Based on the Ring Lardner Jr.-Michael Kanin written, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy starring 1942 film, the musical changes the newspaper reporters of the original to television personality Tess Harding and cartoonist Sam Craig, who experience difficulty merging their careers with their marriage.

Just before Tess Harding, a nationally known television news personality, comes on stage to receive an award as "Woman of the Year", she reminisces about an on-air editorial that she gave denigrating newspaper comic strips.

Tess and Sam begin a romance, move in together, and finally marry, but their busy careers leave little time for them to spend together, and their big egos pose problems in their marriage.

Directed by Robert Moore, the cast included Lauren Bacall, Harry Guardino, Marilyn Cooper, Grace Keagy, and Roderick Cook.

The New York Times provided considerable information about the original production’s finances: 10% of gross receipts to Bacall; 9% split by Stone, Kander, and Ebb; 4% to the producers; nearly 3% to Stone, 2% to MGM, 1.5% to choreographer Charmoli, smaller royalties to the scene and costume designers; the Palace theater’s owners received operating costs and a ticket share averagine 6% of the gross.