My Living Doll

My Living Doll is a charming and unique blend of comedy and science fiction that unfolds through the interesting quirks and humor of its main protagonist, Dr. Bob McDonald, enacted by Robert Cummings. The show is a delightful tale that offers a glance into the collision of worlds- the human and the synthetic. It originally aired on CBS from 1964 to 1965 and was produced by Jack Chertok.

Robert Cummings portrays Dr. McDonald, a psychologist for the United States Air Force. His life takes an unexpected and exciting turn when he is assigned to supervise an advanced government experiment- an alluringly beautiful android in the form of a young woman. Named "Rhoda Miller," this realistic android is RH-7, a top-secret government project and is played by Julie Newmar. Much hilarity ensues as Dr. McDonald attempts to teach Rhoda how to perfectly blend in and behave as a normal human female would.

The show is set primarily in the lush and exquisite world of California's Ventura Air Force Base, providing an interesting contrast to the conventional sitcom settings of that era. The Air Force environment shapes up as a significant backdrop, contributing immensely to the entertaining storyline and giving it a peculiar edge over regular domestic sitcom scenarios. My Living Doll adeptly engages the military aspect, nurturing the narrative with a sense of urgency and complex defense-related undertones.

Robert Cummings paints a convincing picture as the slightly bewildered but caring guardian and mentor to the android. He smoothly navigates through the laugh-out-loud situations he ends up in and lights up the scenes with his effortless, relaxed charisma. His performance further strengthens by the complementary role of actress Julie Newmar, who dons the functioning and behavior of Rhoda Miller, the robot with striking effectiveness. Rhoda's ability to logically process situations and her attempts to grasp essential human emotions creates an amusing disparity, balancing out the human flaws with robotic perfection.

The light comedy embroidered into the plot structure entertails its audience through the endearing efforts of Dr. MacDonald trying to teach Rhoda standard human behaviors while keeping her robotic identity a secret. Incidents teased by Rhoda's unpredictable comprehension of human nature and her hilarious attempts to act "normal," based on Bob's teachings, form the comic crux of the show. One of the intriguing and hilarious elements of the show involves Rhoda's literal interpretation of human sayings – a humorous clash of logical android processing with human language subtleties.

The dialogues and interactions between Dr. McDonald and Rhoda often lead to laugh-worthy situations and sometimes to profound contemplations about the human condition, giving the show a subtle depth. The intriguing paradox of a machine trying to master human behavior gives the audience cause for thought about the perplexing complexities and depth of being human. My Living Doll tastefully employs science fiction to superficially explore some existential curiosities against a backdrop of humorous antidotes.

A highpoint of the series is the captivating chemistry between the leading pair. Robert Cummings and Julie Newmar complement each other beautifully, bringing commendable authenticity and rapport to their unique “student-teacher” dynamic. This relationship between them is a constant throughout the series, maintaining a continuous undercurrent of tension and hilarity.

Though the series only ran for one season, it saw considerable popularity and went on to acquire a dedicated fanbase, primarily due to its original plot and the exceptional performances of its lead actors. Sadly, a significant number of episodes have been lost over the years, leaving the potential exploration of several primary plot lines and story developments unconcluded.

Despite its short run, My Living Doll etched a distinctive mark in the comic science fiction genre of the 60s era TV, standing as a testament to a whimsical premise brought alive by sterling performances. While embellishing the vintage charm of classic comedy, it twirls around the timeless whimsy of humanizing the machine, making the show an engaging and entertaining gem.