The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

7.7 | TV-PG | en | Comedy

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1959 to 1963. The series and several episode scripts were adapted from a 1951 collection of short stories of the same name, written by Max Shulman, who had also written a feature film adaptation of his short stories for MGM in 1953, The Affairs of Dobie Gillis. The series revolved around the life of teenager/young adult Dobie Gillis, who, along with his best friend, beatnik Maynard G. Krebs, struggles against the forces of his life - high school, the military, college, and his parents - as he aspires to attain both wealth and dates with girls. The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis was produced by Martin Manulis Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Creator Shulman also wrote the theme song in collaboration with Lionel Newman.

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Seasons & Episodes

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EP36  The Devil and Dobie Gillis
Jun. 05,1963
The Devil and Dobie Gillis

Desperate for date money, Dobie figuratively sells his soul to Chatsworth and agrees to fix the outcome of a $5,000 charity raffle.

EP35  The Call of the, Like, Wild
May. 29,1963
The Call of the, Like, Wild

A chemical concoction makes Maynard irresistible to women.

EP34  Beauty Is Only Kin Deep
May. 22,1963
Beauty Is Only Kin Deep

Dobie falls in love with a girl at school, but family tradition prevents her from marrying until a match can be found for her older sister.

EP33  There's a Broken Light for Every Broken Heart on Broadway
May. 15,1963
There's a Broken Light for Every Broken Heart on Broadway

Maynard guides a fellow student to become a singing sensation, then ponders if he should step aside when a big-time agent wants to take her on.

EP32  I Was a Spy for the F.O.B.
May. 08,1963
I Was a Spy for the F.O.B.

On a trip to Washington DC with the Gillises, Maynard gets mistaken for a rocket scientist and sought by foreign spies for his secret fuel formula.

EP31  Requiem for an Underweight Heavyweight
May. 01,1963
Requiem for an Underweight Heavyweight

Maynard temporarily gains super-strength. Mr. Gillis becomes his prize fighting manager.

EP30  The Rice and Old Shoes Caper
Apr. 24,1963
The Rice and Old Shoes Caper

Zelda is tired of being rejected by Dobie, while Maynard realizes that no other woman would put up with him.

EP29  Lassie, Get Lost
Apr. 17,1963
Lassie, Get Lost

A teenage celebrity's dog is lost and Dobie tries to find it.

EP28  Now I Lay Me Down to Steal
Apr. 10,1963
Now I Lay Me Down to Steal

Staying overnight at the Osbourne mansion with Dobie and his new girlfriend, Maynard is suspected of stealing jewelry from their safe when he is found sleepwalking.

EP27  The General Cried at Dawn
Apr. 03,1963
The General Cried at Dawn

Maynard doubles for a Latin American general while on vacation.

EP26  There's Always Room for One Less
Mar. 27,1963
There's Always Room for One Less

Thrown out by his mother, Chatsworth moves in with the Gillises for a while.

EP25  The Little Chimp That Couldn't
Mar. 20,1963
The Little Chimp That Couldn't

A test chimpanzee is doomed unless Maynard can show that he is more talented than he seems.

EP24  Beethoven, Presley, and Me
Mar. 13,1963
Beethoven, Presley, and Me

The song-analyzing qualities of a computer are transfered to Maynard, and cousin Virgil uses his ability to predict hit songs to become a singing star.

EP23  Three Million Coins in the Fountain
Mar. 06,1963
Three Million Coins in the Fountain

When Chatsworth's family goes broke, he gets Maynard and Duncan to help him raise money claiming it is charity for a needy family.

EP22  Thanks for the Memory
Feb. 27,1963
Thanks for the Memory

When a foreign student likes Dobie because he is simple-minded, Zelda decides to teach him how to improve his memory

EP21  The Beast with Twenty Fingers
Feb. 20,1963
The Beast with Twenty Fingers

Maynard and Herbert get struck in one of those finger toys just as Mr. Gillis is about to leave for a grocer's convention.

EP20  The Moon and No Pence
Feb. 13,1963
The Moon and No Pence

Dobie falls for brainy a Russian ballerina and solicits Zelda's aid to improve his grades. When that fails, he ends up dancing outside her window.

EP19  Two for the Whipsaw
Feb. 06,1963
Two for the Whipsaw

Chatsworth pays Dobie to take his place at a fancy dinner with old friends of the family, whose daughter he remembers as being particularly ugly.

EP18  And Now a Word From Our Sponsor
Jan. 30,1963
And Now a Word From Our Sponsor

Dobie is the new DJ on the college radio station. A mobster tries to give him payola to make his country-singer girlfriend a star.

EP17  All Right, Dobie, Drop the Gun
Jan. 23,1963
All Right, Dobie, Drop the Gun

A fugitive criminal and his girlfriend hold up the Gillises in the store. Maynard arrives and complicates the situation.

EP16  Vocal Boy Makes Good
Jan. 16,1963
Vocal Boy Makes Good

Performing at Pryor College, the Lettermen hire Dobie as an emergency replacement singer.

EP15  Too Many Kooks Spoil the Broth
Jan. 09,1963
Too Many Kooks Spoil the Broth

Dobie falls for a kitchenware heiress and wants to impress her by selling one of the man's Quickie-Cookers.

EP14  Who Did William Tell?
Jan. 02,1963
Who Did William Tell?

Duncan gets a role in a visiting production of William Tell and falls for a young opera star, unaware she has a jealous boyfriend.

EP13  Will the Real Santa Claus Please Come Down the Chimney
Dec. 19,1962
Will the Real Santa Claus Please Come Down the Chimney

To cure Maynard of his childish belief in Santa Claus, Mr. Gillis climbs down the chimney on Christmas Eve and gets stuck.

EP12  Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Gillis
Dec. 12,1962
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Gillis

To avoid failing an upcoming test that will cause him to flunk out of school, Maynard drinks a potion that is supposed to turn him into a genius, but ends up transforming him into a monster.

EP11  The Iceman Goeth
Dec. 05,1962
The Iceman Goeth

Maynard and Duncan accidentally lock Mr. Gillis in the meat freezer, and think they've killed him.

EP10  Strictly for the Birds
Nov. 28,1962
Strictly for the Birds

Dobie and Maynard train a mynah bird to help them with their history exam.

EP9  Flow Gently, Sweet Money
Nov. 21,1962
Flow Gently, Sweet Money

An older woman teaches Duncan how to be rotten to succeed in the world so he'll be able to provide for her younger sister. But meanwhile the younger sister is falling for nice, honest Dobie.

EP8  Where is Thy Sting
Nov. 14,1962
Where is Thy Sting

Dobie pretends to be terminaly ill to gain a girl's sympathy. However, due to a mixup, Dobie is led to believe he's really in poor health.

EP7  Like Hi, Exlosives
Nov. 07,1962
Like Hi, Exlosives

Duncan and Maynard don't realize they loaded up the Gillis Grocery delivery truck with a case of nitroglycerin.

EP6  What Makes the Varsity Drag?
Oct. 31,1962
What Makes the Varsity Drag?

Dobie joins the football squad to impress a girl, but only succeeds in making her big bruiser boyfriend jealous.

EP5  A Splinter Off the Old Block
Oct. 24,1962
A Splinter Off the Old Block

Dobie's teenage cousin Duncan moves in with the Gillises and tells Dobie's girlfriend that Dobie needs help for a drinking problem.

EP4  The Ugliest American
Oct. 17,1962
The Ugliest American

On a class trip to an African jungle, Dobie is captured by a tribe of cannibals.

EP3  Northern Comfort
Oct. 10,1962
Northern Comfort

Mrs. Gillis's cousin Virgil visits and gets the Gillises to supply him with all he needs for a singing engagement.

EP2  What's a Little Murder Between Friends
Oct. 03,1962
What's a Little Murder Between Friends

Dobie names Thaila as his beneficiary on a life insurance policy, then becomes paranoid that she and Maynard are trying to kill him.

EP1  A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to a Funny Thing
Sep. 26,1962
A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to a Funny Thing

Maynard saves a suicidal jumper but falls from the ledge himself and is taken to a psycho ward.

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7.7 | TV-PG | en | Comedy | More Info
Released: 1959-09-29 | Released Producted By: 20th Century Fox Television , Martin Manulis Productions Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1959 to 1963. The series and several episode scripts were adapted from a 1951 collection of short stories of the same name, written by Max Shulman, who had also written a feature film adaptation of his short stories for MGM in 1953, The Affairs of Dobie Gillis. The series revolved around the life of teenager/young adult Dobie Gillis, who, along with his best friend, beatnik Maynard G. Krebs, struggles against the forces of his life - high school, the military, college, and his parents - as he aspires to attain both wealth and dates with girls. The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis was produced by Martin Manulis Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Creator Shulman also wrote the theme song in collaboration with Lionel Newman.

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Cast

Dwayne Hickman , Bob Denver , Frank Faylen

Director

Martin Manulis

Producted By

20th Century Fox Television , Martin Manulis Productions

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Reviews

Greatornot Think hippy version of "Saved by the Bell" , which was preppy a couple decades plus later. Comparisons to "Square Pegs", with the valley talk are at minimum, being this is based more on stories from boys. That said, this was not a good show. The forced dialogue of saying words such as man,like or cat was just too much. It seemed every sentence had at least one of those words and they even had the authority figures saying these words, including parents and teachers and police officers. I just thought it was over the top. Kind of cultish , which I understand would appeal to a certain segment. Other than that , a show I was disappointed in seeing, after a lot of hype. I gave it 3 episodes and still do not like it. I give it the 3 stars based on superb acting. Very simple show but it translates to dullsville.
cshep Brilliant writing by Max Schulman, "The Many Lives of Dobie Gillis", not to be confused with the earlier movie versions, centers around the exploits of Dobie Gillis(Dwayne Hickman) and Maynard G.(Walter) Krebs.The story basically takes place at the local high school in Central City , where Dobie fantasizes about his gal pal relationships, and encounters coming of age adventures.This IS "Classic" TV, it works on many levels, youth , angst, changing American cultures,Generation Gap,even before anyone knew it existed.Maynard G. Krebs(Bob Denver) delivers wonderful performances as the sidekick, and eternally loyal friend to Dobie. More often a hindrance than a help, Maynard can be trusted to be the difference.All-Star Cast of Frank Faylen and Florida Friebus as the loving and somewhat disciplinarian parents, Herbert T. and Winfred are timeless.They own a local grocery store, but have trouble making ends meet. The rest of the Cast shine just as brightly Tuesday Weld, Steve Franken, Warren Beatty, Jean Byron, William Schallert, Sheila James, and Doris Packer all help to stir this delicious offering.Underrated for having adolescent themes, Dobie Gillis transcends its' generational limitations, and provides solid enlightenment and entertainment, to all who see it as more than situation comedy. 10 stars out of 10, has it really been 50 plus years.I remember when it went off the air,that they would surely bring it back, because it had been such a terrific show....Then came Gilligan's Island...ouch
berylgray Now all you Wodehouse fans don't have a cow...Dobie is not a copy of Bertie. Bertie comes from money, Dobie's parent run a Mom-an-Pop grocery store. Bertie has a continental charm, Dobie has a corn-fed earnestness. Bertie spends all of his time running from women, Dobie spends all of his time chasing girls. Bertie has Jeeves, Dobie has Maynard G. Krebs, and I think that says it all.Though I enjoyed the series when I saw it as a kid (first run), I didn't really get much of the sweet heartache of the show until I was in high school and trying to catch the attention of my own Thalia.Thing that I loved: Episodes opening with Rodin's "The Thinker" and Dobie trying to think his way out of his current situation...Dobie addressing the camera...Maynard's reaction to the word, "Work!"Let me encourage anyone who can to get the short story collection by Max Schulman. It is a complete delight and gave me a real appreciation for how well the TV show adapted the tone and snap of the book.Shulman also wrote "Rally Round the Flag, Boys" and "The Tender Trap" both made into enjoyable movies.
raysond After looking up this lost series from the late 50's,its repeats ran for a good number of years on CBN back in the 1980's and also recently on TV Land,but Dobie Gillis was the coolest show I ever had the pleasure of watching. Dwayne Hickman was the all- American boy next door who was always competing for the hand of Thalia Menninger(Tuesday Weld)from either Milton Armitage or the annoying Chatsworth Osbourne, Jr.(who was the rich kid that had everything)with the help of his good friend and sometimes wacky Maynard G. Krebbs(played by Bob Denver) who may have been lazy and sloppy,but he was really cool and down with the beat... in other words,the essential beatnick....... who was into Dizzy Gillespie and would go berserk if someone mention "work",around him. My friend and I were comparing Bob Denver's Maynard to his role as Gilligan years later,and in my opinion,MAYNARD RULES!!!!! Maynard was the coolest and hippest cat ever devised for a TV series,but also wasn't very bright,but still had his props to back up Dobie when needed(especially in a couple of episodes where Dobie and Maynard enlist in the Army). The series ran for four seasons on CBS-TV from September of 1959 to the final episode of the series in August of 1963.Interesting point about this show: two of the stars of this series went on to greater glory(in feature films) after their run on Dobie Gillis: Tuesday Weld and Warren Beatty(who got his start here before he became box office draw in movieland circles as Mister Hollywood)Who would have thought that Warren Beatty in the first season of this series would played pretty boy Milton Armitage and make that transition to be one of the top box office superstars of all time?Recently,20th Century-Fox,which produced the series just released the complete first two seasons of "Dobie Gillis" on DVD that were broadcast between 1959 through 1961.