Blondie the Breadwinner

The set-up for this episode is very familiar. Once again, Dagwood is going to ask his boss, Mr. Dithers, for a raise...a topic often addressed in the Blondie & Dagwood films. However, things don't go well...and after Blondie confronts Dithers he fires Dagwood....again a very familiar plot. But here's the unfamiliar part...Dithers is so impressed by Blondie's assertiveness that he hires HER!

This episode, while basically a good idea, is executed poorly...mostly because it lacked subtlety and relied on slapstick. Scenes of Mr. Dithers spilling water all over himself and Dagwood screwing up the housework were simply overdone....and impacted negatively on the show. Watchable but also a mess at times.



By the way, there was one tiny portion of the show that was VERY disturbing...though not perhaps as much back in 1957. Alexander went on a date and he returned with lipstick all over him. When his parents ask what happened, he said that since he paid for the date, his date owed him....and that's why he insisted she kiss him! Pretty creepy.

This episode was lifted from the old movie series, which was familiar material. Dagwood gets himself fired so Blondie takes over his job. Pamela Britton is fun to watch as Blondie, but she will always be remembered as goofy and lovesick Mrs. Brown on the iconic MY FAVORITE MARTIAN tv series. Blondie proves herself a valuable asset to the company while Dagwood blunders around the household, the usual antics. Arthur Lake was a terrific comedian and is just so much fun to watch, bringing back lots of fond memories from the movie series. The dishes in the kitchen cupboard gag and the ironing board scene is classic Dagwood. Arthur also aged gracefully through the years and retained that aloof, juvenile quality that made him so popular. It was said during his tenure with the movie series he would have been the perfect "fourth" Stooge had he joined the Three Stooges! To note, Simon "Stuffy" Singer who played Alexander, became a national handball sports champion in the 1960s. He was one of a few juvenile actors who had a truly gifted life as there were so many child actors who faded into obscurity or worse. Again, Dagwood is the whole show and saves the day in his own lopsided way. An interesting observation is that the tv show's introduction was lifted from the CBS radio show that starred the original Blondie (Penny Singleton) and Arthur Lake as Dagwood. Finally on dvd.

Dagwood goes to his boss Mr. Dithers for a raise. Trying to be firm, he threatens to quit, which is followed through by Mr. Dithers. Blondie tried reverse psychology on Mr. Dithers that actually leads to her being offered Dagwood's job. Blondie and Dagwood swap roles at home and office. Blondie uses her being a woman as a way to boss Mr. Dithers around without fearing repercussions. Dagwood struggles to do the housework. Her interruptions and criticisms of a blueprint threatens to lose a client. With Dagwood failing housework duties to be able to care for the family, Blondie may rethink her position.