"That Girl", the successful 1966-1971 series starring Marlo Thomas, joined TV Land's line-up on April 29, 1996, the night TV Land launched. To celebrate the beginning, Nick at Nite showed the never before seen on TV pilot to That Girl. The show's ratings started off with a bang, being a very popular TV Land show. It was so popular, it joined a regular spot on Nick at Nite, every Sunday as part of "The Women of Nick at Nite". Not too long after it's debut, the ratings began to fail. In 1997, That Girl was featured in TV Land's "afternoon-a-thons", every Friday from 4:00-8:00pm est. A Vertivision marathon (twenty back to back episodes) following that November. On April 27, 1998, That Girl left TV Land with no words.. the final episode to air on the station was "Counter Proposal", a very tearful episode in which Donald (Ted Bessel), considers breaking off his engagement with Ann (Marlo Thomas).

The show's 136 episodes are not currently airing in the United States, but can be seen in Canada.

Characters and Actors

Ann Marie: New York's struggling actress with the great appartment, was born in Brewster, a quiet town in New York state. She has a very over-protective father, Lou Marie, but to balance it out, a very understanding mother. In episode one of "That Girl", she meets Donald Holinger (Donald Bluesky in the unaired pilot episode), who later becomes her fiancee. To make ends meet, Ann is often found working at small jobs while her acting career is in a slump. Some of her more memorable jobs include an announcer at a department store (where she later turns into a shoplifter...), a waitress in a nearby restaurant, and a girl selling gum.

Marlo Thomas: Marlo Thomas was born Margaret Thomas in Detroit in 1938. Her father, the well known Danny Thomas, may have been responsible for her roots in acting. She was not acting heavily until after she got out of college. Some early but memorable guest appearances include a 1959 or 1960 episode of Dobie Gillis called "Top Fist", Zane Gray Theater, Donna Reed, and others. She was a regular on the 1961 series, "The Joey Bishop Show". A really big break came for Ms. Thomas in 1966 when That Girl came around. That Girl was the first sitcom to feature a single, independent woman. When That Girl was over in 1971, she kept acting, and kept winning awards for acting. Since her father, Danny Thomas, has passed away in 1991, she has continued his charitable work for St. Jude's Children Hospital and occasionally can be seen on TV.

Donald Holinger: Don Holinger is an important writer for Newsview magazine in New York City. He first meets Ann, who is working at a newstand at the time, when they both want the same desk. Ann wants if for her father, and Donald for himself. Later that day, when Ann is doing an acting job pretending to be kidnapped, Donald comes to the rescue thinking Ann is in trouble. After he finally realizes she was in no danger, he declares himself Super Dummy. Ann soon remembers Don didn't know Ann was in trouble, and risked his life for her. They become great friends, and later become engaged. (After four years). Don's friend and co-worker, Jerry Bauman, just happens to be a next door neighbor to Ann.

Ted Bessel: Ted Bessel was born in Flushing, New York in 1935. In his early years, Ted was concidering being a musician, performing at Carneige Hall at only the age of 12. After he graduated from college in 1958, he decided acting was his thing. Ted Bessel was in some Navy series and movies, including Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., and the movie, McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force in 1965. 1966 brought around That Girl, in which Ted played Ann Marie's Boyfriend, Donald Holinger for five years. In early casting, Ted was originally to be the part of Donald Bluesky, Ann's talent agent. In 1975, Ted Bessel was offered a permanent role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, as Mary's permanent steady boyfriend, Joe Warner. Ted Bessel was busy at the time, and had to turn the part down, leaving Mary Richards single for the remainder of the series. The 1980's brought many movies for Ted. Sadly, he died at the young age of 61 on October 6, 1996.

Supporting Actors/Actresses

Lew Parker as Lou Marie: Ann's over protective father was a favorite character to many. Mr. Hollinger is always looking out for the best interest of his daughter, and is never too sure about her beau, Donald. Lew Parker died in 1973, shortly after That Girl ended.

Rosemary DeCamp as Helen Marie: Helen, Ann's understanding and kind-hearted mother, was played by veteran actress, Rosemary DeCamp. Rosemary also starred in the 1949 Jackie Gleason series, "The Life of Riley", and was briefly a regular on Petticoat Junction when Bea Benaderet was sick. Rosemary was born in 1910, and is still living today.

Bernie Kopell as Jerry Bauman: Jerry Bauman, Ann's neighbor and Ann and Donald's good friend, was played by Bernie Kopell. Mr. Kopell was born in 1933. He has guest starred in numerous series, and was a regular on Get Smart as Siegfried, head of K.A.O.S.

Mabel Anderson as Mrs. Hollinger: Popular actress Mabel Anderson, guest starred in a handful of That Girl episodes, and Don's over protective mother. Quarrels often arose between Ann and her, or Mr. Marie and her. Ms. Anderson was born in 1901, and died at the age of 81 in 1982 if Akzheimer's disease.

Frank Faylen as Mr. Hollinger: Frank Faylen is possibly best known as Dobie's gruff dad on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis". He was born in 1909, and died in 1985.

Memorable Episodes

Episode 1 "Don't Just Do Something, Stand There" In the first episode, That Girl meets her boyfriend, Don. He first meets Ann, who is working at a newstand at the time, when they both want the same desk. Ann wants if for her father, and Donald for himself. Later that day, when Ann is doing an acting job pretending to be kidnapped, Donald comes to the rescue thinking Ann is in trouble. After he finally realizes she was in no danger, he declares himself Super Dummy. Ann soon remembers Don didn't know Ann was in trouble, and risked his life for her. They become great friends, and realize they have a lot in common.

Episode 5 "Anatomy of a Blunder" It's Donald's bad day. First, Ann wants to go on a picnic. Don agrees, but Ann takes half the day finding the perfect spot. When she finally finds the best spot, Donald steps on a bee, which disables him to walk for the rest of the day, he unknowingly eats horseradish in Ann's sandwich, which he is allergic to and promptly breaks out in hives, Ann accidently knocks his contacts out, one of which she breaks. A top from all of this, Don has to meet Ann's parents, and he can't drive his car. It hurts him too much to put his foot on the petal. Ann has to drive, but runs into trouble when she discovers she can't drive anything but an automatic...

Episode 11 "What's in a Name?" This remake of the original un-aired pilot shows Ann in a small part in a movie. Her talent agent advises her to change her name for the screen.. Ann Marie sounds unfinished, and isn't a good name for an actress. Ann reluctantly decides on Marie Brewster. Her father is very angered at the thought of Ann not wanting the family name.

Episode 28 "This Little Piggy Had a Ball" Ann gets her foot stuck in a bowling ball after reading an article about a man who bowled with his feet. Ann has to go to an awards dinner and accept an award for her friend, who is out of town. Ann's day turns out A-OK when her toe relaxes...

Episode 31-"Pass the Potatoes, Ethel Merman" Ann finds she is on stage with Ethel Merman in her newest job.

Episode 50 "The Other Woman" Ethel Merman returns and everyone thinks she and Mr. Marie are having an affair.

Episode 67 "A Muggy Day in Central Park" Ann is shocked and horrified when she is mugged in Central Park. Donald discovers a section of the police station where the men officers dress up as woman to try and capture the muggers. Donald goes undercover in the department (dressed as a blond), to get a story for Newsview.

Episode 71 "Decision Before Dawn" Ann is excited when she recieves $743.62 residual check from the bank. Ann must decide what to buy with it.. her mother suggests a piano, her father suggests stocks, and Don says a vacation. Ann decides on a bed. Larry Storch guest stars

Episode 112 "Counter Proposal" Don proposes to Ann with a ring he bought from a friend, who has no use for it now that he and his girlfriend has broken up. When the friend and his girl get back together, he wants the ring back, and Ann must find a ring exactly like it for herself.

Episode 125 "That Script" Ann persuades a famous writer to make a book of his into a movie, with her as the star. The movie, which companies have been trying to snatch for years, is instantly grabbed up, and Ann is to become a famous movie star! The movie collapses when Ann discovers the writer is not what he used to be....

Episode 127 "A Limited Engagement" Don has second thoughts about his engagement with Ann, and is ready to call it off.

Episode 135 "The Elevated Woman" Donald reluctantly goes to a woman's liberation meeting of Ann's and is less thrilled when he is stuck in an elevator on the way up.

Episode 136 "Sixty Five on the Aisle" In the final episode of That Girl, Ann is excited about her parents visiting to see her Broadway performance. Ann's father arranges a suprise theater party for Ann, but to do this, Ann's lines has to be cut conciderably for that night's performance. Ann, not knowing about the party, asks her father to come the following night, when her role will be uncut.

When to Catch That Girl

That Girl aired nightly on TV Land at 4:00am until April 27, when it was taken off the network. It is not currently seen on any stations in the U.S., but can be seen on WTN in Canada everynight at 1:30am.

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