Karen (1975 TV series)

{{Distinguish|Karen (1964 TV series)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Karen (1975) title card.PNG

| caption =

| genre = Sitcom

| creator = Gene Reynolds
Larry Gelbart

| writer =

| director =

| presenter =

| starring = Karen Valentine
Charles Lane
Dena Dietrich
Oliver Clark
Alix Elias
Will Seltzer
Aldine King

| judges =

| voices =

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer =

| opentheme =

| composer =

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 13

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer =

| producer =

| editor =

| cinematography =

| camera = Multi-camera

| runtime = 25 minutes

| company = 20th Century-Fox Television

| channel = ABC

| first_aired = {{start date|1975|01|30}}

| last_aired = {{end date|1975|05|08}}

}}

Karen is an American sitcom that aired on ABC beginning in January 1975. A mid-season replacement, Karen was designed as a starring vehicle for actress Karen Valentine. The show was canceled after four months due to low ratings.

Plot

Karen Angelo is an ambitious, enthusiastic worker for Open America, a liberal citizen's lobby in Washington, D.C. Karen is assisted in finding (and uncovering) corrupt managers by Dale Busch, the cantankerous founder of Open America (played by Denver Pyle in the pilot episode, Charles Lane would later play the role).{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&dq=%22Karen+Situation+Comedy+First+Telecast+January%22&pg=PA726 |first1=Tim |last1=Brooks |author-link1=Tim Brooks (historian) |first2=Earle |last2=Marsh |year=2007 |edition=9 |title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present |pages=726–727 |publisher=Random House Publishing |location=New York |isbn=978-0-345-49773-4 |access-date=2024-07-01 }}

Cast

Episodes

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; background:#fff;"
style="background:#;"| No.

! style="background:#;"| Title

! style="background:#;"| Directed by

! style="background:#;"| Written by

! style="background:#;"| Original air date

! style="background:#;"| Prod.
code

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=1

|Title = Karen

|DirectedBy = Gene Reynolds

|WrittenBy = Larry Gelbart & Carl Kleinschmitt

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|1|30}}

|ProdCode = 901

|ShortSummary=Karen prepares for an appearance before a House subcommittee in government reorganization.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=2

|Title = Them

|DirectedBy = Hy Averback

|WrittenBy = Simon Muntner

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|2|6}}

|ProdCode = 902

|ShortSummary=Karen discovers that her home is being bugged and suspects that the office of Open America is as well.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=3

|Title = The Visitors

|DirectedBy = Jerry Paris

|WrittenBy = Carl Kleinschmitt

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|2|13}}

|ProdCode = 906

|ShortSummary=Karen's high school friend and her husband are visiting from California and Karen is in for a big surprise.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=4

|Title = Love and Other Issues

|DirectedBy = John Erman

|WrittenBy = John D. Hess

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|2|20}}

|ProdCode = 907

|ShortSummary=A dashing public relations man wins Karen's heart until she realizes that his motives are suspect.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=5

|Title = Whistle Blowing

|DirectedBy = Hy Averback

|WrittenBy = Simon Muntner

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|2|27}}

|ProdCode = 905

|ShortSummary=An employee of a large company is on the verge of exposing his firm's shady practices through conversations with Karen, but is getting cold feet because of potential reprisals.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=6

|Title = Hartford Revisited

|DirectedBy = Gene Reynolds

|WrittenBy = Richard Baer

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|3|6}}

|ProdCode = 908

|ShortSummary=Congressman Hartford asks Karen to marry him, which puts the uncertain Karen in a tight situation.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=7

|Title = Busch's Breakup

|DirectedBy = John Erman

|WrittenBy = Karyl Miller

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|3|13}}

|ProdCode = 910

|ShortSummary=Dale has a fight with his wife and stays with Karen, who has to play marriage counselor and deal with his eccentricities.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=8

|Title = I Gave at the Office

|DirectedBy = Gene Reynolds

|WrittenBy = Simon Muntner

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|3|20}}

|ProdCode = 903

|ShortSummary=Karen has to decide between two men who are seeking her affection.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=9

|Title = What Are Friends For?

|DirectedBy = Jerry Paris

|WrittenBy = Simon Muntner

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|3|27}}

|ProdCode = 909

|ShortSummary=Karen comes down with an illness, but her home becomes a madhouse as all her friends try to offer help.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=10

|Title = Capitol Capers

|DirectedBy = Gene Reynolds

|WrittenBy = John D. Hess

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|4|10}}

|ProdCode = 913

|ShortSummary=Karen heads to the Pentagon to obtain information on a specific government contract.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=11

|Title = A Day in the Life

|DirectedBy = John Erman

|WrittenBy = Rick Mittleman

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|4|17}}

|ProdCode = 912

|ShortSummary=Karen and Congressman Blakemore face off against each other over consumer protection when they appear on a late-night talk show.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=12

|Title = The Karen Report

|DirectedBy = Mel Ferber

|WrittenBy = Carl Kleinschmitt

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|5|1}}

|ProdCode = 911

|ShortSummary=Karen has to do background work on Congressman Hartford, but the discoveries she makes startle even him.

|LineColor=

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=13

|Title = Dena Might

|DirectedBy = Hy Averback

|WrittenBy = Simon Muntner

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|5|8}}

|ProdCode = 904

|ShortSummary=After dating for 10 years, Dena finally receives a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Barney, who's finally decided to divorce his wife. However, Dena is uncertain and asks Karen for advice.

|LineColor=

}}

References

  • TV Guide Guide to TV 2006 (2006) {{ISBN|0-7607-7572-9}}

Notes

{{reflist}}