episode #80 - Space Beauty

episode #80 / Air Date: 2/14/68 (episode #21 of 3rd season)
written by Jackson Gillis; Directed by Irving J. Moore

This features the return, unfortunately, of showman Farnum (Leonard Stone, from A Day at the Zoo), one of the more tiresome guest characters. His appearance is preceded by a couple of mysterious beings who look like knights in robes; they check out the ship after knocking out Don, suggesting that they're after one of the females. This time around, Farnum is acting as agent for someone who wants to put on the ultimate beauty pageant Farnum is soon forced by his boss, "his highness," to include Judy in the pageant.

Since some of this story involves selling souls, one may surmise that "his highness" or "the dictator" (as he's also referred to) is something dark and unpleasant. Like Farnum's previous episode, this is quite tedious and too talky - actor Stone hams it up too much, just jabbering & chortling endlessly. The various alien 'women' competing - all of a sudden there are all these aliens on the planet - lends more embarrassing silliness, furthered by Smith trying to pass off the Robot as another female.

The only genuinely amusing moment is when Judy agrees to participate out of pride. Also, when the mysterious dictator arrives (a reuse of the knight suit), his sinister presence is offset by a strangely normal, almost weak voice. BoG's Score: 3 out of 10
Lost in Trivia: Farnum's agent "Nancy pi Squared" is played by Dee Hartford, who has appeared in 2 previous episodes as the female android Verda, in the 2nd season (The Android Machine and Revolt of the Androids). No sign of John & Maureen in this episode.