Well, one more season and Ernie would probably have been married off. Or, Chip and Polly have a baby. A few more seasons and we deal with a teenage Dodie who probably comes out - either as a debutante or gay. Or we might see Dodie: The Teenage Runaway.

I don't think Dodie would be coming out as gay. Not in the 1970's.

They probably would have done some sort of episode that was mortifying for Dawn Lyn. Why not? They obviously had no problem putting her in dresses so short that you could see her panties. :eek:

I haven't read anything about Dawn. Her brother Leif Garrett was a singer in the 1970's and then had a drug driving trip that involved speed that crippled his car companion. Leif is occasionally seen on the ? "dumb acts of foolish people" doing comments . THat is not the name of the show but fits. But haven't heard a thing about Dawn since her My Three Sons days.

Here's my idea for the marriage of Ernie Douglas, in a proposed 1972-73 season 13 of M3S: bring back Julia Benjaminas a totally new character and love interest; she had appeared several years earlier as Ernie's classmate.

Julia was born in early 1957; Barry Livingston was born in '53. Julia is best known for her role in the cast of the final season of Hazel. Lovely and lively brunette, a great wife for Ernie!

Angela Cartwright, born in Sept. 1952, also would make an excellent choice to play Ernie's bride; she did appear as Chip's girlfriend in Season 9, so that may be a little too recent for her to be considered (but she could return as the same character and catch on with Ernie).

Others who I think would have made excellent cast additions either were a little too old for Ernie, like Veronica Cartwright, or too young, like Erin Moran.

If they'd gone for Chip and Polly have a baby in a 1972-73 season, it would probably have been a baby girl or baby girls.

They could have "aged" the triplets a little, and Don Grady would probably have come back on the show, and Fred MacMurray and Beverly Garland get less time. Since Rob and Katie have decided to stay in the house for awhile again, Uncle Charlie is still active--maybe Steve and Barbara have decided to move into an apartment or condo. The now-older triplets, and now-elevated Rob and Katie, would become the main characters. And, yes, let's have Chip and Polly become parents of a girl or twin girls, or maybe twin boy and girl.

Ernie marrying a character played by Erin Moran... who was 12 in 1972... he might as well marry Dodie...

I did say Erin was too young for him... I just would've liked to have her in the cast.

Come to think of it, Julia Benjamin was not yet of a marriageable age either -- so her being Ernie's classmate, earlier in the series, was a stretch.

(this is a partial quote) Angela Cartwright, born in Sept. 1952, also would make an excellent choice to play Ernie's bride; she did appear as Chip's girlfriend in Season 9, so that may be a little too recent for her to be considered (but she could return as the same character and catch on with Ernie).

I think this is the best idea. He was born in 12/1953, so she would be a little over a year older than he.

They could bring her back as the same character, but typically, no one would probably care enough to do that.

I said in another thread that Butch Patrick played a part of a kid who I think was named Soho Crocker, in the 11th or 12th season; he was a friend of Ernie's. BP also played another of Ernie's friends in the 8th and 9th seasons (the name of his character escapes me); point being, they don't care much about previous roles.

Butch played Gordon Deering (sp?), Ernie's good friend, around seasons 8 & 9. In fact there's an ep in which Gordon is moving away, very difficult for Ernie. I won't spoil the ending for anyone. We see a lot of Gordon and his mom.

Gordon, that's it. I remember the moving away episode, Ernie couldn't cope. The plot was a real stretch...(reread last post and removed spoiler.)

In any event, Butch Patrick later played this Soho Crocker character, older (of course), with much longer hair (also, of course). Hopefully, we'll get to see this episode.

Would have been interesting to have seen the plots devised for a teenage Dodie. Dawn Lyn told me she could see them having done a Dodie's first bra episode given the too-short dresses. Hopefully not as bad as Punky Brewster's "Henry? I'm getting boobs!"

Would a longer running M3S have finally broken free of it's vanilla/whitebread chains?

Would a longer running M3S have finally broken free of it's vanilla/whitebread chains?

My Three Sons already ran 12 seasons, with 380 episodes. It is one of the longest-running sitcoms in TV history. The original cast had mostly moved on. It was hardly even the same show, as it was. Why would it need to be longer-running?

Would a longer running M3S have finally broken free of it's [sic] vanilla/whitebread chains?

There had been examples of non-Caucasian characters: Rob's guidance counselor at the University was played by an African-American actor, the most prominent one that comes to mind. Over the years we also saw Native Americans, Gypsies, and in recurring roles: Oriental Ray Wong and family. It's a bit unfair to use the "whitebread" term.

One of the color episodes involves a dog that the Douglases give as a gift to their trash collector's family, and he responds in kind by giving Steve & family an old floor lamp -- somewhat tatty in condition, not the type of thing to be thrilled with. The episode did show that others in their world were not very well-off. Another example is when Charley buys a property, and living nearby is a hillbilly family of sorts. And when Ernie brings home an "O'Grady" (bum) as his guest. There were certainly times when we were presented with people on various rungs of the economic ladder.

M3S ended 45 years ago -- for its time especially, I think the series covered some ground that others had touched upon as well. Maybe with comparable frequency, but M3S showed a lot of heart.

What i meant by "vanilla" etc. was that M3S was well known for being isolated from the turmoil of the Swinging Sixties.

That's what makes this show a pleasure and a classic, if you want "turmoil" watch Jeffersons or All In Family.

They don't call these the good old days for nothing, they really were the good old days.:D

My Three Sons very accurately shows the 1960's IMO. They showing various cultures. And they show the beatniks. Not everything in the 1960's was about turmoil, even more so in the first half of the decade.

I think there were some significant guests that helped break M3S out of a bland suburban setting; mainly I'm thinking of musicians Jeremy Clyde, Jackie DeShannon, and Micky Dolenz.

Other episodes addressed or at least acknowledged social matters: Chip's long hair, the Wongs' "hippie" son-in-law, and even marijuana (S12). When Rob returns to Bryant Park and shows Katie his boyhood town, Burt Mustin's character disapproves of Rob's hair and Katie's short dress. While not prevalent, there were lots of little instances of reaction to social change.

BB, are you willing to speculate on what they might have done in a 1972-73 season?

IMO the show went 2 seasons to long already. Fergus, Robbie going to Peru, annoying Dodie and Ernie starting to look restarted was way too much!! What was next a "Cousin Oliver" kid to bring bask the cuteness factor?

BB, are you willing to speculate on what they might have done in a 1972-73 season?

Presumably Don Grady again would not be returning, as he had left prior to the 12th season ('71-72). In a 13th season, I think the producers and writers possibly would have had Katie and the triplets move away to live with Rob (or at least close to his location, if on active military duty. It seems to me that Grady's absence would need to be addressed firmly, but obviously other options like a divorce or death of Rob would not be on the table. A shame to lose Tina Cole, but probably necessary unless Grady were willing to return for at least a few episodes.

With or without Katie, a likely storyline would've been Chip and Polly's impending first child, and their independence as far as apartment or house -- maybe taking the same apartment vacated by Rob's family.

Barbara's storyline could be a return to being career-oriented, likely still teaching. That could be played against a leave of absence for Charley, off on a vacation cruise for the time being -- making things difficult as far as Barb still taking care of Dodie, added housework, and meeting the needs of Steve and Ernie. With Charley gone and Barbara working, Steve decides to hire some help for the household: a new character, similar to how Emily (Nancy Walker) was added to Family Affair late in its run.

Along with possible romance for Ernie, there could be emphasis on the career goals of both he and Chip.

These are just some ideas to consider; it's fun to come up with a few storylines, but as in the past, some plots are necessitated by the actors' moving on or desiring diminished workloads.

Charlie lived long after the Sons series ended, so there would have been no need to send him off on a cruise or to join Bub in Ireland, for that matter. Charlie could have continued on with the series. And rather than lose Katie I'd rather they have another actor replace the Rob role, Peter Brown would have made a great new Rob. Other than that I like your ideas.;)

Would Dodie have improved in subsequent seasons? At least in Season 12, she's in trousers more and has a better hairdo.

I'd like to think in the future years Dodie would be wearing shorter skirts!:eek:

Anything For a Trick Dodie? Interesting thought...

What i meant by "vanilla" etc. was that M3S was well known for being isolated from the turmoil of the Swinging Sixties.
The show wasn't a documentary or "reality" show.
It wasn't a newscast either.

If people wanted to see what life was really like (outside of entertainment shows), they could watch Walter Cronkite.

I was thinking, back after he left the series after season 11, that MTS should have replaced 'Rob' by bringing back 'Mike'. All sorts of possibilities there for his return: with the wife and kids, a new job in the local area out in California, maybe even a divorce and leaving the ex back east.

Mike pulled the plug after a brief appearance in season 6, episode 1. Tim Constadine's career essentially ended at that time. Bringing him back to MTS shouldn't have been too hard. How many actors can leave a series, after acting in it for 5 seasons, and return 6 seasons or so later?.

I had mentioned earlier my, at least I thought, totally off the wall idea for season #13: without any build-up, bring back Mike as an active character again. Strange, but recently I read where the producers had actually considered doing just that. When the Mike character was written out at the start of season #6, publicly it was said to be over his wanting to direct, etc. He had some new ideas for the series which the Executives at the network didn't like, and the producers had to communicate to Constindine. He wasn't happy then with the direction 'Mike' was headed and wanted him to be more involved and take on some of the 'dad' parts 'Steve' managed. He had been a bit of a surrogate father to the younger guys. Anyway, his leaving wasn't totally clean and Fedderman was, frankly, mad at Constadine.

Bringing Mike back was considered, but, again there was friction about how much he would have been allowed to be appropriate for his age and the lifestyles of the period. Although Rob had 3 kids and was away, Mike would probably of had some kids himself and, of course, his wife. With Petticoat junction off the air, she would have been in theory available as she didn't return to tv again. Today, of course, one of the brothers would have been spun off into their own series. Probably Rob as his backstory would make a good show. But, I'd have gone with Mike. His backstory would have been a mystery since he'd been gone for 6 seasons. With all of the characters on the series in 1972 there could have been a never ending parade of guest roles across the series. Such as Ernie running away from home but ends up at Mike's. Or Chip and his new wife having issues. Or big Steve getting Mike hired on at his company and new conflicts there. For my money, I'd of had Steve dump his new wife, anything to get rid of that little kid who was her own cousin Oliver. If not that maybe sending her to that same military school they sent Lucy's son away to on 'The Lucy Show', the school that the kids never return from. Also, I'd figure it was time to move Ernie out. He could get drafted and sent to Vietnam, just in time for the last draft call and the end of the War. He could then come back in season #14 all screwed up, but still chipper. He'd also have his former parents come back.

Ronne Troup was approaching thirty and it was starting to show, even though Polly was a teen.

Tim Considine has stated in recent years that one reason he left was that he believed he'd done about all he could with the "Mike Douglas" character. It's noteworthy as well that he couldn't possibly have predicted the series would run all the way to 1972. In that era (and others), most sitcoms had a shelf life of less than one-half of the M3S duration -- oftentimes even far less than that.

I'm not sure why Don Grady left, but the pilot (a late 11th season episode) for his and Tina's new show flopped, so maybe by then he'd had it. Anyway, bringing Considine back for a supposed 13th season is good, IMO. They could have dropped Tina Cole (and the triplets) and had them move to Peru or wherever Rob went, and brought Mike and his presumed family back. Stories could revolve around his kids. Dawn Lyn could be kept in the cast, but since her stories would be exhausted, she could be put on the back burner. Chip and Polly could also be put on the back burner--as another poster says, maybe they have some problems--money, he's graduated but can't find a job, etc. Probably by a 13th season Fred would be used less, also. Maybe Mike and his family are temporarily in the Douglas house until they find a home of their own, and Charley and Barbara deal with all of that.

Ronne Troup was approaching thirty and it was starting to show, even though Polly was a teen.
I didn't realize that.

This show probably ended at the right time. In year 12 Chip (and Polly) are in only 7 out of 24 episodes. Ernie is missing from about 6 shows as well (all non-Chip episodes), so you now have a show called My Three Sons with episodes in which none of the sons were seen. Apparently Stan Livingston was getting tired of playing Chip, so if there was a 13th season, I doubt he would've increased his appearances. Ernie getting married isn't a good idea - just give him a girlfriend. Robbie would probably have to be recast and I doubt fans would have preferred whoever got the role.

Looking at CBS's fall 1972 schedule, it seems Sunday at 730 would've been where the show would've been placed

Some plots that could've been done:

- Tramp dies (the groundwork for this seemed to have begun to be laid with The Birth of - Arfie near the end of year 12)
- Barbara dealing with difficult students
- something with Vietnam (maybe Ernie has a friend who is about to go over there or comes back)
- Katie gets pregnant again (Polly getting pregnant wouldn't work- she and Chip had no money and two more years of schooling)
- Ernie and his girlfriend have issues

Dodie's plots would have been interesting in Season 13 and onwards

Ronne Troup was approaching thirty and it was starting to show, even though Polly was a teen.

Not that much. At least I never noticed.

Not that much. At least I never noticed.

I thought it was funny when she got that nice makeover, but it was only in that episode. Sometime in season 12.

I was thinking, back after he left the series after season 11, that MTS should have replaced 'Rob' by bringing back 'Mike'. All sorts of possibilities there for his return: with the wife and kids, a new job in the local area out in California, maybe even a divorce and leaving the ex back east.

Mike pulled the plug after a brief appearance in season 6, episode 1. Tim Constadine's career essentially ended at that time. Bringing him back to MTS shouldn't have been too hard. How many actors can leave a series, after acting in it for 5 seasons, and return 6 seasons or so later?.
I like this idea, and the post below your's, about Consadine's return.
That would've been far more interesting than the last season was.

Ernie would be in college with Chip and Polly
I see some sort of college protest episode, where Chip or Polly believe in a cause while the other doesn’t. One even gets arrested for it.
Katie and the triplets would have to move away. You can’t keep using the “Rob’s in Peru” line, and divorce or death just wouldn’t happen on this show, even in 1972/73.
More episodes with Dodie and her friends (I always dreaded those) Hopefully she becomes less annoying.
I like the idea of Mike and Sally coming back, I just don’t know how feasible it would have been. Perhaps if they had Considine direct some episodes?
Uncle Charley makes fewer appearances

Uncle Charley makes fewer appearances

William Demarest would've been 80 by then. I believe he was in every episode from the time he joined the show up til the end (I guess that was what was in his contract- Beverly Garland was in every episode from the time she debuted too and in season 12 Katie is in every show (I guess to reinforce the show's title of "My Three Sons" being a double reference to not just Steve's sons but hers as well).

In the end this show ran a whole lot longer than anyone probably had anticipated but the ratings help up strong almost up to the end so Neilsen box participants really liked it.

Ernie would be in college with Chip and Polly
I see some sort of college protest episode, where Chip or Polly believe in a cause while the other doesn’t. One even gets arrested for it.
Katie and the triplets would have to move away. You can’t keep using the “Rob’s in Peru” line, and divorce or death just wouldn’t happen on this show, even in 1972/73.
More episodes with Dodie and her friends (I always dreaded those) Hopefully she becomes less annoying.
I like the idea of Mike and Sally coming back, I just don’t know how feasible it would have been. Perhaps if they had Considine direct some episodes?
Uncle Charley makes fewer appearances

I could see bringing Mike back somehow--it would probably be a George Tibbles-penned multi-part episode to open the 13th season. Maybe he could return divorced, and by this time Katie is in the process of deciding to divorce Rob, who's still in Peru and is not coming back. Something develops between them.

After the 11th season Sons lost its longtime director, Fred DeCordova (4 seasons), who went to the Tonight Show, and Earl Bellamy stepped in for the 12th season. So, yes, Considine doing some directing would probably have been possible.

Very little was done with Chip and Polly in the 12th season--I like the college protest idea. He's always been the calmer, more sensible one--in a twist, the roles are reversed.

Yes, more Dodie stories--by now she's hopefully less whiny and annoying, and has different fourth grade friends.

Since Chip and Polly were mostly in the background in season 12, Ernie gets his turn with less screen time in season 13. But he has a regular girlfriend, and maybe marries and moves away in the 14th season opening arc.

William Demarest would've been 80 by then. I believe he was in every episode from the time he joined the show up til the end (I guess that was what was in his contract- Beverly Garland was in every episode from the time she debuted too and in season 12 Katie is in every show (I guess to reinforce the show's title of "My Three Sons" being a double reference to not just Steve's sons but hers as well).

In the end this show ran a whole lot longer than anyone probably had anticipated but the ratings help up strong almost up to the end so Neilsen box participants really liked it.

According to Barry Livingston's book, by the 12th season Demarest was having trouble with his lines. He could be in the background in a new season. Maybe Ernie uses his cooking class skills (from a previous season) and, rather than going to college, steps in and takes over many of Charley's duties.

According to Barry Livingston's book, by the 12th season Demarest was having trouble with his lines. He could be in the background in a new season. Maybe Ernie uses his cooking class skills (from a previous season) and, rather than going to college, steps in and takes over many of Charley's duties.

Poor Steve. What a big job to be the sole breadwinner for that brood. And here he’s got little Dodie, too — he won’t be retiring anytime soon. And what’s Uncle Charlie to do now that Barbara’s in the picture? Dodie won't be 18 until 1981 - poor Steve Douglas, having to deal with a teenage girl in his sixties!