Original Air Date: December 20, 1960
Starring: Dwayne Hickman, Bob Denver, Florida Friebus
Directed by: Rod Amateau
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: Dobie Gillis (Dwayne Hickman) is torn between attending a Christmas party thrown by the rich and influential Chatsworth Osborne, Jr. (Stephen Franken) and his best friend, the down-and-out Maynard G. Krebs (Bob Denver).
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Christmas Eve finds Maynard in his garage anxiously awaiting the arrival of his friends whom he has invited to his party. He doesn’t realize at first that everyone is over at Chatsworth’s home and so he is eagerly anticipating the first arrivals. Hearing a noise outside of the garage he excitedly opens the door. Instead of his friends being outside it is an orange tabby cat who walks into the garage.
Maynard suggests the cat move on since his friends will arrive soon, then reconsiders and asks the cat to stay.
Setting the cat upon a box, Maynard sits across from him and talks to him.
The cat playfully holds its paw out to Maynard and he pets the cat.
We see Maynard talking to the cat throughout the next few scenes. Slowly Maynard realizes that his friends have stood him up.
Eventually Dobie feels guilty enough that he leaves Chatsworth’s party and heads over to Maynard’s. His friend Zelda (Florida Friebus) and his mom and dad also come along. The cat can be sitting beneath the table when they arrive.
Dobie starts to sing a song and Maynard listens, holding the cat in his arms.
Finally when the other guests arrive the cat is seen sitting inside an old tire.
Final Mewsings: Cats are good company at Christmas.
Many thanks to Melissa for spotting this adorable television kitty for us!
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