i finally made myself watch all four of the Fergus episodes that started out season 12. Instead of being snarky and hyper critical (which it was recently correctly pointed out has been happening a lot around here and could use some balance) I decided to make a list of what I thought was good about these episodes.

1.) Barbara looked much younger and prettier in season 12 than in her previous two seasons on the show. The longer, darker, more naturally styled hair flatters her and she seems to wear more mod clothing too.

2.) Because these episodes revolve around Fergus and his search for a wife to become Lady Douglas and provide him with a castle full of "wee barons", the focus is off of poor, lonely Katie missing Rob constantly and Katie acts more like her happy old self.

3.) Dodie is much more settled into the family and confident. Her hair and clothing is also much improved.

4.) Fred MacMurray wasn't too much of a diva to make these episodes, in spite of the corny identical cousin theme and badly dubbed Scottish brogue.

5.) The triplets are rarely seen.

6.) Uncle Charley is the one who finds Fergus a wife and by the end of the story line is getting along with Fergus instead of trash talking him every chance he gets.

7.) Anne Francis was delightful as Terri Dowling, AKA cocktail waitress turned Lady Douglas. She looked very pretty although, tiny bit of snark here, she didn't quite look like she was 37 (she was 42 IRL) but she otherwise fit the role perfectly.

8.) Fergus left and went back to Scotland.

9.) I'm done watching them. :cool:

There, if you think of any others, feel free to add them.

Thanks for compiling those observations.

As I mentioned in another thread, my admiration of how Anne Francis looked in these episodes tends to cloud my judgement. I thought also she came across as appropriately somewhat befuddled by what was coming down, so to speak.

I had to laugh a little when you mentioned "badly dubbed" -- the description I'd read elsewhere was "awkwardly." :(

The dubbing in those episode...ugh! Thanks for the great review.

Thanks for compiling those observations.

As I mentioned in another thread, my admiration of how Anne Francis looked in these episodes tends to cloud my judgement. I thought also she came across as appropriately somewhat befuddled by what was coming down, so to speak.

I had to laugh a little when you mentioned "badly dubbed" -- the description I'd read elsewhere was "awkwardly." :(

I hadn't seen a lot of Anne Francis before I watched these episodes. I've never seen Honey West and, while I have no doubt seen her in smaller roles in other classic TV shows, I don't have a clear memory of her from that earlier era.

One role that I vividly remember her playing in the late '70s that I can only attribute to her either needing money or doing a favor for her old pal Aaron Spelling was in a horrible episode of "Charlie's Angels" called "Pom Pom Angels" (Cheryl Ladd herself referred to it as "ghastly") where she played a high priestess in a strange cult that kidnapped pretty young women and cut off their long hair. Not exactly her shining moment, but she still gave it all she had and did as much with the role as she could. Therefore, it was a refreshing change to see her as cute, vivacious Terri Dowling in these episodes of M3S, as compared to that gloomy mess.

The dubbing in those episode...ugh! Thanks for the great review.

Doesn't it seem that Fred MacMurray, great actor that he was, could have pulled off a reasonably accurate Scottish accent? I wonder if they asked him and he flat out refused to do it or if they tried it and he couldn't do it authentically enough so they just gave up and did the dubbing? If I ever run into any of the surviving cast members (not likely, lol) I will have to ask them.

Yeah, I'll have to ask Stan or Barry the next time I see them!

(Did you see a PM I sent re S11/S12? I sent it before the site went down.)

I didn't see your PM, I'm fairly new here and I hadn't thought to look for PMs so thanks for pointing it out. I just read it and replied.

Normally you get a pop up when there is a PM, and that probably wasn't working for awhile when they changed servers.

Yeah, I belong to another forum that uses this same software and I always get a pop up when I get a PM there, but for some reason I didn't get one here. It probably did have something to do with the server change.

There are some funny bits of business, like Charley calling Fergus "Fungus" -- ! And Dodie thinking Fergus associates her somehow with the famous dog when he calls her "Lassie."

The ongoing gag about Steve and Fergus not seeing the resemblance among themselves is borrowed from Fergus' appearance in the black & white seasons, with the "weak chin" comments.

I find myself really enjoying this story arc--I hadn't seen these episodes in years, but they're well-written (George Tibbles, again)--they delegate the season openers to the head honcho.

I really like Charley's openness--he goes toe to toe with Fergus in the bedroom, with Dodie listening. Then Dodie and Barbara are funny--(Barbara: "you shouldn't be listening--what did they say?")

I caught two of the "Fergus" eps. They were corny,:D but I found them to be really fun and enjoyable!!! I ;):)

I find myself really enjoying this story arc--I hadn't seen these episodes in years, but they're well-written (George Tibbles, again)--they delegate the season openers to the head honcho.

I really like Charley's openness--he goes toe to toe with Fergus in the bedroom, with Dodie listening. Then Dodie and Barbara are funny--(Barbara: "you shouldn't be listening--what did they say?")



That was a really good part!! I was LOL ing !!! :lol::D

I caught two of the "Fergus" eps. They were corny...

There was a line where Barbara even admitted that, while talking to Fergus.

I think it's noteworthy that the marriage to Fergus is the third one for Terri. I mean, in those years it was very common for actors themselves to marry multiple times, but much more rare to have a TV character who's ended a couple of marriages and still wants another go at it.

Some fashion notes for Episode 4: Ernie's wild pants in his first scene; an interesting outfit for Barbara for the wedding, not as short as her Season 11 dresses; full ethnic regalia for Fergus as groom; and a rare updo for Katie. I don't think I've ever seen any other occasion of Tina Cole with her hair up.

This may have been the first sitcom role for Anne Francis (Terri) (9/16/1930 - 1/2/2011).

I think it's noteworthy that the marriage to Fergus is the third one for Terri. I mean, in those years it was very common for actors themselves to marry multiple times, but much more rare to have a TV character who's ended a couple of marriages and still wants another go at it.

Some fashion notes for Episode 4: Ernie's wild pants in his first scene; an interesting outfit for Barbara for the wedding, not as short as her Season 11 dresses; full ethnic regalia for Fergus as groom; and a rare updo for Katie. I don't think I've ever seen any other occasion of Tina Cole with her hair up.

I thought it was a little farfetched that:

a.) someone as conservative, thrifty, and old-fashioned as Fergus would have even considered a twice married cocktail waitress who thought it was cute to refer to him as "Scotty" for a bride. He was so full of tradition, you would think he might have considered that she would get over to Scotland and be either bored out of her mind or just embarrass the crap out of him.

b.) likewise, that fun-loving "been around the block a few times" Terri would move to Scotland with a stuffy older man like Fergus. She's used to spending her time flirting and shooting the breeze in an LA bowling alley and she's suddenly going to be happy living in an old Scottish castle that doesn't even have central heat with her much older and frankly boring husband? Right...

c.) that the Douglas family would have been wholeheartedly behind this whirlwind, May/December, "sure hope it's true that opposites attract, or uh-oh..." marriage. Just not typical for this clan who is normally so sensible.

d.) the Douglasses (not sure if I pluralized that correctly) suddenly have a bunch of extended family to fill up the chairs during the wedding. They never talked about relatives in LA or invited them over, all of a sudden we see a bunch of strangers at a wedding that Barbara told the pastor would be small with only a few family members in attendance. Gift grab, anyone?

About the fashions:

Katie's updo. Very pretty and sophisticated. Wonder why she did this only for Fergus and Terri's wedding and not even her own? Katie was gorgeous but it was nice to see her in something other than the platinum helmet look. Too bad Rob wasn't there to see it, the loser.

Ernie's pants. Ernie went through quite a style revolution in season 12. The most obvious change was the new parted in the middle mod hairdo, but he also had some pretty groovy clothes that would have even given Greg Brady and Keith Partridge a run for their money.

It was so strange to see Ernie, he of the black slacks, shiny shoes, and button down shirt, in wild bleach dyed bell bottom jeans. I'm surprised that Dodie didn't say, "Hey, neat, Ernie!" when he walked in the house wearing them. So out of character, but maybe Barry Livingston just told the PTB that he was taking Ernie in a new direction since the show was almost over and unless they wanted to lose another son, they'd better just say ok. He also wore a really funky (ugly) black beaded vest in the last episode of season 12, the one where he is supposed to take Steve's boss's son, Gordon (why are all of Ernie's friends named Gordon?), under his wing and keep him off of pot or something. Ernie was quite the stylin' dude in season 12, with the exception of his trusty old horn rimmed glasses. He should have gone all the way and traded them in for some Ray Manzarek inspired wire rims. Buh-bye nerd, hello groovy chick magnet! :crazy:

Yes, in season 11 Ernie was going to Yoho Crocker for advice 'cause he wasn't up to par with the girls. Well, evidently Yoho steered him in a new direction, because next thing you know, a few episodes later, he's sneaking out a window (after being grounded) for a movie date.

I liked a Barbara line where Ernie has just come in from football (in Goodbye Fergus), and she's drafting him to help with the wedding rehearsal. She's rushing thru instructions, and she must have looked at him, and paused: "Ernie, what have you been rolling around in?" (Or something close to that.)

One other good thing about the Fergus episodes (re the subject of this thread): "Goodbye Fergus" had two extra scenes on MeTV that were not on the Odyssey episode which is (probably) on Youtube. The first one was an opening scene with Dodie on the phone, talking to her friend Margaret, and Barbara takes the phone. It was one of those scenes which explained what went on in the previous episodes. The other was much shorter scene, after a break, where Katie was helping Terri with her wedding outfit. This was the only episode of the Fergus arc that was partially restored for MeTV (restored scenes, not quality, other than color). The other Fergus episodes have the same choppy edits as the Odyssey airings from years ago.

I hope there are more season 12 episodes on MeTV with restored scenes. We'll see.

In one of the Fergus eps., anyone catch Uncle Charley saying something like, in terms of being Irish, "....well, I'm no MacMurray.....?"

The eps., imo, were average. Nothing spectacular, but nothing great, either.

Yes, in season 11 Ernie was going to Yoho Crocker for advice 'cause he wasn't up to par with the girls. Well, evidently Yoho steered him in a new direction, because next thing you know, a few episodes later, he's sneaking out a window (after being grounded) for a movie date.


Oh, my gosh, I love that episode! Not the Yoho one, he was kind of creepy, but the one where Ernie and Dodie get grounded and climb out the window. What makes it so funny and memorable is the part where Barbara has the dream where the roles are reversed and Ernie and Dodie are the parents and she and Steve are the errant kids. Again, kudos to Fred MacMurray for his total lack of ego. How many big Hollywood movie stars of his caliber would have dressed up in that crazy 1920's little boy outfit and acted so silly for a TV sitcom? He was hilarious, and so was Beverly Garland, the way she kept making those wide-eyed, "Oh, man, we're busted!" faces. Also, the 1920's slang that they used was just too much. Super great episode, one of the best, IMHO.

Every Season 12 episode is "must see" for me due to the presence of... Beverly Garland, HOT!

Here she is on Marcus Welby MD from that period:
261103
261102
Oh my God, GORGEOUS...!

I have always liked Beverly! When she died I called WHMB (which was airing M3S locally at the time) and suggested they put up a slide in memoriam. (I think they said it was too late, or something like that).

Thanks for the pics--I didn't know she was on Marcus Welby.

Superb bust:261133
Hint of a gold earring:261134

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A mass of beautiful curls, nice length:
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Watch out, Beverly doesn't like anyone sneaking up on her takin' pitchers.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/05/06/ee/0506ee654a7707de5f9f1557b22e3ffe.jpg

Every Season 12 episode is "must see" for me due to the presence of... Beverly Garland, HOT!

Here she is on Marcus Welby MD from that period:
261103
261102
Oh my God, GORGEOUS...!

I like her a lot too. She was fantastic on My Three Sons and Decoy.

I thought she was a wonderful addition to the cast. Liked her on "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" also.

I place the Fergus eps. on the same level as Charlie and the Indians (the last BW ep.), and the one where the clan went to Scotland.
Insignificant and nowhere near the series' best.

I know my wife hated the Fergus eps. when we watched them.

I did like Mariette Hartley as Mary Kathleen in the Scotland episodes. Playing a character who's a prospective bride for Steve, I thought I would compare her age with Beverly Garland's:
Mariette b. 1940 Beverly b. 1926
So Steve would've been paired with a significantly younger lady. Anne Francis was born in 1930, so while still very young for Fergus, not as extreme as a Steve/Mary pairing.