The Queen and I was a short-lived, half-hour American sitcom that aired on CBS as a replacement series from January 16 to April 24, 1969. Larry Storch (best know for his role in F Troop) starred as a junior officer, Charles Duffy, aboard an aging and run-down cruise ship, the Amsterdam Queen. The ship's new owners intend to sell the ship for scrap, so Duffy and the rest of the crew try to come up with get-rich-quick schemes to save the ship. They are opposed by the ship's first officer, Oliver Nelson (Billy De Wolfe). The series did not fair well in the ratings and was canceled after 11 of the 13 filmed episodes had been broadcast.
Jocelyn appeared in the first episode, Duffy' Cruise. Shooting of the pilot commenced on October 28, 1968, and after the series was picked up as a mid-season replacement, production began right after Thanksgiving 1968. I think that episode 1 was the pilot. Regardless, we can conclude that Jocelyn did her work on this episode in November 1968 before commencing her work on Hell's Belles in early December. Duffy's Cruise aired on January 16, 1969.
Jocelyn's episode was reviewed in the January 20, 1969 edition of Variety (no mention of Jocelyn):
"An old-fashioned comedy, one with a dated concept and lines to match, 'The Queen and I,' replacement for 'Blondie,' faces a rocky voyage on the basis of its midseason preem. Bing Crosby Productions, which produces the successful 'Hogan's Heroes' on CBS-TV, again put a gang of comedic rogues together, and they expend a great deal of energy and exuberance trying desperately to be amusing, but aren't.
Created by Howard Leeds, 'Queen' consists of what has by now become a cliche comedy form - the usual wheeler-dealer (Larry Storch), his comedic 'enemy' (Billy DeWolfe), and a bunch of second bananas to aid and abet the hero's intriguing. It's reminiscent of 'Hogan,' of the old 'Bilko' series, of 'McHale's Navy,' and a few others, but not remotely as good as any of them.
Script by Laurence Marks and Arthur Julian comprises trite-and-true material. The situations are so familiar they bore; the dialog is dull. Handed this kind of teleplay, the actors gain only sympathy.
About the only new thing in the show is its latching onto the current business of selling ocean liners about to be scrapped to American cities. Against this backdrop, Storch plays a ship's purser who is a wheeler-dealer. He tries to prevent the ship from being sold, feuding with DeWolfe along the way. Storyline is tired; ditto the gags.
To rescue the 'Queen,' they will need a major overhaul job, particularly in the writing. Storch and DeWolfe do not impress, but with this material, it's understandable. Also undistinguished is the support, consisting of Carl Ballantine, LIam Dunn, Dave Morick, Pat Morita, Dave Willock, Barbara Stuart and Reginald Owen.
Producer Edward Feldman's direction is mediocre.
Only asset which 'Queen possesses is its physical production. Values here are very good, but it's what's up front that counts."
Jocelyn played a character named Sandy Blair in the first episode, but I have no idea how she fit into the plot, and I have not yet found any images of her from this appearance. Unfortunately, this is one of those rare appearances for Jocelyn that we will never get to see. A short-lived series like this will probably never be re-run on television nor see any home video release.
Here are some publicity photos of Storch and De Wolfe for the show:
Jocelyn's episode was reviewed in the January 20, 1969 edition of Variety (no mention of Jocelyn):
"An old-fashioned comedy, one with a dated concept and lines to match, 'The Queen and I,' replacement for 'Blondie,' faces a rocky voyage on the basis of its midseason preem. Bing Crosby Productions, which produces the successful 'Hogan's Heroes' on CBS-TV, again put a gang of comedic rogues together, and they expend a great deal of energy and exuberance trying desperately to be amusing, but aren't.
Created by Howard Leeds, 'Queen' consists of what has by now become a cliche comedy form - the usual wheeler-dealer (Larry Storch), his comedic 'enemy' (Billy DeWolfe), and a bunch of second bananas to aid and abet the hero's intriguing. It's reminiscent of 'Hogan,' of the old 'Bilko' series, of 'McHale's Navy,' and a few others, but not remotely as good as any of them.
Script by Laurence Marks and Arthur Julian comprises trite-and-true material. The situations are so familiar they bore; the dialog is dull. Handed this kind of teleplay, the actors gain only sympathy.
About the only new thing in the show is its latching onto the current business of selling ocean liners about to be scrapped to American cities. Against this backdrop, Storch plays a ship's purser who is a wheeler-dealer. He tries to prevent the ship from being sold, feuding with DeWolfe along the way. Storyline is tired; ditto the gags.
To rescue the 'Queen,' they will need a major overhaul job, particularly in the writing. Storch and DeWolfe do not impress, but with this material, it's understandable. Also undistinguished is the support, consisting of Carl Ballantine, LIam Dunn, Dave Morick, Pat Morita, Dave Willock, Barbara Stuart and Reginald Owen.
Producer Edward Feldman's direction is mediocre.
Only asset which 'Queen possesses is its physical production. Values here are very good, but it's what's up front that counts."
Jocelyn played a character named Sandy Blair in the first episode, but I have no idea how she fit into the plot, and I have not yet found any images of her from this appearance. Unfortunately, this is one of those rare appearances for Jocelyn that we will never get to see. A short-lived series like this will probably never be re-run on television nor see any home video release.
Here are some publicity photos of Storch and De Wolfe for the show:
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