Mona McCluskey

Mona McCluskey (also known as Meet Mona McCluskey) is an American sitcom that aired on NBC as part of its 1965-66 schedule. The series stars Juliet Prowse in the title role, and aired from September 16, 1965 to April 14, 1966.

Mona McCluskey
Also known asMeet Mona McCluskey
GenreSitcom
Created byDon McGuire Based on characters originated by Sumner Arthur Long
Written byArthur Alsberg
Edmund Beloin
Irving Elinson
Bob Fisher
Fred S. Fox
Henry Garson
Directed byRichard Whorf
Stanley Z. Cherry
StarringJuliet Prowse
Denny Scott Miller
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producerGeorge Burns
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companiesMcCadden Productions
United Artists Television
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 16, 1965 (1965-09-16) –
April 14, 1966 (1966-04-14)

Synopsis

Prowse portrayed Mona McCluskey, an actress who marries a United States Air Force sergeant, Mike McCluskey, played by Denny Scott Miller. The major premise of the show is Mona trying to balance her acting career with her marriage to Mike, who preferred that they live on his smaller Air Force salary.

The series also co-stars Herbert Rudley as General Crone, Mike's boss and Robert Strauss as Sergeant Gruzewsky. Series guest stars include Med Flory, Maurice Marsac, Lee Bergere, Sal Mineo, Barry Kelley, Doris Singleton, and Darlene Patterson.

Episodes
No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Pilot"Don McGuireDon McGuireSeptember 16, 1965 (1965-09-16)
Mona sets off a chain reaction when she demands the Air Force give her husband a raise.
2"All That Dough and No Place to Go"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonSeptember 23, 1965 (1965-09-23)
Mona and General Crone conspire for Mike to win at poker so he has enough money for a Mexican vacation.
3"All in a Night's Work"Richard WhorfBob Fisher & Arthur AlsburgSeptember 30, 1965 (1965-09-30)
Mona's movie is behind schedule, but in order to keep the picture from going over budget, her director says she'll have to work nights - something Mona promised Mike she'd never do.
4"In Every Life a Little Wife Must Fall"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonOctober 7, 1965 (1965-10-07)
At the request of the State Department, a reluctant Mona agrees to dine with a visiting maharajah, who has a reputation as a playboy, something Mike isn't too keen about.
5"Mona Carroll Vs. Mona McCluskey"Richard WhorfArthur Alsberg & Bob FisherOctober 14, 1965 (1965-10-14)
When Mike is recommended for officers' training school, Mona decides to abandon her acting career.
6"How to Put Out an Old Flame"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonOctober 21, 1965 (1965-10-21)
Mona is pleased when Mike leaves to attend a reunion of his old squadron, but becomes suspicious when she sees him instead in a restaurant with a beautiful girl (Lisa Gaye).
7"Let's Play Cupid"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonOctober 28, 1965 (1965-10-28)
Mona and Mike undertake the considerable challenge of making a suave charmer of Sgt. Gruzewsky – whose girlfriend thinks he "ain't got no class".
8"Good for the Goose, Bad for the Gander"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonNovember 4, 1965 (1965-11-04)
Mike is annoyed when Mona's costar – a handsome Italian actor – begins spending more and more time with her.
9"Michelangelo's Rival"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonNovember 11, 1965 (1965-11-11)
Mona buys a $1500 work of art and – in order to prevent him from learning what she spent – tells Mike she sculpted it.
10"How to Cure an Old Man"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonNovember 25, 1965 (1965-11-25)
Mona tries to help a down-on-his-luck film star (Patric Knowles) – who intends to become a permanent house guest.
11"My Husband, The Wife Beater"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonDecember 2, 1965 (1965-12-02)
Mona's visiting spinster aunts (Madge Blake, Dorothy Neumann), expecting to find their movie-star niece living in a luxurious mansion, find themselves unimpressed by Mike and their unglamorous lifestyle.
12"Mail Against Female"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonDecember 9, 1965 (1965-12-09)
Mona fails in her promise never to open Mike's mail, so he decides to cure her of her habit once and for all.
13"Stranger in the Love Nest"Richard WhorfArthur Alsberg & Bob FisherDecember 23, 1965 (1965-12-23)
Mona's reaction is negative when a unsavory photographer invades her home.
14"Dance, Kookerina, Dance"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonDecember 30, 1965 (1965-12-30)
When Mona, who is secretly being given an award at the Air Force Frolics, is informed someone else will be dancing there in her place, she refuses to attend the show.
15"Mona, the Soft Air Force Recruit"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonJanuary 13, 1966 (1966-01-13)
Mike, who's broke, refuses to let Mona buy a color TV set, so Mona plants a coin worth hundreds of dollars in his pocket, only to later discover the coin's real worth.
16"Down from the Wild Blue Yonder"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonJanuary 20, 1966 (1966-01-20)
Mike considers leaving the Air Force for a high-paying civilian job, and Mona doesn't want him to, to the point of sabotaging every new career he tries.
17"The General Swings at Dawn"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonJanuary 27, 1966 (1966-01-27)
Mona tries to persuade General Crone's visiting nephew (Sal Mineo) to give up being a beatnik – by becoming one herself.
18"Lovebirds and Jailbirds"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonFebruary 10, 1966 (1966-02-10)
Incensed by an insult comic's references to Mona's earning power, Mike hits the man with a pie.
19"Diamonds Are a Girl's Worst Friend"Richard WhorfHenry Garson and Edmund BeloinFebruary 17, 1966 (1966-02-17)
Mike gives Mona a diamond ring – which Mona promptly loses.
20"Mona, the Mystic"Stanley Z. CherryFred S. FoxFebruary 24, 1966 (1966-02-24)
Sgt. Gruzewsky postpones his marriage to his fiancée after seeing a fortune teller, but Mona resorts to her own crystal ball to reschedule the ceremony.
21"Love, Chimp Style"Richard WhorfFred S. Fox & Irving ElinsonMarch 3, 1966 (1966-03-03)
Mona's new picture is completed, but her co-star – a chimpanzee – is unwilling to call it quits.
22""Operation - Chicken Soup""Stanley Z. CherryWilliam Raynor and Myles WilderMarch 10, 1966 (1966-03-10)
Mona is worried about Mike's cold, so perhaps it's just as well that he didn't tell her that he'll soon be heading out on a rugged Air Force survival test.
23"How to Turn Off a Laser Beam"Richard WhorfFred S. FoxMarch 17, 1966 (1966-03-17)
An alleged Texas millionaire offers Mona a chance to invest in a new electronics company, over Mike's suspicions that he's a fraud.
24"Snow Valley Snow Job"Richard WhorfHenry Garson and Edmund BeloinMarch 24, 1966 (1966-03-24)
After recalling her skill on skis in the movies, Mike enters Mona in a women's downhill ski race...but Mike doesn't know that Mona's stunt double actually did the filmed ski scenes.
25"Will He, or Won't He?"Richard WhorfNorman Paul, Elon Packard, and William BurnsApril 7, 1966 (1966-04-07)
Mona and Mike work overtime to try and convince Sgt. Gruzewsky to finally marry his fiancée.
26"Mike's Birthday Present"Richard WhorfFred S. FoxApril 14, 1966 (1966-04-14)
Against his wishes, Mona has a surprise present lined up for Mike's birthday, but is that present a baby?

Production notes

The series was produced for NBC by McCadden Enterprises, Inc. in association with United Artists Television. The series executive producer was comedian George Burns. The theme song was the Tin Pan Alley standard "Yes Sir, That's My Baby", sung by a male voice.

Reception

Mona McCluskey appeared on Thursday nights against ABC's Peyton Place and the second half-hour of CBS's two-hour Thursday Night Movie. It failed to win its time slot and was cancelled by NBC, with its last episode airing in April 1966.


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