Written by Ron Friedman
Produced by Paul Junger Witt
Directed by Paul Junger Witt
Original Air Date: November 20, 1970
During a performance one night, Danny's foot gets caught in the chord of the
microphone and he knocks a few things over trying to free himself. The
audience love it, but Danny is mortified and locks himself in the men's room.
Shirley and Reuben try every ploy to get Danny to come out, but he is so
embarrassed that he refuses. Finally they tell him that he is a natural
comedian and that they will write an act especially for him. Danny emerges.
Much to the dismay of Shirley and the other kids, Danny takes the comedy bit
seriously and goes to see a gag writer named Ziggy Shnurr. Ziggy gives the boy
a number of old, bad jokes and after the next evening's performance, Danny
tries them out on the audience. They laugh -- but they are really laughing at
a ten-year old telling bad jokes, and the family doesn't know how to break it
to Danny.
When Shirley can't make Danny understand that he just isn't a comedian, she
and Reuben decide to take him to the L.A. office of Max Pepper, the owner of
the Hawaiian hotel where they will appear. Pepper, a jaded, successful
impresario tells Danny the hard facts. Danny finally realizes that his mother
was just trying to spare his feelings and tells her that he wants to sue Ziggy
Shnurr for giving him such bad jokes!
Danny and Shirley go to Ziggy's office to get Danny's money back and Ziggy
tries to sell them a ventriloquist act!
Songs:
"Somebody Wants To Love You," music and lyrics by Wes Farrel,
Jim Cretecos and Mike Appel (on The Partridge
Family Album)
"All Of The Things," music and lyrics by Richard Klein (Unreleased
on commercial LP)
Guest Cast:
Ziggy Shnurr -------------------------------------- Morey Amsterdam
Max Pepper -------------------------------------- Jackie Coogan
First Musician ------------------------------------ Warren Miller
Second Musician --------------------------------- Kip King
Receptionist -------------------------------------- Ceil Cabot
Tube Trivia:
- Veteran comedian Morey Amsterdam is best known for playing Buddy Sorrell
on "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
- Jackie Coogan is best known for playing Uncle Fester on "The Addams
Family," The former child actor starred with Charlie Chaplin in the film,
"The Kid," and played Grandpa Walter Renfrew in Episode 86.
- Producer/Director Paul Junger Witt also directed Episode 18.
- "I Think I Love You" hits Number 1 on the Billboard charts the
week this episode aired!!
- "All of the Things" is the same song as "Stephanie",
(Episode 25) but with different lyrics.
- "Somebody Wants To Love You" was the B Side of the "I Think I
Love You" 45 rpm single.
