (1964-11-08)
6255-07
It would take a computer to find the right girl for Peter, and Bob has just the tool, Rhoda. He furnishes Rhoda with information on 250 girls working at the space lab, trying to find a match for Peter.
8
"The Beauty Contest"
Ezra Stone
Tom Koch
November 15, 1964 (1964-11-15)
6255-10
Irene sneaks Rhoda into a beauty contest for which Bob is a judge.
Bob's friend, Herbert, would rather be a comic than a pharmacist, but he's not a very good comedian, so Bob has been asked to persuade the young man to stick to filling prescriptions.
10
"My Robot, The Warden"
Ezra Stone
Unknown
November 29, 1964 (1964-11-29)
6255-09
Bob's working extremely hard on a magazine article, and he instructs Rhoda to make certain that he finishes on time.
When Bob gets the opportunity to have lunch with an attractive lady therapist, he asks Rhoda to cancel his luncheon with the chief of police.
14
"I'll Leave It to You"
Ezra Stone
Unknown
December 23, 1964 (1964-12-23)
TBA
Meek millionaire Jonas Clay intends on leaving his fortune to a charity, and not his domineering sister & her son, but Clay needs Bob to certify that he's of sound mind and fit to control his own money.
After comparing herself to the flawless Rhoda, depressed and discouraged Irene feels very inadequate.
16
"Pool Shark"
Ezra Stone
Unknown
January 6, 1965 (1965-01-06)
6255-16
Peter owes a small fortune to a pool shark, but he very cleverly signed Bob's name to the IOU. They send in Rhoda to play the pool shark, and, with her abilities, she beats the shark and repays the debt.
Rhoda copies a Picasso so accurately that an art dealer believes it to be the real thing right down to the signature. Bob tries in vain to convince the dealer that the painting is a forgery.
18
"The Kleptomaniac"
Ezra Stone
Russell Beggs
January 20, 1965 (1965-01-20)
6255-19
Rhoda, unaware that department stores are places where people purchase things, helps herself to gems from a jewellery counter, as a gift for Bob's sister.
Peter follows Bob's advice about facing up to his fears by taking a giant step: Peter tells everyone that he's an accomplished sky diver. The only problem is that Peter has lied!
Bob takes Rhoda along when he goes out of town to interview a group of women applying for the astronaut program, and Rhoda applies.
21
"The Witness"
Ezra Stone
Howard Dimsdale
February 10, 1965 (1965-02-10)
6255-21
Bob gets off to an inauspicious start as chairman of a road-safety committee when his car is crashed into by his neighbor's car, and then Rhoda testifies in court about the entire incident.
Note: This episode features the final appearances of Bob Cummings and Doris Dowling.
Bob has been called to Pakistan to assist Dr. Miller, and Rhoda's government supervisor, Dr. Foster, agrees to put her in the care of Bob's neighbor Peter, who is alarmed to find that the girl of his dreams is really a computer wonder.
When a fashion photographer finds Rhoda's almost perfect ability to take commands in robotic perfection, this causes Peter no end of trouble as his date, who he was meeting at the fashion house, had the original assignment.
Rhoda's day at the beach over-charges her solar batteries. Peter must place her in the apartment's closet wrapped in a carpet to prevent any more exposure. As a result, the apartment's handy man thinks Peter is hiding a body and calls in the cops.
Mrs. Moffit's brother, a failed nightclub comedian, causes problems when he moves into Peter's apartment. He tries to teach Rhoda the finer points of stand-up comedy and the right time to laugh.
On March 20, 2012, MPI Home Video released My Living Doll—The Official Collection, Volume 1 on DVD in Region 1. The 2-disc set features 11 episodes of the series.[22] The episodes featured on the DVD collection were created from 16mm prints of the show held by collectors, as the one known set of original 35mm negatives were destroyed in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.[23] It is unknown if the remaining 15 episodes exist.
My Living Doll producer Howard Leeds went on to create Small Wonder, a 1980s sitcom featuring a young girl robot named Vicki. He also employed composer George Greeley, who wrote the music for My Living Doll.[citation needed]
Leeds, when in the employ of Reg Grundy Productions Australia producing Chopper Squad, proposed and produced a new My Living Doll presentation pilot, "Billion Dollar Baby", using an all-Australian cast.[citation needed]
In 2018, Jack Chertok Television Productions producer Peter Greenwood apparently had posts on his LinkedIn account stating that he had begun active development of a new My Living Doll limited series; his account also featured a bound set of the original series scripts as part of the post.[25] The posts may also have stated that the reboot "would be more in tune with present-day morals and would change a great deal of the format to highlight the character, based on the current need for positive, intelligent and meaningful female role models."[25][better source needed]
It has been speculated that the Star Trek: Voyager character Seven of Nine's name is a homage to Rhoda's original designation as AF 709.[26]
^P. G. (Apr 20, 1964). "Channel 13 festival starts may 1 with a ballet film from sweden". New York Times. ProQuest115585935.
^Korman, S. (Nov 21, 1964). "IS SHE A PROJECT, OR A GIRL?". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest179681823.
^Smith, C. (Jul 29, 1964). "THE TV SCENE". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest168645466.
^"Television Comes to Space Park". TRW Space Technology Laboratories Sentinel (monthly newspaper for employees). Vol. VI, no. 10. August 3, 1964. Desilu TV Studies [sic] visited STL recently to shoot a film segment starring Julie Newmar and Robert Cummings. ... Name of the series is "The Living Doll." It will begin 27 September immediately following "the Ed Sullivan Show," over CBS-TV.
^Smith, C. (Sep 6, 1964). "Julie the robot: Wind her up--please". Los Angeles Times.
^Bradford-Hunter, J (June 9, 1965). "My Living Doll On The Rocks". TV Times. 7 (49): 6.
^"My Living Doll in MyLivingColor". Pop Colorture. 2018-11-02. I think [Cummings] tried to make the show more in his image," remembers producer Howard Leeds, "but it was Julie's show.
^Wolters, L. (Jan 27, 1965). "Peyton place sets pace for new shows". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest179697199.
^Wolters, L. (Jan 7, 1965). "Burgess meredith to boss mr. novak". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest179805282.
^Lertzman, Richard A; Birnes, William J (2013). Dr. Feelgood : the shocking story of the doctor who may have changed history by treating and drugging JFK, Marilyn, Elvis, and other prominent figures. Skyhorse Publishing. pp. 84–86.
^"My Living Doll in MyLivingColor". Pop Colorture. 2018-11-02. Below are the complete, unheard lyrics to My Living Doll ... [and] the colorized sequence ... [and] the alternate opening sequence ...
