The Patty Duke Show (TV Series) Patty, the Practical Joker (1965) User Reviews

I Would Like To See This One Again

[DKosty123 · 9/10 · 18 January 2010]

I saw this Patty Duke many years ago, but I remember it from the title. As I recall the jokes start with a frog in the bed & then escalate into more & more elaborate jokes involving the guilty parties, & then the innocent ones. This is an episode dedicated to slap stick at it finest.

One that I remember particularly is when Patty is trying to nail somebody with a cream pie, they duck the pie and her innocent bystander dad takes it full on the face. This one impressed me because of the way it was set up, it was hilarious.

William Schalert could really do the dead pan innocent reaction to the shot too. His acting ability never got a lot of attention even though he has appeared in a lot of TV & movie roles. While he was never a star, he was always enjoyable and on this series did a lot of very good work. While episode was just funny, when I watched these shows I wanted to take Patty & Cathy out on a triple date with me. Ah to be young again, when I could dream & do it.

Of course it would be a tough date without special effects. Since this was in black & white, the frog was not green. I don't think this frog turned into a prince, but with Patty Duke the stitches were into the warts.

Joke Warfare

[JordanThomasHall · 7/10 · 21 July 2020]

In retaliating against Ross, Patty places a pail of water over the door that instead dumps on her father. Patty nervously awaits a punishment, but Martin lets her off with a warning. The practical joke warfare continues between Patty and Ross, however. Patty's jokes ends up getting Cathy, Martin, and Natalie. When a joke backfires to make Cathy look back in front of her heartthrob Ted (Skip Hinnant), she joins in the joke warfare. Few jokes hit their intended target, however.

This is a laughs-first episode with a light plot. I enjoy physical comedy, but don't expect the hilarity of more legendary series. While the series does have some funny moments and episodes, on the whole it is more whimsical in nature. It's a fun teenager show with some nice life lessons throughout. Martin has a nice message for the kids near the end of this episode.