"Two For Penny" Proposed TV Series Starring Donna Loren (1968) RARE

Starring Bill Bixby, Danny Thomas, Michael Constantine, Lou Antonio and Donna Loren as "Penny". Watch for early cameos of Regis Philbin and Kip King. Broadcast on NBC March 11, 1968 on The Danny Thomas Hour. Produced by Aaron Spelling & Danny Thomas for NBC Written by Arnold Shulman. Read Donna's story behind this production: "One afternoon, I had some time to hop into my little red Corvette and drive to Beverly Hills. A wonderful book store was on the corner of little Santa Monica Blvd. and Rodeo Dr. I loved collecting first editions and always looked for leather-bound books that had character. On this day a little red book popped out called "The Apple Cart" by George Barnard Shaw. Wrap it up! As soon as I arrived back on Grandview Blvd., I went to my bedroom and devoured the book. A call came in from the William Morris Agency for an interview with Aaron Spelling. In the meeting, Mr. Spelling introduced me to Arnold Schulman, a writer who had written a movie I was familiar with. I’d always loved Natalie Wood and saw every movie she was in. This one was called "Love with a Proper Stranger", co-starring Steve McQueen. The idea was to adapt the film into a Television series and I was interviewing for the leading role; the same one Natalie Wood starred in! Whoa!! TV star, Bill Bixby, was to play my love interest; Michael Considine, my older brother and Danny Thomas, a Greek orthodox priest. Director Paul Bogart was also in the meeting and when he and I got into a conversation, I initiated that I had just read "The Apple Cart". Mr. Bogart sprung into action and responded with, ”I just directed "The Apple Cart” off-Broadway in New York! I was a shoe in after this comment. These men looked at me, looked at one another and agreed on the spot that I was going to star in my own series! We went into production for ten days and NBC broadcasted it twice on network TV. Then the network decided an ethnic theme was not a saleable choice so that was that. It would take "All in the Family" to conquer the resistance of approaching forbidden topics." Synopsis on IMDB: "Back in the days of "All In the Family" and Archie Bunker, Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas co-produced a sitcom pilot based on a Greek family, but the public wasn't accepting of another ethnic theme. The lead was to be played by Donna Loren as part of a Greek family who's oldest brother was Michael Considine." Be sure to listen to Donna Loren's acclaimed Podcast: "Love's a Secret Weapon": If you are curious about her career or what she's doing now tune in as she reads her memoir, chapter by chapter. With co-host Dr Adam Gerace and Special Guests.    • PODCAST: "Love's a Secret Weapon" with Don...   or wherever you listen to podcasts.