The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show Season 7, Episode 16: The Ugly Duckling

Return To California

30 min

The Shakespearean Paper

Ronnie has an assignment to write a paper on his favorite Shakespearean play. Unfortunately, Harry Von Zell inspires Gracie to meddle, and the results are disastrous for Ronnie.

30 min

The Woman In The Car

Gracie borrows Blanche's car---and gossip links Gracie with Blanche's husband Harry. Larry Keating, Bea Benaderet, Gracie Allen, George Burns, Ronnie Burns.

30 min

The Interview

Two separate plots in this episode: George is interviewed by a bewildered TV Guide writer and Mrs. Sohmers, on a visit to Beverly Hills, wants to meet her favorite actor, Francis X. Bushman.

30 min

The Initiation

Mrs. Sohmers is staying with the Mortons while she looks for a house to buy in Pasadena. She specifically wants to avoid living too close to Gracie. Concurrently, Ronnie is undergoing a fraternity initiation which requires him to say and do the opposite of what anyone would expect.

30 min

Ronnie's Bashful

Von Zell is dating a 28 year old woman, which evokes much analysis and criticism from George and Gracie. And when Ronnie stays home instead of attending a dance, Gracie gets the impression it is due to his shyness, and comes up with a crazy scheme to help him.

30 min

The Big Stamp Robbery

Harry Morton's prize ""Madagascar Imperial"" postage stamp falls into the wrong hands when Gracie needs to mail a letter.

30 min

George's Gray Suit

30 min

Von Zell's Raises

Von Zell is happy to remain a bachelor, but rumors of an impending marriage prompt George to give him raises at just the wrong time.

30 min

The Refrigerator Salesman

Ronnie has a temporary job selling electric razors in the Wilshire Department Store for the Christmas season. Through Gracie's meddling and some misunderstandings, he becomes an ace refrigerator salesman, and this has quite an impact on George.

30 min

The Girl Behind The Perfume Counter

Gracie mistakenly believes that Ronnie is dating an older woman, and constructs one of her off-beat strategies to amend the situation.

30 min

Ronnie Quits College Because His Father Goes Broke

Gracie thinks she can prevent Ronnie from quitting college by demonstrating to him that George has suffered financially by not having a college education. With the help of Harry Von Zell, she fabricates a sensational story that has the Mortons and Mrs. Sohmers in an uproar.

30 min

Christmas In Jail

In flashback mode, George tells the story of how he became incarcerated on Christmas Eve. The issue of Christmas gifts has once again seriously complicated George's life.

30 min

The Costume Party

Von Zell, Harry Morton, and George throw a party to interest banker Mr. Vanderlip in an investment. Blanche's brother Roger influences the outcome.

30 min

Gracie And The Bullfighter

George and Gracie decide to show an interest in Ronnie's hobbies---until he takes up bullfighting. Ronnie Burns, Harry Von Zell, Bea Benaderet, Larry Keating.

30 min

The Aptitude Test

Gracie gets George to take an aptitude test "to help him find himself." Ronnie Burns, Harry Von Zell, Bea Benaderet, Larry Keating.

30 min

Going To Palm Springs

30 min

The Matrimonial Bureau

Gracie gets a crazy idea that she must find a wife for Ronnie before he reaches the age of twenty one. When she enlists the aid of a matrimonial bureau, George and Von Zell get embroiled in the ensuing mixup.

30 min

The Fortune Teller

Gracie's misunderstanding of a tea leaf reading gives her the impression that George has come into a fortune. She acts on this ""knowledge"" by presenting Ronnie with an extravagant gift.

30 min

Fighting For Happiness

Gracie tries to argue with George---so they can enjoy a happy reconciliation. George Burns, Gracie Allen, Harry Von Zell.

30 min

The Termites

Gracie wants to have the bedroom redecorated without George's knowledge, but runs into some difficulty getting George out of the house for the required two days. Ralph comes up with a novel solution.

30 min

The $15,000 Error

Fearful of a huge redecorating bill, Gracie decides to mortgage the house. Gracie Allen, Larry Keating, Bea Benaderet.

30 min

The Ring

In this episode, we meet Mr. Jansen the plumber, who comes to retrieve Gracie's lost engagement ring. But the ring is not where he expects it to be. George attempts to have some fun by telling lonely Mr. Jansen that Blanche is an eligible widow, but the results are not what George envisioned.

30 min

The Plumber's Friend

Gracie plays hostess to plumber Mr. Jansen's four daughters, Jean, Joan, June and Joy, while he travels to San Diego to meet an eligible widow. This causes a bit of trouble for Ronnie, who is already having problems with his girfriend, Kathy, due to her jealousy.

30 min

Going To Houston

Gracie meets Brian McAfee in this episode, and attempts to convince his father that Brian should stay in college.

30 min

The Stray Dog

30 min

Ronnie Gets a Movie Role

30 min

The Plumber's Union

Gracie tries to help Mr. Jansen find a wife by placing a personal ad. She misrepresents his age by about fifteen years, and this brings about some confusion.

30 min

Harry's Homecoming

Gracie and Blanche feel that their husbands are not romantic enough. Harry comes home a day early from his business trip and George instigates a crazy impersonation scheme involving Harry and Blanche.

30 min

The Publicity Romance

The movie company for which Ronnie is working has created rumors of a romance between him and an Italian actress for publicity purposes. His real girlfriend, Kathy, has a hard time accepting this.

30 min

The Texan Lady Macbeth

Bonnie Sue McAfee, Brian's sister, has arrived in Hollywood with the intention of becoming a motion picture actress. After speaking with Brian, Gracie embarks on a crazy plan to discourage Bonnie Sue from show business. Bonnie Sue demonstrates her acting ability and supposed lack of Texas accent by performing a scene from Macbeth.

30 min

Ronnie's Boat

Gracie tries to convince George to help Ronnie buy a boat. George Burns, Gracie Allen, Ronnie Burns.

30 min

A Trip To Tahiti

Ronnie and Ralph are planning to sail to Tahiti in Ronnie's boat. George's authorization of the questionable trip becomes a controversial issue. Gracie gets Von Zell and the Mortons involved in the polemic, while June and Joy Jansen pay an important visit to the Burns household.

30 min

The Home Graduation

It looks like Brian McAfee once again is not going to graduate, and this may be his last chance. Gracie gets an idea for helping Brian when she listens to Harry Morton's story of how he was awarded his Dartmouth diploma in absentia.

30 min

Blanche's Mother Arrives

Blanche's mother comes to visit, amid some turbulence in the Morton household due to Harry's cancelled business trip. Gracie initiates another identity mixup, this time between Natalie (Blanche's mother) and Marie, a French exchange student at Ronnie's college.

30 min

The Wading Pool At Acapulco

Ronnie and Ralph have a potential job as lifeguards at an Acapulco hotel. Gracie wants George to go to Acapulco also, but he is not interested, and has to find a way to get out of it.

30 min

The Marital Mix-Up

30 min

A Pain In The Back

George feigns a bad back in order to avoid going fishing with Harry Morton, despite Gracie and Blanche's plan to get the two husbands to become friends. Meanwhile, Ronnie and Ralph are contemplating going to a Calypso party.

30 min

Ronnie's Twenty-One

30 min