My Mother the Car

1965 - 1966

When Dave Crabtree sits inside a 1928 Porter on a used car lot, he hears the voice of his deceased mother coming out of the radio. Mother explains that because he still needs her, she reincarnated herself as a car. Dave and his mother (the car) have wacky adventures and regular clashes with Captain Manzini, a classic car collector who will do anything to add Dave's mother to his collection. A curiosity often cited as one of the worst TV shows of all time, this oddball comedy could almost be called experimental with its bizarre premise, dark comedy, and often taboo subject matter.

• Stars: Jerry Van Dyke, Ann Sothern, Maggie Pierce, Cindy Eilbacher, Randy Whipple, Avery Schreiber
• Created by: Allan Burns, Chris Hayward
• Tags: family, scifi/fantasy

Episode Tropes

• The Old Bucket of Water on the Door Gag: Episode 2, "The De-fenders" (1965). When he hears about "car strippers" trolling the neighborhood, Dave rigs a boobytrap by placing a bucket of water on the garage door, tying one end of a string to the bucket, and tying the other end to his toe while he's in bed. When he feels a tug on the string, he thinks he caught a stripper, but it's just his dog getting soaked by the bucket of water.
• See You in Court: Episode 3, "What Makes Auntie Freeze" (1965). While he's on his way to a wedding, Dave's mother/car overheats, so he fills it with alcohol-based anti-freeze, which makes his mother get drunk. Two passing police officers see her swerving all over the road and assume Dave is drunk, so they arrest him. At the police station, Dave spots the bride's Uncle Rex, who was also arrested on his way to the wedding. To help them both get to the wedding on time, Dave represents Uncle Rex in a hearing that takes place in a barber shop.
• The Old Pie in the Face Gag: Episode 5, "Burned at the Steak" (1965). Dave and his mother/car hatch a scheme to help his neighbors, Fred and Suzie, save their marriage. Barbara cooks a meal, and Dave brings it over to Fred and Suzie's house so Suzie can pretend she cooked it. When they get to dessert, a strawberry cream pie, Fred catches Dave in the kitchen and throws the pie in his face.
• What a Dummy: Episode 10, "My Son, the Ventriloquist" (1965). Dave is courting a new client who loves throwing big parties, and he needs a new act for an upcoming shindig, so Dave's mother/car helps him pretend he's a sensational ventriloquist. Dave controls the dummy while Mother supplies the voice.
• The Old Pie in the Face Gag: Episode 11, "My Son, the Judge" (1965). When two officials come to Dave's house to determine whether to make him a judge, he gets stuck in a pair of roller skates, and a scuffle with Captain Manzini leads to his rolling into the living room with a tray of pies, which end up in the faces of his guests.
• Art Class: Episode 15, "Many Happy No-Returns" (1965). Dave and Barabara take an art class together, and they each plan to enter their work in a charity auction.
• Auction Mishap: Episode 15, "Many Happy No-Returns" (1965). Dave and Barbara each think the other's artwork is terrible and no one will bid on it at the charity auction, so unbeknownst to both of them, they each secretly hire someone to bid on the other's work as their surprise Christmas presents to each other.
• Amnesia: Episode 17, "I Remember Mama, Why Can't You Remember Me?" (1965). When Dave and his mother/car get into a fender bender, mother loses her memory and doesn't remember Dave or who she is.
• Maid to Order: Episode 20, "I'd Rather Do It Myself, Mother" (1966). Things are so hectic in the Crabtree home that Dave decides to surprise Barbara by hiring a maid, but the maid soon takes control of the whole house, and nobody in the family likes having her around.
• My Fair Lady: Episode 24, "An Unreasonable Facsimile" (1966). Captain Manzini trains a beatnik who resembles Dave to act and sound like him. He starts by teaching him a rhyme, "The sleet in Crete falls mainly on the street."
• Hostage Situation: Episode 30, "Desperate Minutes" (1966). Two jewelry store robbers hold the Crabtree family hostage, and Dave has to secretly recruit Mother to help.

Character Tropes

• Smother: Gladys Crabtree - Played by Ann Sothern.
• Mama's Boy: Dave Crabtree - Played by Jerry Van Dyke.
• Nosey Neighbor: Phil Durkin - Played by Bill Daily & Dave Willock.
• Mommie Dearest: Mrs. Netwick - Played by Paula Winslowe.