Jim Backus starred in this syndicated sitcom as John Michael “Mike” O’Toole, in charge of the Headline Press Service, a second rate New York news service that he struggled to keep afloat financially.
Mike found it almost impossible to keep his company in the black and was constantly dodging all of his creditors while seeking that next big news scoop.
His girl Friday was Dora Miles, played by the lovely Nita Talbot. Even though Mike was the boss, Dora had a lot of clout in the newsroom.
Also on hand was the office boy Sidney (Bobs Watson) who longed to be a reporter but was mostly assigned to keep HPS’s minimal equipment (primarily an ancient mimeograph machine) in working order, and to run errands like taking out Mike’s shoes to be resoled, or fetching coffee. James Callahan was a semi-regular playing a reporter called Lou.
Downstairs from the office was Heartless Harry’s, a bar popular with newspaper people. Harry, well aware of the precarious financial status of Mike’s operation, had a standing rule that no one from his staff was admitted “without a posted $10 deposit”.
Mike paid $100 a month to rent his office space from the Bagley Realty Company but often had trouble producing the funds. His paychecks to his staff were sometimes erratic as well, and occasionally he attempted to borrow the money back.
John Michael “Mike” O’Toole
Jim Backus Dora Miles
Nita Talbot Sidney
Bobs Watson Lou
James T. Callahan Dave
Bill McLean
Episodes
The Mad Bomber | The Patriots | Mike O’Toole, Angler | No Help Wanted | Southampton Story | The Marry-Go-Round | The Nephew | Baby, Come Home | Frame-up | Painting Caper | The Three Sisters | Uncle Chester | Crime a la Carte | The Desk | Piano Prodigy | Mike Cheats a Cheater | Meet Melvin | The Woman’s Touch | Sidney’s Scoop | The Hypnotist | Once Upon A Moose | Pinkmalion | When a Body Meets a Body | Arabian Night | Old Army Game | The Fix | Sad Sack Santa | The Plant | The Temporary Scoundrel | Floundered In Florida | Dear Minnie | In The Rough | Dora’s Vacation | The Birthday Boy | War Bride | The Texas Tycoon | Gift For Grandma | O’Toole and Son | Farewell to Dora
Video
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