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Embryon
Since: Mar, 2010
2nd Mar, 2011 08:01:03 PM
I looked up the list of single-camera sitcoms on Wikipedia and control-F'd "Oliver". Found a show entitled Oliver Beene
from 2003-2004, involving two brothers who share a crush on a Swedish girl named Elke. Would that be it?
134.117.137.53
Since: Dec, 1969
2nd Mar, 2011 08:01:06 PM
Oliver Beene.
Twiddler
MOD
(On A Trope Odyssey)
3rd Mar, 2011 12:29:36 AM
Thanks!
This was a sitcom with no laugh track that aired in the early 2000's. It might have had 'Oliver' in the title. It took place in an earlier decade, maybe the 50's. The narrator, one of the main characters, was a youngish teenage boy. He may or may not have been the titular 'Oliver' (if 'Oliver' was part of the title at all, of course).
I remember two episodes, both featuring narrator-boy's older brother's attempts to impress a girl. This girl was probably an exchange student and may have been Austrian.
In one episode, older-brother was supposed to be helping her with her English class, which was reading The Catcher in the Rye. He hadn't read it yet himself, being a slacker, but when he did, he was enthralled by it. The two ended up going to an appearance by the author, where older-brother inadvertently drives him into a depression by suggesting that he might not be able to top Catcher in the Rye.
In the other episode, the brother watches amused, from a distance, as an old man attempts to pick up his keys but is unable to. The girl is angered at this, goes to help, and then berates the brother. The brother, attempting to defend himself, glances behind her at a poster about an old lady needing help around the house. He tells the girl that he does respect the elderly and in fact is volunteering to help an old lady. He takes the job to maintain his cover. It mostly involves giving the old lady foot rubs. They end up bonding, as she shares her life stories with him. When he tells (Austrian?) girl about all this, she seems strangely jealous for a moment, until he reassures her that nothing more is going on besides footrubs. One day, he throws a surprise dance/party for the old lady, meaning to mimic something from her youth. She's elated and, when asked for feedback, replies: "It looks nothing like it." Nevertheless, she appreciates the thought, so they dance together. They end up falling down due to her inability to keep up with him, and he falls on top of her. Just then, (Austrian?) girl walks in, sees them, says: "I thought you only rubbed her feet!" and runs out, upset. Guy gets up, shouting at her to wait, then hesitates and runs after her, leaving the old lady lying on the floor, unable to get up herself and looking puzzled.