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The Doris Day Show Season 2 Episodes
Season 2 Episode Guide
26 Episodes 1969 - 1970
Episode 1
Doris Gets a Job
Mon, Sep 22, 196923 mins
Doris' big morning entails going into the city to look for an office type job. After a few missteps, all on the potential employers' parts, Doris initially thinks she's hit the jackpot when she steps into the offices of Today's World Magazine, the advertised job as the administrative assistant to the managing editor, Michael Nicholson. The one thing Doris learns from Myrna Gibbons, who is doing the job temporarily until Nicholson hires someone permanent, is that he, as a bachelor, does not understand family commitments and thus frowns upon hiring wives and especially mothers who may feel that family comes before business. On Myrna's advice, Doris decides not to tell Nicholson about her family. It works as Doris gets the job. But Doris is so nervous around her new boss trying to keep the secret about her children. Doris' job may be threatened when Buck decides to surprise Doris by bringing the kids into the office so that they can take her out to dinner on her first day, but that threat is not quite what Doris herself would have imagined it to be.
Episode 2
A Frog Called Harold
Mon, Sep 29, 196923 mins
Late one night, Harold, Toby's beloved frog, has once again escaped from his home, a shoebox. By the next morning, Harold is still nowhere to be seen. What the family is unaware of is that Harold has found his way into Doris' purse, the one she brings to work with her that day. Harold ends up causing a bit of a ruckus for Doris for the day as he escapes into the general office at Today's World, and further escapes to a bank. The questions become whether Doris will be able to keep her job after all is said and done let alone not be sent to jail regarding one incident in particular, and if Harold will make it home in one piece.
Episode 3
Married for a Day
Mon, Oct 6, 196923 mins
While Nick and Doris are out for a special lunch at a restaurant, the lunch a reward for the hard work they've put into an article Nick is in the process of writing and which needs to be finished in the next day, he spots an old flame, Karen Carruthers, who he has not seen in four years, and who he would prefer not to see. Confirmed bachelor Nick refers to her as the "Beautiful Barracuda". He believes she, recently divorced, has come back to San Francisco specifically to get her claws back into him, most specifically as her next husband. While Nick plays a game of hide and seek with Karen who did not see him at the restaurant, she is ultimately able to track him down at Doris', where the two were working/hiding out from Karen. Caught off guard by Karen's arrival at the farm, Nick decides to introduce Doris as his wife. The questions become if: Nick and Doris can complete their work with Karen hanging around; they can pull off the ruse to Karen, especially when Buck and the boys, as Nick's instant family, have no idea what's going on; and Karen really is back in town in her want to be "Mrs. Nicholson".
Episode 4
The Woman Hater
Mon, Oct 13, 196923 mins
Even if Nick's motivation may be to stir up controversy and increase circulation, Doris hates the tone of Alex Rhinehart's series of articles he has written for the magazine, the latest piece entitled "Women: The Unnecessary Sex". Without ever having met Rhinehart, Doris believes he would be the most conceited, egotistical and pig-headed person she would have ever had the pleasure of not meeting. That status changes when Nick asks Doris to pick up some materials directly from Rhinehart. Although she ends up not hating him after they have a chance to have a discussion about his stance on life, Doris ultimately believes he is just misguided in his anti-marriage stance. But there is also a developing mutual attraction between the two, so much so that he asks her out. Although Doris is happy that he isn't the man she thought he would be, she is less enthralled by Nick's resulting news: that Alex has changed his stance on women and will not allow his latest piece to be published. As the magazine has soared with Alex's articles, Doris has to figure out a way to have Alex continue with his anti-woman stance and thus lucrative contributions to the magazine, which could mean her job if she can't.
Episode 5
The Chocolate Bar War
Mon, Oct 20, 196923 mins
Mr. Nicholson asks Doris the personal favor to be his date at a business party hosted by advertising client Craig Fletcher and his wife. Doris is more than happy to oblige, even after Nick mentions that being "wholesome" she is a more appropriate date to impress the square suburbanite Mrs. Fletcher than any of the fun-loving women he usually dates. One of the more recent "wholesome" activities Doris is embarking on as a mother is helping Billy sell chocolate bars for his Boy Scout troop's fundraising candy week. It's a competition among the scouts to sell the most. She vows to help him set up a stand outside of their neighborhood supermarket after another mother and her scout son chased him away from that locale the day before, claiming that the spot was theirs. After setting up outside the market, that same mother returns with her son, and the two mothers settle into a simmering competition. What Doris is unaware of until she accompanies Nick to the business party is that the other mother is none other than Mrs. Fletcher. Doris has to figure out a way to avoid Mrs. Fletcher for the evening, without seeming too conspicuous about it.
Episode 6
The Health King
Mon, Nov 10, 196923 mins
Nick is having problems even trying to speak to, let alone arrange a meeting with Bruce Sanders, whose latest non-fiction book, "How to Build a Better Body", Nick wants to serialize in the magazine. Nick asks Doris, in her first step to an executive position at the magazine, to try to get that meeting with Sanders in his place. Doris is able to get a meeting with him, but finds that their discussions have to be fit in around and during his excessive workout schedule or publicity engagements. Because of such distractions, Sanders suggests dinner at his apartment, which Doris agrees but is not looking forward to solely because she has seen what unusual health food he eats. But the business dinner is not quite what she expects in more ways than one. Although Nick appreciates the personal connection Doris has made with Sanders, he feels that he has to intervene to get back to the original goal, which may be difficult for out of shape and uncoordinated Nick, who is nonetheless concerned for Doris' welfare being around a muscle-bound potential playboy.
Episode 7
Doris the Model
Mon, Nov 17, 196923 mins
Those at Today's World are excited by their scoop in Paris fashion designer Montagne previewing his latest collection for the magazine, with every fashion editor on the west coast attending the fashion show. Because all eyes will be on the event, especially from competing magazines, Nick wants to ensure that everything runs smoothly leading up to and during the show. It ends up that Montagne has issues of his own, namely that his two models, Yvette and Simone, are always running off in the hunt for American food, especially deli food, which is problematic both for them disappearing during crucial times, and the possibility of them not being able to fit into the clothes by show time if they overindulge. Doris appoints herself and Myrna to be the models' sitter, and to ensure they get to the show on time and in shape, or else the show may not go on, unless...
Episode 8
Doris Strikes Out
Mon, Nov 24, 196923 mins
Contrary to her statements otherwise, Doris is as awe struck by the presence of suave French movie star Claude LeMaire in Nick's office as any other red blooded woman, he who the magazine is doing a publicity piece on for the San Francisco premiere of his latest movie happening the following evening. Despite Doris' bumbling around LeMaire, he asks her to accompany him to the movie premiere, which she is more than happy to accept. Doris' date is placed into jeopardy when she, at the last minute, has to fill in for a injured and bedridden Buck as umpire at Billy's Little League game. Although the game should be over in plenty of time for Doris to make it back into town for the premiere, it ends up being a Murphy's Law game at least in the sense of Doris needing/wanting a short game. Doris has to do some creative umping to get to the movie on time, at the risk of her good name as a umpire.
Episode 9
Singles Only
Mon, Dec 8, 196923 mins
Myrna believes she has the answer to her single social status problem: Paradise Palms, a swinging singles apartment building. She and Doris decide at least to check the place out. Doris doesn't like the look of the building or the fact that the building manager, Lou Lester, doesn't seem to be totally up front about the complex. But Myrna does like what she sees in the complex, namely a handsome young man, and proceeds to sign a lease without even seeing the unit she is renting. After Myrna moves in, she quickly does learn that Lester misrepresented everything about the place, from the apartment she rented, to the amenities of the complex, to the overall quality of the clientèle, specifically the men. Doris has to try to figure out a way to help Myrna get out of the ironclad lease, which may entail Lester wanting to kick Myrna out through a little misrepresentation of their own.
Episode 10
Togetherness
Mon, Dec 15, 196923 mins
Because Doris has been working a lot of overtime, she wants to spend a quality Saturday - all day and all night - with the boys and Buck. She seemingly has every moment of the day planned, from sun up to sundown. The problem is is that she didn't tell them of this plan, or ask them if they wanted to spend the day with her. Although they love their mother, the boys already had a touch football game planned with their friends, which they would have preferred to have done. Half way through the day, Buck finally tells her of the boys' plans, which also includes a sleepover at a friend's house, and that she, in what she has done today, is acting like those overbearing mothers she detests so much. But in letting the boys go to the sleepover, Doris may have the togetherness she was planning - albeit not quite the way she envisioned - with an unsuspecting Ron Harvey caught in the middle of all the activity.
Episode 11
A Two-Family Christmas
Mon, Dec 22, 196923 mins
As Doris is helping decorate the office for the annual Christmas party, Buck telephones with the late idea of inviting Myrna, Ron and Mr. Nicholson - the three single people in the office - over for the weekend to spend an old fashioned Christmas with them at the ranch. When Doris asks them, they all have what sound like exotic out-of-town plans for the holidays. Buck is disappointed as although he enjoys the holidays with his daughter and grandsons, he sees Christmas as a time to spend with a houseful of those that you love. Beyond the invitation however, Mr. Nicholson is concerned about the office party, as he sees it get out of hand every year, particularly from over-imbibing on Ron's famous spiked punch. As this party marks Doris' first year, he asks her to be somewhat of a chaperon to ensure that nothing gets out of hand, although Doris isn't sure what she can do to prevent it from happening. The party seems to be heading true to form, from which Doris does her best to divert away. Once at home, Doris finds out that more people may have the same ideals as Buck of Christmas than what appeared on the surface.
Episode 12
You're as Old as You Feel
Mon, Dec 29, 196923 mins
Doris is throwing Buck a family birthday party, his age which he refuses to divulge. Regardless, those that know him marvel at how good shape he is in and active he is for a man his age. Buck, however, seems somewhat down during the party. It's because he is suffering with his first ever toothache, which turns out to be an abscess. Against Buck's wishes, the tooth is extracted. Buck is more belligerent than ever about dealing with the extraction and the resulting pain. Doris learns the reason for his anger is that the tooth and the pain, to him, are symbols that he is getting old, as he never gets sick or feels in ill health. All of a sudden, Buck starts to feel every sore muscle and hear every creaking bone in his body, or so he thinks. All he wants to do is nothing while he wallows in his depression. Doris has to figure out a way to get Buck out of his funk.
Episode 13
The Prizefighter and the Lady
Mon, Jan 5, 197023 mins
Because it would take away from his weekend social time, Ron asks Doris to go on assignment - what would be her first writing assignment - to cover Duke Farentino in the deserted mining town of Silver Gulch, he who is training there for the weekend in the title defense of his world middleweight boxing crown. Despite boxing not being Doris' interest, she reluctantly agrees. Although she arrives looking like the proverbial fish out of water, Doris is determined to fit in "with the boys". Duke ends up taking a special interest in Doris professionally because of his special interest in her personally, he who provides her exclusive access on behalf of all the members of the press. Doris ends up being a distraction to Duke - who professes his love for her - which could possibly ruin his chances of defending his title as he has her on his mind instead of boxing.
Episode 14
Doris vs. the Computer
Mon, Jan 12, 197023 mins
Despite having paid the bill in full three weeks ago, Doris has received two overdue and one final payment before service shutdown notices in the meantime from the electric company. With proof of payment in hand, an incensed Doris deals with the officious Willard Jarvis at the electric company, he who stands by the non-payment as stated by the company's computer, the 1176B, which handles customer accounts. As Doris' encounter with Jarvis does not resolve the matter, she enters into a David vs. Goliath battle with the electric company, and a more specific David vs. Goliath's assistant battle with Jarvis, 1176B and 1176B's siblings, 1176A and 1176C. Doris gets some unexpected help in the matter, some appreciated, some not so much.
Episode 15
Hot Dogs
Mon, Jan 19, 197023 mins
Walking through a parking lot at Fisherman's Wharf after their lunch on a hot day, Doris and Myrna see six poodles inside a locked station wagon, a business car of Paul's Poodle Parlor, with all the windows rolled up and no food or water inside. With Myrna's help, Doris does whatever needed to get the poodles out of this unsafe situation. Managing to break in, Doris figures that the most prudent course of action is to take the poodles back to the air-conditioned office--as Nick has gone for the day--and telephone "Paul" to have him pick up the poodles there, but not before she informs the poodles' owners of the shabby way Paul has treated them them and gives Paul a piece of her mind. In the aftermath, Doris faces two legal matters: Paul charges her with breaking and entering and theft; and her actions could affect Nick's abilities to get Supreme Court Justice William Forester to agree to have the magazine publish his memoirs.
Episode 16
Today's World Catches the Measles
Mon, Jan 26, 197023 mins
Nick is under a lot of pressure from Today's World publisher, Colonel Fairburn, as Nick and his executive team have lately had and are still having problems coming up with interesting and insightful feature stories. What Doris thinks Nick and Ron need is a day away from the office to let their minds relax and re-energize, she offering the farm as a retreat location on Sunday. They accept Doris' invitation. On Sunday at lunch at Doris', Toby seems a little listless, as he is not even eating. With a fever, he is eventually diagnosed with the measles. As neither Nick or Ron remembers if they have ever had the measles and can't find out on a Sunday, they are under quarantine at the farm until they find out for sure. So on Monday morning, Doris, in addition to making the initial inquiries as to Nick and Ron's past measles status with the necessary county health authorities, has set up the house as a satellite office of Today's World. Having the house be part house, part farm, part hospital and part office may be difficult for Doris, Nick and Ron to manage for their "nine to five" lives and need to get work done, especially under the pressure from Colonel Fairburn. So when Colonel Fairburn comes to San Francisco unexpectedly, will he be understanding of the situation seeing as to the state of the magazine of late?
Episode 17
The Gas Station
Mon, Feb 2, 197023 mins
LeRoy seems preoccupied when Buck, Doris and Myrna stop by the gas station for some gas. The reason is that his wife Ellie is in the hospital soon to give birth to their first child. LeRoy can't leave since there isn't anyone else to manage the gas station in his place. As such, Doris volunteers herself and Myrna to be the pump jockeys, while Buck drives him to the hospital as he seems to be in no shape to pay attention to the road. Doris figures that it should be an easy job as all the station's business is local, and as such infrequent because of the small population of Mill Valley. What Doris is unaware of is that a detour has been set up on the main highway, rerouting traffic to the road along which the gas station is located. This leads to a busy afternoon of misadventures for Doris, Myrna and their multitude of customers, some who think they can take advantage of two seemingly helpless women.
Episode 18
Kidnapped
Mon, Feb 9, 197023 mins
Warren Coleman has just completed an article for the magazine, an exposé on purported mobster Barney Moore. As such, Coleman is a bundle of nerves, he believing that Moore's men are after him despite that he has been placed in a safe house and the fact that only he, Doris and Nicholson are supposed to know about the article. Coleman is comforted by Doris' assurances, until Moore and his men stop by the safe house and kidnap the two of them. Moore's goal is not to stop publication of the article, but rather that it be edited to his satisfaction. While Nicholson, Ron and Myrna try to figure out what to do to save Doris, belligerent Doris and scared Coleman may have a helping hand in the form of Moore's exasperated wife, Flossie Moore, who has a love/hate relationship with her husband.
Episode 19
Buck's Portrait
Mon, Feb 16, 197023 mins
Nick's hired an artist to do a painting for the magazine's cover. Soon, she's found the perfect subject; Buck. Though he initially declines Doris is able to convince him to do it. Soon, Buck's enjoying being the subject of a magazine cover. But when the finished work ends up not being quite what she nor Buck envisioned, Doris has to figure a way to break it to Buck .
Episode 20
Doris Hires a Millionaire: Part 1
Mon, Feb 23, 197023 mins
Nicholson gets wind that reclusive billionaire William Tyler, who is hyper-vigilant about his privacy and who has not had his photograph taken in thirty years, is in San Francisco. It would be a huge scoop for the magazine to get a photograph of the man today, and Nick puts Ron on the case. Meanwhile, Doris, who doesn't know the topic of Ron's assignment, is having lunch in the park, when she comes to the rescue of a simply dressed elderly man taking a nap, he who is harassed by the police as a vagrant. Believing him to be a homeless transient, Doris, who can see that he is a nice man who is just down on his luck, not only shares her lunch with him but tries to find him a job. Unable to do so, she decides to hire him to work on the ranch with Buck, an offer that he accepts. As he calls himself Bill Thompson, Doris has no idea that he is really William Tyler, who was looking for an out of the way, private place from which to conduct his business. Meanwhile, Ron is having a great time racking up "expenses" as he searches for Tyler in all of Ron's favorite places.
Episode 21
Doris Hires a Millionaire: Part 2
Mon, Mar 2, 197023 mins
Incognito as down and out vagrant Bill Thompson, recluse billionaire William Tyler is enjoying his work helping Buck on the farm, "Thompson" who is doing all the work while Buck "supervises". Both Doris and Buck like having Bill around purely for his good-natured company. But they also notice that he is one to keep to himself, never wanting to venture out beyond the farm to meet people. Ron and Nicholson's search for Tyler and the fact of Tyler living on Doris' farm may finally come together when Nicholson searches for a human interest story, Doris who believes that story is the varied history as she knows of the man living on her farm. But if they are heard, the voices of observant children may be able to piece together the story quicker.
Episode 22
A Woman's Intuition
Mon, Mar 9, 197023 mins
Nicholson is determined to get an interview with Ed King, the owner of the largest food franchise in the world in what he considers one of the greatest rags to riches stories ever. After Nick sends letter after letter to King with no response, Doris' intuition correctly tells her that the direct approach of telephoning King with the offer would work. For the interview, Nick and Doris have to fly to Orlando immediately to meet with King before he flies to Europe the following day. Because Doris' intuition worked out in getting the interview, Nick decides to listen to Doris again as her intuition tells her not to board the flight on which they are booked, it being the only direct flight available to get them to Orlando in time to meet with King. Instead, they take a flight with six stops before reaching Orlando on cut rate Mid-American Airlines, those series of flights which are still supposed to get them there in time. Despite the less than obstacle free flights, will Nick ultimately be glad he trusted Doris this time around?
Episode 23
Doris Meets a Prince
Mon, Mar 16, 197023 mins
Doris and Ron are on assignment to interview the visiting Prince Carlos of Sedonia, about which Doris is nervous if only because she's never met a prince. Unknown to Doris and Ron, the prince has no intention of meeting with them, until he spots Doris, after which he changes his mind. In the interview, he complains about not getting a sense of the real America having met only dignitaries and attending official functions, which is his sly way of wangling a date with Doris. Instead of an evening out, Doris invites him to her place for dinner, which he accepts. Despite the dinner not meeting the state department's view of a protocol event or the Prince's idea of what he was getting into in dinner with the entire Martin family, the Prince has such a good time, that he makes a royal proclamation which affects Doris personally, that proclamation and eventual question about which Doris has to decide what to do with much unsolicited advice. However, what happens may ultimately be out of Doris' hands.
Episode 24
The Duke Returns
Mon, Mar 23, 197030 mins
Retired boxer Duke Farentino has become a dance instructor and turns to Doris for help with his problems.
Episode 25
The Office Troubleshooter
Mon, Mar 30, 197025 mins
Jarvis, an efficiency expert assigned to Today's World magazine as a troubleshooter and the entire staff is at the point of revolt, as he blithely goes about his busybody business.
Episode 26
Colonel Fairburn Takes Over
Mon, Apr 6, 197025 mins
The Publisher of Today's World arrives unexpectedly and assumes control of the office and its staff, taking a special interest in Doris.