Network: ABC
Episodes: 136 (half-hour)
Seasons: Five
TV show dates: September 8, 1966 — March 19, 1971
Series status: Cancelled/ended
Performers include: Marlo Thomas, Ted Bessell, Lew Parker, and Bernie Kopell
TV show description:
This light-hearted sitcom revolves around Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas), an aspiring and frequently unemployed actress. Ann moved from her small hometown of Brewster, New York to make it in the Big Apple. While she waits for her next acting part to come along, she takes different offbeat temporary jobs and frequently gets herself into a lot of jams. Though they support their daughter, Ann’s conservative parents, Lou and Helen Marie (Lew Parker and Rosemary DeCamp), are nevertheless concerned about her lifestyle and aspirations.
Ann’s boyfriend is Donald Hollinger (Ted Bessell), a writer for Newsview Magazine. He’s an understanding guy who’s always on hand to help Ann get out of her predicaments and frequently finds himself getting pulled into them. Ann and Donald’s friends are Jerry Bauman (Bernie Koppell) and Margie “Pete” Peterson (Carol Ann Daniels, then Ruth Buzzi).
Each episode opens with a strange incident or a discussion that foreshadows the story. The scene ends with someone exclaiming “…that girl!” and pointing to Ann. The camera freezes on her and the show’s title appears as the theme song begins.
Episode #136 — That Elevated Woman
Partially a clip show, and partially a reaffirmation of Marlo Thomas’ feminist views, Donald wrote an article on the 1970’s women’s liberation movement, which Ann found offensive and tore out and put in a sandwich for him in order to make him “eat his words.” After reading the article aloud to her, he’s shocked to find the girl he has wanted to marry since 1966 is one of the very women he wrote about.
Ann explains how contemporary feminism benefits not only their relationship, but relationships in general, and society at large. Along the way, she persuades him into going to one of her women’s lib meetings even though he wants to go to a New York Rangers game, while holding ten tickets reserved for his friends and co-workers. Unfortunately both get stuck in an elevator with another young couple and the elevator operator, and she continues to lecture him on feminism.
Some of the incidents Ann claims are examples of male chauvinism though are debatable. The most notable is from “A Muggy Day in Central Park,” which is actually an example of poverty, greed, and sociopathology, rather than men and their desire to overpower women.
Once the elevator is fixed, Ann and Donald run into one of her fellow women’s libbers and found out the meeting was called off because none of the men who were invited showed up.
First aired: March 19, 1971.
Behind the scenes:
Despite the fact that much of the fifth season centered around the impending wedding between Ann and Donald, Thomas wanted to make sure the series didn’t end with a wedding, fearing that it might give young women the impression that marrying a man is mandatory. This left a great deal of speculation among fans of the show that the two main characters may have never got married themselves.
(Finale description and behind-the-scenes descriptions contributed by Daniel Timothy Dey.)
What do you think? Do you like the the That Girl TV show? Would you liked to have seen a reunion?
Yes, I would of loved to have seen a wedding! I hated how it ended!
Watch every episode and find it funny each time. Wish more shows were this simple and fun and had less of a heavy woke message. Love you Marlo.
Yes my wife and I loved the program “THAT GIRL” I loved it so much because Marlo and my wife could pass as twins. Marlo please forgive my love passed on Jan. 4, 2022. Like you and your love. I’ll love my wife Francesca forever. God bless you both. Guy Perone
Yes, I grew up watching That Girl, I wanted to see them get married, a reunion would be awesome.
I remember her long hair style but I don’t remember them getting married it would of been nice to have a reunion now
Honestly I loved the show through the start and halfway through the finale. I was a little tired of the wide eyed little girl persona from a grown woman. And the way,the sexual attraction between Ann and Donald was white washed down to a thud, to me seemed unrealistic. The sexual tension between the two was never really discussed in any episode.The slight indication only surfaced when Jerry and Judy’s honeymoon was spent at a hotel when Don and Ann had to deal with sleeping in a one bed hotel room overnight.Like the Sopranos finale,l felt the “That Girl” series… Read more »
During the (Covid-19) outbreak, I started to have to stream, from Prime Video. This was one of the only shows that didn’t get you drawn in, on the first and second episodes, & then try to charge you, to continue watching them. Being a Prime Pember, videos are supposed to be a part of what we pay for, but I’ve been hearing from too many people, that it’s not fair to draw us in, & we don’t end up watching the other episodes anyways, because we can’t afford it $1.99 per episode. I personally do not have cable at this… Read more »
I too grew up on the series and just started watching it again, amazing to think this predated The Mary Tyler Moore Show as the first strong female character on television. I do have to disagree on one point in your comments though, you comment that men appeared better back then, but as a man myself from what I can see Don really treats her like garbage in several episodes yelling at her and belittling her, even though her character stands up to him he was wrong in the first place. As for the no wedding resolution in the series… Read more »
Annabell, I feel exactly the same way that you do about Marlo Thomas and her show, That Girl . I was born in the sixties and watched the show everyday when I went home for lunch when I was in elementary school. I remember many of the episodes but I LOVED rewatching them especially during this pandemic. It made me laugh, ALOT, I cried in the last season when Donald went back to Ann’s apt. after his bachelor’s party all drunk and he told her he loved her and she was his best friend! So sweet and heartwarming. Watching the… Read more »
I would like to have seen them marry. Not have children, tho.
https://metv.com/lists/10-things-you-never-knew-about-that-girl
Season5, that Girl, the 136th & LAST episode…where can I watch this episode??? Coincidentally, it was aired on March 19, 1971, the night before my husband & I got married! Did not have time for t.v., I guess. I have seen all the episodes, but would LOVE to see that last one! Sad that they took off, “That Girl,” from ME TV at 4:00 a.m. Pacific a # of months ago.
Any plans to be able to watch the series in the future???? For now, as I said, want to watch #136, the last episode
Series in its entirety can be seen on Hulu t.v. – well worth the indulgence!
Amazon Prime Video Season 5, Episode 24
“The Elevated Woman”
Does anyone know where I can find and watch the That Girl series finale that played march 19, 1971?
Thanks
You need chapters for the series finale and other details. I can submit them if you wish.
I’m not sure what you mean by chapters.
Let me show you an example of a more recently cancelled show that has one;
http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/icarly/
Or do you call these “sections?”
Oh, you’d like to write a description of the final episode? That’d be great. Please send it using the contact form and I’ll take a look. Thanks!
I always loved Carol Ann Daniels in this series. Wish she had done more in television after That Girl.
I liked Carol Ann Daniels (Ruthie) as well, she was very funny.