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The Doris Day Show Season 3 Episodes
Season 3 Episode Guide
26 Episodes 1970 - 1971
Episode 1
Doris Finds an Apartment
Mon, Sep 14, 197024 mins
Tired of doing the commute between the valley and the city, Doris has been spending her lunch hours with Myrna looking for an apartment in the city for herself, Billy, Toby and Nelson. The problem is that every place she likes won't rent to families and/or won't allow pets. Just by luck, Doris sees a for rent sign for an apartment located above an Italian restaurant owned and operated by husband and wife, Louie and Angie Pallucci, who are stereotypical brash Italians. Although the apartment itself is a little rough around the edges, Doris loves it. In turn, Angie loves Doris as a potential tenant, that is until she learns about Doris' two boys and Nelson, as she and Louie made an agreement to no kids and no pets, more on Louie's directive. Regardless, Angie decides to rent the apartment to Doris. The next step is to convince Louie that Doris and her family will be good tenants, which may be difficult to do due to the events that happen on moving day.
Episode 2
The Feminist
Mon, Sep 21, 197024 mins
Today's World is working on getting the serialization rights to feminist Harriet Henderson's latest book. Being a man, Ron gets nowhere with Harriet. Having no female executives on staff, Nicholson asks Doris if she will act on the magazine's behalf in dealing with Harriet, Doris to pretend to be a feminist in Harriet's mold despite Doris not believing in most of what Harriet espouses, which includes women being devoid of any femininity. Doris reluctantly agrees. Harriet may not be impressed if she knew the real Doris, one that is currently being romantically wooed by David Cowley, a macho race car driver. Doris may have to decide if the contract with Harriet or her first date with David is more important.
Episode 3
How Can I Ignore the Man Next Door?
Mon, Sep 28, 197024 mins
Doris is glad to hear that the Palluccis have managed to rent out what was the long standing empty apartment next door to theirs in the building, irrespective of Billy and Toby's auspicious first meeting with the new tenant, the boys who knocked him over and broke his lamp in the process. Doris changes her mind when going over to apologize on the boys' behalf and welcome the man into the building, she learns the new tenant is Willard Jarvis, with who every previous meeting she has had has turned into a disaster because of their different outlooks. As hard as each tries, the Martins and Jarvis can't help but continually run into each other, each encounter as bad as the one before. Based on advice from Nick, Doris tries the good neighbor approach in dealing with Jarvis. The questions become whether this new approach will reduce the bad incidents, and regardless if Doris and Jarvis can truly become friends in the process.
Episode 4
Dinner for One
Mon, Oct 5, 197024 mins
Angie laments to Doris that business has been bad, which Doris doesn't understand since she believes the food the best in town. Doris' efforts to bring at least her friends in, either by changing where they normally eat or encouraging them to eat out if they generally eat in, don't seem to help. When Angie says that Louie has been offered a job at a high end restaurant recommended by well-known critic Dudley Grey, Doris believes that what Palluccis needs is for Dudley Grey to review their restaurant, this advice regardless of the fact that both Doris and Angie personally thinking that the power Grey wields is ridiculous. They first have to bring Grey in, which is a tall order since he generally only reviews higher end establishments frequented by high society. And even if he does come in, they have to make the restaurant look like an "in" place, complete with wait staff and a room full of customers clamoring to get in. The other problem is that they can't cater directly to him, as no one, even his editorial staff, knows what he looks like. Doris has some intel as to who Grey would be, but if that intel is wrong, their efforts to impress that one person may backfire.
Episode 5
Doris Leaves Today's World: Part 1
Mon, Oct 12, 197024 mins
While she's having her brown bag lunch in the park, Doris receives a surprise visit from her old friend, reclusive multi-millionaire William Tyler, this the way they first met. He is in San Francisco specifically to see Doris as he has a proposition for her: be his personal secretary. The exorbitant salary is tempting enough, but he ups the ante when he shows her what would be her lavish working quarters, and shows her who would be her secretary. These perks are enough for Doris eventually to say yes, despite she liking her friends and colleagues at Today's World, and the work itself. But she knows they can never match the salary as witnessed by Nick even having to fight to give Doris a $10/week raise, or the other perks. After her emotional goodbye at Today's World and the start of her new job, Doris has to adjust to the new working conditions, both the good, and yes the bad.
Episode 6
Doris Leaves Today's World: Part 2
Mon, Oct 19, 197024 mins
Doris helps in closing the deal for her new boss, reclusive multi-millionaire William Tyler, on a whirlwind business trip to Tokyo, Japan, after which Tyler shows her the town in appreciation. That trip is quickly followed by another impromptu trip, this time to St. Moritz, Switzerland, followed by another, then another, each to an exotic locale. Doris loves the excitement and how Tyler shows his gratitude. But she learns that the job is taking its toll, specifically on her home life with Billy and Toby, who express how much they miss her. Her sons' feelings manifest themselves in the way Doris acts at work, especially when she is on a business trip, her primary goal to make it home as quickly as possible. Tyler tries to accommodate Doris' every need and want in the matter, but a crisis shows Tyler what he needs to do truly to make Doris happy.
Episode 7
The Fashion Show
Mon, Oct 26, 197024 mins
Doris is preparing for this year's fashion show, sponsored by Today's World and which again debuts the new collection by Paris fashion designer, Montagne. Doris is looking forward to watching the show from the comfort of a seat in the audience, unlike last year, when, at the last minute, she had to do all the modeling for the show herself. When Montagne arrives from Paris, Doris learns that he has other things on his mind as since the show went so well last year, he didn't bring any models this year expecting Doris to model everything once again. He even designed the line specifically with her in mind. He believes this collection will catapult him to the top as Paris' premier designer above the current number one, the House of Robert, especially with the collection's pièce de resistance, the wedding gown. Montagne's plan places Doris and Nick in a bind, as although the magazine is sponsoring the show, Nick needs Doris to help him prepare for his first ever report at a stockholders' meeting in the absence of the publisher, Colonel Fairburn. But what may be more problematic is the unknown factor that Robert has sent a spy whose mission is to sabotage the show and ruin Montagne, which in the process may damage the credibility of the magazine at this crucial time of the stockholders meeting.
Episode 8
Lost and Found
Mon, Nov 2, 197024 mins
Ron has his first lead article for the magazine, despite the on-the-surface dry nature of the topic: how international trade affects the average person. Things are down to the wire in getting it to press on Monday as Myrna still needs to type it and Nicholson needs to read it. Despite the tight time-line, Myrna just isn't in the mood to type it. Not typed correctly by the end of the day Friday, Myrna and Doris convince Ron to let Myrna complete it at home over the weekend, and Doris will personally proof-read the typed copy before getting it to him to give to Nick on Monday morning. By the time Doris arrives at Myrna's on Sunday afternoon, Myrna can't find where she left her completed typed copy or even the handwritten copy. Myrna, remembering that she put it in her purse to take to the office, and Doris have to retrace Myrna's less than conventional steps with the purse over the previous 24 hours, with Myrna's job on the line if they can't find it. They may have to go to extreme lengths to find even where Myrna thinks she left it, with no guarantee that it's there.
Episode 9
Duke the Performer
Mon, Nov 9, 197024 mins
Doris' friend, ex-boxer turned dance instructor Duke Farentino, is starting yet another career, as nightclub headliner. The dance school isn't generating business, so he figured performing would be a good way to get his name out into the business. After the opening night show which featured Duke and "his Duchesses" in a comedic song & dance routine, Duke even admits that it was a fiasco. He decides to throw in the towel. However, Doris convinces him that he needs to train harder and hone his act. Because of Doris' advice, Duke finagles Doris into being his manager/trainer, which includes vetting his material and being his practice partner. Even if Doris is able to help Duke put together a good act, they will still have the problem of overcoming the bad press from his first show for anyone to hire him. Doris will have to decide how far she will go to get Duke back on stage.
Episode 10
Doris the Spy
Mon, Nov 16, 197024 mins
Doris has just returned from a business trip to Portland, the notes - recipes for a culinary story - from which she's put in her attaché case. However, at San Francisco Airport, Doris inadvertently picks up someone else's identical attaché case. That attaché case contains top secret government documents. Because of the importance of the case's contents, it is equipped with a tracking device and a tamper-proof lock. The government agents, led by Mssrs. Fleming and Bowers, believe the case has fallen into enemy hands as they track its whereabouts. When Fleming, Bowers and their men catch up with Doris, Doris, who managed to pick the lock with a hairpin and glance at the case's contents, has to convince them that she is not a foreign spy, as they believe her front - widowed working mother with a sheepdog - is just too convincing not to be a front. If she can't convince them, she may have government agents invading her life for some time as they do a thorough background check.
Episode 11
Tony Bennett Is Eating Here
Mon, Nov 23, 197024 mins
Doris admits that she is star-struck by the prospect of interviewing Tony Bennett. When she arrives for the interview, he places her so much at ease that she even literally forgets that she is supposed to be conducting an interview. But what Doris is feeling is nothing compared to Angie when she learns that Bennett, who is lamenting not being able to find a good simple home cooked Italian meal in San Francisco without going to busy restaurants where he has been mobbed by autograph hounds, is coming to the restaurant tonight on Doris' recommendation and with Doris as his guest. Doris makes Angie and Louie swear that they will not tell anyone about Bennett's visit to ensure that his dinner is as quiet and relaxed as he is hoping. But Angie's promise to Doris goes out the window, and with it perhaps Bennett's much wanted quiet dinner and the goodwill that Doris has built with him.
Episode 12
Cousin Charlie
Mon, Nov 30, 197024 mins
Doris' cousin, Charlie Webb, who she has not seen or heard from in four years, stops by unexpectedly, and invites himself to stay with the Martins until the wind literally blows him to wherever his next stop. Charlie is a free spirit who travels the world, generally via boat, doing odd jobs along the way. Doris is worried about him because his carefree life has not led to any stability or future prospects. Doris, who knows that Charlie has many talents which he demonstrates as he gets her out of a traffic ticket, tries to persuade him to settle in San Francisco and lead a more steady life. Because of those skills with the police, Doris believes he would make a great salesman, and arranges for Charlie to get a job as an ad salesman for the magazine despite he not being sure he really wants such a job. But he does end up being a success in the job itself. The question becomes whether success in the job makes for a happier Charlie or Doris.
Episode 13
Love Makes the Pizza Go Round
Mon, Dec 7, 197024 mins
Doris notices that Angie and Louie's marriage has hit a stale patch, which Angie confirms. Working side by side with Angie all day long, all Louie seems to care about is Angie doing her job in the restaurant, and by closing time, all Louie wants to do is go to bed. Doris believes that what Angie needs to do is inject a little sexiness and romance back into the marriage, most specifically by wearing sexier clothes, and making herself up. Angie agrees with Doris' scheme, but trying to find some free time away from the restaurant during business hours to go to the beauty parlor is another matter. Louie does notice Angie's new sexy look, but his reaction is not quite what she was hoping. Ron unwittingly gets involved in their marital issue, he who has been hanging around a lot as he and Doris have been working on a story concerning bogus fortune tellers.
Episode 14
Buck Visits the Big City
Mon, Dec 14, 197024 mins
On Buck's latest weekly Sunday visit, Doris laments not seeing him more often, or have him stay longer, permanently if he is amenable to the idea. That would mean selling the farm and retiring. Buck, on the other hand, believes he would be lost in the city, being a country boy at heart. They compromise - he will stay for one week, after which he can reevaluate his options. Buck finds that life in the city has a whole different rhythm and whole different sensibility than what he is used to, and he has troubles trying to find things to do that don't get him into trouble, especially with Doris and the kids off with their own set routines. Doris figures what Buck really needs is a friend with who to do things. The question is if Doris can find the appropriate person in the city, someone who may have things in common with Buck besides just age and having a lot of free time.
Episode 15
It's Christmas Time in the City
Mon, Dec 21, 197024 mins
Everyone important in Doris' day-to-day life is in a festive Christmas spirit, and is invited to the Christmas Eve party being held at her apartment. The one person who isn't in a festive spirit and who isn't invited to her party is her neighbor, Mr. Jarvis, who is as disagreeable as ever this time of year as any other time. Toby, however, believes that his mother should at least extend an invitation to Mr. Jarvis, which may soften his outlook on them and on life, at least for this one night. Doris does oblige her son, but Mr. Jarvis, ever as ornery, flatly declines the invitation, with the threat that he will call whoever necessary to ensure that her party does not disturb his peace. As Doris, her kids and their guests try to have a festive time at the party, Doris is continually worried about making too much noise and as a result what Mr. Jarvis will do to ruin the evening for them. Will the magic of Christmas in some way bridge the gap between neighbors?
Episode 16
Doris vs. Pollution
Mon, Dec 28, 197024 mins
Doris is dismayed to see the state of the plants on her patio, which she learns are being slowly killed by sulfur poisoning, the nurseryman who can smell the sulfur in the air. She tracks the culprit down to a new sulfur factory, Fedderson Sulfur, which she tries to shut down. She does slightly soften her opinion when she learns of sulfur's many uses, but still comes out of the meeting with the plant manager unsatisfied that they will not make the easy and quick fix to reduce toxic emissions at a $500,000 price tag. She gets permission from Colonel Fairburn, who is overseeing the running of the magazine in Nick's absence, to write an anti-pollution article, especially concerning her specific situation. When Doris finishes the story, she and Colonel Fairburn come to an unwanted epiphany: Fedderson is a subsidiary of Amalgamated Limited, the Chair of the Board being Colonel Fairburn. As such, the Colonel kills the story. Doris has to figure out a way to change the Colonel's mind. Mother Nature may give her a bit of a helping hand.
Episode 17
The Forward Pass
Mon, Jan 11, 197124 mins
Despite Doris not liking or knowing anything about football, Ron is able to entice her to attend a San Francisco Tigers game with him. It isn't until after the game that she learns that Ron plans on using her as bait to get an interview with interview-phobic Tigers quarterback Joe Garrison, one of the most talked about players in the NFL not only for his on-the-field football endeavors, but his successful off-the-field plays with women. Ron has been promised a bonus by Nick if he gets the interview, so he does whatever he can to get Doris to cooperate. Joe ends up being more enthralled with Doris than his regular stable of women because of her cool demeanor, while Doris believes he is one of the most conceited and egotistical men she has ever met. So while Joe does whatever he can to get Doris alone without Ron present, Doris does whatever she can to get out of working on the assignment, which may be more difficult if Nick sees the merit in Doris' involvement solely to get the story.
Episode 18
Duke's Girlfriend
Mon, Jan 18, 197124 mins
Doris' ex-boxer turned nightclub performer friend, Duke Farentino, has the exciting news that he has met the woman of his dreams, old money socialite Alison Otis Peabody, and is planning on asking her to marry him. Doris becomes a bit skeptical when she learns that Duke and Alison met only two days ago, and that Alison is slyly pressuring him to buy her jewelry from one of the most expensive jewelers in town. That skepticism is strengthened when Doris doesn't recognize Alison's name or the Peabody's as old family money in San Francisco. Doris is certain Alison is a phony when she meets her in person, which is confirmed when Myrna and Ron help her do research into the non-existing Peabodys of San Francisco. They are all certain that if Duke does propose, Alison will say yes, request a quickie wedding, get whatever she can out of Duke and then divorce him to collect the alimony. Doris also knows that Duke will neither believe her if she tries to tell him the truth, and resent the fact that they checked up on Alison. Doris figures the only way to get Duke not to marry her is to show him what a big phony she is by luring her with an even bigger phony.
Episode 19
Jarvis' Uncle
Mon, Jan 25, 197124 mins
Mr. Jarvis informs Doris and the boys that his Uncle Randolph Jarvis is coming for a visit from Fort Lauderdale for a week, and as such issues them an even stricter than usual "anti-noise" directive for the duration of the visit, the unreasonableness about which Doris is incredulous. Doris finds out that she need not worry as beyond the striking physical resemblance, Uncle Randolph is nothing like his nephew, "Randy" who is friendly and likes children and animals, even noisy ones. He admits to Doris that he dreads his two weekly annual visits with his nephew, he considering them a responsibility as being his only living relative. He has to try and figure out how to reconcile his obligation to his nephew, while admitting that he'd rather be spending time with Doris, especially now that he has made the decision to find a "Mrs. Jarvis" for the first time in his life.
Episode 20
Lassoin' Leroy
Mon, Feb 1, 197124 mins
Leroy B. Simpson pays a visit and winds up winning $20,000 at a rodeo. Doris hides his money in a broken toaster, so he'll stop spending it foolishly, but the boys, who don't know about the money, give the broken toaster away to a library fund-raising drive.
Episode 21
Colonel Fairburn Jr.
Mon, Feb 8, 197124 mins
Instead of the obvious choice of Ron the associate editor, Colonel Fairburn appoints his newly graduated son, Clifford Fairburn, managing editor of the magazine during his and Nick's two week business trip. Clifford, who has no practical magazine experience, is nonetheless a chip off the old block: he went to military school, followed by finishing first in his class in business school. And he has traditional conservative values and ideals... or so he would like his father to believe. Once the Colonel and Nick are gone, the real Clifford emerges. In reality, he is a long haired (which was hidden underneath a short-haired wig), meditating hippie with not a conservative thought in his head. Under his two week stint, Clifford decides to take the magazine in a whole different direction, one that appeals more to his hippie sensibilities. Doris feels that it is not her responsibility to counter any of Clifford's directives, but she will probably be the one who has to reconcile Clifford's decisions to Nick and especially the Colonel upon their return.
Episode 22
Billy's First Date
Mon, Feb 15, 197124 mins
Despite not having even talked to her yet, Billy has his first case of puppy love for a classmate named Sue Ann Cordovan. With Doris' encouragement, Billy not only gets up the nerve to talk to Sue Ann, but arranges for them to go to the school dance together as each other's date. The plan hits a hiccup when neither Doris or Sue Ann's widowed father, architect Richard Cordovan, wants to give up her or his already scheduled respective date that evening to be driver and chaperon, each secretly muttering under their breath how obstinate the other is in not budging on the issue. In arranging to meet in person to discuss their impasse, Doris and Richard discover that there is a mutual attraction between the two of them that they are more than willing to accommodate. Doris and Richard dating has an indirect impact on Billy and Sue Ann's relationship by exposing it for what it is.
Episode 23
Doris Goes to Hollywood
Mon, Feb 22, 197124 mins
Billy and Toby entered Doris into a contest without her knowledge, and she wins: an annual Doris Day Lookalike Contest. The grand prize is an all expenses paid trip for two to Hollywood to have lunch with Day herself. Doris has no intention of accepting the prize, until Mr. Nicholson asks her to write a story about the experience of meeting Day. Myrna goes as Doris' second, and Ron as an undercover photographer to take candid shots of Doris with Day. Upon their arrival at the studio, Doris and Myrna learn that the publicity department are low men on the studio totem pole, and they had not arranged anything, including the lunch with Day. Left largely to their own devices on the studio lot, Doris and Myrna get into one misadventure after another, while doing anything they can to locate their respective idols, Henry Fonda and Steve McQueen.
Episode 24
Skiing Anyone?
Mon, Mar 1, 197124 mins
After some initial protestations from Doris, Myrna is able to convince her to go on a ski weekend for two to Bear Valley despite neither of them knowing how to ski. The justification for going is to get out of their rut, that the Bear Valley Inn has a good weekend deal for two, and to ogle the good looking tanned ski instructors. Their weekend takes an immediate turn upon their arrival when Myrna sprains her ankle. The only doctor available, regular guest Dr. Jeffrey Forbes, prescribes bed-rest for a couple of days for Myrna, and ski instruction under his tutelage for Doris, which Doris is happy enough to oblige in he indeed fitting under the tanned and good looking categories. As Doris and Jeffrey's time goes from being on the slopes to largely après-ski activities, the weekend becomes one of guilt for Doris in abandoning Myrna, and of living vicariously through Doris for Myrna regardless of what Doris says to make her feel better for being alone.
Episode 25
The Father-Son Weekend
Mon, Mar 8, 197124 mins
The YMCA is holding its annual father-son weekend camp-out at Lake Winnesauki, Toby, this the first year he is old enough to go, trying to a find a "father" to take him. With Buck away for the weekend, Doris volunteers to be Toby's father. Doris' presence doesn't sit well with some of the other fathers, especially the organizer, Jim Keatley, who believes the entire weekend will be ruined with a woman in their midst. Doris has to prove to everyone that she's as good a father as all the other men there, perhaps that proof needed for Toby more than anyone else. The camp Olympics may prove if Doris is the best father.
Episode 26
Young Love
Mon, Mar 15, 197125 mins
Doris receives an unexpected visit in the middle of the night from her Berkeley-attending niece, April Tolliver, who Doris has not seen since April moved to the city to attend college. Needing a sympathetic ear, April tells Doris the reason for her late night wandering. After she and her husband, fellow student Peter, sank what few dollars they had left on a romantic dinner and evening in, April went to her family doctor in believing that she was pregnant. Discounting that she knows Peter loves her and she loves him in return, April is afraid that a baby at this stage of their lives will change the nature of their relationship, which in some respects is the case even before the baby arrives, that being the real problem.