Family Affair - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Family Affair
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For other uses, see Family Affair (disambiguation).
Family Affair
Cast of show: Kathy Garver (Cissy), Anissa Jones (Buffy), Johnny Whitaker (Jody), Brian Keith (Bill Davis), and Sebastian Cabot (Mr. French).
Genre
Sitcom
Directed by
Charles Barton
William D. Russell
Starring
Brian Keith
Sebastian Cabot
Kathy Garver
Johnny Whitaker
Anissa Jones
Theme music composer
Frank De Vol
Composer(s)
Jeff Alexander
Nathan Scott
Country of origin
United States
Language(s)
English
No. of seasons
5
No. of episodes
138 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Don Fedderson
Producer(s)
Edmund Beloin
Henry Garson
Edmund L. Hartmann
Editor(s)
James H. King
Charles Van Enger
Richard L. Van Enger
Sam Vitale
Cinematography
Stanley Cortez
Paul Ivano
Michael P. Joyce
Philip Tannura
Camera setup
Single-camera
Running time
25 minutes
Production company(s)
Don Fedderson Productions
Family Affair Company
Distributor
CBS Television Distribution (domestic)
NBC Universal Television Distribution (internationally)
Broadcast
Original channel
CBS
Audio format
Monaural
Original run
September 12, 1966 (1966-09-12) – September 9, 1971 (1971-09-09)
Chronology
Followed by
Family Affair (2002)
Family Affair is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 12, 1966 to September 9, 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).
The show ran for 138 episodes. Family Affair was created and produced by Don Fedderson, also known for My Three Sons.
Contents
1 Premise
2 Cast
3 Guest stars
4 Ratings
5 Production
6 Post Family Affair
7 DVD releases
8 Awards and nominations
9 Revival series
9.1 Revival cast
10 Appearances in other media
11 References
12 External links
[edit] Premise
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 Park Avenue apartment in Manhattan, and has a quintessential gentleman's gentleman, Giles French. However, 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. 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. However 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.
[edit] Cast
Bill Davis — Brian Keith
Giles French — Sebastian Cabot
Catherine “Cissy” Davis — Kathy Garver
Jonathan “Jody” Davis — Johnny Whitaker
Elizabeth “Buffy” 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
Scotty (the doorman) — Karl Lucas
[edit] Guest stars
Guest stars included (alphabetically by last name):
Herbert Anderson
Dana Andrews
Joan Blondell
Lynn Borden (twice)
Veronica Cartwright
Jackie Coogan
Jamie Farr
Paul Fix
Joan Freeman
Leif Garrett
James Hong
Clint Howard
June Lockhart
Myrna Loy
Ida Lupino
Lee Meriwether
Erin Moran
Eve Plumb
Robert Reed
Diane Roter
Pippa Scott
Ann Sothern
Vic Tayback
Joyce Van Patten
[edit] Ratings
Season
Year
Rating
1
1966–67
No. 15
2
1967–68
No. 5
3
1968–69
No. 5
4
1969–70
No. 5
5
1970–71
Not in Top 30[1]
[edit] 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.
The series was extremely popular. Buffy's doll, “Mrs. Beasley,” which she often carried with her, was marketed as a popular toy in the United States.
The series was canceled after the fifth season when CBS began leaning towards more adult-oriented sitcom fare. Family Affair was almost picked up by ABC, but the network instead decided to promote the similarly themed The Brady Bunch.
[edit] Post Family Affair
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. Sebastian Cabot died of a stroke in 1977 at age 59. In 1997, two months after the suicide of his daughter, and having lived with cancer for some time, Brian Keith committed suicide by gunshot.[2] In 2002, Gregg Fedderson died of cancer at age 53. Cancer also claimed the lives of Heather Angel in 1986 and Nancy Walker in 1992. John Williams died in 1983. Both Phil Ober and John Hubbard, who portrayed Bill Davis' business partner, Ted Gaynor, are also deceased.
[edit] DVD releases
MPI Home Video has released all 5 seasons of Family Affair on DVD in Region 1. CBS Paramount Television owns the domestic television distribution rights to the series, while the home video rights are owned by MPI Home Video (under license from the Don Fedderson estate). The DVD sets have the logo for Universal Television Distribution at the end of the closing credits (as successor NBC Universal holds the international television rights).
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" (5-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
[edit] Awards and nominations
Year
Award
Result
Category
Recipient
1967
Emmy Award
Nominated
Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy
Edmund L. Hartmann
For episode "Buffy"
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy
William D. Russell
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
Brian Keith
1968
Nominated
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
Brian Keith
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
Sebastian Cabot
Outstanding Comedy Series
Edmund L. Hartmann
1969
Nominated
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
Brian Keith
Outstanding Comedy Series
Edmund L. Hartmann
1971
Golden Globe Award
Nominated
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
–
2004
TV Land Award
Won
Best Broadcast Butler
Sebastian Cabot
2008
Nominated
Favorite Nanny
Sebastian Cabot
[edit] Revival series
A revival of Family Affair by Sid and Marty Krofft aired on The WB Television Network from September 12, 2002 to March 13, 2003. This version was produced by Turner Television, Pariah Films and Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions and lasted for 16 episodes (14 of the 16 were aired). It was filmed in the same CBS Studio City lot as 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.
[edit] 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
[edit] 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.
In 1970, Gold Key Comics, an imprint of Western Publishing, published a comic book adaptation of Family Affair.
Merchandising efforts centered on Anissa Jones. 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 Talking Buffy, and Mrs. Beazley, Buffy's doll on the show) and various other toys.[3]
[edit] References
^ 1970–1971 Ratings
^ An "Affair" to Remember
^ Mansour, David (2005). From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 251. ISBN 0740751182. http://books.google.ca/books?id=hK0rPUF85loC&pg=PA251&lpg=PA251&dq=Family+Affair:+Buffy+Finds+a+Star&source=bl&ots=B0xhbUbGw_&sig=7NE3-XdMyqE15pMwMWm190S8acA&hl=en&ei=BLfVTO2hKJO-sQOl-MCNCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CC4Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Family%20Affair%3A%20Buffy%20Finds%20a%20Star&f=false. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
[edit] External links
Family Affair (1966) at the Internet Movie Database
Family Affair (2002) at the Internet Movie Database
Family Affair (1966) at TV.com
Family Affair (2002) at TV.com
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.
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Categories:
1966 television series debuts
1971 television series endings
2002 American television series debuts
2003 American television series endings
1960s American television series
1970s American television series
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