What is “My Three Sons”?
A: My Three Sons is an American sitcom.
ABC broadcast the show from 1960 through 1965, and then
the series moved to where?
A: CBS.
My Three Sons chronicles the life of whom?
A: Steven Douglas, a widower and aeronautical engineer, as he raises his
three sons.
The series originally featured whom?
A: William Frawley as the boys' maternal grandfather and live-in
housekeeper, William Michael Francis "Bub" O'Casey.
Why did William Demarest, playing Bub's brother, "Uncle
Charley," replace Frawley in 1965?
A: Because of Frawley's declining
health.
In September 1965, eldest son Mike married fiancée
Sally Ann Morrison, and his character was what?
A: Written out of the show.
To keep the emphasis on "three sons", original youngest
son Chip's friend Ernie was what?
A: He was adopted.
In the program's later years, Steven Douglas married
whom?
A: Barbara Harper.
Disney producer Bill Walsh often mused on whether the
concept of the show was inspired by what film?
A: The film The Shaggy Dog, as in his view they shared "the same dog, the
same kids, and Fred MacMurray".
The first season, consisting of 36 episodes, was
directed in its entirety by whom?
A: Peter Tewksbury, who produced and occasionally scripted the programs.
During the 1964 fall season, William Frawley, who
played Bub, was declared too ill to work by Desilu Studios, as the company
was informed that what?
A: Insuring the actor would be too costly.
Frawley continued in the role until when?
A: Until a suitable replacement could be found at midseason.
Who was he replaced by?
A: William Demarest, who played his hard-nosed brother (great) Uncle
Charley.
According to the storyline, Bub returns to
Ireland to
do what?
A: Help his Aunt Kate celebrate her 104th birthday.
Soon after, brother Charley visits and does what?
A: Stays on.
Charley, a cello-playing merchant sailor, was a
soft-hearted curmudgeon, who proved to be what?
A: A responsible caregiver.
When did Frawley leave the series?
A: Before the end of the 1964–1965 season.
Who directed the first season?
A: Peter Tewksbury.
Who was the show's longest and most consistent director
of the series?
A: Fred De Cordova.
Why did My Three Sons move to the CBS television
network for the 1965–1966 season?
A: ABC declined to underwrite the expense of producing the program in
color.
In the spring of 1967, the series' ratings began to
what?
A: Sag, and it finished its seventh season in 31st place in the Nielsen
ratings.
It was decided that the 1967–1968 season would bring
the program not only a new time slot but also what?
A: New storylines to spice up the ratings.
In the fall of 1967, CBS moved My Three Sons to when?
A: Saturday at 8:30 pm ET.
In the season premiere episode, "Moving Day", the
Douglas family and Uncle Charley relocate from the fictional Midwestern town
of Bryant Park to where?
A: Los Angeles,
California.
At the end of the 1967–1968 season, the ratings had
improved from the previous year with the series placing where in the
Nielsens?
A: At 24th.