After the formula worked on the Broadway stage and in movie theaters, ABC brought the story of two divorced men living together to the small screen. Neil Simon's hilarious play about the mismatched Oscar Madison and Felix Unger debuted in 1970, starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall.

Oscar is a slob living alone, happy to coexist with overflowing ashtrays, cigar butts on the floor and empty beer cans. His friend Felix comes to stay with him after Felix's wife throws him out. This comes as a shock to the fastidious Felix who emerges from his divorce depression to regard Oscar's living space with horror and fascination. Both plot and humor derived from the clash of disparate personalities, attitudes and habits of the two men. Felix is a fussy mother hen and drives Oscar crazy, especially when he nags him about Oscar's bachelor habits. The show's opening credit sequence and music is among the most famous TV scenes; it follows Oscar and Felix around New York, marking the differences in their behavior.

The series was not a big hit with audiences during its run but both actors won Emmy awards for their roles. After the show was cancelled in 1975, it was a constant staple on syndication, often airing during in the early morning, afternoon and late night time slots. The two actors also performed in many regional productions of the original play through the 80s and 90s. The show spawned an animated version of itself for the Saturday morning crowd and a reunion special in 1993.