Chip and Polly contemplating parenthood - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TV Guy · 07-16-2018, 12:00 AM

This episode was called “Proxy Parents”, and Chip and Polly individually go to Steve asking him for advice on whether they should start a family.

This is the one where I realized that Steve is a pod person. Any normal parent would tell them, “ABSOLUTELY NOT”, since they’re in college and broke. And they’re both emotionally underdeveloped to boot. I can’t think of any 70s TV couple that is less ready for parenthood than those two morons.

But Steve, detached as always, shows no emotion or any sign that he gives a crap.

BTW, Jodie Foster guest stars in this episode as a friend of Dodie’s. Jodie really got around on early 70s TV.

stevea · 07-16-2018, 04:35 PM

Steve wouldn't express an opinion about the eloping couple (which he should have--I agree), but he is very judgmental of non-family members in the last two seasons. First he didn't like Tom Williams, Polly's father. He was right--Tom was a jerk.

Then, he dislikes Terri Dowling, Fergus's fiancee. He went so far as to play detective. He was wrong.

In today's episode, he disliked Mr. Leslie, Katie's boss at the coffee house. He was again wrong.

Maybe the writers were trying to show his fallibility--arguably, he was portrayed as Mr. Perfect in the later seasons.

horizonbeach11 · 07-17-2018, 10:58 AM

I realize the premise of them both going to Steve to ask if he thought they were ready to have kids was to set up the episode in which they just happen to get an opportunity to practice being parents, but I thought it was very odd, them essentially seeking his approval to have kids. It was even more odd that they would seek him out at work to discuss this personal matter, as if it was that urgent, as opposed to just bringing it up at home.

I guess I just figure that if you're old enough to get married and live independently of your parents then you are old enough to make life decisions. Robbie and Katie didn't ask anyone if they thought they should have a family, they just did.

PracTz · 07-20-2018, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horizonbeach11

I realize the premise of them both going to Steve to ask if he thought they were ready to have kids was to set up the episode in which they just happen to get an opportunity to practice being parents, but I thought it was very odd, them essentially seeking his approval to have kids. It was even more odd that they would seek him out at work to discuss this personal matter, as if it was that urgent, as opposed to just bringing it up at home.

I guess I just figure that if you're old enough to get married and live independently of your parents then you are old enough to make life decisions. Robbie and Katie didn't ask anyone if they thought they should have a family, they just did.

Robbie and Katie hadn't even moved out of Casa Douglas when they started their family but I think it was of a case where Robbie was just too eager to do more than neck with a gorgeous wife to think of any possible dividends AND Katie was also too much in the glow of her new marriage to consider waiting for parenthood.

horizonbeach11 · 07-20-2018, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PracTz

Robbie and Katie hadn't even moved out of Casa Douglas when they started their family but I think it was of a case where Robbie was just too eager to do more than neck with a gorgeous wife to think of any possible dividends AND Katie was also too much in the glow of her new marriage to consider waiting for parenthood.

Very true, plus the writers may have been concerned that "My Three Sons" was turning into "My Three Sons and a Bunch of Women" so they added the male triplets in keeping with the original formula and title of the show. Steve had three sons, now Robbie had three sons.

DJM77 · 07-20-2018, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horizonbeach11

Very true, plus the writers may have been concerned that "My Three Sons" was turning into "My Three Sons and a Bunch of Women" so they added the male triplets in keeping with the original formula and title of the show. Steve had three sons, now Robbie had three sons.

I was explaining to my wife just last week that the triplets weren't the reason that the show was called My Three Sons.

biffbronson · 07-21-2018, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Steve wouldn't express an opinion about the eloping couple (which he should have--I agree), but he is very judgmental of non-family members in the last two seasons. First he didn't like Tom Williams, Polly's father. He was right--Tom was a jerk.

Then, he dislikes Terri Dowling, Fergus's fiancee. He went so far as to play detective. He was wrong.

In today's episode, he disliked Mr. Leslie, Katie's boss at the coffee house. He was again wrong.

Maybe the writers were trying to show his fallibility--arguably, he was portrayed as Mr. Perfect in the later seasons.

I was thinking about Steve's actions over the final 3 seasons, and I think perhaps the biggest mistake he made was breaking up with Barbara briefly (Season 10, during their courtship) -- but it was soon rectified, with the help of Mrs. Vincent (her mom). Otherwise, aside from the misjudging you've pointed out, I don't find much fallibility.

With Katie's boss, Mr. Leslie, I wonder if the jist of things had something to do with ethnic profiling -- I'm probably oversensitive to that, because with my nose and darkish skin I look like a middle-easterner (I'm actually Greek).

stevea · 07-21-2018, 08:43 PM

Same with Terri Dowling--she was of the lower classes, waited tables at the bowling alley--not quite an ethnic dislike, more of a class thing. Not good enough for the Douglas family.

He did come around in both cases.

Tom Williams? He showed he had a dislike of creeps.

stevea · 07-21-2018, 08:43 PM

Same with Terri Dowling--she was of the lower classes, waited tables at the bowling alley--not quite an ethnic dislike, more of a class thing. Not good enough for the Douglas family.

He did come around in both cases.

Tom Williams? He showed he had a dislike of creeps.

horizonbeach11 · 07-22-2018, 07:39 PM

This thought just occurred to me:

Do you think that Steve and his wife, Mike, Robbie, and Chip's mother, went to Bub and asked him if he thought they should start a family?

biffbronson · 07-22-2018, 09:19 PM

Good question -- keep in mind that since Mike was about to enter college in 1961 or so, he must have been born during the height of World War II, 1943 or '44, conceived in '42 or '43. Presuming Steve was on active military duty, his time with Mrs. Douglas could've been limited severely. I think those circumstances may've made it less likely that they consulted with family before moving forward.

stevea · 07-22-2018, 09:40 PM

Also keep in mind that Bub was an O'Casey--his wife's side of the family. He wasn't Steve's family, so he would probably have consulted with his father and/or mother, if anyone. (Can you hear him saying, "She keeps saying she wants to elope, and it shocked me the first time...but, you know, I'm really warming up to the idea."? or "She loves kids...Dad, I'm torn, it's wartime, but you should see her at the park with kids, pushing them on the swings...do you think we should start a family before I might be drafted?" Dad replies--"Steve, you're the know-it-all in this family--you and your new bride must decide on this.") Interestingly, in twelve seasons we heard absolutely nothing about his parents or any siblings.

PracTz · 07-22-2018, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Interestingly, in twelve seasons we heard absolutely nothing about his parents or any siblings.

Actually, there WAS a Season One Episode called 'Organization Woman' in which Steve's sister Harriet came over to the Douglas house to re-organize the household and chore division. Supposedly, she was an efficiency expert who herself had been engaged six years but then when her fiance FINALLY decided to marry her, she left the household and was never heard from again. Yep, not a sighting or mention for her brother's or any of her nephew's weddings nor great-nephews' birth. Although the performer Joan Tewkesbury (director Peter Tewksbury's real sister) was a notably tall woman, she otherwise had no resemblance to Steve and was born in 1936- 28 years younger than her 'brother' Mr. MacMurray and not even four years older than Mr. Considine (Mike) her eldest 'nephew'.

horizonbeach11 · 07-23-2018, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

Good question -- keep in mind that since Mike was about to enter college in 1961 or so, he must have been born during the height of World War II, 1943 or '44, conceived in '42 or '43. Presuming Steve was on active military duty, his time with Mrs. Douglas could've been limited severely. I think those circumstances may've made it less likely that they consulted with family before moving forward.

Nah, Steve was busy making "Double Indemnity" with Barbara Stanwyck during that time...

gidgetgrape · 07-25-2018, 12:18 PM

I expected better advice from Steve. Neither of them were far a long in their studies (Katie never did finish college), Chip didn't have a full-time job, Polly was insecure and they were living in one room. A baby would have made things worst.

07-16-2018, 12:00 AM	#1
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Chip and Polly contemplating parenthood This episode was called “Proxy Parents”, and Chip and Polly individually go to Steve asking him for advice on whether they should start a family. This is the one where I realized that Steve is a pod person. Any normal parent would tell them, “ABSOLUTELY NOT”, since they’re in college and broke. And they’re both emotionally underdeveloped to boot. I can’t think of any 70s TV couple that is less ready for parenthood than those two morons. But Steve, detached as always, shows no emotion or any sign that he gives a crap. BTW, Jodie Foster guest stars in this episode as a friend of Dodie’s. Jodie really got around on early 70s TV.

07-16-2018, 04:35 PM	#2
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,673	Steve wouldn't express an opinion about the eloping couple (which he should have--I agree), but he is very judgmental of non-family members in the last two seasons. First he didn't like Tom Williams, Polly's father. He was right--Tom was a jerk. Then, he dislikes Terri Dowling, Fergus's fiancee. He went so far as to play detective. He was wrong. In today's episode, he disliked Mr. Leslie, Katie's boss at the coffee house. He was again wrong. Maybe the writers were trying to show his fallibility--arguably, he was portrayed as Mr. Perfect in the later seasons.

07-17-2018, 10:58 AM	#3
horizonbeach11 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 05, 2018 Location: Inside a console TV Posts: 109	I realize the premise of them both going to Steve to ask if he thought they were ready to have kids was to set up the episode in which they just happen to get an opportunity to practice being parents, but I thought it was very odd, them essentially seeking his approval to have kids. It was even more odd that they would seek him out at work to discuss this personal matter, as if it was that urgent, as opposed to just bringing it up at home. I guess I just figure that if you're old enough to get married and live independently of your parents then you are old enough to make life decisions. Robbie and Katie didn't ask anyone if they thought they should have a family, they just did.

07-21-2018, 08:43 PM	#8
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,673	Same with Terri Dowling--she was of the lower classes, waited tables at the bowling alley--not quite an ethnic dislike, more of a class thing. Not good enough for the Douglas family. He did come around in both cases. Tom Williams? He showed he had a dislike of creeps.

07-22-2018, 07:39 PM	#10
horizonbeach11 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 05, 2018 Location: Inside a console TV Posts: 109	This thought just occurred to me: Do you think that Steve and his wife, Mike, Robbie, and Chip's mother, went to Bub and asked him if he thought they should start a family?

07-22-2018, 09:19 PM	#11
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,493	Good question -- keep in mind that since Mike was about to enter college in 1961 or so, he must have been born during the height of World War II, 1943 or '44, conceived in '42 or '43. Presuming Steve was on active military duty, his time with Mrs. Douglas could've been limited severely. I think those circumstances may've made it less likely that they consulted with family before moving forward.

07-22-2018, 09:40 PM	#12
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,673	Also keep in mind that Bub was an O'Casey--his wife's side of the family. He wasn't Steve's family, so he would probably have consulted with his father and/or mother, if anyone. (Can you hear him saying, "She keeps saying she wants to elope, and it shocked me the first time...but, you know, I'm really warming up to the idea."? or "She loves kids...Dad, I'm torn, it's wartime, but you should see her at the park with kids, pushing them on the swings...do you think we should start a family before I might be drafted?" Dad replies--"Steve, you're the know-it-all in this family--you and your new bride must decide on this.") Interestingly, in twelve seasons we heard absolutely nothing about his parents or any siblings.

07-25-2018, 12:18 PM	#15
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	I expected better advice from Steve. Neither of them were far a long in their studies (Katie never did finish college), Chip didn't have a full-time job, Polly was insecure and they were living in one room. A baby would have made things worst.