Posted by Dr. Bombay on August 19, 2011, 1:53 am Resident Bewitched Historian
...tonight ABC re-aired Episode #224, "Out of the Mouths of Babes" which originally aired on March 25, 1971.
While Durwood is brushing up on his putt before going out to the green on a Saturday, Larry shows up wanting him to come into the office as he just heard that Mother Flannigan Stew is leaving Sloan & Sloan Advertising looking for a new outfit, and as it will bring in lots of revenue, Larry wants his best man on the account. Durwood tries to refuse but Larry reminds him that he’s the boss, so Durwood relents while Larry goes golfing, though Samantha zaps up a storm.
Later on, Endora pops in wanting to take Tabitha to the Unicorn Handicap but Durwood won’t hear of it. Endora says he’s acting like a child and makes it so that his appearance matches his mentality by making him ten years old! Tired of Durwood’s attitude, but pleased, Endora pops out. Samantha suggests that Durwood apologize as it will be the only way he’ll get back to his adult self, but as he’s so hard headed he refuses. Just then Larry shows up and Samantha introduces the young man as Marvin, Durwood’s nephew. Larry asks where Durwood is and Samantha tells him he went to the nursery for things for the garden. He says he’ll just wait as he wants to run some ideas for Mother Flannigan’s by him and that he’ll just take a nap in the den. Meanwhile, as she doesn’t want Durwood stewing at home, Samantha asks him to go play with Tabitha in the park.
When Tabitha and Durwood return, Tabitha tells her mommy that some boys at the park asked Durwood to play basketball with them and he was very good. Just then there is a knock at the door and it turns out to be a boy from the park, Herbie, who wanted to ask Marvin to join their team, especially for their big game the next day. He also smells Samantha cooking something and she tells the boys that it’s Mother Flannigan’s Irish Stew. Herbie invites himself to dinner but when he tastes it, he decides to go home. When Durwood tastes it, he realizes it’s disgusting and he apologizes to Endora who zaps him back. He tells Samantha that he’s actually grateful that he was a kid as he would’ve never met Herbie who showed him the reason that the stew sales were slipping.
After Larry tastes the stew, he realizes that they are just going to have to sell it anyway, but Samantha reminds him that his integrity is at stake. Later on, Larry returns with Mr. Flannigan and Samantha suggests that Durwood have Marvin tell Mr. Flannigan that the stew is terrible. When Marvin does tell the truth, Mr. Flannigan appreciates his honesty as he recalls that he hated the stew when he was little as it was based on his mother’s recipe. After Samantha changes Durwood back to normal, Mr. Flannigan laments the fact that he has so much product sitting in his warehouse but Samantha tells him that he can still use them if he makes one change, and that is to call it Mother Flannigan’s Doggie Stew and label it as dog food. Larry about chokes on his drink but Mr. Flannigan likes the idea.
The next day Herbie shows up wanting to know if Marvin is going to come play basketball just as Durwood is going to golf. Knowing that it was Herbie’s help that got him the account, Durwood says he’ll go get Marvin and he runs upstairs and Samantha changes him into Herbie.
I don't like this episode at all! It seems that Elizabeth Montgomery's boredom is shining brighter than ever and all with those HIDEOUS pants! Did you notice at the first when she's sitting in the chair she just looks SO bored that she can't even hold her head up in the far shots, but then when they do close-ups, she's mustered enough energy to hold her head up? I realize that it may just be Liz's acting skills, ‘cause who the hell would want to see Durwood practicing golf? Especially as stupidly as he was doing it? But even then, it just seemed the whole episode was Liz just going through the motions, just like last episode.
Gene Andrusco (Marvin) grew up to be a musician and producer. He even founded a band called Adam Again. He passed away on March 20, 2000 in his sleep. Eric Scott played Herbie and would go on to play Ben Walton on The Waltons. I think Gene was a good choice for young Dick Sargent as I thought he looked very much like him. And it was really irritating having Dick Sargent's voice used for Marvin. It was not funny in the least, though I do like that Larry mentions it. But why not just have it like it was when Billy Mumy was Durwood (Season Two’s “Junior Executive”) and use his real voice? That's what would've happened had Durwood really been turned into a little boy.
I also didn't like that Endora changes him back unseen and is never heard from again the rest of the episode.
I also liked when Larry said, "SAM!"
Other than that, this episode bites in my opinion.
"I never did dig what Sammy dug about that dodo." ~ Serena
Re: 40 Years Ago...
Posted by maurine on August 19, 2011, 9:29 pm, in reply to "40 Years Ago..."
I love Sam's jingle--I sing it all the time. And I love Tabitha's line: "Gee, I miss all the fun around here!" Notice that Larry first comes in the house in a blue sweater, gold top, and black pants (and, inexplicably, red socks!); he returns from the golf course wearing a gold sweater, blue shirt, and white pants!
There's also an inconsistency here with a previous episode re. Darrin's tenure on his college basketball team. An "all-star forward at Missouri State" here. Anyone remember the other one?
I totally agree about Marvin's voice. Kind of like, Why didn't they let Audrey Hepburn sing in "My Fair Lady"???
Great review, Doc!"Witches are good! Witches are dear!"
Re: 40 Years Ago...
Posted by MrMortimer on August 21, 2011, 10:03 pm, in reply to "40 Years Ago..."
I agree Doc! I can rarely watch this episode because of the dubbing of DS' voice for Marvin. And Mother Flannigan's doggy stew as a solution for the client, utterly ridiculous.
Re: 40 Years Ago...
Posted by Sammy74 on August 24, 2011, 3:12 pm, in reply to "Re: 40 Years Ago..."
Agreed. This is a stinker of an episode. It was on WGN the other day & I just couldn't sit through it.
But Maureen...I ALWAYS notice those blaring red socks of Larry's when I DO sit through it...like every 5 yrs or so. I'm a stay at home mom, just like Samantha!