Most of you might remember when Sheldon Leonard had produced My World...And Welcome To It, based on the works of James Thurber, with William Windom in the lead, in 1969. But, what you might not know is that this was actually the 2nd attempt at bringing Thurber's vision of humor to the small screen.
Eight years earlier, Four Star took a chance, and with lawyer Jules Goldstone, the legal advisor to Thurber, serving as executive producer, served up The Secret Life of James Thurber. Comic Orson Bean was cast in the role of John Munroe. Check it out.
Take note that at the 24 minute mark, the episode actually ends, and Bean introduces the rest of the cast.....
We've discussed how sitcoms were not Four Star's strong suit, no matter how they tried. They even had an unsold pilot with movie icon Bette Davis, for example. Credit to Goldstone, a Schenectady native, for having the patience to wait for the opportunity to try again came along. Goldstone passed away in 1980, so he wasn't around for the remake of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", more than 30 years later, with Ben Stiller in the role made famous by Danny Kaye.
Orson Bean, of course, is best remembered for a long stint as a panelist on To Tell The Truth, and would finally land a significant primetime gig years later, in a dramatic role, on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Rating: B.
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