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Family Affair

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This article is about the American sitcom. For the British soap opera, see Family Affairs. For other uses, see Family Affair (disambiguation).

Family Affair
GenreSitcom
Created byEdmund L. Hartmann
Don Fedderson
Directed byCharles Barton
William D. Russell
StarringBrian Keith
Sebastian Cabot
Kathy Garver
Johnny Whitaker
Anissa Jones
Theme music composerFrank De Vol
ComposersJeff Alexander
Nathan Scott
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes138 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerDon Fedderson
ProducersEdmund Beloin
Henry Garson
Edmund L. Hartmann
CinematographyStanley Cortez
Paul Ivano
Michael P. Joyce
Philip Tannura
EditorsJames H. King
Charles Van Enger
Richard L. Van Enger
Sam Vitale
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time25 minutes
Production companiesDon Fedderson Productions
Family Affair Company
Pariah Films (2002 version)
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 12, 1966 (1966-09-12) –
March 4, 1971 (1971-03-04)

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 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]

Family Affair ran for 138 episodes in five seasons. The show was created and produced by Edmund Hartmann and 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, for a valet. 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 a year prior to the premiere episode (the DVD collection's notes mistakenly state "tragic plane accident"). Their children—teenaged Cissy and her young twin siblings, Buffy and Jody—had been dispersed among relatives in Terre Haute for that year, but none of them wanted to continue raising the children, so they all 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, comes Buffy, 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' brother, Nigel "Niles" French (John Williams) was introduced, working for the Davis family for nine episodes in 1967 while Giles is said to be touring with the Queen in the Commonwealth countries. 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, played by Heather Angel), colleagues of Bill and friends of Cissy.

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.

Cast

Main cast: Kathy Garver (Cissy), Anissa Jones (Buffy), Johnny Whitaker (Jody), Brian Keith (Bill Davis), and Sebastian Cabot (Mr. French)
  • Brian Keith as William "Uncle Bill" Sean Davis
  • Sebastian Cabot as Giles French
  • Kathy Garver as Catherine "Cissy" Patterson Davis
  • Johnny Whitaker as Jonathan Joshua "Jody" Patterson Davis
  • Anissa Jones as Ava Elizabeth "Buffy" Patterson Davis
  • Heather Angel as Miss Faversham, Mr. French’s friend (seasons 1–5)
  • John Williams as Nigel "Niles" French (season 1)
  • Nancy Walker as Emily Turner (season 5)
  • John Hubbard as Ted Gaynor, Bill’s business partner (season 1)
  • Betty Lynn as Miss Lee, Bill’s secretary (seasons 1 & 2)
  • Sherry Alberoni as Sharon James, Cissy’s friend (seasons 1–3)
  • Gregg Fedderson (producer Don Fedderson's son) as Gregg Bartlett, Cissy’s boyfriend (seasons 2–5)
  • Karl Lukas as Scott "Scotty" Parker, the doorman (seasons 1–3)

Notable guest stars

Ratings

Season Year Rating
1 1966–1967 No. 15[2]
2 1967–1968 No. 5[3]
3 1968–1969 No. 5[3]
4 1969–1970 No. 5[3]
5 1970–1971 Not in Top 30[4]

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 at age 75.[7][8]

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
  • Family Affair: Behind the Scenes with Kathy Garver
  • Photo Gallery
Season Two 30 November 21, 2006
  • "An Affair to Remember" (interview with Kathy Garver)
  • "Memories" (Five-minute piece with Garver showing Family Affair memorabilia)
Season Three 28 March 27, 2007
  • The Family Affair Reunion Special
Season Four 26 October 30, 2007
  • A Conversation with Johnny Whitaker
  • "The Child Stars"
Season Five 24 February 26, 2008
  • A visit by Kathy Garver to the CBS Studio City lot where the series was filmed
The Complete Series 138 November 25, 2008
  • Repackaging of Seasons 1–5 in a slimmer case

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominee Result
1967 Emmy Awards 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 Awards Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
—
 Nominated
2004 TV Land Awards Best Broadcast Butler Sebastian Cabot Won
2010 Young Artist Awards 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

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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Brooks and Marsh, p. 1263
  3. ^ a b c Brooks and Marsh, p. 1264
  4. ^ Brooks and Marsh, p. 1265
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Eder, Bruce (2010). "Sebastian Cabot". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. {{cite news}}: |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)
  7. ^ 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)
  8. ^ 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)
  9. ^ "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)
  10. ^ Family Affair at the Grand Comics Database
  11. ^ 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.
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