Hello,

I'm a 19-year-old aspiring sitcom writer. I have almost 30 series in my collection, but I am trying to expand my '60s collection and this show is a candidate. I've seen a few episodes online, but I need some further help.

My question for you all is this: If you could pick only five episodes to represent the series best, what would they be?

Thanks in advance!

Well, I like the adopt Ernie episodes, there were several of them. Very touching.

1. Many fans consider the black & white seasons (1-5, beginning on ABC) the best. I would nominate "Countdown" from Season 1 as representative.

2. Next, the first episode of Season 6: Mike & Sally's marriage episode starts off the color era, and the beginnings of what leads to Ernie's adoption. Vera Miles begins guesting in a series of eps. as Ernie transitions from being a foster home child, and soon Ernie has replaced Mike as one of the 3 sons.

3. The move to California episode: We say goodbye to Bryant Park. This episode also introduces Katie, iirc.

4. & 5. Moving forward in the CBS era, the wedding episode of Rob & Katie, and of course the ep in which their triplets are born are both "musts" in my opinion.

I could list many more, like the intro of Uncle Charley (late b & w), the intro of Barbara (Season 10), the wedding episode of Steve & Barbara (also Season 10), Chip's elopement with Polly (Season 11 iirc), ...

I have others that are personal favorites, like Robbie & the Showgirl and Stag at Bay -- but those I just enjoy for their risque qualities. The ones I've mentioned above were much more significant.

Let me know if you need any specific ep titles to help you locate summaries of some of those, if you're interested.

I agree with the ones above, but also have a few more.

The one with the lion in the house.

The one where Robbie gets taken in by the pool shark girls and Uncle Charlie shows them "what for."

The one where Chip dates the girl who lives with her old-fashioned Grandmother [Jeanette Nolan] and has to proof himself worthy.

The one where Uncle Charlie gets duped into taking dancing lessons by a pretty instructor [Joanna Moore].

The one where Robbie takes ballet lessons in order to help him with sports.

Thank you all for the recommendations!

biffbronson, you said that most fans consider the ABC years to be the best. I know the first two seasons are out on DVD. Are there any more recommendations from these years? (Incidentally, I am a Frawley fan from his days as Fred Mertz.)

Here's one I liked from Season 1: Mike in a Rush (Episode 17). I wrote a review of sorts for tv.com a few years ago:
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Mike is introduced to aspects of college life and must consider how things will be for him in the near future.
By biffbronson, Feb 26, 2008
James Bonnett is very well cast as Art, a character who is quite smooth yet able to retain a friendliness amid the decidedly sophisticated charm. Both he and Tim Considine give remarkably good performances in this interesting episode. Tim seems to display an easy ability in bringing across Mike's emotions effectively. A good script allows for engagement of the viewers as the two interact. Watch for a cute group scene in which Jean secretly helps Mike out when he finds himself short of cash. And Skip Young is a welcome addition to the episode. Best known as Wally Plumstead, Rick Nelson's fraternity brother on later seasons of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," Skip is a natural to portray yet another fun-loving, college-aged character -- though in reality, Young is significantly older than the actors with whom he is portraying a contemporary.
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Another episode from Season 1, "The Elopement," is perhaps a better representative of the series and also an interesting ep. It looks as though Mike may be eloping in that one.

Tim Considine certainly brought a lot to the series as Mike, though when I was growing up I only saw him briefly in the role -- when the first ep of Season 6 aired in syndication (and Mike & Sally were off on their honeymoon).

"Chip's Harvest" from season 1. is another good episode. Chip wants to invite his indian friend for Thanksgiving dinner, but Mike and Robbie think the guy is a faker, because he lives alone near the railroad tracks, and just does odd jobs. Steve goes to see him and after talking to the man, invites him to dinner. Problems occur on Thankgiving day, the stove is broken, and there is no way to cook the turkey. But Chip's friend saves the day by cooking the turkey the way his ancestor's did. All is forgivin and everyone has a good dinner. This is the only holiday episode that My Three Sons did.

One of the episodes with Cynthia Pepper - who played nextdoor neighbor Jean Person in the first (1960-61) season and the love interest of son, Mike - should be included. She also returned for one episode in the 1964-65 season, hoping to resume things with Mike before finding he is engaged.

Thanks for the recommendations!