The Doris Day Show (TV Series) It's Christmas Time in the City (1970) User Reviews

Silver Bells

[jjnxn-1 · 8/10 · 24 December 2013]

While this series was hugely popular in its day, due almost entirely to its star, looking at it now almost 45 years on it comes across as an entirely standard undistinguished sitcom. It does have a good cast of talented supporting actors, Kaye Ballard, Rose Marie, Bernie Kopell, McLean Stevenson, Billy De Wolfe and Denver Pyle who directed this particular episode but the situation it presents has been done thousands of times.

What would normally be a run of the mill episode of the series is turned into something extraordinary at the end of the show when the cast gather around for a Christmas sing a long. It's at this point that Doris starts to sing and what was standard TV becomes a chance to see a master at work. All three numbers are enjoyable with Jingle Bells and Silent Night pleasant group numbers but it is the middle number when she sings her classic version of Silver Bells solo that is truly magic. As beautiful as it is, and it is very much so, the amount of soft focus they shoot Doris in during her song is a bit distracting especially when they cut away and the scene is once again in sharp focus.

Another nice touch at the conclusion of the show Miss Day breaks the fourth way and addresses the audience directly wishing them a safe and happy holiday. It's quite charming.

Classic TV Xmas Countdown Episode #72

[kgraovac · 5/10 · 21 December 2023]

Doris throws her first Xmas party in the new apartment, but miserable neighbor Mr. Jarvis threatens to call the cops if things become too noisy.

The above line is basically the entire plot of this one, so the story is thin, to say the least. It mostly consists of Jarvis complaining about anything to do with the holidays. He thinks the lights the Calucci's are stringing up are a fire hazard and says he can't wait until Jan 2 "when we all come back to our senses". Doris is surprised to see him reading Dickens, until he admits he "loves that Scrooge".

Kaye Ballard's makeup here is so brown it looks like she is auditioning for a Bollywood film.

Doris sings "Silver Bells" in gauzy close-up shots that don't match the rest of the footage. Hearing her voice from upstairs, Mr. Jarvis is suddenly touched by the spirit of Xmas and shows up at her door awkwardly angling for an invitation, which - Doris being Doris - can't help but extend. She then steps out onto the balcony, breaks the fourth wall and offers Xmas greetings to her viewers.

This is probably the weakest of the series' three Xmas episodes. 5/10.