In 1970, ABC introduced The Odd Couple, a sitcom led by Jack Klugman and Tony Randall that turned out to be more than just a comedy classic, becoming one of the “best TV sitcoms of all time.”
In a ranking released by Rolling Stone, the series was named among the highly celebrated comedy shows that left a lasting mark on television.
At No. 55, The Odd Couple stood out for its unique mismatched-roommate premise, excellent writing and the cast’s impeccable comedic timing, which blended seamlessly to cement its place among television’s most memorable sitcoms.
Officially premiering on Sept. 24, 1970, the series centered on two divorced men. Felix Unger, an uptight, obsessively neat and organized photographer, was played by Randall, while Oscar Madison, a laid-back sportswriter, was portrayed by Klugman.
The two lived together as roommates in a Manhattan apartment.
However, their vastly different personalities and quirky habits soon led to an iconic clash.
ABC’s The Odd Couple Season 1 starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
With five seasons and a total of 114 episodes that ran from 1970 to its cancellation in 1975, the ABC sitcom received 14 nominations and won three Primetime Emmy Awards.
These included Klugman’s two Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series wins in 1971 and 1973 and Randall’s Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series win in 1975.
Randall once spoke about how The Odd Couple was more than just a typical sitcom.
The actor believed that the show worked because it was grounded in believable characters and their emotional struggles, allowing the comedy to emerge naturally.
“If Jack doesn’t like something,” Randall told Star Tribune via Women’s World, “inevitably it’s something that I don’t like, either, and vice-versa. So far we’ve thrown out four scripts and that’s very expensive, because they had a lot of money invested in them. Now maybe if the show does run a long time, we won’t be able to maintain those standards and we’ll have to start doing some of those others, but I hope not. New writers, in particular, come in with scripts full of gags, gags, gags, because they want to impress the producers. I’m not all that interested in being funny all the time. These are really very sad characters, these divorced men living together, and when we lose that quality, I think we lose the show.”
Despite being a classic TV show with multiple Emmy wins and nominations, The Odd Couple wasn’t considered a ratings powerhouse during its original run.
As mentioned by CBS News, it never made it onto Nielsen’s Top 25 highest-rated TV programs, and ABC reportedly considered canceling the sitcom each season.
However, thanks to its summer reruns, The Odd Couple performed better than expected, helping the series continue for five seasons.
Fifty-one years after ABC ended the sitcom, the comedy series has maintained its timeless appeal.
Beyond Rolling Stone’s recognition, Time magazine also listed The Odd Couple among its“All-TIME 100 TV Shows,” highlighting how the comedy explored the challenges of divorce through the lead stars’ chemistry and perfectly contrasting characters.
Related: 1986 CBS Show, Ranked Among ‘Best TV Sitcoms of All Time,’ Still Holds Up 33 Years Later
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