Ep 12. That Little Old Matchmaker, Martin

That Little Old Matchmaker, Martin is the twelfth episode of the first season of the classic American science fiction sitcom My Favorite Martian. Originally aired on December 18, 1963, the episode revolves around Martin, an alien who has crash-landed on Earth and has been taken in by a newspaper reporter named Tim O'Hara. Martin has the ability to turn invisible, levitate objects with his antenna, communicate with animals and even time-travel. However, he must keep his true identity a secret from the people on Earth, especially from his nosy landlady Mrs. Brown.

In this episode, Martin discovers that Mrs. Brown is feeling lonely and wishes to find a companion. Feeling sympathetic towards her, Martin decides to use his powers to help her find love. He uses his antenna to tune into the local dating service radio programme and pretends to be Mrs. Brown to check out potential dates. After listening to several bachelors describe themselves, Martin settles on a man named Harvey Butterworth who seems to be the perfect match for Mrs. Brown.

The next day, Martin disguises himself as Mrs. Brown and meets Harvey at a coffee shop. Martin is able to maintain the disguise perfectly until Harvey insists on picking up the bill, causing Martin to panic as he has no money. However, Martin, being an alien, has a number of secret tricks up his sleeve. He takes out a corked test tube and hands it to Harvey, telling him it contains powerful medicine that will cure anything. However, when Harvey uncorks it, it just contains a loud pop! and he becomes embarrassed as everyone in the crowded coffee shop turns to stare.

Martin takes Harvey back to Mrs. Brown's apartment and, though he is quite different to what she was expecting, the two hit it off immediately. Tim comes in and mistakes Harvey for Martin, leading to a funny scene where Mrs. Brown gives Tim some unexpected affection. Tim tries to interfere with the romance, but Martin uses his powers to make Tim incredibly ill for a few minutes giving Harvey and Mrs. Brown alone time to establish their connection.

As the evening wears on, Harvey and Mrs. Brown carry on talking filmpool rolls while Martin sneaks around and uses his powers to light candles and set the mood. He manages to place himself inside the fireplace to overhear their discussion, but ends up getting sucked up the chimney as the couple’s feelings grow stronger. After getting out of the chimney, Martin decides that he has played his part in bringing the two of them together, and decides to retire for the evening.

However, things take a turn when Harvey admits that he lied about his profession and is actually a sanitation worker. Mrs. Brown, who had been keen to be wined, dined and wooed, is initially disappointed. Martin, who has been listening in, decides to use his powers to make Harvey appear more successful in front of Mrs. Brown. He begins by making Harvey invisible and then slowly adding symbols of wealth around him, such as a suit, a watch and a wallet with wads of cash. Martin also manages to make a car appear on the road and causes it to break down so that Harvey can "heroically" come to the rescue.

Mrs. Brown is thrilled with Harvey's sudden change in circumstances and they continue their date, with Martin secretly making things happen to impress Mrs. Brown even more. However, when Harvey's invisibility wears off, Mrs. Brown realizes that she has been deceived. Martin, who had grown fond of the pair's company, decides to come clean and reveals to Mrs. Brown that he is an alien who had only wanted to help her find happiness. Mrs. Brown is shocked but ultimately forgiving, and Martin manages to rectify the situation by making Harvey appear more handsome, and thus more appealing to Mrs. Brown.

Overall, That Little Old Matchmaker, Martin is an entertaining episode that showcases the wit and charm of My Favorite Martian. It features a number of humorous and heartwarming moments, with Martin's use of his powers adding to the show's overall magic. The episode also explores the themes of love, companionship, and the desire for happiness, while demonstrating that even the most unexpected individuals can end up finding each other.