Susan Silver Movies

This TV movie opens with a Hefner-like magazine publisher (Richard Long), who's just turned forty, answering his doorbell. Into his bachelor pad pops a young, bikini-clad girl (Karen Valentine) with a bow fastened around her waist; she sings "Happy Birthday", then plants a kiss on the startled Long. The publisher suspects that his buddies have set this up, but in fact Valentine is as much responsible for the surprise. A country gal, she has come to the big city in search of a husband, and she's hoping that by presenting herself to Long, she'll be launched on the road to romantic fulfillment. More whimsical than sexy, The Girl Who Came Gift-Wrapped was another pre-fab ABC Movie of the Week. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Concerned by Danny's disruptive classroom behavior, Shirley (Shirley Jones) consults psychologist Dr. Beecher (Charlotte Rae), who suggests that Danny (Danny Bonaduce) is frustrated because he feels like a powerless child. At Beecher's suggestion, Shirley temporarily allows Danny to indulge his every whim--only to incur the anger of the other kids who resent their brother getting such preferential treatment. Ultimately, Danny must realize on his own that it's not much fun to be a grownup and to give "powerless" childhood a second chance. Frequent Partridge Family guest star Bruce Kimmel shows up as yet another of Laurie Partridge's boyfriends, this one named Richard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Contrary to popular belief, "B" pictures didn't die in the 1970s; they just changed their classification to "ABC Movies of the Week". First telecast December 5, 1972, The Couple Takes a Wife is a by-the-numbers screwball comedy with a spirited all-TV cast. Career-minded couple Bill Bixby and Paula Prentiss just don't have time to watch the kids or attend to the housekeeping. So they advertise for a "wife", to assume wifely duties around the house. Enter Valerie Perrine, who takes her job very seriously-much to the dismay of real wife Prentiss. Myrna Loy, a seasoned veteran of this sort of frothy fare, appears as Prentiss' mother, while other key roles are filled by Nanette Fabray and Robert Goulet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Returning to college to take a Psychology course, Shirley (Shirley Jones) makes the acquaintance of 19-year-old Paul Bruner (Michael Burns), who mistakes her maternal kindness for true love. Before long, the moonstruck Bruner is ardenty courting the nonplussed Shirley--and he won't take no for answer. In desperation, Shirley enlists the aid of Paul's parents (played by former Dick Van Dyke Show regular Anne Morgan Guilbert and future Three's Company costar Norman Fell) to help her let the boy down gently...with surprising results. Song: "Brown Eyes". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Laid off from the department store where she works, Rhoda (Valerie Harper) becomes depressed by her inability to land a new job. Normally, best pal Mary (Mary Tyler Moore) would be in there pitching, trying to find work for her friend and neighbor. But much to everyone's surprise (especially to Lou Grant), when a position opens up at WJM-TV, Mary misinforms Rhoda that the job is already taken. "...Is a Friend in Need" was originally shown on December 4, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Patte Finley, who later played Bob Hartley's sister, Ellen, on The Bob Newhart Show, guest stars as Twinks, an all-but-forgotten childhood pal of Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore). Though the effervescent, syrupy-sweet Twinks ingratiates herself with the WJM newsroom staff, she quickly proves to be an obnoxious pest. The limit comes when she takes advantage of her past relationship with Mary by dragging her into being maid of honor at Twinks' wedding (Mary's "Little Bo Peep" ensemble is priceless). "A Friend in Deed" originally aired on February 20, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide