The Odd Couple/Cleanliness Is Next to Impossible

Cleanliness Is Next to Impossible
Season 4, Episode 15
Airdate	January 11, 1974
Production Number	086
Written by	Mark Rothman, Lowell Ganz
Directed by	Frank Buxton
← 4x14 The Moonlighter	4x16 → The Flying Felix
The Odd Couple — Season Four

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Cleanliness Is Next to Impossible is the fifteenth episode of the fourth season of The Odd Couple, and the eighty-fifth episode overall.

Guest Stars: Richard Stahl (Dr. Bates), Allan Arbus (Ernie), Janice Lynde (Phyllis), Shirley Mitchell (Receptionist)

Plot Overview

Oscars girlfriend Phyllis wants to break off their relationship because of Oscars sloppy behavior.She tells Oscar,and needless to say,he is upset.Felix offers to help him,to become a neat person.Felix's attempt at this fail.So,they go to seek professional help from a Psychiatrist.After watching the Doctor,and his Secretary insult one another over a trivial matter,Oscar,and Felix quickly leave.Felix's next move is to seek out a Hypnotist.He brings to the Apartment his Friend Ernie.After showing him Oscars Room Ernie decides to hypnotise Oscar.So as not to have Oscar resist Hypnosis,Felix would introduce Ernie as a friend who reads the Sports Pages of Oscar's Column.While complimenting Oscar on his writing style,Ernie mesmorises Oscar until Oscar is fast asleep.He gives Oscar a post hypnotic suggestion to become neat.He gives oscar a trigger to which Felix will use at the right time.He awakens Oscar putting him at ease with no memory of his being hynotised.The two arrange a date wit Phyllis,and Felix's girlfriend Miriam.Oscar is very nervous fearing that Phyllis will judge everything that he does.Felix not wanting Oscar to be nervous puts him at ease with the Doctor post hypnotic words.The words are:"The fault lays not with the stars,but with ourselves".This is a line from one of William Shakespears Plays.Whenever Felix says this quote,Oscar transforms into an incredible neat,and well-mannered Man.However,when the women arrive for dinner,Oscar becomes a picky fault-finding bore.So, much so that it angers Phyllis who threatens to break off with him.She is sorry that she ever criticised his sloppy ways,and would like for him to become sloppy again.Afterwards,she storms out of their Apartment.Felix at Miriams suggestion brings Oscar out of his hypnotic state.He tells Oscar about his friend Ernie,the post hypnotic suggestion that he was put under,and how he behaved at dinner.Felix urges Oscar to go make up with Phyllis,or he'll never see her again.While explaining all this to Oscar,they both laugh like it was a big joke.Oscar seems to enjoy the events of the evening,until when he tells Felix to clean his shirt,Felix sees no stain until Oscar tosses a plate full of food on Felix's shirt.Oscar then leaves.The final scene has Oscar,and Phyllis coming into the Apartment after their date,just as in the beginning of the this episode.

Notes

Oscar in his hypnotic state is worst than Felix in his fussiness.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

Oscar,and Phyllis entering his Apartment after their date.Oscar showing signs of being neat,sitting up straight,and straigtening a picture on a Wall.

Characters

Felix,Oscar,Phyllis,Miriam,and Ernie

Trivia

Interestingly,Allen Arbus who plays the part of Ernie,has played another type of Doctor on another T.V. Show...M*A*S*H.

Memorable Moments

The word exchange between Dr.Bates,and his Secretary.Oscar under hypnosis critising Miriam,and Phyllis.

Reviews

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