Family Affair
Family Affair | |
---|---|
Genre | Sitcom |
Created by | Don Fedderson |
Directed by | Charles Barton William D. Russell |
Starring | Brian Keith Sebastian Cabot Kathy Garver Johnny Whitaker Anissa Jones |
Theme music composer | Frank De Vol |
Composers | Jeff Alexander Nathan Scott |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 5 |
No. of episodes | 138 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer | Don Fedderson |
Producers | Edmund Beloin Henry Garson Edmund L. Hartmann |
Cinematography | Stanley Cortez Paul Ivano Michael P. Joyce Philip Tannura |
Editors | James H. King Charles Van Enger Richard L. Van Enger Sam Vitale |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 25 minutes |
Production companies | Don Fedderson Productions Family Affair Company |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | September 12, 1966 March 4, 1971 | –
Family Affair is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 12, 1966 to March 4, 1971. The series explored the trials of well-to-do civil engineer and bachelor Bill Davis (Brian Keith) as he attempted to raise his brother's orphaned children in his luxury New York City apartment. Davis' traditional English gentleman's gentleman, Mr. Giles French (Sebastian Cabot), also had adjustments to make as he became saddled with the responsibility of caring for 15-year-old Cissy (Kathy Garver) and the 6-year-old twins, Jody (Johnny Whitaker) and Buffy (Anissa Jones).[1]
The show ran for 138 episodes. Family Affair was created and produced by Don Fedderson, also known for My Three Sons and The Millionaire.
Storyline
William "Bill" Davis, originally of Terre Haute, Indiana, is a successful civil engineer who develops major projects all over the world. A wealthy bachelor often dating socialites, he lives in a large apartment on east 62nd Street off of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, and has a quintessential gentleman's gentleman, Giles French. His quiet lifestyle is turned upside-down when his two nieces and nephew move in.
Bill's brother Bob and sister-in-law Mary had died in an automobile accident (the DVD collection notes mistakenly state "plane accident") a year prior to the premiere episode. Their children, teen Cissy and her young twin siblings Buffy and Jody, had been dispersed among relatives in Terre Haute, but none wanted to continue raising the children, so they attempt to give the responsibility to Bill. "Uncle Bill" is not keen on the idea at first, but the children endear themselves to him. First Buffy comes along, followed by Jody, and finally Cissy. Initially mortified by the situation is Mr. French, who effectively becomes the children's nanny, on top of his valet duties. As time passes they all become a family, albeit an accidental one.
When Sebastian Cabot became ill, Giles's brother, Nigel "Niles" French (John Williams) was introduced, working for the Davis family for nine episodes in 1967 while Giles is said to be in England visiting the Queen. In the last season, Bill hires a part-time housekeeper, Emily Turner (Nancy Walker) to assist Mr. French.
Various other characters were also seen regularly, including several acquaintances of Mr. French who are in service (most notably Miss Faversham (Heather Angel), colleagues of Bill, and friends of Cissy.
Cast
- William "Bill" Sean Davis aka Uncle Bill– Brian Keith
- Giles French – Sebastian Cabot
- Catherine "Cissy" Patterson Davis – Kathy Garver
- Jonathan "Jody" Patterson Davis – Johnny Whitaker
- Ava Elizabeth "Buffy" Patterson Davis – Anissa Jones
- Miss Faversham (Mr. French’s friend) – Heather Angel
- Nigel "Niles" French – John Williams (1967)
- Emily Turner – Nancy Walker (1970–71)
- Ted Gaynor (Bill’s business partner) – Philip Ober and John Hubbard
- Miss Lee (Bill’s secretary) – Betty Lynn
- Sharon James (Cissy’s friend) – Sherry Alberoni
- Gregg Bartlett (Cissy’s boyfriend) – Gregg Fedderson
- Mr. Scott "Scotty" Parker (the doorman) / Mr. Parker (Handyman / Scotty's brother) – Karl Lukas
Guest stars
Guest stars included (alphabetically by last name):
- John Agar
- Herbert Anderson
- Dana Andrews
- Joan Blondell
- Lynn Borden (twice)
- Veronica Cartwright
- Jackie Coogan
- Henry Corden
- Brian Donlevy
- Jamie Farr
- Paul Fix
- Joan Freeman
- Rita Gam
- Leif Garrett
- Kipp Hamilton
- Linda Kaye Henning
- Kathy Hilton
- Sterling Holloway
- James Hong
- Clint Howard
- Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr.
- Martha Hyer
- Kym Karath (three times)
- Andrea King
- Patric Knowles
- Anna Lee
- Len Lesser
- June Lockhart
- Myrna Loy
- Keye Luke
- Ida Lupino
- Ann McCrea (three times)
- Lee Meriwether
- Erin Moran
- Butch Patrick
- Eve Plumb
- Marge Redmond
- Robert Reed
- Diane Roter
- Pippa Scott
- Madeline Sherwood
- Doris Singleton
- Ann Sothern
- Vic Tayback
- Joyce Van Patten
- Ernestine Wade
Ratings
Season | Year | Rating |
---|---|---|
1 | 1966–67 | No. 15[2] |
2 | 1967–68 | No. 5[3] |
3 | 1968–69 | No. 5[3] |
4 | 1969–70 | No. 5[3] |
5 | 1970–71 | Not in Top 30[4] |
Production
Like Don Fedderson's other program, My Three Sons, Family Affair used a sixty-day production schedule for Brian Keith. All of his scenes for the season would be shot in two thirty-day blocks, while his co-stars would fill in after the actor's work was completed. This enabled Fedderson to harness actors like Keith and Fred MacMurray into television commitments, while still enabling each to make motion pictures. As a result, each season had a single director for each of the thirty-odd scripts.
Due to the popularity of the series with girls, Buffy's doll, "Mrs. Beasley" (which she often carried with her) was marketed as a Mattel talking toy in the United States. Mattel also went on to produce two other dolls, patterned after Buffy: the "Tutti"-sized Buffy and larger "Small Talk Buffy" (talking doll), both of which featured accompanying miniature Mrs. Beasley dolls.
Post-series
As discussed by Kathy Garver on the final season’s DVD features, the show’s cast suffered several deaths. Anissa Jones died of a drug overdose in 1976 at age 18.[5] Sebastian Cabot died of a stroke in 1977 at age 59.[6] In 1997, two months after the suicide of his daughter, and having lived with cancer for some time, Brian Keith committed suicide by gunshot.[7][8] In 2002, Gregg Fedderson died of cancer at age 53.
DVD releases
MPI Home Video has released all five seasons of Family Affair on DVD in Region 1 by MPI Home Video (under license from the Don Fedderson estate).
DVD Name | Ep No. | Release Date | Special Features / Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Season One | 30 | June 27, 2006 |
|
Season Two | 30 | November 21, 2006 |
|
Season Three | 28 | March 27, 2007 |
|
Season Four | 26 | October 30, 2007 |
|
Season Five | 24 | February 26, 2008 |
|
The Complete Series | 138 | November 25, 2008 |
|
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1967 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy | Edmund L. Hartmann For episode "Buffy" |
Nominated |
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy | William D. Russell | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series | Brian Keith | Nominated | ||
1968 | Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series | Brian Keith | Nominated | |
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series | Sebastian Cabot | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Comedy Series | Edmund L. Hartmann | Nominated | ||
1969 | Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series | Brian Keith | Nominated | |
Outstanding Comedy Series | Edmund L. Hartmann | Nominated | ||
1971 | Golden Globe Award | Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
2004 | TV Land Award | Best Broadcast Butler | Sebastian Cabot | Won |
2008 | Favorite Nanny | Sebastian Cabot | Nominated | |
2010 | Young Artist Award | Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award | Kathy Garver[9] | Honored |
Revival series
A revival of Family Affair by Sid and Marty Krofft aired on The WB from September 12, 2002 to March 13, 2003. This version was produced by Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, Pariah Films, and Turner Television and lasted for 16 episodes (14 of the 16 were aired). It was filmed in the same CBS Studio City lot as was the original series. Although the one-hour pilot had good ratings, the subsequent episodes declined against competition such as Friends. Johnny Whitaker and Kathy Garver appeared in the Christmas episode.
Revival cast
- Bill Davis – Gary Cole
- Mr. Giles French – Tim Curry
- Sigourney "Sissy" Davis – Caitlin Wachs
- Jody Davis – Jimmy "Jax" Pinchak
- Buffy Davis – Sasha Pieterse
- Jody Davis (pilot) – Luke Benward
Appearances in other media
In the pilot of the television show The Critic, film critic Jay Sherman reviews the (fictional) movie adaption of the show. In the starring role was Marlon Brando, who was "paid 8 million dollars" for the film.
Gold Key Comics, an imprint of Western Publishing, published four issues of a Family Affair comic book series from January to October 1970.[10]
Merchandising efforts centered on Anissa Jones' "Buffy" character. Several books were published, including the 1970 hardback Family Affair: Buffy Finds A Star by Gladys Baker Bond and Buffy's Cookbook. There were dolls (Mattel's "Small Talk Buffy" and Mrs. Beasley, Buffy's doll on the show) and various other toys.[11]
A Mrs. Beasley doll, with her glasses missing, appears in the music video for the song California Tuffy by the Geraldine Fibbers.
In Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, the character of Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait) is seen watching the show in one scene, but ultimately turns it off after stating it's a "re-run".
References
- ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1995). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present Sixth Edition. Ballantine Books. p. 336. ISBN 9780345397362.
- ^ Brooks and Marsh, p. 1263
- ^ a b c Brooks and Marsh, p. 1264
- ^ Brooks and Marsh, p. 1265
- ^ Benoit, Tod (2009). Where Are They Buried?: How Did They Die? Fitting Ends and Final Resting Places of the Famous, Infamous, and Noteworthy. Black Dog Publishing. p. 163. ISBN 1-57912-822-X.
- ^ Eder, Bruce (2010). "Sebastian Cabot". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2014.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; December 23, 2014 suggested (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Simon, Stephanie (June 25, 1997). "Actor Brian Keith Found Dead in Apparent Suicide". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Rice, Rice (August 15, 2002). "An Affair to Remember". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 27, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "31st Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. April 11, 2010. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Family Affair at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Mansour, David (2005). From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 251. ISBN 0-7407-5118-2. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
External links
- Family Affair (1966) at IMDb
- Family Affair (2002) at IMDb
- Template:Tv.com show
- Template:Tv.com show
- Family Affair – Classic TV website with Episode Guide, Theme and Gallery
- Apartment 27A – Family Affair Fan Page – Cast bios, collectibles, links and more on the 1960s television series Family Affair
- 1966 American television series debuts
- 1971 American television series endings
- 2002 American television series debuts
- 2003 American television series endings
- 1960s American television series
- 1970s American television series
- 2000s American television series
- American television sitcoms
- CBS network shows
- English-language television programming
- Television series by CBS Paramount Television
- Television series by Universal Television
- Television series by Warner Bros. Television
- Television series revived after cancellation
- Television shows set in New York City
- The WB shows