I like them all but what are your three top favorites. Mine are "It's Up To You", Teen Idol and Hello Mary Lou. I know that Poor Little Fool and Travelin' Man were bigger hits, his biggest actually, but the three I listed are my favs.

What are your 3 favs???:wave:

Only THREE ??? I can't narrow it down that far :lol:

OK, how about SIX?

You Are The Only One

Never Be Anyone Else

Sweeter Than You

Young World

A Wonder Like You

Say You Love Me

Only THREE ??? I can't narrow it down that far :lol:

OK, how about SIX?

You Are The Only One

Never Be Anyone Else

Sweeter Than You

Young World

A Wonder Like You

Say You Love Me

I had trouble myself so I totally understand (Garden Party, Be Bop Baby and Travelin' Man would be next)

Well, that would actually encompass me knowing Rick's songs :lol:

It's up to you
Young World
Travelin Man, which was the first rock and roll video, and produced by his dad

Stephen Collins did a great album of his songs.

I have the Ricky Nelson box set, great stuff on there.

I liked all the songs I've seen Rick sing on O&H.

I can't pick a fav but it's not Hello Mary Lou or Travelin' Man.

I also have the Ricky Nelson box set, it's great.

Never realized "It's Late" was a Rick Nelson song. Somehow I remember hearing the song on"Happy Days".

Travelin Man, which was the first rock and roll video, and produced by his dad



Yes, it was! Ozzie had shrewd marketing instincts. His real genius was behind the scenes with clever moves like this and with contracts - he was, after all, just a few steps away from being an actual lawyer. And the law clerking was a nice touch to be seen on the later shows.

You gotta think that Rick and his teen idol music popularity certainly helped to extend the life of "the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet", wouldn't you say?

You gotta think that Rick and his teen idol music popularity certainly helped to extend the life of "the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet", wouldn't you say?

Absolutely! I remember reading in one of the bios on Rick that after he quickly became established as a teen idol singer, ABC threatened to cancel the series unless Rick agreed to keep being in it. Ever the dutiful son (and just all around nice guy) he agreed and we probably have 5-6 more seasons of the show than we would have otherwise.

O&H was never a big Nielsen hit AFIR--never did see it in the year end Nielsen top 25 charts (maybe it hovered in the top 30?), but I'm sure it was one of the top ABC shows since ABC was a distant third to CBS and NBC, until Bewitched came along and proved that ABC could really compete.

O&H was never a big Nielsen hit AFIR--never did see it in the year end Nielsen top 25 charts (maybe it hovered in the top 30?), but I'm sure it was one of the top ABC shows since ABC was a distant third to CBS and NBC, until Bewitched came along and proved that ABC could really compete.

Yes, but look at how the show's endured. (So much for the Nielsen #s)!

Bewitched is another fun show; you can give me Aunt Clara anytime!:crazy:

Oh, I'm not knocking O&H's ratings--you know me better than that, Rich!

O&H was a show that seemed to fly under the radar--and that led to its longetivity. It didn't rise to the top quickly and then burn out just as fast.

Oh, I'm not knocking O&H's ratings--you know me better than that, Rich!

O&H was a show that seemed to fly under the radar--and that led to its longetivity. It didn't rise to the top quickly and then burn out just as fast.


I know you're not - just pointing out #s aren't everything. Not sure abt the radar thing but it does make sense. Slow but steady does seem to be the tempo of the show.

It might have helped that Ozzie negotiated such a long contract with the network too. Back in the 50's and 60's, shows weren't cancelled at the drop of a hat like they are now. When they were canceled, many times another network would pick it up and show it. This happened with Father Knows Best and many others, I'm sure. I really doubt many shows from the 80's, and up will ever see the popularity and endurance that the older shows have.

What also helped the show was Ozzie's ablilty to adapt to changing needs. Unlike other shows that seemed to disregard the kids as they get older, instead he made sure plots revolved around them dating, college, career and marriage. Even though this is a sitcom, it resembles a continuing story, a serial (but not a SOAP opera).

It might have helped that Ozzie negotiated such a long contract with the network too. Back in the 50's and 60's, shows weren't cancelled at the drop of a hat like they are now. When they were canceled, many times another network would pick it up and show it. This happened with Father Knows Best and many others, I'm sure. I really doubt many shows from the 80's, and up will ever see the popularity and endurance that the older shows have.

Thanks for the interesting tidbit Honeybea. Yes, all of this does hark back to ol Oz being a shrewd negotiator.

Ozzie and Desi have a lot in common :D