Fibber McGee and Molly - "Mcgee Controls His Temper" (Old Time Radio, 1944)

This 1944 episode of the classic radio sitcom Fibber McGee and Molly features Jim Jordan as the titular Fibber and Marian Jordan as his wife Molly. The episode, originally broadcast on NBC on December 26, 1944, and sponsored by Johnson's Wax, centers on a character-driven domestic comedy premise: Fibber wakes up in a foul mood and spends much of the episode complaining to Molly about a series of minor everyday annoyances. These irritations include malfunctioning pajamas, a fountain pen that isn't working properly, and frustrations with the newspaper. The episode's alternate titles—"Contrary McGee" or "Even-Tempered McGee"—suggest the central comedic conceit involves Fibber's inability to maintain composure over trivial matters, despite the episode's primary title promising that he will "control his temper." The broadcast is presented with modern production touches: a newly recorded contextual introduction by Victor Sterling, the original 1944 performance, and a closing announcement, along with audio restoration work to improve clarity and consistency for contemporary listeners. The episode runs approximately 30 minutes total, with the original broadcast occupying most of that runtime. As a post-Christmas 1944 episode, it likely reflects the domestic tensions and holiday-season irritability that would have resonated with wartime audiences. The show represents a snapshot of American radio comedy from the Golden Age, relying on the established rapport between the Jordan performers and the familiar domestic-conflict formula that made the series popular for decades.

Verdict: A historically interesting artifact of Golden Age radio with established performers, but the thin premise and apparent mismatch between title and content suggest limited entertainment value for modern listeners unfamiliar with the series.

Comedy rubric

• Laugh density n/a

  Source material provides only plot summary and context; no information about actual comedic timing, joke frequency, or audience response

• Originality of material 2/5 31%

  Domestic complaint routine about minor irritations (pajamas, pens, newspapers) is a well-worn sitcom formula even by 1944 standards

• Chemistry and delivery n/a

  No details provided about the actual performance, timing, or rapport between the Jordan performers

• Substance 2/5 23%

  Episode appears to be a thin premise—Fibber complaining about everyday annoyances—with no indication of plot development, character growth, or substantive content beyond the central gripe

• Delivers on its title 1/5 23%

  Title promises Fibber will control his temper, but description indicates he spends the episode venting irritations, suggesting the opposite of what the title promises

• Value for time 2/5 23%

  30-minute runtime for a single-premise domestic complaint routine with no clear narrative arc or payoff mentioned suggests potential padding

How we score Comedy

Worth it if you're a dedicated fan of classic radio comedy, studying 1940s entertainment history, or curious about the Jordan performers' chemistry in their original format.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.