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When the family is gathered around the kitchen table following Dodie's adoption, Ernie tells Dodie, almost in passing, that he's also adopted. This is the first time Ernie's adoption is mentioned in the five years since he joined the family.
- The Star Managed to Negotiate A Sweet Set of Working Hours For His Schedule.
- William Frawley Was A Beloved But Naughty Role Model to The Child Actors.
- The “Sons” Had to Be Macmurray-Approved Before Being Hired.
- Bill Frawley Carried A Grudge … to Great lengths.
- MacMurray Was Always Looking For Ways to Save A Few Dollars.
- Continuity Proved to Be A Big Production problem.
- The Eldest Son Left The Series After A Falling Out with The Producer.
- The Series Changed Networks Midway Through Its 12-Year Run.
- Both “Robbie” and Don Grady Served in The Army Reserve.
- Beverly Garland’s Private Life Prepared Her For Her Role as “Barbara.”
Fred MacMurray was a well-established film star when he was approached by executive producer Don Fedderson about starring in a TV series. MacMurray agreed with two conditions: one, that he would own a percentage of the show, and two, that he only would be required to work three months of each year. In reality, MacMurray was a dedicated family man, ...
The premise of My Three Sons was to showcase the trials and tribulations of Steven Douglas (MacMurray), an aeronautical engineer and widower, and his three boys—Mike, Robbie, and Chip. Since Steve’s job required long hours, some household help was required. Enter William Frawley (I Love Lucy’s Fred Mertz) as Michael Francis “Bub” O’Casey, Steve’s f...
Stanley Livingston was the first of the “Sons” to be cast. Just nine years old at the time, he was already a show biz veteran, having worked regularly on The Adventures of Ozzie & Harrietfrom 1958 to 1960. Stan was hired to play “Chip,” who was the youngest of the Douglas boys when the series premiered. Ryan O’Neal was a contender for the role of M...
That there was no love lost between former I Love Lucy co-stars William Frawley and Vivian Vance was certainly no secret in Hollywood, but Frawley had been willing to set aside any personal differences when Desilu proposed a spin-off series starring Fred and Ethel Mertz. Vivian Vance absolutely refused, however, and Frawley never forgave her for de...
In addition to being known as one of the nicest guys in Hollywood, MacMurray was also well known for being frugal with the stacks of money he had accumulated during his career. At one time he was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, yet he brown-bagged his meals every day while filming My Three Sonsand kept an eye on all the expenses associated wit...
The MacMurray Method was a nightmare in terms of continuity, so production manager John G. Stephens was tasked with keeping everything running smoothly and as if it had been shot in sequence. For example, when Fred was done with a scene (and remember, all of his scenes were shot in bulk; all the kitchen scenes were done one week, the living room sh...
Tim Considine had an extensive resume, having starred in many Disney shorts and feature films. After a few seasons on My Three Sons, he wanted to spread his wings and direct as well as act, but Fedderson dismissed the idea. The two had a serious falling out and Considine left the series at the end of the fifth season. His last appearance was in sea...
My Three Sons was effectively cancelled by ABC in 1964 because the network was bowing to pressure from rival networks and slowly converting their black-and-white prime time shows to color. All things considered, in their opinion the added expense of filming My Three Sonsin color was not worth it, so they axed the show from their schedule. CBS, howe...
Don Grady joined the Army Reserve in 1968. His My Three Sonscharacter was likewise sent off to basic training after also joining the Reserve, and his filming schedule was adjusted accordingly for the six months the actor had to spend on active duty. After Grady finished his basic training, he was eventually assigned to a marching band unit, which w...
Nothing perks up an aging series like a wedding, so at the beginning of season 10, My Three Sons’s producers had Steve meet (and quickly fall in love with) Ernie’s new teacher, an attractive widow with a five-year-old daughter. Of all the women who were considered for the role of Barbara Harper, B-movie scream queen Beverly Garland had a resume bul...
Mar 25, 2018 · Thus, Ernie Thompson changed his name to Ernie Douglas and Barry Livingston became a permanent member of the cast. Fortunately for Barry, the end of My Three Sons did not mean the end of his career.
Steve offers to adopt Ernie, but faces antagonism from Uncle Charley, who finds Ernie a bit grating and forecasts major headaches over both the boy and his dog. It also transpires that a law requires a woman to live in the home of an adoptive family.
Steve (Fred MacMurray) formally adopts Dodie (Dawn Lyn), who enlists the aid of Chip (Stanley Livingston) and Ernie (Barry Livingston), after being harassed in school by a mean-spirited girl (Erin Moran).
- (52)
- Comedy, Family
- Frederick De Cordova
- 1970-03-21
To keep the emphasis on "three sons", a new son named Ernie was adopted. In the program's final years, Steven Douglas remarried and adopted his new wife's young daughter Dorothy (AKA "Dodie"). The series was a cornerstone of the ABC and CBS lineups in the 1960s.
People also ask
How does Ernie tell Dodie he was adopted?
Who adopts Dodie in S10?
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Did Steven Douglas adopt a child?
Ernie was shown with his parents, a couple he called Mom and Dad...so how/why did Steve later adopt him? And then there's Mike, the original oldest son. I have no recollection of ever seeing, or even hearing about, him in the color seasons.
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