Route 66 (TV Series) Give the Old Cat a Tender Mouse (1962) User Reviews

The Return of Vicki Russell

[rwint1611 · 8/10 · 19 May 2008]

Julie Newmar returns in the character of Vicki Russell. Here she is in Memphis and engaged to be married to Robert Webber. Like in her first series appearance, 'How Much a Pound is Albatross', she rides around on a motorcycle, but this time she is followed around by a 'babysitter' in a van who is paid by her very rich family to keep an eye on her and keep her out of trouble.

This episode features some great examples of writer Stirling Siliphant's now famous 'poetic dialogue'. It also has a very exciting and well shot sky diving sequence. This was filmed during the period where Maharis was suffering from hepatitis so Milner appears solo. This episode also has the novelty of being one of the few times in any series where the star never once makes direct contact with the guest star.

Grade: A-

Vicki Russell Hits Memphis, All That's Missing Is Maharris, Elvis and a Slab of Ribs!!!

[AudioFileZ · 8/10 · 23 March 2012]

Of the four seasons of Route 66 the most memorable female leads, IMHO, were Julie Newmar and Tuesday Weld. That says a lot since there was more than a few great female performances. In both cases it was combining these striking young women with a mysterious and iconic characters. Newmar's first appearance as Vicki Russell in "How Much For A Pound of Albatross" was hard to forget...So, why not go to the well again? This time we find out she's heading to Memphis to spend some quality time with a fiancé with a pedigree and a measure of wealth and power - a Southern Blue Blood if you will. Along for the ride is one Pogo Popkin (the writer earned his pay just by coming up with this name, or did he steal from a real person somewhere in Hell's Kitchen) employed by her wealthy parents to keep a watchful eye out insuring her safety and well-being. As Vicki approaches Memphis on her classic Honda C200 (I think) bike, she passes Tod on the highway and Tod simply must follow. Follow he does, never actually getting to have a meeting with Vicki, missing her multiple times in various situations - some of which get him more acquainted with the Memphis Police Department.

Though shallow, this is a fun episode. To great comic relief Tod is either ticketed or arrested by the MPD four times! The supporting cast includes Robert Webber who is very serviceable as the somewhat jaded and confirmed bachelor spoiled offspring of old money. He comes by his jealousy naturally we are to believe. His parents, though given limited screen time, are cast even better with Natalie Schafer ("Lovey" or Mrs. Thurston Howell III)as his mother and Murray Matheson (you seen him many times he is like a TV Sir Alec Guiness)as the father. Don't forget Pogo Popkin played by Lou Criscuolo who really adds color and some Sterling Silliphant poetry! Really Newmar's iconic Vicki is it, but these folks round it out nicely. As mentioned the story is slight, but for crying out loud it's only a 45 minute show and within that limited range it rises above it's own humble mediocrity in a very entertaining way.

We do miss Maharris (we'll soon miss him much more), but Tod does nicely in his shtick as a guy aching to catch up with one of his former love interests only to be confounded at every turn (he never gets in even the same frame with Newmar's Vicki here). Episodes like this are the spice to more profound "human-condition" ones which are the bedrock of the series. I truly enjoyed this episode and rate it higher than the average viewers here. Even that Honda C200 speaks to me since as a very young child I dreamed of riding one when I was finally old enough (never did as bikes like this went south with ever larger and burlier models). I'll always remember Newmar as a motorcycle riding free spirit "bohemian" who was both mysterious and cool...Until her CatWomen character was so over the top as to push it back! A fun and different episode with a great character revisited, recommended.

12/21/62 "Give an Old Cat a Tender Mouse"

[schappe1 · 29 September 2015]

Now we have three Tennessee episodes in a row, obviously filmed after the two Missouri episodes. We also have the return of free- spirited Vickie Russell from season 2's "How Much a Pound is Albatross?", (Julie Newmar), the most charismatic of all the characters Todd, Buz and Linc encountered on their journeys and the only one they meet twice. One wishes there had been a third time. Maybe she could have been the gal Todd married at the end and they could have gone off on her motorcycle for a new series of adventures. The problem is that the character, as wonderful as she is, is rather slight, sort of a zephyr blowing by. She's interesting in a couple of episodes but likely couldn't hold down a series.

Vicki is in Memphis to check out Franck Ridenbaugh, a potential husband the bank who controls her fortune has lined up for her. She now has a semi-comical private detective trailing her in a van who "fixes" the messes she gets into. Franck, (the "c" is for cotton, which his fortune is based on) is well-played by Robert Webber, fully a match for Newmar as a serious-minded businessman who nonetheless is fascinated by his potential bride. They have some adventures together, including skydiving and a brawl at a nightclub that's more to her taste than his formal parties. Eventually he decides he's not ready to stop being who he is and she's not ready to stop being who she is. Franck also adds that he doesn't want "a woman who is a contender for the title", (after her horse jumped higher than his did). Again the recurring theme in this series of how women shouldn't undercut men.

Todd never makes contact with Vicki except through his rear view mirror, (didn't she recognize him?), and gets into a series of comic scrapes with a local cop that pad the episode to an hour but never really become part of the story. There's nothing in this script that suggests the original presence of Buz. One wonders what the original version, if there was one, looked like.

George Maharis is still listed in the credits and Todd chooses Buz for the one phone call when he gets arrested. His "echo virus" is now an inner ear infection, (not that that's what it really is, despite what it sounds like). Buz is still in Cleveland. You wonder why Todd didn't stay in Cleveland and find jobs there. But the show must move on and so must he.

Pointless, air-head "Poetry" can't carry this one.

[lrrap · 2/10 · 4 November 2019]

Maybe it's just me, but I have very little patience for this kind of show. Yeah, Julie Newmar is a uniquely fascinating, knock-out presence, but that only justifies her character for so long. The ephemeral, flighty, stream-of-consciousness BS wears very thin after a while.

And speaking of dull, Robert Webber is a about as colorless an actor as you'll ever see (maybe Wendell Corey is worse in that regard), and a highly unlikely match for Catwoman Newmar as a potential spouse.

Lots of good "Vehicular" footage-- cars, motorcycles, vans, airplanes, (horses), etc. It must have taken a lot of time to map out and film all of this on location--- so I appreciate the effort that went into this one. But as drama---or comedy--- or whatever the heck it's supposed to be--- I've had enough. I only hope Siliphant and friends knock off the early '60's artsy "relevance" soon and get back to something more compelling and less abstruse.

Nice to see Murray Matheson and Natalie Schaeffer--- even with their so-so Southern accents and very limited screen time. Bummer. LR

Surprising uncredited guest

[johnio · 2 September 2019]

Just an observation, he's not listed in the credits, but I'd swear that in the club, first dancing in front of the band, then the left guy of the trio standing together is Dom Deluise. I managed to pause and compare a profile, him for sure.