The Patty Duke Show (TV Series) Poppo's Birthday (1966) User Reviews

"The Present Problem"

[JordanThomasHall · 7/10 · 24 August 2020]

Martin has an upcoming birthday, and Patty tries to tactfully gather from him what he would like as a present. Martin is wise to what she's doing and decides to pick a nice, inexpensive gift- a Swiss Army knife from a magazine ad. He tears it out to lay on his desk as a hint. Patty and Ross feel it's too cheap for his tastes, and feel it must be the French walnut telescopic rifle on the other side at $99.50. Patty pools her money with Cathy, Ross, and her mother, but they're well short. They tell Martin they've picked out his surprise present, but makes remarks that make him realize it must not be the knife. Martin can't work on a college football layout with newspaper colleague Jim Frazer (Tommy Farrell) for figuring out the present. Martin finally figures out the mix up and doesn't want them to spend that much money on him. Before he can say anything, he overhears them talking of how much giving it to him would mean to them. Natalie decides to take back her new coat to raise money for the rifle. Martin decides to find a way to give them the money. He comically walks Patty around the backyard and struggles to point her to money he's planted. She insists it be turned into the police, however, and Martin says he will take it. Patty goes to the police station to learn from the desk sergeant (prolific policeman character actor Ken Lynch) that the money was never turned in. Naturally, she thinks her father pocketed the money, and the present problems take a different turn, with a tender heart-to-heart.

Dwindling Fortunes

[wes-connors · 4/10 · 23 February 2012]

With Martin's birthday approaching, Patty (Patty Duke) wants the family to pool their resources. Martin (William Schallert) decides to help out by hinting he wants an affordable Swiss pocket knife. He tears an ad for the knife out of a hunting magazine - to be found by the family, but everyone thinks Martin wants the more expensive gift on the other side of the ad. Learning Patty is trying to raise $99.50 for the "telescopic rifle", Martin tries to help from behind the scenes. Cathy (also Patty Duke) and Ross (Paul O'Keefe) are only marginally involved in this episode, while mother Jean Byron (Natalie) attempts to returns a new coat.

**** Poppo's Birthday (1/12/66) Charles Barton ~ Patty Duke, William Schallert, Jean Bryon, Tommy Farrell