Antenna TV is finishing up season 3 this week and it has really struck me how different Patty was in these episodes. She was 19 and really looked like a young adult. Her clothes, her hair, the way she carried herself and spoke, was very different from the first two seasons.

Cathy really didn't change during this time since she started out like an old lady - but very lovable.

Ross really changed during this time, as well. He was a little taller than Patty and his voice grew deeper. His acting skills were evident as well. The 3rd season gave us a chance to see the interaction of Ross with Patty.

If there had been a season 4 they would have had to send Patty and Cathy to college. Patty Duke would never have passed for a zany teenager at that point.

I dunno...Cathy was wearing makeup like Patty was...Just look at the eyelashes - that was my first clue, LOL!

Funny you should mention Patty going to college - I was just thinking about this earlier this a.m., while I was watching the show on DVR, and wondered to myself if she would even make it to college because her grades in high school weren't all that great....and to me, Ross just got even funnier the older he got...

Patty's hair *cough* wig.... was still the same from season 2 & 3. The "destroyed flip" I like to call it.

Patty's hair *cough* wig.... was still the same from season 2 & 3. The "destroyed flip" I like to call it.

Yeah really! And we're supposed to believe that Breck was behind it? Bwaahhh!!

Yeah really! And we're supposed to believe that Breck was behind it? Bwaahhh!!

A BIG :lol:

I love Season 3. It's by far one of the best seasons. I said this on another thread but it's the season where I felt the show became more wacky and zany. Patty was almost like a different character - she went full out and just acted a fool which I love. I remember watching the show on Nick at Nite as a kid and noticing that Patty and Cathy looked different. Then I realized, "Oh, they're wearing makeup!" Duke really laid on that eyeliner! I also love the addition of more physical comedy and the new house. I'd love to know what house they used in the exterior shot because it was great.

I think nearly all the characters changed. Ross became more of a sidekick to Patty but they still fought, albeit in a less annoying way as when he was younger. Martin became more sarcastic as did Natalie. I also feel like they were almost phasing Cathy out. I think there were maybe two episodes that centered on Cathy but she mostly came in, said something and left.

I really wonder where the show would have gone had it been renewed for a fourth season. I doubt they would have had the girls go to college. It was never revealed what grade Patty and Cathy were in so maybe they were juniors and the fourth season would have been their senior year? Either way, I think ABC was foolish to cancel it. It would have been cool to see it in color.

I love Season 3. It's by far one of the best seasons. I said this on another thread but it's the season where I felt the show became more wacky and zany. Patty was almost like a different character - she went full out and just acted a fool which I love. I remember watching the show on Nick at Nite as a kid and noticing that Patty and Cathy looked different. Then I realized, "Oh, they're wearing makeup!" Duke really laid on that eyeliner! I also love the addition of more physical comedy and the new house. I'd love to know what house they used in the exterior shot because it was great.

I think nearly all the characters changed. Ross became more of a sidekick to Patty but they still fought, albeit in a less annoying way as when he was younger. Martin became more sarcastic as did Natalie. I also feel like they were almost phasing Cathy out. I think there were maybe two episodes that centered on Cathy but she mostly came in, said something and left.

I really wonder where the show would have gone had it been renewed for a fourth season. I doubt they would have had the girls go to college. It was never revealed what grade Patty and Cathy were in so maybe they were juniors and the fourth season would have been their senior year? Either way, I think ABC was foolish to cancel it. It would have been cool to see it in color.

You are correct.
Cath was slowly drifting away from the family by the last season. I like to imagine she's actually having a life & hanging out with other girls instead of being Patty's shadow.
I count two episodes that were Cathy-centric. The one where she thinks no one loves her when she tells them she's going to study in Argentina & the episode where she & Richard help Ross defend himself against a bully.

I always assumed the girls were 18 or 19 already enjoying their senior year hence the heavy eye-makeup and those god awful outfits (though I do like some of Cathy's clothes to be honest).

I love Season 3. It's by far one of the best seasons. I said this on another thread but it's the season where I felt the show became more wacky and zany. Patty was almost like a different character - she went full out and just acted a fool which I love. I remember watching the show on Nick at Nite as a kid and noticing that Patty and Cathy looked different. Then I realized, "Oh, they're wearing makeup!" Duke really laid on that eyeliner! I also love the addition of more physical comedy and the new house. I'd love to know what house they used in the exterior shot because it was great.

I think nearly all the characters changed. Ross became more of a sidekick to Patty but they still fought, albeit in a less annoying way as when he was younger. Martin became more sarcastic as did Natalie. I also feel like they were almost phasing Cathy out. I think there were maybe two episodes that centered on Cathy but she mostly came in, said something and left.

I really wonder where the show would have gone had it been renewed for a fourth season. I doubt they would have had the girls go to college. It was never revealed what grade Patty and Cathy were in so maybe they were juniors and the fourth season would have been their senior year? Either way, I think ABC was foolish to cancel it. It would have been cool to see it in color.

I agree, the 3rd season is the best. Not that I dislike seasons 1 and 2, those seasons have many good episodes, but season 3 is more lively and energetic.

The show was basically cancelled because the network decided it would have been too expensive to film the show in color (now required for 1966-67) with Patty Duke playing the dual role. So obviously, there could have been a season 4 if the network would have simply decided to completely phase Cathy out of the show. For example, they could have said she moved overseas to continue her education. Then, we would have had Patty, her parents, brother Ross, boyfriend Richard, and Patty's other friends getting into all sorts of zany situations, all in living color. But unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. I think the series had another season of life in it had the network decided to go with this new format. Beyond that, probably not, I think 4 seasons and that would have been it.

The show would be odd without the identical cousin gimmick. The catchy theme song would feel out of place. Cathy was still a part of the show and I'm sure would've been seen more in the fourth season. This would be almost like Samantha not having her witchcraft and living life as a mortal.

If there would have been a 4th season minus Cathy, a new theme song for the show could have been composed. An instrumental theme this time perhaps without lyrics. Patty Duke was tiring of playing the dual role anyway, she likely would have welcomed a 4th season if she had just the one role to play, Patty Lane.

I had longed to see a version in color. Maybe just colorize season three? I would be happy with that.

While Season three is fun, I think that the show had changed a bit too much from the previous two seasons. Maybe it was because of different writers? Trying to keep up with the times? Trying to keep up with Patty Duke's age? Season Two is my favorite season. They found out what worked well from season one and expanded on it, and both Patty and Cathy really came into their own as characters. We even got a THIRD cousin, Betsy, who sadly never returned. Sometimes I forget that they're both (or all three, counting Betsy) the same actress while I'm watching some of the episodes.

"You mean we're not separate people, Cath? That's spooky!"
"Apparently not, Patty. Actually, that's quite disappointing."