Arnie is a television sitcom that ran for two seasons on the CBS network. It stars Herschel Bernardi, Sue Ane Langdon, and Roger Bowen. Bernardi played the title character, Arnie Nuvo, a longtime blue collar employee at the fictitious Continental Flange Company, who overnight was promoted to an executive position. The storylines mainly focused on this fish out of water situation, and on Arnie's sometimes-problematic relationship with his well-meaning but wealthy and eccentric boss, Hamilton Majors Jr.. Because he still held his union card, Arnie could negotiate tricky management/labor situations that no one else could. Arnie's surname was presumably a pun on nouveau riche, and possibly also on Art Nouveau. In addition to Bernardi, Bowen, and Langdon, cast members included Del Russel and Stephanie Steele as Arnie's son and daughter, Richard and Andrea; Elaine Shore as Arnie's secretary, Felicia; and Herb Voland as sour-tempered executive Neil Ogilvie. In its first season, despite being the lead-in to The Mary Tyler Moore Show on Saturday nights and winning an Emmy nomination as best comedy series, Arnie received only fair Nielsen ratings. For its second season, in order to increase its viewership, CBS made a major cast change in the show's format. Charles Nelson Reilly joined the cast as Randy Robinson, a TV chef who called himself "The Giddyap Gourmet," apparently a reference to The Galloping Gourmet.
Arnie (Season 1)
Arnie (Pilot Episode) (Episode 1)
Writer: David Swift
Air date: 1970-09-19
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow (Episode 2)
Air date: 1970-10-26
Overview: Arnie's first executive paycheck brings a sinking stomach, thanks to a premature spending binge (TV Guide)
Change of a Lifetime (Episode 3)
Air date: 1970-10-03
Overview: New executive Arnie kindles resentment among his old blue-collar buddies (TV Guide)
Wife vs. Secretary (Episode 4)
Air date: 1970-11-04
Overview: Arnie's bragging about his secretary nets him a jealous wife (TV Guide)
The Friendship Gap (Episode 5)
Air date: 1970-10-10
Overview: Arnie chooses his replacement as loading foreman - from among his old buddies (TV Guide)
An Urge to Splurge (Episode 6)
Air date: 1970-10-17
Overview: Arnie helps an elderly couple face compulsory retirement (TV Guide)
Chance of a Lifetime (Episode 7)
Air date: 1970-10-03
Overview: Lil heads a picket line to fight pollution - at Arnie's company (TV Guide)
Swinging Sixties (Episode 8)
Air date: 1970-10-12
Overview: Arnie's been ordered to shave off his mustache (TV Guide)
Let Them Eat Cookies (Episode 9)
Air date: 1970-11-20
Overview: Arnie becomes involved in industrial espionage (TV Guide)
Trouble in the Air (Episode 10)
Air date: 1970-11-16
Overview: Boss Majors' latest pet project: on-the-job exercising for his executives (TV Guide)
One Strike and You're Out (Episode 11)
Air date: 1970-10-14
Overview: ""Arnie has no heart for the task at hand: negotiating a new union contract with his loading dock buddies. The new executive is still a union man."" (TV Guide)
For Whom the Whistle Blows (Episode 12)
Air date: 1970-11-06
Overview: A swank San Francisco hotel sets the scene for Arnie's first major sales meeting (TV Guide)
Why Spy? (Episode 13)
Air date: 1970-10-30
Overview: Office protocol calls for Christmas gifts worth $100; the Nuvos are giving homemade cookies (TV Guide)
To Buy or Not to Buy? (Episode 14)
Air date: 1970-12-03
Overview: Boss Majors has a new housing development, and the Nuvos feel pressure to buy a home (TV Guide)
Second Honeymoon (Episode 15)
Air date: 1970-12-15
You Can't Lose for Winning (Episode 16)
Air date: 1970-12-20
Overview: Lady Luck visits Arnie in a poker game - the big loser is his boss Majors (TV Guide)
Hello, Holly (Episode 17)
Air date: 1971-01-07
Overview: The executive Arnie replaced is in town; rumor is he wants his old job back (TV Guide)
Father Meets Daughter (Episode 18)
Air date: 1971-01-13
Overview: Arnie tries to pay more attention to Andrea.
Citizen Pain (Episode 19)
Air date: 1971-01-21
Overview: Arnie must be in Nassau on the same day the Nuvos have planned a second wedding for Julius and his wife (TV Guide)
Stand Up for Julius (Episode 20)
Air date: 1971-01-21
Overview: Arnie gets symptoms of an ulcer on the eve of his bowling league semifinals (TV Guide)
Strangeness in the Night (Episode 21)
Air date: 1971-02-09
Overview: Arnie's involved in an office feud (TV Guide)
Feud for Thought (Episode 22)
Air date: 1971-02-02
Overview: Arnie's furtive behavior causes suspicion at the office (TV Guide)
My Sister's Keeper (Episode 23)
Air date: 1971-02-19
Overview: Arnie canvasses the company to find dates for his attractive sister (TV Guide)
No Harmony in Trying (Episode 24)
Air date: 1971-02-19
Overview: An audition for the fourth voice in the company's all-male quartet produces a winner who's a surprise to all (TV Guide)
Seasons
Episodes 24
Episodes 24