:confused: Was the marriage of Steve to Beverly Garland and gaining a new step-daughter the Jump-the-Shark moment for My 3 Sons? After all, it was getting away from the premise of having 3 sons. At one point Don Grady even left the show, and Steve ended up having 2 sons and a step-daughter!

I wouldn't say it was a jump the shark moment, but as the shows run continued on, at a certain point the title My Three Sons wasn't really appropriate anymore.

The 12th and final season was probably the JTS point, the show had it's long run and it was over. Fred MacMurray however, was supposedly unhappy with the shows cancellation and tried to talk the CBS brass out of pulling the plug on the show.

I kind of liked Beverly Garland as Barbara. Having Steve get married opened up some new story lines. However, Dodie was a little hard to take at times.

Dawn Lyn was the actress playing the role of Dodie, she sure bears a strong resemblance to the late actress Debralee Scott.

It was a jump the shark moment for me. I really liked it when Katie was the only female in the house.

:confused: Was the marriage of Steve to Beverly Garland and gaining a new step-daughter the Jump-the-Shark moment for My 3 Sons? After all, it was getting away from the premise of having 3 sons. At one point Don Grady even left the show, and Steve ended up having 2 sons and a step-daughter!



Totally jump the shark moment. I coudnt stand that step daughter of his, and then Don Grady left. Never did like the last two seasons of this show.

Maybe they figured since Robbie & Katie had triplets, they represented "the 3 sons" in the last few seasons.

It was a jump the shark moment for me. I really liked it when Katie was the only female in the house.

My sentiments exactly! The B&W years with Bub are my favorite. When the show switched to color, I found S6 and S7 kind of dull. The move to California and the introduction of Katie were a nice breath of fresh air. S8 and S9 are the best of the color years IMO.

Once Barbara and the annoying Dodie arrived, it was over for me.

Not to me. She was a great addition. Steve's having a lady really seemed to round that family unit out. And she was greaat with Steve's kids. I remember this ep from long ago where Chip gets accused of cheating and the teacher ups and "convicts" him. But when Barbara goes to visit the teacher, and the teacher starts to stand firm, Barbara gets REALLY mad and reads the teacher to filth (well sorta). God I wish I could watch that ep again! It's stayed in my mind - even after nearly 40 yrs

:confused: Was the marriage of Steve to Beverly Garland and gaining a new step-daughter the Jump-the-Shark moment for My 3 Sons?

In my view, Fred MacMurray was getting a little old for the endless one-episode romances that never led to anything, just a parade of beautiful guest actresses -- most of whom never returned. Beverly Garland was a wonderful choice to play the new wife.

And as far as Dodie is concerned, it was realistic that a widow her age would have at least one child. Her inclusion afforded the writers a chance to do stories on the blending of the families and the ironing out of the rough spots that came up. So I don't view the marriage as a JTS moment at all. The series had been becoming stagnant as far as Steve's character -- I mean did we really want to see him continuing with one-night-stand types of relationships at his age?

After all, it was getting away from the premise of having 3 sons. At one point Don Grady even left the show, and Steve ended up having 2 sons and a step-daughter!

Not to mention some daughters in law! As a previous poster mentioned, Rob's 3 infant/toddler sons did shore up the Three Sons title. And while it's true that Don left the show, so had Tim Considine years earlier. Throw in the towel just because one actor decides to move on? I don't think so.

In the final couple of seasons, here are some of the quality actors who came on board in roles other than one-shots:

Ronne Troupe, as Chip's new wife Polly.
Norm Alden and Doris Singleton as the Williamses, Polly's parents
Anne Francis, as Cousin Fergus' new wife.

I look at the color seasons in this way:

1. Before Tina Cole came on as Katie, we had lots of episodes with Rob chasing after ridiculously beautiful young women, including ones played by Brenda Benet, Yvonne Craig and Sherry Jackson.

2. Before Beverly Garland came on as Barbara, we had lots of episodes with Steve having an eye for or being eyed by some ridiculously beautiful youngish women, including ones played by Susan Oliver and Vera Miles.

3. Before Ronne Troupe came on as Polly, we had lots of episodes again with Chip in a dating mode.

The show progressed beyond storylines based on the "single man" being eyed by or eyeing potential marriage material. This had included Uncle Charley as well -- there was practically a rotation of whose dating we would be looking in on...! The series did well to move on from where it was. I enjoyed those years as much as anyone, but I also loved the very late seasons. And finally, as far as Don Grady leaving, I'll take those three "new wife" actresses who remained over him any day!! (no disrespect really intended).

I like Beverly Garland way too much to ever associate her with any kind of "Jump the Shark" moment. I don't really know if M3S even ever had such a moment. I never really sensed it. It certainly changed and meandered around a bit in its 12-year run, but each little era has its merits. One of the biggest changes to me was the move to California in the fall of '67. I was somewhat inclined to dislike this move, yet even so, I couldn't, because that's when Tina Cole popped in to the cast, and she was such a delightful addition.

I like Beverly Garland way too much to ever associate her with any kind of "Jump the Shark" moment. I don't really know if M3S even ever had such a moment. I never really sensed it. It certainly changed and meandered around a bit in its 12-year run, but each little era has its merits. One of the biggest changes to me was the move to California in the fall of '67. I was somewhat inclined to dislike this move, yet even so, I couldn't, because that's when Tina Cole popped in to the cast, and she was such a delightful addition.

I think that the move to California had a lot to do with the change to a new studio at the start of S8. M3S had been filmed at Desilu through S7 and switched to CBS Studio Center (home of Gunsmoke, Gilligan's Island, and still very busy today) at the start of S8. This may have had something to do with the Paramount takeover of Desilu at about the same time. Paramount may have either kicked M3S out of the studio or raised the rent so high that the show changed studios. Leave It to Beaver is another show where the family's move coincided with a change of studios.

On the subject of M3S, is there anywhere, even on YouTube, where I could see S11 or S12 eps? All I remember from those seasons was seeing part of a S12 ep where Katie had the triplets in a tv commercial. I saw this at a college party back in the 80s, when the show was carried on Nick-at-Nite, but I couldn't hear the show due to party noise. I'd love to see even one of these, since the local syndicated reruns seem to be in an infinite loop from S6 to S10. Please let me know if you know anything here. Thanks!

I think that the move to California had a lot to do with the change to a new studio at the start of S7. M3S had been filmed at Desilu through S7 and switched to CBS Studio Center (home of Gunsmoke, Gilligan's Island, and still very busy today) at the start of S8. This may have had something to do with the Paramount takeover of Desilu at about the same time. Paramount may have either kicked M3S out of the studio or raised the rent so high that the show changed studios. Leave It to Beaver is another show where the family's move coincided with a change of studios.

On the subject of M3S, is there anywhere, even on YouTube, where I could see S11 or S12 eps? All I remember from those seasons was seeing part of a S12 ep where Katie had the triplets in a tv commercial. I saw this at a college party back in the 80s, when the show was carried on Nick-at-Nite, but I couldn't hear the show due to party noise. I'd love to see even one of these, since the local syndicated reruns seem to be in an infinite loop from S6 to S10. Please let me know if you know anything here. Thanks!
Another thing about the final season or 2, I remember Dawn Lyn (as Dodie) and Ronne Troupe (as Polly) added to the opening credits, during the original network run, yet I've never seen this final opening used in the syndicated reruns. If anyone has ever seen the closing credits of the final seasons, they didn't credit any of the principle cast (including Dawn and Ronne), anymore. And since they didn't use the proper opening credits for thise seasons, Dawn and Ronne were not credited at all.

Very good obsevations regarding credits for Ronne & Dawn. I don't think Hallmark Channel had the correct openings (around the years 2000-2001) for Season 12 at the least because I would have remembered seeing their names in the opens. I don't know if that applied to S11 also.

However, I'm sure they did have Fred MacMurray's little segment that preceded the animation, where he says "Hi! Welcome to our show [for Chevrolet]" with the sponsors name part chopped off. I like having that.

It's really a shame that the final two Seasons have become so tough to find. Personally I think Ronne Troupe is an underrated actress when looking back on her work (today). She would have had the lead on The Flying Nun series reportedly if things had gone her way, so that seems to indicate the studios realized her talent.

I also think Ronne was a great choice for Stanley/Chip -- they both had kind of a relaxed and easygoing feel much of the time, and Stan did a nice job in his character's calming Polly when something did upset her.

YouTube has a few episodes from the later years including two from Season 12. Just search for My Three Sons and scroll down. They are out there.

I never had a JTS feeling about My Three Sons. I think Beverly Garland's addition showed a natural evolution of the show. My Three Sons was one of those shows I was sad about when it ended. But then again, one has to move on. There are just so many plots, or else, as a poster suggested, you get away from the main premise of the show.

Me-TV just started airing the tenth season today with Steve and Barbara's first meeting. This is my first time seeing these episodes so it will be interesting watching how the storyline plays out.

I did notice that Ernie's voice has changed for the better. His old voice used to drive me up the wall.

Ernie continues to evolve -- he goes a long way from the very young kid we first meet in the black & white years to the guy with the feathered cut on Season 12.

In Season 10 I think the contributions of Eleanor Audley (Barb's mom), Dawn Lyn, and Naomi Stevens (the restaurant lady) all help to lend authenticity and flesh out the storylines. I also like how Steve and Barbara interact with Rob & Katie.

It's been said that by looking at Dawn's teeth, the carefully guarded secret of early filming for Fred M. is revealed -- Dawn is a little younger in her scenes with Fred in a given episode. Although this is considered to have "blown" the secret, going back one can find other instances where actors' appearances are slightly different with and w/o Fred.

Eleanor Audley was in today's episode. I loved her when she played Oliver Douglas' rich snobby mother on Green Acres. She was a hoot! Looking forward to seeing more of her.

Me-TV just started airing the tenth season today with Steve and Barbara's first meeting. This is my first time seeing these episodes so it will be interesting watching how the storyline plays out.

I did notice that Ernie's voice has changed for the better. His old voice used to drive me up the wall.

I've been watching 'My Three Sons' in the mornings on Me-TV, too. I haven't seen most of these episodes since I was a kid, so they are like new to me. It is interesting to see Steve and Barbara's relationship evolve. And yes, puberty did hit Ernie a little hard. For me, it wasn't so much his voice as it was the way he dressed, with his high water pants and white button down shirts. She should have had an episode where Katie or Barbara took his shopping for a new wardrobe. Don't get me wrong, I like Ernie, but he should have dressed more like a teenager.

Not to me. She was a great addition. Steve's having a lady really seemed to round that family unit out. And she was greaat with Steve's kids. I remember this ep from long ago where Chip gets accused of cheating and the teacher ups and "convicts" him. But when Barbara goes to visit the teacher, and the teacher starts to stand firm, Barbara gets REALLY mad and reads the teacher to filth (well sorta). God I wish I could watch that ep again! It's stayed in my mind - even after nearly 40 yrsthst was one of my fave moments too .who will ever forget beverly/barbraslamming her fist on the table and shouting MY SON DOES NOT CHEAT

Chip was buzzing around some pretty nice looking girls in those years. Especially when he hooked up with Angela Cartwright's character briefly - wow!

If I'm not mistaken, Beverly Garland did an episode or two of Gunsmoke even after she landed the role of Barbara. Nice to see that she was able to remain so active at the time.

Not to me. She was a great addition. Steve's having a lady really seemed to round that family unit out. And she was greaat with Steve's kids. I remember this ep from long ago where Chip gets accused of cheating and the teacher ups and "convicts" him. But when Barbara goes to visit the teacher, and the teacher starts to stand firm, Barbara gets REALLY mad and reads the teacher to filth (well sorta). God I wish I could watch that ep again! It's stayed in my mind - even after nearly 40 yrs

This episode was on ME-TV yesterday and it was pretty good. Barbara was a little put off because the boys weren't coming to her with their problems. By the end of the episode, Chip is calling her 'Mom'. It made me think of the early black and white episodes 'Chip's Composition' when little Chip really wanted a Mom, and now he finally got his wish.

One question about this episode. My ME-TV channel showed local commercials instead of the closing credits. Does anyone know if the actress who played Chip's friend was Lisa Harrison, who played Jason's wife Toni on 'The Waltons' ???

In that episode (Season 10 - "Guest in the House"), Sally Crane was played by Janis Oliver:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1465109/

I could not find an M3S credit for Lisa Harrison. It seems that her career began about a decade after that episode aired.

Thanks, biff.

I would love to see seasons 11 and 12. Heck, I don't understand why CBS Television Distribution insists on not syndicating all the color years as one package and the black and white years as a separate package. The series is really two different eras this way--the Bub/Mike era and then the Ernie/Katie/Barbara era.

I agree totally -- it's a shame that an old, odd syndication set-up like that continues to endure to this day. (Fans of Bonanza have a comparable problem as the "lost episodes" rarely get aired anymore.)

I was just watching a late Family Affair episode in which Ronne Troupe appeared, and it made me want to see those final 2 seasons of M3S again even more. Such a cute face!

I won't try to assert that those are truly great seasons overall, but I find them interesting -- due to the new dynamic of so many female characters featured *(Katie, Barbara, Polly, Dodie -- and also Terri, new wife of Fergus, and Polly's mom).

*Although I should mention that other females like Katie's mom and grandma and Barbara's mom had helped balance things in earlier seasons, not to mention of course all of Rob's many girlfriends pre-Katie and Chip's & Steve's flings of sorts.

For those who haven't seen seasons 11 and 12, there is some pretty wild growth for Stan Livingston / Chip (really has become a man, with surprisingly long hair even for that era) and brother Barry / Ernie. Polly's parents are played pretty well by Norm Alden and Doris Singleton, although perhaps the writers go a little overboard with Norm's character.

Although the character of Katie became pretty self-assured -- especially considering she was supposed to be younger than Tina Cole -- back when introduced in Season 8, she had some pretty real insecurities early on in married life with Rob. This is repeated to some extent with Polly Williams (Troupe), who struggles somewhat in the early period of her marriage to Chip.

Ernie continues to evolve -- he goes a long way from the very young kid we first meet in the black & white years to the guy with the feathered cut on Season 12.

In Season 10 I think the contributions of Eleanor Audley (Barb's mom), Dawn Lyn, and Naomi Stevens (the restaurant lady) all help to lend authenticity and flesh out the storylines. I also like how Steve and Barbara interact with Rob & Katie.

It's been said that by looking at Dawn's teeth, the carefully guarded secret of early filming for Fred M. is revealed -- Dawn is a little younger in her scenes with Fred in a given episode. Although this is considered to have "blown" the secret, going back one can find other instances where actors' appearances are slightly different with and w/o Fred.
I'm also watching the shows on METV but I kind of remember them from when I use to watch them when the show was on. When Doddie needs somebody to be a tree in her school show, I already knew Steve would end up doing it.

I've been watching 'My Three Sons' in the mornings on Me-TV, too. I haven't seen most of these episodes since I was a kid, so they are like new to me. It is interesting to see Steve and Barbara's relationship evolve. And yes, puberty did hit Ernie a little hard. For me, it wasn't so much his voice as it was the way he dressed, with his high water pants and white button down shirts. She should have had an episode where Katie or Barbara took his shopping for a new wardrobe. Don't get me wrong, I like Ernie, but he should have dressed more like a teenager.
The way Ernie dressed must have been the way kids dressed in those days, I don't remember. I know the kids on Leave it to Beaver would dress the same way. But I always wondered why they never worse tennis shoes, even to go out and play and after school. Back in the 60's we could wear tennis shoes to school.