Tuesday, July 25, 2023

What Might've Been: The Baileys of Balboa (1964)

 The 1964-5 season spelled the end for James Aubrey at CBS. Three series he purchased from a friend, Keefe Brasselle, and his Richelieu Productions, all went belly-up. We've already talked about The Cara Williams Show a while back, but now it's time for the other sitcom in the Richelieu stable, The Baileys of Balboa, meant to be a star vehicle for Paul Ford (ex-You'll Never Get Rich, aka The Phil Silvers Show), but more of an ensemble comedy with Les Brown, Jr. (son of the bandleader), Sterling Holloway (the original voice of Winnie-The-Pooh), and, not seen in this episode, Clint Howard (later of Gentle Ben after a star turn on Star Trek) and Judy Carne (ex-Fair Exchange).

Edit, 3/10/24: Had to change the video. Here's "Sam Sells Out":


Going from a CO forever angered by a con man in the motor pool to a father and businessman frustrated by his employees wasn't much of a stretch for Ford. And therein laid the problem. As we all know, Judy Carne would rebound two years later with Love on a Rooftop before gaining icon status on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.

Rating: B--.

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