The Bob Cummings Show (TV Series) Bob Gets Harvey a Raise (1958) User Reviews

The Bob Cummings Show: Bob Gets Harvey a Raise is one of the funniest of '50s television

[tavm · 9/10 · 29 September 2006]

Bob Collins (Bob Cummings) is exhausted from entertaining Harvey Helm's (King Donovan) client, H. R. "Hap" Henderson (special guest star Jesse White). Since Helm is such a dull man, Collins posed as Harvey to Henderson and vice versa in order to get Helm promoted to vice president of his furniture company. Harvey wants Bob to be him for one more day but Collins refuses until he sees Helm climb out the window thinking Harvey's committing suicide (Harvey was actually checking his wallet to show numerous pictures of his "children" to Bob for sympathy). Bob brings two of his models, Collette (Lisa Gaye) and Shirley (Joi Lansing) to entertain Henderson while Harvey calls his mother-in-law to try to reach his wife Ruth (Mary Lawrence) but through a hilarious dialogue of misunderstanding, mother-in-law thinks Harvey is at a bar! Ruth later calls her mother and gets the misinformation and finds out from Bob's nephew Chuck (Dwane Hickman) that Bob and Harvey are at the Mermaid Club. At the club, Harvey gets Bob to get Henderson to sign contract that secures Helm's promotion while Harvey dances with Collette. Ruth has come in at this point, talked briefly to Mr. Henderson and identified herself, and cuts herself between Collette and her husband before Harvey notices! Contract already signed, Henderson notices Mrs. Helm and points Bob to her as Bob turns around and says, "Mother!" Starts slow but picks up with Jesse White's first appearance in loud suit and sunglasses. His constant reference to Collins as a "dull man" is the funniest running gag in the episode. The ending is also funny if a bit predictable but I won't reveal here. Hilarious episode from The Golden Age of Television.