How to Marry a Millionaire

Set in a glossy, late 1950s backdrop, the sitcom follows three attractive single women who share an apartment and a single-minded plan: to find wealthy husbands and upgrade their social standing. The show treats their schemes with light comedy, focusing on matchmaking attempts, misunderstandings, and the small reversals of suburban life. Characters shift during the run, with Lori Nelson, Merry Anders, and Barbara Eden anchoring the early episodes, and Lisa Gaye stepping in after Nelson left. Episodes are short, gag-driven, and built around situational setups rather than serialized arcs, so you can drop in on an episode without needing prior context.

The series ran in syndication from September 1957 through August 1959, and it’s adapted from the 1953 film of the same name that starred Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall. Barbara Eden’s appearance here is notable, it was her first regular television role and helped raise her profile.

The program did not rack up major industry awards or high-profile nominations during its original run, and it’s not associated with significant Emmy recognition. Its status is more linked to being a light sitcom of its era than to trophy cases.

As a cultural artifact it reflects 1950s expectations about romance, status, and consumer desire, rewriting the film’s premise for weekly television. It helped introduce Barbara Eden to TV audiences, who would later see her in bigger roles. The show’s premise, borrowed from a Hollywood picture, is an early example of adapting films into television formats.

Reception was mixed to modest, and contemporary critics tended to see it as lightweight entertainment rather than social commentary. Modern viewers often note its period charm and dated gender politics, and its humor relies on situational misunderstandings, romantic aspirations, and the trappings of midcentury style. The available user rating sits at about 6.0 out of 10, indicating a modest, somewhat nostalgic appeal.