http://www.bonethefish.com/viewtopics.php?1849

Family Affair is a situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from September 12, 1966 to September 9, 1971. The series explored the trials of well-to-do civil engineer and bachelor Bill Davis (Brian Keith) as he attempted to raise his brother's orphaned children in his luxury New York City apartment. Davis's traditional English gentleman's gentleman, Mr. Giles French (Sebastian Cabot), also had adjustments to make as he became saddled with the responsibility of caring for 15-year-old Cissy (Kathy Garver) and the 6-year-old twins, Jody (Johnny Whitaker) and Buffy (Anissa Jones).

That wasn't the same character. It was Mr. French's brother, also Mr. French. Actor John Williams filled in for Sebastian Cabot for 9 episodes in the first season, because Cabot was ill.

That wasn't the same character. It was Mr. French's brother, also Mr. French. Actor John Williams filled in for Sebastian Cabot for 9 episodes in the first season, because Cabot was ill.

No, John Williams played Nigel French, not Giles.

No, John Williams played Nigel French, not Giles.
That's correct, Nigel was Giles brother, who came to fill in for him when actor Sebastian Cabot was ill. So he wasn't the same character. I don't remember how they explained Mr. Giles French's absence, though.

That's correct, Nigel was Giles brother, who came to fill in for him when actor Sebastian Cabot was ill. So he wasn't the same character. I don't remember how they explained Mr. Giles French's absence, though.

Okay, I thought you were trying to make a correction to TMC's original comment, which I didn't understand because what TMC wrote is correct, except for one thing: I'm not sure the kids were the children of Uncle Bill's brother. After all, their name was Patterson and his was Davis. If they were his brother's children, wouldn't they have the same last name?

How can Anissa's death be a bone the fish moment? She died long after the show ended. I don't think it ever JTS. I can watch this show over and over again. It never get's old. Uncle Bill was one of television's greatest Dads.

Okay, I thought you were trying to make a correction to TMC's original comment, which I didn't understand because what TMC wrote is correct, except for one thing: I'm not sure the kids were the children of Uncle Bill's brother. After all, their name was Patterson and his was Davis. If they were his brother's children, wouldn't they have the same last name?

I'm confused. In this clip, Uncle Bill does refer to the children's father as his brother:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixMG-2hlMbA

So how is it that their last name is Patterson while Uncle Bill's is Davis?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059982/?ref_=ttep_ep_tt

I'm confused. In this clip, Uncle Bill does refer to the children's father as his brother:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixMG-2hlMbA

So how is it that their last name is Patterson while Uncle Bill's is Davis?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059982/?ref_=ttep_ep_tt

Can you find a clip where their last name is listed as Patterson? All the books I have read list their last name as Davis. I need more proof than Wikipedia and IMDB. I haven't seen the whole series in years but I don't remember the name.

I've never seen the kids proper names listed before. As for the name "Patterson" I think imdb just plain has that wrong. They would have already been Davises.

I don't know. All seasons seemed to be fine.

Maybe when the kids got older I guess...

Can you find a clip where their last name is listed as Patterson? All the books I have read list their last name as Davis. I need more proof than Wikipedia and IMDB. I haven't seen the whole series in years but I don't remember the name.

No, I don't have a clip where Patterson was used. Wasn't there an episode where Uncle Bill adopted the kids? If the name was used, I would imagine it would have been used in that episode. But if that name was never used, how did imdb come up with it? It seems strange that it would emerge out of nowhere.

No, I don't have a clip where Patterson was used. Wasn't there an episode where Uncle Bill adopted the kids? If the name was used, I would imagine it would have been used in that episode. But if that name was never used, how did imdb come up with it? It seems strange that it would emerge out of nowhere.
imdb isn't always reliable so i always take anything over there with a grain of salt. Wikipedia too because anyone can edit it. I haven't seen the episode where Uncle Bill adopted them since I was a kid so i don't know. Maybe someone who's seen the episode could tell us.

Edit: I see what happened. I just looked up the WB version of FA in one of my books. It has the name Patterson listed in this version.

Is it actually known that the children's father was Bill's brother? Could Bill's sister have been their mother and she married a Mr. Patterson, who was their father?

I'm going to go back and watch the pilot, and see if there is any reference to the name Patterson.

Is it actually known that the children's father was Bill's brother? Could Bill's sister have been their mother and she married a Mr. Patterson, who was their father?

In this clip, Bill refers to their father as his brother: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixMG-2hlMbA

It's possible, though, that there is an inconsistency somewhere in the series.

I'm going to go back and watch the pilot, and see if there is any reference to the name Patterson.

That would be helpful. I found this clip from the fourth episode where, at 0:45, they are introduced by Mr. French with the name Davis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3lPf11LvMo

imdb isn't always reliable so i always take anything over there with a grain of salt. Wikipedia too because anyone can edit it.

This is very true. I have found errors in the past on both sites. It just seems strange to me that this name would emerge out of nowhere.

I haven't seen the episode where Uncle Bill adopted them since I was a kid so i don't know. Maybe someone who's seen the episode could tell us.

McGillicuddy???

Edit: I see what happened. I just looked up the WB version of FA in one of my books. It has the name Patterson listed in this version.

That could be the original source of the error, if it is indeed an error. Back in the '70s, a book was published about I Love Lucy that erroneously stated that Lucie Arnaz appeared in the final episode. That error was subsequently picked up by other writers for their books and became so prevalent everyone assumed it was true. But it never was.

There's an entire episode where Bill, Cissy, Buffy, and Jody visit Terre Haute, Indiana and revisit their roots. In that episode, it's made abundantly clear that they are the children of Bill's brother, Bob Davis. The entire episode establishes background, regarding what Bob was like, etc.

Jody even comes across a postcard addressed to him as "Master Jody Davis" from when he was a toddler -- written by his biological father, Bob Davis.

Bill does refer to them directly as "Bob's kids," probably on several occasions in reply to confusion as to who was the biological dad.

I'm confused. In this clip, Uncle Bill does refer to the children's father as his brother:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixMG-2hlMbA

So how is it that their last name is Patterson while Uncle Bill's is Davis?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059982/?ref_=ttep_ep_tt

The name Patterson is mentioned in season 4 episode 15 "Grandpa, Sir" the grandfather's last name is said to be Patterson

The name Patterson is mentioned in season 4 episode 15 "Grandpa, Sir" the grandfather's last name is said to be Patterson
Was that Bill's father and was it mentioned that the kid's last name was Patterson?

Edit: I looked it up. He was the kid's Grandfather from their mother's side of the family. That makes sense now. I think I remember that episode.

Thanks Gertie and Stuck for solving the mystery!

So, I guess we are to conclude that Cissy, Buffy and Jodys' last name was Patterson-Davis. However I think its just one BIG mistake.

So, I guess we are to conclude that Cissy, Buffy and Jodys' last name was Patterson-Davis. However I think its just one BIG mistake.
Yea I think it was a mistake that was put on the internet because it was never used in the show.. Nobody uses their mother's maiden name like that.