Does the show get better - Page 3 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Hazel Anyday · 03-14-2023, 08:28 PM

I'm old, so I remember watching My Favorite Martian on Sunday nights, it came on before Ed Sullivan and after Lassie. ...Martian is one of my favorite shows, I'm currently watching it from DVDs every Sunday with breakfast. Interesting though how Bixby seemed to have lost all that My Favorite Martian energy he had when he did Courtship of Eddie... and also the Hulk. He seemed very low key and almost whispered his way thru both those shows. But in Martian he speaks very fast and loud and is constantly in a state of high energy. Maybe Bixby just wore himself to a frazzle by the time the late '60's and early '70's arrived for Eddie's Father. From high energy to very very mellow, I'd like to know was this a real life change in Bixby's personality or did he purposely play Eddie's Father and Hulk as low energy 1/2 dead individuals?

vitoscotti · 06-20-2025, 05:58 PM

I occasionally watched the show as a kid. But, never really a big fan of it. Watched S2 E7 My Uncle the Folk Singer. A treat to see the beautiful Pat Priest. Without her the episode would be a near time waster. The show has a huge problem that Bill Bixby and Ray Walston even with witty writing just aren't funny.

stevea · 07-02-2025, 02:43 PM

I don't think having Alan Hewitt in that nasty detective role helped matter, either.

Sgt. Saunders · 07-02-2025, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

I don't think having Alan Hewitt in that nasty detective role helped matter, either.

At least, over on LITB, Mr. Hewitt portrayed a not-so-nasty Mayfield Police Lieutenant. In fact. I’m surprised that Ward Cleaver did not contact Mr. Hewitt’s character after the peripatetic Mr. Jeff clipped one of Ward’s suits.

vitoscotti · 07-03-2025, 05:48 PM

Would of clicked better with 2 different main actors cast. I was fantasy thinking Alan Hale Jr - Bob Denver, Don Knotts - Tom Lester. Actors with actual comedic talent. But, I can't believe the MFM big wigs thought wow Bill Bixby and Ray Walston are hilarious. The writing is good.

icecream · 07-03-2025, 06:50 PM

Ray Walston was great, no one could have done better as Uncle Martin. Tim O'Hara overacted with a lot of shouting. His acting was much stronger on The Courtship of Eddie's Father.

stevea · 07-03-2025, 07:09 PM

I agree about Walston. I just don't think Bixby was right for his part.

vitoscotti · 07-05-2025, 09:50 AM

Does anyone have a favorite MFM Ray Walston season and episode number scene that he gives you the biggest laugh?

cd637299 · 08-01-2025, 07:46 AM

I did appreciate how Walston took his character on MFM well after it ended. Didn’t he do a TV ad (maybe for a cellphone co.?) around late 1990s as Uncle Martin?

I always like how some actors remember how they really got big-time, and carry it decades later. Best example would be Dawn Wells of Gilligan’s Island, who of course had a smart husband/lawyer (ISTR) who made her profitable from GI royalties.

cd

03-14-2023, 08:28 PM	#31
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,135	Quirky I'm old, so I remember watching My Favorite Martian on Sunday nights, it came on before Ed Sullivan and after Lassie. ...Martian is one of my favorite shows, I'm currently watching it from DVDs every Sunday with breakfast. Interesting though how Bixby seemed to have lost all that My Favorite Martian energy he had when he did Courtship of Eddie... and also the Hulk. He seemed very low key and almost whispered his way thru both those shows. But in Martian he speaks very fast and loud and is constantly in a state of high energy. Maybe Bixby just wore himself to a frazzle by the time the late '60's and early '70's arrived for Eddie's Father. From high energy to very very mellow, I'd like to know was this a real life change in Bixby's personality or did he purposely play Eddie's Father and Hulk as low energy 1/2 dead individuals?
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07-03-2025, 06:50 PM	#36
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,636	Ray Walston was great, no one could have done better as Uncle Martin. Tim O'Hara overacted with a lot of shouting. His acting was much stronger on The Courtship of Eddie's Father.
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06-20-2025, 05:58 PM	#32
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,068	I occasionally watched the show as a kid. But, never really a big fan of it. Watched S2 E7 My Uncle the Folk Singer. A treat to see the beautiful Pat Priest. Without her the episode would be a near time waster. The show has a huge problem that Bill Bixby and Ray Walston even with witty writing just aren't funny.

07-02-2025, 02:43 PM	#33
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,333	I don't think having Alan Hewitt in that nasty detective role helped matter, either.

07-03-2025, 05:48 PM	#35
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,068	Would of clicked better with 2 different main actors cast. I was fantasy thinking Alan Hale Jr - Bob Denver, Don Knotts - Tom Lester. Actors with actual comedic talent. But, I can't believe the MFM big wigs thought wow Bill Bixby and Ray Walston are hilarious. The writing is good.

07-03-2025, 07:09 PM	#37
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,333	I agree about Walston. I just don't think Bixby was right for his part.

07-05-2025, 09:50 AM	#38
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,068	Does anyone have a favorite MFM Ray Walston season and episode number scene that he gives you the biggest laugh?

08-01-2025, 07:46 AM	#39
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 845	I did appreciate how Walston took his character on MFM well after it ended. Didn’t he do a TV ad (maybe for a cellphone co.?) around late 1990s as Uncle Martin? I always like how some actors remember how they really got big-time, and carry it decades later. Best example would be Dawn Wells of Gilligan’s Island, who of course had a smart husband/lawyer (ISTR) who made her profitable from GI royalties. cd