The Odd Couple

MATTHEW PERRY DODGED A BULLET

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Matthew Perry has every reason to smile as he takes off for parts unknown at LAX – his Odd Couple series was teetering, but looks like it IS returning for another season on CBS. Since Perry’s other sitcom attempts after “Friends” have failed, this is good news. Unfortunately the updated Odd Couple scripts are just not as funny as the original series. There is a distinct lack of subtlety with every punchline delivered on the new show, followed by loud laughter. The writing just isn’t that creative, (“Friends” spoiled us.) Hopefully next season will be better…

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

MATTHEW PERRY IS LIVING THE ROLE OF OSCAR MADISON

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Matthew Perry looks like he’s REALLY getting into character for his likeable slob role of Oscar Madison on his new series The Odd Couple, or else he had a very wild weekend. He was snapped at the drugstore picking up his meds and looks like he needs them. Reviews of Odd Couple have not been good, so as producer, he does have a lot to worry about.

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

MATTHEW PERRY IS THE SLOPPY HALF OF “THE ODD COUPLE”

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“Friends” star Matthew Perry’s dream just came true. He saw Neil Simon’s movie “The Odd Couple” when he was 10 years old, and always dreamed of playing Oscar Madison, the messy sportswriter. He pitched an updated remake to CBS with himself as producer, co-writer, and star, and they ordered a pilot! He’s got a “Frasier” writer, Joe Keenan, on board, and now all the show needs is a Felix Unger! How about David Hyde Pierce? Or Eric McCormack? Who do YOU think would be perfect for the fussbudget Felix role?

MATTHEW PERRY CAST HIMSELF IN THE WRONG PART

As soon as we heard about Matthew Perry producing and reviving an updated version of The Odd Couple TV series, we thought he’d be perfect as the persnickety Felix Unger. But oddly enough, in perhaps what might be a rush of misplaced masculinity, Matthew cast himself as the sloppy sportswriter Oscar Madison. Shouldn’t that role be played by someone more like his former Friends costar Matt Le Blanc? (It might be even more fun if Matthew Perry’s character Felix was gay.) Casting isn’t the only challenge here. The original writer Neil Simon wrote brilliant dialog and it won’t be easy to come anywhere near the quality of his work.

THE EMMY PEOPLE ARE WRONG – JACK KLUGMAN’S SON IS RIGHT

Jack Klugman’s son is absolutely right. Adam Klugman told The Hollywood Reporter that he is outraged because his father (who died this year at age 90) is not included in the special memorial tribute on Sunday’s Emmy show. The academy is featuring five special memorial salutes this year and Cory Monteith of Glee is among them, but not Klugman. Jack Klugman was a TV pioneer who spent five decades in our living rooms. He won 3 Emmys and sorry, but The Odd Couple trumps Glee any day. Adam says the Emmy organizers are touting Monteith to draw younger viewers. He’s right. It’s a cheap maneuver.

JACK KLUGMAN: THE LAST OF THE “ODD COUPLE” STARS IS GONE

Jack Klugman (top right,) the last remaining star of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple feature film and TV series, has died at the age of 90. Klugman played the gruff sportswriter Oscar opposite Tony Randall as the fussbudget Felix. in the popular 70’s TV series. In the 1968 movie, Walter Matthau starred as Oscar and Jack Lemmon as Felix. We loved both the movie and the series – they were all great actors who are all gone now. Which was your favorite couple? (Feel free to mix and match.)

“ODD COUPLE” CINDY WILLIAMS AND JOANNE WORLEY ARE A HIT AT THE JERSEY SHORE

A blast from the past! A different generation has taken up residence on the Jersey Shore – in Beach Haven, to be exact.“L averne & Shirley” star Cindy Williams and Joanne Worley from “Laugh-In” are doing summer theater there – and appearing together in the female version of Neil Simon’s ”The Odd Couple.” Cindy plays messy Olive Madison (the Jack Klugman role) and Joanne plays neat freak Florence Unger (the Tony Randall role.) The Jersey Shore is loving their show – it’s such a hit that the number of performances has already doubled for the 3 week gig and the stars have no time to go to the beach.