The Danny Thomas Show Season 6, Episode 31: The Practical Joke

The Bob Hope Show

30 min

Rusty, the Ward-Heeler

Kathy thinks Danny is sending the wrong message to Rusty, who is running for Class President and is using his father's suggestion to throw a rally, replete with lots of ice cream and Danny's telling jokes, to 'buy' votes for Rusty.

30 min

First Anniversary

When Danny and Kathy disagree and argue about who proposed to whom, Mr. Daly urges Danny not to apologize to his daughter.

30 min

Terry Goes Steady

Danny reads an article about teenagers running away to get married. As a result he gets worried over his own teen-aged Daughter, Terry. Then he finds out she is going steady with a boy named Walter, which only worries him more.

30 min

Take a Message

Chaos ensues when, because of Kathy's forgetfulness, Danny and Kathy dine with the Wolfs, where they weren't invited, much to the dismay of Mr. and Mrs. Fox, where they were invited.

30 min

A Locket for Linda

Rusty balks when Danny won't give him $15 for a model airplane, but Kathy and Danny promise Linda a locket from the tooth fairy.

30 min

Jack Benny Takes Daddy's Job

Danny fully expects to perform at Rusty's Cub Scout show for the third consecutive year and is annoyed at be asked again, until he finds he's been replaced by Jack Benny.

30 min

Uncle Tonoose's Fling

After Uncle Tonoose, family matchmaker, has married off his last relative, he comes to visit Kathy and Danny and announces that he wants to lead the life of a playboy.

30 min

Linda's Tonsils

When Danny tries to calm a terrified Linda, who needs her tonsils removed, he soon needs some consolation himself.

30 min

Dinah Shore and Danny are Rivals

Tension mounts between Danny and Dinah Shore, when they are slated to open at different nightclubs on the same night.

30 min

The Reunion

On the eve of a 20 year reunion with old Toledo chums, Danny is feeling a bit smug at his great success with one year of high school while he friends completed their education. The tide turns when the group reunites and Danny learn that Charlie is an eminent surgeon, Harry, a prominent NASA scientist and Joe, a senior member of the diplomatic corps.

30 min

Kathy's Career

Bored with her housewife routine, Kathy accepts a glamorous job at a fashion magazine.

30 min

The Saints Come Marching In

After encountering a group of wayward young men, who possess huge musical talent, Danny intervenes with school authorities to put them on the straight and narrow, with a view towards launching their show business career.

30 min

Lucy Upsets the Williams Household

When Lucy and Ricky Ricardo pay a visit to the Williams family, Danny makes the mistake of advising Ricky to halt Lucy's shopping sprees by closing all of her charge accounts.

30 min

Tony Bennett Gets Danny's Help

Uncle Tonoose travels from Toledo with Danny's cousin, Stephen, in tow, asking Danny to scratch Stephen's itch for a show business career.

30 min

Tennessee Ernie Stays for Dinner

After Danny lectures the children on the meaning of helping the less fortunate, Rusty and Linda bring "Kentucky Cal," a lonely drifter, home for dinner. Kathy and the kids become attached to the colorful Cal, but Danny wants to know more about this mysterious character.

30 min

Bob Hope and Danny Become Directors

Danny is outraged when Rusty and Linda are assigned minor roles in their school's upcoming production of "Alice in Wonderland" and argues with Mrs. Foster, the play's director. When she resigns in a huff, Danny takes over, only to find himself with Bob Hope, whose nephew has also been cast, offering his own unique style of 'shtick' while advising Danny on his direction.

30 min

Red Tape

When Kathy's friend takes in a Norwegian exchange student, Danny, missing his teen aged daughter, Terry, who's away at college, decides to sign on as well. When the authorities deem the Williams' household unsuitable because of Danny's profession, Danny, Rusty, Linda and Kathy set out to change their thinking and are determined to house their very own student.

30 min

Gina from Italy

Danny awaits the arrival of Italian exchange student, Gina Minelli, with great anxiety. The Williamses do everything they can to welcome the shy and homesick girl, but Danny, particularly, makes all the wrong, albeit, well intentioned moves. Inevitably, he stumbles upon the right tack and a very happy Gina feels very much at home.

30 min

Shirley Jones Makes Good

Danny receives a letter from his old and beloved friend and mentor, Otto Nielsen, telling him that his daughter, Shirley, is in New York, hoping to land a job at the Copa. Danny is dismayed when he meets Shirley, a brassy, gum chewing girl who can't sing. When a worried Otto shows up at the Copa, he doesn't recognize the beautiful and innocent daughter who left home three weeks earlier. After some attitude, wardrobe and vocal adjustments, Danny is captivated by Shirley and sees a bright future for her in show business.

30 min

Gina's First Date

As Gina attempts to adapt to the American high school social scene, Danny takes it upon himself to help her get the attention of the star football player.

30 min

Growing Pains

Rusty turns to Danny and Kathy for advice when he becomes smitten with a cute girl at school.

30 min

Frankie Laine Sings for Gina

Gina is thrilled to learn that her idol, Frankie Laine, is performing with Danny at the Copa. She and her friend ask him if he would perform at their high school dance and Mr. Laine, who has taken a shine to Gina, consents. Gina is overjoyed, but as she's getting ready for her exciting evening, Kathy, a former nurse, notices that Gina is down with the measles. Danny promises Gina that Frankie Laine will come back to the Williamses apartment to sing to her after the dance, but Frankie says he has other plans.

30 min

Kathy Leaves Danny

Danny takes a ribbing from Phil and Harry, both confirmed bachelors, when they ask Danny along on a fishing trip, but know that he must ask Kathy's permission to go. When Danny protests that this is not true, things get even stickier when the men go back to the Williams' apartment and Kathy tells Danny that she's made vacation plans, without consulting him.

30 min

Latin Lover

When suave Mario Firenze, a young man from Gina's hometown, arrives at the Williamses, he charms everyone with his continental ways. He takes an interest in a befuddled Gina, who tells Danny and Kathy that his family are aristocrats and that he would never give her the time of day back in Palermo. Everything is clarified when Gina receives a letter from her mother, warning her that Mario has traveled to New York to use Gina and enlist Danny and his show business connections to further his singing career.

30 min

Losers Weepers

Danny is furious with Phil, when he loses all of the material for Danny's opening at the Copa. The two cross swords and Danny fires Phil. Kathy intervenes when she goes to visit Phil, who has found the missing jokes and song parodies. Phil hands over the envelope and Kathy puts it in her purse, which she subsequently loses. Kathy's in a panic when she breaks the news to Danny, who characteristically explodes. In the midst of their bickering, the building doorman produces Kathy's handbag.

30 min

Grampa's Diet

Kathy's grandfather comes to visit the Williamses, but Grampa must be watched. He is on a very strict diet, but insists on eating everything that's not good for him. After admonishing him and cajoling him, Danny uses some psychology. Danny gives him carte blanche to eat whatever he wishes, but Grampa refuses. He confesses to Kathy and Danny that he enjoys the thrill of the hunt and comes to realize and understand that he must comply with his doctor's orders.

30 min

Double Dinner

Danny decides to become a canidate for abbot of the Friars Club. He discovers that he must first win the backing of rival groups within the organization.

30 min

Danny's Big Fan

One night after Danny's show, an enthusiastic and very wealthy fan comes backstage, requests that Danny do his act all over again for him and promises to take him to the most expensive dinner in New York. Danny politely refuses, but the gentleman is persistent -- the next day, the Williams' apartment is inundated with expensive gifts for everyone, much to Danny's extreme annoyance. That evening, the gentleman visits the Williams' apartment, to apologize for his behavior and it becomes increasingly evident to all that this is a kind and lonely man.

30 min

Gina for President

As the battle of the sexes heats up between Danny and Kathy, Gina gets a phone call to tell her that she's been nominated to run for Class President. It's wonderful news, except she's running against her steady boyfriend, Buck. Danny backs Buck and Kathy helps Gina in their respective campaigns, until some ugly leaflets are floated around the school urging students to "Vote American." Buck is hurt for Gina and steps aside and Gina accepts to the applause of every student assembled in the school auditorium.

30 min

Linda's Giant

Nobody gives Linda's imaginary friend, Mr. Jumbo, a second thought until a school psychologist visits Danny and Kathy and suggests that Linda cannot separate fantasy from reality and faults Danny for all of this. Danny does all he can to spend quality time with his daughter, but when pressed, Linda will not admit that Mr. Jumbo is a figment of her imagination. Danny threatens to spank her for lying to him, but she is literally saved by the bell, when "Mr Jumbo," a new doorman at an adjacent building is at the door.

30 min