Date Created: 1982
Directed by: Paul Bogart
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: Gloria (Sally Struthers) leaves home with her son Joey (Christian Jacobs) and starts a career as a veterinary assistant to Dr. Adams (Burgess Meredith).
Featured Feline: This unaired episode was the original pilot for the spin-off series Gloria. As Gloria learns the ropes of working in the animal clinic, a longhaired white cat named Blossom Schneider is being spayed. We see her under sedation on the operating table and later sleeping in a cage.
Near the end of the episode, Gloria is talking to Dr. Adams when Dr. Waynewrite (Rick Lohman) enters carrying Blossom and accuses Gloria of leaving her cage open. He says he found the cat trying to cuddle up with a Doberman.
Dr. Adams tells Dr. Waynewrite it was Ben who left the cage door open. After an apology, Gloria takes Blossom from Waynewrite.
The final shot of the episode is Gloria sitting on the fireplace with Blossom, commenting on how they both had a rough day.
The animals for this episode were provided by Gentle Jungle, Inc. When this pilot was rejected by CBS, another was ordered which was used as the first episode of the short-lived series.
Final Mewsings: Cats don’t find veterinarian offices funny.
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