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{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
⚫
|name = Accidental Family
|image = Jerry Van Dyke Accidental Family.JPG
|image = Jerry Van Dyke Accidental Family.JPG
|caption = Jerry Van Dyke as Jerry Webster.
|caption = Jerry Van Dyke as Jerry Webster.
⚫
|aka =
|genre = [[Situation comedy|Sitcom]]
|genre = [[Situation comedy|Sitcom]]
|creator = [[Melville Shavelson]]
|creator = [[Melville Shavelson]]
⚫
|writer =
|writer = [[Sam Bobrick]]<br />Joseph Bonaduce<br />[[James L. Brooks]]<br />[[Bill Idelson]]<br />Peggy Elliott<br />Carl Kleinschmitt<br/>[[Mary Loos]]<br />Dale McRaven<br/>Harvey Miller<br />Peter Myerson<br />Bernie Orenstein<br />[[Richard Sale (director)|Richard Sale]]<br />Ed Scharlach<br />[[Melville Shavelson|Mel Shavelson]]<br />Jack Sher<br />[[Treva Silverman]]<br />[[Saul Turteltaub]]<br>Sydney Zelinka
⚫
|director =
|director = Don Appell<br />[[Earl Bellamy]]<br />[[Robert Day (director)|Robert Day]]<br />[[Sheldon Leonard]]<br />[[Gary Nelson (director)|Gary Nelson]]<br />[[Bob Sweeney (TV director and producer)|Bob Sweeney]]<br>William Wiard
|composer = [[Earle Hagen]]
|composer = [[Earle Hagen]]
|starring = [[Jerry Van Dyke]]<br />[[Lois Nettleton]]
|starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Jerry Van Dyke]]
* [[Lois Nettleton]]
}}
|country = United States
|country = United States
|language = English
|language = English
Line 16: Line 17:
|list_episodes =
|list_episodes =
|executive_producer = [[Sheldon Leonard]]
|executive_producer = [[Sheldon Leonard]]
|co_exec =
|producer = [[Sy Gomberg]]
|producer = [[Sy Gomberg]]
|company = Sheldon Leonard Productions, in association with [[NBC]]
|company = Sheldon Leonard Productions, in association with [[NBC]]
|distributor = [[CBS Television Distribution]]
|camera = [[Multi-camera setup|Multi-camera]]
|camera = [[Multi-camera setup|Multi-camera]]
|runtime = 22&ndash;24 minutes
|runtime = 22&ndash;24 minutes
|network = [[NBC]]
|network = [[NBC]]
|audio_format = [[Monaural]]
|first_aired = {{Start date|1967|09|15}}
|first_aired = {{Start date|1967|09|15}}
|last_aired = {{End date|1968|01|05}}
|last_aired = {{End date|1968|01|05}}
}}
}}


'''''Accidental Family''''' is an American [[Situation comedy|sitcom]] broadcast on [[NBC]] during the first part of the [[1967-68 United States network television schedule|1967-68 U.S. television season]].
'''''Accidental Family''''' is an American [[sitcom]] broadcast on [[NBC]] during the first part of the [[1967–68 United States network television schedule|1967–68 U.S. television season]]. The show ran for sixteen episodes, from September 15, 1967, to January 5, 1968.

The show aired on Fridays at 9:30pm, sandwiched between the non-sitcoms ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' before it, and [[Actuality Specials|documentaries]] after, which was [[Friday night death slot|not considered an auspicious timeslot]].<ref name=Pasadena>{{cite news |last1=Dern |first1=Marian |title=Accidental Family: Cancellation Was No Accident |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65747997/independent-star-news/ |access-date=21 December 2020 |work=[[Pasadena Star-News]] |date=November 19, 1967}}</ref> The program consistently lost in the [[Nielsen ratings]] to both the ''[[CBS]] Friday Night Movies'' and the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[Western (genre)|Western]] ''[[The Guns of Will Sonnett]],'' and as a result was cancelled midseason. It was initially replaced by the first prime time run of the [[game show]] ''[[Hollywood Squares]]''.

Van Dyke publicly groused about the show's timeslot, complaining that nobody watched the show because of its competition. By October 13 — the airdate of the fourth episode — Van Dyke was already declaring defeat in the ''[[Arizona Daily Star]]''. "In this business you've got to have such confidence," he said, "and I never did, so I'm beginning to wonder about myself. I'll tell you; I could use a success about now, and I believe this is a good show, but we've got to get out of that Friday night."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Humphrey |first1=Hal |title=Lady Luck Snubs Jerry Van Dyke: Hardly Anybody Sees His Shows |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65749194/arizona-daily-star/ |access-date=21 December 2020 |work=[[Arizona Daily Star]] |date=October 13, 1967}}</ref>


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
The series stars [[Jerry Van Dyke]] as a widowed [[comedian]], Jerry Webster, who bought a farm in the [[San Fernando Valley]] to serve as a place for him to raise his son, Sandy, when he was not touring or working in [[Las Vegas]]. When he was on the road, Sandy was under the care of the farm's manager, divorcée Sue Kramer ([[Lois Nettleton]]), who had a daughter the same age as Webster's son.
The series starred [[Jerry Van Dyke]] as a widowed [[comedian]], Jerry Webster, who bought a farm in the [[San Fernando Valley]] to serve as a place for him to raise his son, Sandy, when he was not touring or working in [[Las Vegas]]. When he was on the road, Sandy was under the care of the farm's manager, divorcee Sue Kramer ([[Lois Nettleton]]), who had a daughter the same age as Webster's son.

==Reception==
The ''[[Pasadena Star-News]]'' published a post-mortem about the show in November 1967, "Accidental Family: Cancellation Was No Accident", which praised the show and its potential, and laid the blame for cancellation on television networks' lack of interest in producing high-quality programs. "Critics were quite favorable to the show in their first reviews," the piece claimed. "And the series deserved the praise. It had a low-key, slapstick humor; a touching but non-cloying evolvement of the father-son relationship; some clever, knowing conversations between the two adults, both in the same marital and parental boat; it had an almost hip quality." The piece also said, "It was different in several ways from the current crop of comedies — it didn't hang itself on a gimmick — no [[Bewitched (TV series)|witches with twitches]], no [[The Second Hundred Years (TV series)|defrosted ancestors]], no [[The Mothers-in-Law|broadly slapstick broads-in-law]]. Just two kids, two parents, farm life contrasted with a touch of Las Vegas life, and the human, humorous situations thereof."<ref name=Pasadena/>


In [[April 1968]], Jerry Van Dyke was a guest on ''[[Dick Van Dyke Show|Dick Van Dyke]]'', a comedy/variety special hosted by his more famous brother. The special joked about the recent demise of ''Accidental Family''; when Jerry asked Dick if he saw the show, Dick said, "No, I was out of town that week."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Harry |title=Van Dyke Brothers Collaborate in a Special |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65748777/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ |access-date=21 December 2020 |work=[[Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=April 7, 1968}}</ref>
The program consistently lost in the [[Nielsen ratings]] to both the ''[[CBS]] Friday Night Movies'' and the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[Western (genre)|Western]] ''[[The Guns of Will Sonnett]]'' and was cancelled, midseason as a result. It was initially replaced by the first prime-time run of the [[game show]] ''[[Hollywood Squares]]''.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="CCCCCC"
! Actor !! Role
! Actor !! Role
|-
|-
Line 60: Line 64:
|DirectedBy=[[Sheldon Leonard]]
|DirectedBy=[[Sheldon Leonard]]
|WrittenBy=[[Melville Shavelson]]
|WrittenBy=[[Melville Shavelson]]
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|9|15}}
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|09|15}}
|ShortSummary=
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=
|LineColor=
Line 69: Line 73:
|DirectedBy=[[Bob Sweeney (actor and director)|Bob Sweeney]]
|DirectedBy=[[Bob Sweeney (actor and director)|Bob Sweeney]]
|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Richard Sale & Mary Loos|t= [[James L. Brooks]] & Richard Sale & [[Mary Loos]]}}
|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Richard Sale & Mary Loos|t= [[James L. Brooks]] & Richard Sale & [[Mary Loos]]}}
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|9|22}}
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|09|22}}
|ShortSummary=
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=
|LineColor=
Line 78: Line 82:
|DirectedBy=Bob Sweeney
|DirectedBy=Bob Sweeney
|WrittenBy=[[Saul Turtletaub]] & Bernie Orenstein
|WrittenBy=[[Saul Turtletaub]] & Bernie Orenstein
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|10|6}}
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|10|06}}
|ShortSummary=
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=
|LineColor=
Line 114: Line 118:
|DirectedBy=Bob Sweeney
|DirectedBy=Bob Sweeney
|WrittenBy=Jim Brooks
|WrittenBy=Jim Brooks
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|11|3}}
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|11|03}}
|ShortSummary=
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=
|LineColor=
Line 150: Line 154:
|DirectedBy=Bob Sweeney
|DirectedBy=Bob Sweeney
|WrittenBy=Sam Bobrick & Bill Idelson
|WrittenBy=Sam Bobrick & Bill Idelson
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|12|1}}
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|12|01}}
|ShortSummary=
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=
|LineColor=
Line 159: Line 163:
|DirectedBy=Robert Day
|DirectedBy=Robert Day
|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Dale McRaven & Carl Kleinschmitt|t= Joseph Bonaduce}}
|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|s= Dale McRaven & Carl Kleinschmitt|t= Joseph Bonaduce}}
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|12|8}}
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|12|08}}
|ShortSummary=
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=
|LineColor=
Line 175: Line 179:
|EpisodeNumber=14
|EpisodeNumber=14
|Title=The Treasure of San Fernando Valley
|Title=The Treasure of San Fernando Valley
|DirectedBy=
|DirectedBy=Gary Nelson
|WrittenBy=
|WrittenBy=Sydney Zelinka
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|12|22}}
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|12|22}}
|ShortSummary=
|ShortSummary=
Line 185: Line 189:
|Title=Sandy Gets Tough
|Title=Sandy Gets Tough
|DirectedBy=George Tyne
|DirectedBy=George Tyne
|WrittenBy=Dick Bensfield & Perry Grant
|WrittenBy=Dick Bensfield & [[Perry Grant]]
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|12|29}}
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1967|12|29}}
|ShortSummary=
|ShortSummary=
Line 195: Line 199:
|DirectedBy=Don Appell
|DirectedBy=Don Appell
|WrittenBy=Bill Idelson & Harvey Miller
|WrittenBy=Bill Idelson & Harvey Miller
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1968|1|5}}
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1968|01|05}}
|ShortSummary=
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=
|LineColor=
Line 202: Line 206:


==References==
==References==
<references/>
⚫
*Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, ''[[The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows]]''

⚫
*Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, ''[[The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows]]'', Ballantine Books, [https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&dq=%22Accidental+Family+Situation+Comedy%22&pg=PA10 p.&nbsp;10].


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|id=0061229}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0061229}}
* {{tv.com show|the-accidental-family|Accidental Family}}


[[Category:1967 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1967 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1968 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1968 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1960s American sitcoms]]
[[Category:1960s American multi-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
⚫
[[Category:NBC original programming]]
[[Category:Television series by CBS Studios]]
[[Category:Television series by CBS Studios]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles]]
⚫
[[Category:NBC sitcoms]]

Latest revision as of 03:14, 6 October 2024

Accidental Family
Jerry Van Dyke as Jerry Webster.
GenreSitcom
Created byMelville Shavelson
Starring
ComposerEarle Hagen
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producerSheldon Leonard
ProducerSy Gomberg
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companiesSheldon Leonard Productions, in association with NBC
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 15, 1967 (1967-09-15) –
January 5, 1968 (1968-01-05)

Accidental Family is an American sitcom broadcast on NBC during the first part of the 1967–68 U.S. television season. The show ran for sixteen episodes, from September 15, 1967, to January 5, 1968.

The show aired on Fridays at 9:30pm, sandwiched between the non-sitcoms Star Trek before it, and documentaries after, which was not considered an auspicious timeslot.[1] The program consistently lost in the Nielsen ratings to both the CBS Friday Night Movies and the ABC Western The Guns of Will Sonnett, and as a result was cancelled midseason. It was initially replaced by the first prime time run of the game show Hollywood Squares.

Van Dyke publicly groused about the show's timeslot, complaining that nobody watched the show because of its competition. By October 13 — the airdate of the fourth episode — Van Dyke was already declaring defeat in the Arizona Daily Star. "In this business you've got to have such confidence," he said, "and I never did, so I'm beginning to wonder about myself. I'll tell you; I could use a success about now, and I believe this is a good show, but we've got to get out of that Friday night."[2]

Synopsis

[edit]

The series starred Jerry Van Dyke as a widowed comedian, Jerry Webster, who bought a farm in the San Fernando Valley to serve as a place for him to raise his son, Sandy, when he was not touring or working in Las Vegas. When he was on the road, Sandy was under the care of the farm's manager, divorcee Sue Kramer (Lois Nettleton), who had a daughter the same age as Webster's son.

Reception

[edit]

The Pasadena Star-News published a post-mortem about the show in November 1967, "Accidental Family: Cancellation Was No Accident", which praised the show and its potential, and laid the blame for cancellation on television networks' lack of interest in producing high-quality programs. "Critics were quite favorable to the show in their first reviews," the piece claimed. "And the series deserved the praise. It had a low-key, slapstick humor; a touching but non-cloying evolvement of the father-son relationship; some clever, knowing conversations between the two adults, both in the same marital and parental boat; it had an almost hip quality." The piece also said, "It was different in several ways from the current crop of comedies — it didn't hang itself on a gimmick — no witches with twitches, no defrosted ancestors, no broadly slapstick broads-in-law. Just two kids, two parents, farm life contrasted with a touch of Las Vegas life, and the human, humorous situations thereof."[1]

In April 1968, Jerry Van Dyke was a guest on Dick Van Dyke, a comedy/variety special hosted by his more famous brother. The special joked about the recent demise of Accidental Family; when Jerry asked Dick if he saw the show, Dick said, "No, I was out of town that week."[3]

Cast

[edit]
Actor Role
Jerry Van Dyke Jerry Webster
Lois Nettleton Sue Kramer
Teddy Quinn Sandy Webster
Susan Benjamin Tracy Kramer
Larry D. Mann Marty Warren
Ben Blue Ben McGrath

Episodes

[edit]
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Everywhere a Chick Chick"Sheldon LeonardMelville ShavelsonSeptember 15, 1967 (1967-09-15)
2"Hot Kid in a Cold Town"Bob SweeneyStory by : Richard Sale & Mary Loos
Teleplay by : James L. Brooks & Richard Sale & Mary Loos		September 22, 1967 (1967-09-22)
3"If You Knew Martha"Bob SweeneySaul Turtletaub & Bernie OrensteinOctober 6, 1967 (1967-10-06)
4"Minnesota Tracey"UnknownUnknownOctober 13, 1967 (1967-10-13)
5"It Hurts Me More Than It Hurts You"Bob SweeneySaul Turteltaub & Bernie OrensteinOctober 20, 1967 (1967-10-20)
6"Halloween's on Us"Earl BellamyStory by : Barry E. Blitzer & Ray Brenner
Teleplay by : Joseph Bonaduce		October 27, 1967 (1967-10-27)
7"The Making of a Vegetarian"Bob SweeneyJim BrooksNovember 3, 1967 (1967-11-03)
8"The Secret Life of Jerry Webster"Earl BellamyJack SherNovember 10, 1967 (1967-11-10)
9"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Playground"Bob SweeneyTreva Silverman & Peter MeyersonNovember 17, 1967 (1967-11-17)
10"What Is This - Thanksgiving or a Nightmare?"Gary NelsonPeggy Elliott & Ed ScharlachNovember 24, 1967 (1967-11-24)
11"The Woodsman"Bob SweeneySam Bobrick & Bill IdelsonDecember 1, 1967 (1967-12-01)
12"The Return of Mr. Ex"Robert DayStory by : Dale McRaven & Carl Kleinschmitt
Teleplay by : Joseph Bonaduce		December 8, 1967 (1967-12-08)
13"The Lush Life"UnknownUnknownDecember 15, 1967 (1967-12-15)
14"The Treasure of San Fernando Valley"Gary NelsonSydney ZelinkaDecember 22, 1967 (1967-12-22)
15"Sandy Gets Tough"George TyneDick Bensfield & Perry GrantDecember 29, 1967 (1967-12-29)
16"Who's Been Sleeping in Daddy's Bed?"Don AppellBill Idelson & Harvey MillerJanuary 5, 1968 (1968-01-05)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Dern, Marian (November 19, 1967). "Accidental Family: Cancellation Was No Accident". Pasadena Star-News. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  2. ^ Humphrey, Hal (October 13, 1967). "Lady Luck Snubs Jerry Van Dyke: Hardly Anybody Sees His Shows". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  3. ^ Harris, Harry (April 7, 1968). "Van Dyke Brothers Collaborate in a Special". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
[edit]
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