THE NEW ODD COUPLE (1982-1983) – This sitcom was a reboot of the 1970-1975 series, now starring former Barney Miller co-star Ron Glass as obsessively tidy photographer Felix Unger and former Sanford & Son co-star Demond Wilson as pathologically sloppy sports reporter Oscar Madison. Coincidentally, Glass had made guest appearances on two Sanford & Son episodes in the 1970s.
John Schuck played Murray the Cop, Bart Braverman was Roy and Christopher Joy was Speed. The Pigeon Sisters were portrayed by Sheila Anderson and Ronalda Douglas.
Due to a writer’s strike at the time, eight episodes of The New Odd Couple were flat-out remakes of original Odd Couple installments. That prevented the new series from developing its own way and contributed to falling ratings and the show’s cancellation after just 18 episodes.
THOSE EPISODES:
THE IDES OF APRIL (Oct 29th, 1982) – Felix must go down to the IRS office to correct a computer error. While there, he accidentally lets slip Oscar’s tax cheating. Oscar gets audited, but Felix manages to get his roommate through the ordeal successfully. ESTHER ROLLE guest starred.
THE HUSTLER (Nov 5th) – Oscar helps Felix raise money for his amateur theater troupe via a Casino Night party. It’s a success, but then Oscar risks losing all the winnings playing pool against a hustler. It was Trivia Heaven for viewers as guest stars included Al Molinaro (the original Murray the Cop), Florida Friebus playing her Bob Newhart Show character Mrs. Bakerman, Ian Wolfe as Mr. Bakerman and Ben Powers from The Jeffersons as Side Pocket Sidney.
FRANCES MOVES IN (Nov 12th) – Felix’s ex-wife Frances (NOT Gloria this time) temporarily moves in with him and Oscar. TELMA HOPKINS plays Frances.
THAT WAS NO LADY (Nov 19th) – Felix romances a woman (Sheila Wills) who turns out to be the girlfriend of professional boxing champ Moses Brown (ERNIE HUDSON). This threatens Oscar’s desire to write a book about the boxer’s life.
BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A JOB? (Nov 26th) – Oscar demands a raise but winds up getting fired. JUDY PACE and ROY FIRESTONE guest star.
THE NEW CAR (Dec 3rd) – Felix and Oscar work together to win a car, but then begin squabbling about auto expenses and responsibilities as well as scheduling who gets to use the car on what nights. Guest stars were LIZ TORRES and Jo Marie Payton.
THE CORDON BLUES (Dec 10th) – Felix’s socialite friend puts him in charge of their high-class restaurant and chaos results. Also starring Henry Polic II.
THE ODD TRIANGLE (Dec 17th) – The fashion model that Oscar is dating seems to be using him to score points with photographer Felix in hopes of career advancement. With Fay Hauser and Deborah Pratt.
OPENING NIGHT (Dec 31st) – Oscar gets stuck reviewing a play backed by a gangster (Carmen Argenziano), so Felix helps him write the review. A bad review will get Oscar in trouble with the gangster.
SECURITY (Jan 7th, 1983) – After Felix and Oscar get robbed, the former gets a guard dog and wants to move. With Raymond Singer.
BACHELOR OF THE YEAR (Jan 14th) – Oscar and Felix are in competition to be named Bachelor of the Year by a magazine.
A GRAVE FOR FELIX (Jan 21st) – Felix foolishly trusts Oscar with the deposit money for a cemetery plot he is buying for himself. Oscar gambles away the cash. Bill Quinn appears.
MY STRIFE IN COURT (Jan 28th) – An attempt to get rid of a spare concert ticket gets our main characters arrested for ticket scalping. Hope Clarke and Jack Kruschen guest star.
OSCAR DATES FELIX’S FRANCES (Feb 18th) – Oscar is talked into accompanying Felix’s ex-wife Frances to a lecture and the two unexpectedly hit it off and begin dating. With Gloria Gifford.
MURRAY’S HOT DATE (Feb 25th) – Oscar blows his and Felix’s rent money for the month on a prostitute (Kelly Bishop) to pose as a woman interested in despondent Murray.
THE PERILS OF PAULINE (May 13th) – Felix and other friends buy a word processor for Oscar, but he feels unable to write without his trusty old typewriter “Pauline.” DORIS ROBERTS guest stars.
THE ONLY WAY TO FLY (May 20th) – Superstitious Oscar believes a palm reading prediction that Felix is in danger and does everything he can to prevent him from taking a flight on business. TRACY SCOGGINS appeared.
THE NIGHT STALKER (May 26th) – Final episode of the series. A brick thrown through the window of Felix’s studio is attached to a note warning Felix to stop dating the thrower’s girlfriend.
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Balladeer's Blog 
Never heard of this show
It’s pretty obscure.
I never saw this show but those two look like a great team! Thanks!
Glad to do it! Reruns of this still show up at times and they had their funny moments.
Wow! I had definitely forgotten about this one. I remember liking this well enough. It had star power, at least as I saw stars back then. Thanks for the memory jog! I can’t believe that was 40 plus years ago!! As usual, I love this series even though it tends to date me. 😉
I know what you mean! If only they could have had original scripts right from the start it might have caught on and lasted longer. Thanks for the comment!