The Catered Affair (Goodyear Television Playhouse)
"The Catered Affair" is a television play episode from the television series Goodyear Television Playhouse. "The Catered Affair" was written by Paddy Chayefsky and was first shown on May 22, 1955. The cast included Pat Henning, Thelma Ritter, and J. Pat O'Malley.[1]
| "The Catered Affair" | |
|---|---|
| Goodyear Television Playhouse episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 17 |
| Directed by | Robert Mulligan |
| Written by | Paddy Chayefsky |
| Production code | Showcase Productions |
| Original air date | 22 May 1955 |
| Guest appearances | |
| Thelma Ritter Pat Henning | |
It was the last original TV play Chayefsky wrote.[2] A subsequent TV play, The Great American Hoax, was based on an early Chayefsky story.
Reception
Chayefsky later called the play "an unfocused piece, in which the first act was farce, and the second was comedy-drama and the third was abruptly drama. There aren't a dozen actresses who could make one piece out of all that; Miss Ritter, of course, did."[3]
The New York Times TV critic later wrote that "the playwright abandoned the stark simplicity that has become his trademark and tried to tell a family story from too many points of view. Parts of his play were rewarding but the whole was disappointing."[4]
Awards
Paddy Chayefsky and Thelma Ritter both received Emmy nominations for their work. Pat Henning won an Emmy for his performance.[5]
References
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0886035/ Internet Movie database
- "THE TV SCENE--: Television's Old Grads Hit Top" Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 28 Feb 1958: A8.
- PADDY CHAYEFSKY (Feb 16, 1969). "Thelma Ritter 1905–1969". New York Times. p. D13.
- JACK GOULD (May 23, 1955). "TV: 'Catered Affair': Chayefsky's Story of Family Life Offered". New York Times. p. 47.
- "Pat Henning, Comedian, Dead, Won Emmy for 'Catered Affair: Born Into Circus Family". New York Times. Apr 30, 1973. p. 34.