John Astin

TV Guide -  December 1 - 7, 1962

Martin Ingerman (March 9, 1936 – October 21, 2015), known professionally as Marty Ingels.  Actor, comedian, comedy sketch writer and theatrical agent, who is best known as the co-star of the 1960s television series I'm Dickens, He's Fenster.

He guest-starred on the CBS sitcoms Pete and Gladys, The Ann Sothern Show, and Hennesey. He also appeared in one episode of ABC's Bewitched as "Diaper Dan", who plants a microphone bug in Tabitha's rattle so a competing advertising agency can scoop and steal Darrin's ideas. He appeared twice as Sol Pomeroy, an army buddy of the character Rob Petrie, on CBS's The Dick Van Dyke Show. In 1978, Ingels guest starred in Season Two, Episode One of The Love Boat.  (Wikipedia)

John Allen Astin (born March 30, 1930) Stage, film and television actor and director who has appeared in numerous stage, television and film roles. He is best known for starring in The Addams Family (1964–1966), as patriarch Gomez Addams, reprising the role in the television film Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977) and the animated series The Addams Family (1992–1993).

Astin started in theater, making his first Broadway appearance as an understudy in Major Barbara, and also did voice-over work for commercials. His first big break in film came with a small role in West Side Story (1961).

During this period, his talent for also playing comedy was spotted by actor Tony Randall, leading to guest starring roles on the sitcom Dennis the Menace, starring Jay North; The Donna Reed Show; and Harrigan and Son, starring Pat O'Brien, the first carried on CBS and the latter two carried on ABC. In 1961, Astin appeared in the final episode of the ABC police drama The Asphalt Jungle.

During the 1962–63 television season, Astin had his first lead in a television series, the ABC sitcom I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, co-starring with Marty Ingels. Astin played Harry Dickens to Ingels's Arch Fenster, as two trouble-prone carpenters. The series combined witty dialogue with moments of slapstick comedy. I'm Dickens, He's Fenster received critical raves, but was against two high-rated shows, Sing Along with Mitch on NBC and Route 66 on CBS. By the time I'm Dickens, He's Fenster gained a following and started winning its time slot, ABC had already canceled the show. 32 episodes were produced.

Astin is perhaps best known for The Addams Family, a popular sitcom that ran on ABC from 1964 to 1966, based on cartoons created by Charles Addams. 

Astin joined the retooled The Pruitts of Southampton (re-titled The Phyllis Diller Show) for the second half of the 1966–67 season, playing Diller's brother-in-law, Angus Pruitt. He also played the Riddler in the second season of Batman (Frank Gorshin returned for the third and final season.) He played submarine commander Matthew Sherman on the 1970s television series Operation Petticoat. He also made several appearances in the first two seasons of the popular mystery series Murder, She Wrote, as scheming real estate developer (and finally Sheriff) Harry Pierce, who ends up as the murderer in his last episode.  Astin starred in the cult classic TV film Evil Roy Slade (1972).  He had a recurring role on the sitcom Night Court as Buddy, eccentric former mental patient and the father of lead character Harry Stone. Astin played the regular role of Ed LaSalle on the short-lived Mary Tyler Moore sitcom Mary during the 1985–86 television season. He also guest starred on numerous television series, including appearances on Duckman, Homeboys in Outer Space, Jack Palance's ABC circus drama The Greatest Show on Earth, and a 1967 episode of Gunsmoke as Festus Haggen's cousin Henry. (Wikipedia)

Chickie Lind as Phyllis as wearing white short shorts/hot pants on I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster

MUST HAVE SEEN TV #63: I’M DICKENS, HE’S FENSTER, “THE JOKE”

This week on Must Have Seen TV, Brett talks to Ethan Kaye about the "I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster" episode "The Joke." John Astin’s an actor and Marty Ingels is a performer! This is the “Arrested Development” of the ‘60s! Practically everyone involved in this show became legends...later!

Be sure to listen to the end of the episode for info on next week's sitcom. Please rate and review the show in iTunes, and you can follow the podcast on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr at @MustHaveSeenTV.

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Back in the early 1980s, I was pitching a movie concept I had written about a nice kid who got swept into the music world. A lot of the story was about his fight to regain control of his life and a career which was spiraling downward due to drug and alcohol abuse. I wanted to attach a recognizable "name" to the project (working titled "Fame") and thought David Cassidy (who I only knew as clean cut singer Keith Partridge from the musical/sitcom series, The Partridge Family) could enjoy the acting challenge by playing the lead character. I met with Shirley Jones's fairly new husband and now David's step-dad, Marty Ingels. Marty was a comedian/actor who had moved onto producing and is sometimes remembered as Fenster in the TV sitcom "I'm Dickens, He's Fenster". While pitching Marty the movie premise, his expression seemed somewhat reflective. I wasn't really sure I was connecting with him or that he was connecting to the story. When I finished the pitch, he paused a moment, leaned forward on his desk, and with an almost pained look on his face said:

"I'm sorry, David could never play the kid in your story."

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because David *is* the kid in your story."

It took me a second to absorb what Marty meant. Going into the meeting, I had thought David would've welcomed the challenging role because my character was so different from his TV character. Instead, it would've been *too* challenging for him to show up on the set in a condition to even play the part. It was simply too close to home and, at that time, David's home was, tragically, very far away from where Keith Partridge had grown up on The Partridge Family.

MUST HAVE SEEN TV #63: I’M DICKENS, HE’S FENSTER, “THE JOKE”

This week on Must Have Seen TV, Brett talks to Ethan Kaye about the "I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster" episode "The Joke." John Astin’s an actor and Marty Ingels is a performer! This is the “Arrested Development” of the ‘60s! Practically everyone involved in this show became legends...later! 

Be sure to listen to the end of the episode for info on next week's sitcom. Please rate and review the show in iTunes, and you can follow the podcast on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr at @MustHaveSeenTV.

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Marty Ingels, Emmaline Henry and John Astin in "I'm Dickens He's Fenster". 

John Astin in I'm Dickens He's Fenster

I'm Dickens He's Fenster - ABC - 9/28/1962 - 9/13/1963

Sitcom (32 episodes)

Running Time:  30 minutes

Stars:

Marty Ingels - Arch Fenster

John Astin - Harry Dickens

Emmaline Henry - Kate Dickens

Frank DeVol - Myron Bannister

Dave Ketchum - Mel Warshaw

Henry Beckman - Mulligan

Noam Pitlik - Bentley