Comments on: Bookshelf: The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. #1, “The Birds of a Feather Affair” http://www.tvobscurities.com/2009/10/bookshelf-the-girl-from-u-n-c-l-e-1-the-birds-of-a-feather-affair/ Keeping Obscure TV From Fading Away Forever Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:31:58 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Barry I. Grauman http://www.tvobscurities.com/2009/10/bookshelf-the-girl-from-u-n-c-l-e-1-the-birds-of-a-feather-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-16818 Barry I. Grauman Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:49:05 +0000 http://www.tvobscurities.com/?p=4689#comment-16818 True. NBC and MGM Television didn't want April Dancer to be "too independent" on TV, unlike a certain widow involved with a natty gentleman wearing a bowler and carrying an umbrella on British TV, which was between seasons in the U.S. on ABC at the time "THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E" premiered. The response to the other show was one of the reasons why April Dancer never saw a second season. Who could take HER seriously when.....? True. NBC and MGM Television didn’t want April Dancer to be “too independent” on TV, unlike a certain widow involved with a natty gentleman wearing a bowler and carrying an umbrella on British TV, which was between seasons in the U.S. on ABC at the time “THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E” premiered. The response to the other show was one of the reasons why April Dancer never saw a second season. Who could take HER seriously when…..?

]]> By: RGJ http://www.tvobscurities.com/2009/10/bookshelf-the-girl-from-u-n-c-l-e-1-the-birds-of-a-feather-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-16781 RGJ Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:37:20 +0000 http://www.tvobscurities.com/?p=4689#comment-16781 On the other hand, at least in the novel April was able to use a gun. Like Batgirl and any female red shirts on <em><strong>Star Trek</em></strong>, April was seemingly never allowed to actually shoot anyone or even punch someone. It was always high kicks or else Mark was the one doing the shooting. On the other hand, at least in the novel April was able to use a gun. Like Batgirl and any female red shirts on Star Trek, April was seemingly never allowed to actually shoot anyone or even punch someone. It was always high kicks or else Mark was the one doing the shooting.

]]> By: Barry I. Grauman http://www.tvobscurities.com/2009/10/bookshelf-the-girl-from-u-n-c-l-e-1-the-birds-of-a-feather-affair/comment-page-1/#comment-16764 Barry I. Grauman Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:52:31 +0000 http://www.tvobscurities.com/?p=4689#comment-16764 Apparently "THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E." had a bigger "fan base" in Europe than stateside, as four paperback novels were published there (three by English writers). The series lasted just one season (29 episodes) on NBC's 1966-'67 schedule [Tuesdays, 7:30-8:30pm(et), opposite CBS' "DAKTARI" and ABC's "COMBAT!"], in an attempt to capitalize on the "parent" series. It played overseas in repeats for years- more than most American stations scheduled. Yes, April Dancer comes across as more "responsible" in her job than most of her TV counterparts {"HONEY WEST", for one}, but, as you've mentioned, 'RGJ', she's still "treated as a woman" in certain instances [the male readers were "expected" to visualize those scenes where she's in her "underwear", or stark naked]. The passage where April "sizes up" her T.H.R.U.S.H. counterpart might also be interpreted as a hint of soft-core "lesbianism"...something that could NEVER occur on television. And when April grieves over the loss of her new-found friend Joanna, that could also be a sign that April herself might be attracted, if the right one came along, to those of her own sex {either she's "bereating herself for being female" due to her BEING a secret agent that causes her to lose more darn potential friends that way- OR....cursing herself for being attracted to those with warm friendship and "hot bodies"}. So, in that perspective, the novel is definitely more "adult" than a typical TV episode. Apparently “THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E.” had a bigger “fan base” in Europe than stateside, as four paperback novels were published there (three by English writers). The series lasted just one season (29 episodes) on NBC’s 1966-’67 schedule [Tuesdays, 7:30-8:30pm(et), opposite CBS' "DAKTARI" and ABC's "COMBAT!"], in an attempt to capitalize on the “parent” series. It played overseas in repeats for years- more than most American stations scheduled.

Yes, April Dancer comes across as more “responsible” in her job than most of her TV counterparts {“HONEY WEST”, for one}, but, as you’ve mentioned, ‘RGJ’, she’s still “treated as a woman” in certain instances [the male readers were "expected" to visualize those scenes where she's in her "underwear", or stark naked]. The passage where April “sizes up” her T.H.R.U.S.H. counterpart might also be interpreted as a hint of soft-core “lesbianism”…something that could NEVER occur on television. And when April grieves over the loss of her new-found friend Joanna, that could also be a sign that April herself might be attracted, if the right one came along, to those of her own sex {either she’s “bereating herself for being female” due to her BEING a secret agent that causes her to lose more darn potential friends that way- OR….cursing herself for being attracted to those with warm friendship and “hot bodies”}. So, in that perspective, the novel is definitely more “adult” than a typical TV episode.

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