The Partridge Family - Season 1, Episode 9 (9)

Title: Did You Hear The One About Danny?

First aired: November 20, 1970

Synopsis:

While performing in front a live audience, Danny’s leg becomes entangled in the equipment chord. At the end of the song, Shirley introduces the children one at a time, but Danny has hidden behind the stage equipment and can’t be found. He feels embarrassed and foolish. Eventually he comes back onstage, causing even more confusion and mayhem. Danny has unintentionally created an awkward situation, but the audience laugh, believing it to be a comedy act.

Danny is mortified and locks himself in the men’s room. The only way Rueben and Shirley can get Danny to come out, is to compliment him on his comedic talent. Rueben tells Danny his performance was so good he wants to keep it in the act, so Danny unlocks the door. Rueben and Shirley now have the dilemma of how to tell Danny the truth! They are too kind and don’t want to upset him.

Comedy act rehearsals determine that Danny’s spontaneity is lacking. Believing that Danny will give up and forget about the comedy act, Rueben and Shirley encourage the kids to keep practising their music. Meanwhile, Danny has become obsessed with fine tuning a comedy act. He visits a comedy writer, Ziggy Shnurr. Danny hands over his collection of coins for a whole lot of old, worn-out bad jokes.

At the next live performance, to the shock of the family and Rueben, Danny presents his comedy act which consists of the bad jokes. The audience laughs, however, this time it seems they’re laughing at Danny, but Danny believes he’s doing a great job as a comedian. This further encourages Danny to work on his jokes, but Rueben and Shirley need him to focus on band practice. The family no longer want to hear Danny’s jokes, they’re not funny! How can they tell Danny the truth without hurting his feelings?

Rueben has an idea! He sets up an audition for Danny with his old friend, Max Pepper with the intention of Max being honest with Danny about his comedy act. It works and although Danny is deeply hurt by the truth, he puts on a tough front in the presence of Rueben and Shirley. Intuitively, Shirley’s can see through Danny’s façade.

Danny acknowledges the jokes were not worth buying so he and Shirley return them to the comedy writer. Danny appreciates that Shirley didn’t want to hurt his feelings, yet she needed to let him know the truth somehow. Danny is accepting of the situation. At last the band can continue to practise and prepare for their upcoming performance in Hawaii.
Synopsis by Erin Sullivan

Songs:
Somebody Wants To Love You, All Of The Things

Cast:
Shirley Partridge - Shirley Jones
Keith Partridge - David Cassidy
Laurie Partridge - Susan Dey
Danny Partridge - Danny Bonaduce
Chris Partridge - Jeremy Gelbwaks
Tracy Partridge - Suzanne Crough
Reuben Kincaid - Dave Madden

Directed by: Paul Junger Witt

Written by: Ron Friedman

Guest Stars: Morey Amsterdam as Ziggy Shnurr, Jackie Coogan as Max Pepper

Screen Shots: