It's Christmas Time in the City: The Doris Day Show

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to watch Doris Day in whatever movie you can find. Today though, let's focus on her eponymous television show and explore one of its Christmas episodes. 

via Decades

This episode of The Doris Day Show originally aired on December 21, 1970, as part of the show's third season.

Disclaimer: I'd never seen an episode of The Doris Day Show until now. You can borrow the first season at my local library, but I've been putting it off. This episode was available as part of a special DVD called "Classic TV Comedy Christmas" that also featured episodes from The Donna Reed Show, Petticoat Junction, The Honeymooners, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Family Affair. 

I've heard good things and bad things about The Doris Day Show, but I have to say: I'm intrigued after watching this. I'll definitely explore in the new year!

I love the look of mod Doris Day; it seems so opposed to her wholesome '50s image, but it works for her. 

She and best friend Myrna are commiserating over how many shopping days are left until Christmas (two) and how many Doris needs to finish her shopping (four). Myrna said she went broken six shopping days ago.

They also promise not to buy each other presents because why bother? But then they describe the presents they would've bought for each other (an evening bag for Myrna and a jewellery box for Doris), and both hem and haw about it for a bit. Doris even asks if Myrna's sure she wants to go through with this not exchanging gifts thing, but they laugh it off. 

Outside the Palucci restaurant (and apartment building where Doris lives), a Santa is raising money to buy toys for the less fortunate, and Doris ponies up some spare change. 

She stops to talk with the landlords, Louie and Angie Pallucci, a married couple. They're sprucing the place up for Christmas and Louie offered to cook the turkey for Doris this year. 

But there's a Scrooge afoot. Meet Mr. Jarvis, Doris's cantankerous neighbour who hates noise and Christmas and the whole Christmas season. He sounds like a Grinch, eh? Actually, he sounds more like the magician from Frosty the Snowman and that's because this is Billy De Wolfe, the man who voiced that character.

Further proof of Hollywood typecasting, eh? We need a cantankerous man to ruin Christmas cheer... Get Billy De Wolfe on the horn!

He stops to talk with Doris and the Paluccis for a few minutes, and totally ruins their spirits about the wreathes they're hanging up. Doris says she feels bad for him that he can't even enjoy the holidays. 

At home, Doris catches the kids trying to peek at their presents. They ask who's coming to the party tomorrow night and she lists everyone...except Mr. Jarvis. So they ask if she'll invite him, and she admits she doesn't want to because he's grumpy. 

But Tommy says that you're supposed to be nice at Christmas, so she caves and says she'll invite him after all. 

Cut to Mr. Jarvis, who's yelling at the Santa again for clanging the bell. He's a true Grinch!

He's just gotten settled in when Doris bangs on the door. He invites her in but only "if you insist" and doesn't even want her to sit but only "if you must." She tells him that she's having a party on Christmas Eve, and he latches onto the word 'party.' 

She tells him that it'll be quiet, and that she wants to bury the hatchet since it's Christmas. He tells her he never goes to parties, especially not at Christmas. This season is too loud, he says. He only celebrates January 2nd because it's when all the noise is over. 

He then threatens to call the police if he hears even a hint of a noise. "I intend to spend Chrsitmas Eve as quietly as possible finishing book," he says. He loves Scrooge and A Christmas Carol. Then he slams the door in Doris's face. 

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Jarvis." 

This is a '70s chic living room if I've ever seen one. Look at the carpet! This sort of reminds me of my parents' house when I was young. 

Doris is also very chic. I love the dress and her beehive. 

Here come the Palluccis with a turkey and chestnut stuffing. "If this turkey had known how he was going to end up, he'd be proud to go," Mr. Palucci says. Doris says it'll go well with her candied yams and cranberry sauce. 

The Paluccis are excited about the party, and Doris tells them about going to invite Mr. Jarvis. They're happy he turned down the invite. "If we wanna make noise, we're gonna make noise!" Angie says. "We can have a great party and not make a lot of noise," Doris says. 

And here's Doris's father, Buck. 

He compliments her dress and she pulls the '70s version of 'thanks, it has pockets.' 

"You like it? It's pants!" 

Next, Ron and Michael and Myrna show up. Note that Myrna has Doris's jewellery box with her, and as they're hanging coats in the closet, Doris says that Myrna's evening bag is under the tree. 

It's a pretty calm party for a while, but then Ron says that it's too quiet and he wants to liven it up.

So he hauls out his little trumpet "that plays big band," and starts wailing. He's a good player, at least. He gets a little ways through 'Jingle Bells' before the knocking starts. 

"Mrs. Martin, I warned you I will not tolerate anymore of this noise and if it continues, I shall complain to the landlords!" Mr. Jarvis shouts from outside. 

Then Louis comes over and wrenches the door open to show his support for Doris. "We promise to keep it down," Doris says. "Let us hope so," Mr. Jarvis replies. Ron offers to put a mute in the horn if she wants, but he ends up abandoning it altogether.

Soon the party goes back to its chill atmosphere...

...but Ethel and Ron think it's too dullsville and they turn on the music. Cue Mr. Jarvis! Also, what in the heck is that romper? 

Mr. Jarvis says he's going to call the police if the noise continues, so Doris turns off the music. 

They're all trying to think of ways to have fun without provoking Mr. Jarvis, and they come up with the idea to sing Christmas carols around the piano. Surely Mr. Jarvis can't have an issue with Christmas carols? 

Wrong! Mr. Jarvis has had it and he's calling the police. Except he hangs up, exasperated, when the police officer on phone duty wishes him a Merry Christmas in greeting. 

The party is totally unbothered though. Next, Doris sings 'Silver Bells' on her own, and at first Mr. Jarvis is annoyed again, but something happens while he listens to her sing (and can you blame him when it's Doris Day singing?)...

...so he goes down to her apartment again, this time as the gang's singing 'Silent Night' and peeps at the door. Doris, finally, is fed up and about to give him a piece of her mind, but before she can, Mr. Jarvis surprises her with his emotional reaction to the singing and asks if he can join in on the caroling instead. 

And of course Doris folds him right into the party, giving him pride of place at the piano with her sons. 

And then everyone gathers around the table to feast on everything Doris and the Palucci's cooked up. 

Doris comes out and breaks the fourth wall, wishing us a Merry Christmas.

"This is our Christmas party, and we want to thank you all for coming. We've had a marvelous time and we hope that you have too. So from all of us here, to all of you out there, may we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with peace, and joy, and much love. Good night!" 

THE END