The Paul Lynde Show
Paul Simms, a quiet, respectable attorney living with his wife and two daughters has his life turned upside down when his eldest daughter's new husband, Howie, takes up residence in the Simms' household which drives Paul to distraction.
- 1972-1973
- 1 season
- ABC
- Comedy
Paul Simms, a quiet, respectable attorney living with his wife and two daughters has his life turned upside down when his eldest daughter's new husband, Howie, takes up residence in the Simms' household which drives Paul to distraction.
Season 1 Episode Guide
26 Episodes 1972 - 1973
Episode 1
Howie Comes Home to Roost
Wed, Sep 13, 1972 30 mins
Frazzled lawyer Paul Simms comes home to his wife and martinis to find his college girl daughter Barbara has come home- with a husband in tow. The husband is Howie Dickerson, a sort of idiot-savant who unerringly picks high yielding stocks but never invests a penny and only can find work as a caddie. Simms is asked to see an X-rated film to break the lease of the tenant, who never mentioned what kind of movies he was going to show. The lease looks like it can easily be voided, bringing Simms a bonus from his boss, who is the landlord. That is, until Howie runs into the tenant and assures him he has the right to run porn if he wants to.
Episode 2
Whiz Kid Sizzles as Quiz Fizzles
Wed, Sep 20, 1972 30 mins
Paul's son-in-law Howie, who has an encyclopedic knowledge, is selected for a game show. But things don't work out well and a physical altercation takes place with the sponsor.
Episode 3
The Landlord
Wed, Sep 27, 1972 30 mins
Paul's bickering in-laws, the Dickersons, come for a visit to see their son's new arrangement in the house; the newlyweds have moved into the basement. The pair hate each other, and are extremely touchy and boorish to the Simms. They visit the young couple's "basement apartment", which turns out to be a hippie-themed shambles where they sit on the floor, which causes Mr. Dickerson so much back pain they have to stay overnight. The next morning, however, the in-laws are suddenly happy with each other and even offer to take Howie and Barbara to live with them. Overjoyed, Paul offers to contribute some money, but this ticks of the petty, combative Dickersons again and they angrily storm off, leaving Paul frustrated and stuck with his annoying son-in-law once more.
Episode 4
No Nudes Is Good Nudes
Wed, Oct 4, 1972 30 mins
Howie is cast in a play where the performers will be totally nude. Paul is worried about public embarrassment and tries to get the production shut down.
Episode 5
To Commune or Not to Commune
Wed, Oct 11, 1972 30 mins
After a series of mishaps involving Paul's expensive new briefcase, he demands that Barbara and Howie leave. The two move to a "share-all" commune, but discover that it involves the commune sharing all of the stuff they brought with them. Paul arrives and begs them to return so Martha will speak to him again.
Episode 6
How to Be Unhappy, Though Poor
Wed, Oct 18, 1972 30 mins
Paul, to motivate Howie, tells his son-in-law that he has been fired from his job. But Howie decides to put the household on a strict budget rather then look for work.
Episode 7
Pollution Solution
Wed, Oct 25, 1972 30 mins
Paul brings home a client not knowing his house is headquarters for those demonstrating against the man's company.
Episode 8
To Wed or Not to Wed
Wed, Nov 1, 1972 30 mins
Paul learns that the marriage of his daughter to Howie is invalid due to a technicality.
Episode 9
Unsteady Going
Wed, Nov 8, 1972 30 mins
When Paul forbids Sally from seeing a boy she likes, she runs away from home.
Episode 10
Whose Lib?
Wed, Nov 22, 1972 30 mins
Paul 's hopes for a gorgeous girl as vacation replacement for his secretary fade when son-in-law Howie applies for the job.
Episode 11
Meet Aunt Charlotte
Wed, Nov 29, 1972 30 mins
Paul hopes his break is coming when he entertains Mr.Tamura, a Japanese tycoon. But he is unable to get in any business discussion when Tamura finds himself fascinated by Paul's visiting sister Charlotte.
Episode 12
An Affair to Forget
Wed, Dec 6, 1972 30 mins
Jo Anne Worley plays a woman who arrives at the Simms home at 2 a.m. after leaving her husband and asks Paul to handle her divorce.
Episode 13
Martha's Last Hurrah
Wed, Dec 13, 1972 30 mins
Martha works on a political campaign in the house driving Paul crazy.
Episode 14
Paul's Desperate Hour
Wed, Dec 20, 1972 30 mins
Howie and Barbara go on an errand for Martha. While shopping, a mugger attempts to rob Barbara. Feeling that the criminal is a victim of society, Howie and Barbara choose to not involve the police and attempt to rehabilitate him on their own. They bring the mugger home to Paul's chagrin.
Episode 15
No More Mister Nice Guy
Wed, Dec 27, 1972 30 mins
Paul's doctor is worried about his mental state and tells him to avoid any excitement. Paul decides to follow the advice beginning with being nice to his son-in-law Howie. He finds it to be extremely difficult.
Episode 16
The Bare Facts
Wed, Jan 3, 1973 30 mins
Paul's campaign for presidency of the city's bar association on a public decency platform is imperiled when a bar owner buys a nude portrait of his daughter, Barbara.
Episode 17
Howie's Inheritance
Wed, Jan 10, 1973 30 mins
Howie inherits $10,000 and Paul is ecstatic because now his daughter and son-in-law can afford to move out, but when it's learned that the money came from a company that was a major pollutant, Howie refuses it. Stiller and Meara play Howie's parents.
Episode 18
P.S. I Loathe You
Wed, Jan 17, 1973 30 mins
Paul Simms vents his hostility toward a senior law partner by writing a letter which he does not intend to mail -- but the dry cleaner does.
Episode 19
The Congressman's Son
Wed, Jan 24, 1973 30 mins
Paul loses a big job representing a congressional committee when Howie changes a Congressman's son into a hippie.
Episode 20
Out of Bounds
Wed, Jan 31, 1973 30 mins
Paul's neighbors plan to install a swimming pool. After having their property surveyed, it is discovered that Paul's fence extends one foot over the property line. Paul attempts to remedy the problem without spending too much money.
Episode 21
Is This Trip Necessary?
Wed, Feb 7, 1973 30 mins
A visit from Paul's mother-in-law Mabel stirs up trouble in the Sims household. Mabel convinces her daughter Martha that Paul and his gorgeous assistant Judy are involved.
Episode 22
Everything You Wanted to Know About Your Mother-in-Law But Were Afraid to Ask
Wed, Feb 14, 1973 30 mins
Paul meets a psychiatrist (Alan Hale) at a bat who advises him to send out positive vibes to his mother-in-law who has been recovering from a fall in his home.
Episode 23
Back Talk
Wed, Feb 21, 1973 30 mins
Paul tries every way imaginable to avoid taking his wife Martha to a dance held for a charity.
Episode 24
Barbara Goes Home to Mother
Wed, Feb 28, 1973 30 mins
Grace has a fight with Barney leaving to a change in sleeping arrangements and Paul ends up on the sofa. Paul works to reconcile the bickering in-laws so he can get his bed back.
Episode 25
Togetherness
Wed, Mar 7, 1973 30 mins
Paul's attempt to have a family day becomes a disaster instead of his hoped-for plot to promote togetherness.
Episode 26
Springtime for Paul
Wed, Mar 14, 1973 30 mins
The Simms invite the Cunningham family, their new neighbors, to their home to welcome them to the neighborhood. When their 18 year-old daughter takes an interest in Paul, Martha becomes concerned.
