Was 'Father Knows Best' A Copycat Show Of 'Make Room For Daddy?' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-03-2011, 12:17 AM

Just curious....

I never saw Father Knows Best, but I use to watch Make Room For Daddy. Are there any similarities with the two shows?

old grouch · 10-03-2011, 10:25 AM

No it wasn't. These two shows didn't have that much in common, besides being about a harried dad.

TV Knowledge Fan · 10-04-2011, 12:34 PM

...Ed James created the show for radio in 1949, with Robert Young as "Jim Anderson" {a different cast appeared with him on TV in 1954}. Originally, it was more slapstick-oriented than the TV version (that became more like "THE GOLDBERGS").

In the case of "MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY", Melville Shavelson created that series for Danny Thomas in 1953, based on Danny's own career as a nightclub entertainer, and how his family coped with him during and between engagements. Some of the scripts were inspired by what happened to Danny in real life, as in a 1954 episode where "Danny Williams" gets a chance at a movie career, only to have the studio head insist he fix his nose, or forget it {Louis B. Mayer of MGM told Danny the same thing in 1947}.

Reverend Jim · 10-04-2011, 03:01 PM

missy's pop pop · 06-07-2014, 08:15 PM

The radio version was originally titled "Father Knows Best?" (with the question mark) because, as TV Question Fan correctly notes, the radio version was more slapstick than family comedy.

Interesting that in its first season, FKB was sponsored by Kent cigarettes (Robert Young lights up a Kent and takes a puff before handing it off to Jane Wyatt). When the show was revived, Scott Paper Company took over and none of the Andersons smoked anymore (except for Jim's pipe).

In the Jean Hagen years, "Make Room for Daddy" was co-sponsored by Pall Mall cigarettes and Dodge automobiles. That kept any crossover episodes of "I Love Lucy" from happening until "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" in "Lucy Makes Room for Danny" in December 1958, because, from 1951 through 1955, Lucy and Ricky were still "calling for Phil-ip Mor-rais-s-s-s!".

Howard · 07-29-2017, 04:51 PM

absolutely NOT! Jim Anderson was in the insurance business and Danny was in Show-biz. "Father" was only on for 6 seasons (1954-1960) whereas 'Danny" ran for 11.

CanICallYouDad · 08-12-2017, 10:52 PM

Good answers. I learned some things. Just a couple days ago I noticed this show on my DTV though I can't recall the station. I have watched four episodes in a couple days. When I was a kid I would come home from school for lunch and have a baloney sandwich, two cake donuts, milk and watch FNB in reruns

10-03-2011, 12:17 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Was 'Father Knows Best' A Copycat Show Of 'Make Room For Daddy?' Just curious.... I never saw Father Knows Best, but I use to watch Make Room For Daddy. Are there any similarities with the two shows?
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

10-04-2011, 12:34 PM	#3
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	"FATHER KNOWS BEST" was first, Brian... ...Ed James created the show for radio in 1949, with Robert Young as "Jim Anderson" {a different cast appeared with him on TV in 1954}. Originally, it was more slapstick-oriented than the TV version (that became more like "THE GOLDBERGS"). In the case of "MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY", Melville Shavelson created that series for Danny Thomas in 1953, based on Danny's own career as a nightclub entertainer, and how his family coped with him during and between engagements. Some of the scripts were inspired by what happened to Danny in real life, as in a 1954 episode where "Danny Williams" gets a chance at a movie career, only to have the studio head insist he fix his nose, or forget it {Louis B. Mayer of MGM told Danny the same thing in 1947}.

06-07-2014, 08:15 PM	#5
missy's pop pop Hooray for "Hazel!" Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 19, 2013 Location: St. Louis Posts: 396	And the Question Is? The radio version was originally titled "Father Knows Best?" (with the question mark) because, as TV Question Fan correctly notes, the radio version was more slapstick than family comedy. Interesting that in its first season, FKB was sponsored by Kent cigarettes (Robert Young lights up a Kent and takes a puff before handing it off to Jane Wyatt). When the show was revived, Scott Paper Company took over and none of the Andersons smoked anymore (except for Jim's pipe). In the Jean Hagen years, "Make Room for Daddy" was co-sponsored by Pall Mall cigarettes and Dodge automobiles. That kept any crossover episodes of "I Love Lucy" from happening until "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" in "Lucy Makes Room for Danny" in December 1958, because, from 1951 through 1955, Lucy and Ricky were still "calling for Phil-ip Mor-rais-s-s-s!".

08-12-2017, 10:52 PM	#7
CanICallYouDad Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 12, 2013 Location: Meeechigan Posts: 233	Good answers. I learned some things. Just a couple days ago I noticed this show on my DTV though I can't recall the station. I have watched four episodes in a couple days. When I was a kid I would come home from school for lunch and have a baloney sandwich, two cake donuts, milk and watch FNB in reruns
	__________________ We got 4 channels. 2, 4, 7 and 9. Loved turning that dial as fast as I could.

10-03-2011, 10:25 AM	#2
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	No it wasn't. These two shows didn't have that much in common, besides being about a harried dad.

10-04-2011, 03:01 PM	#4
Reverend Jim Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 08, 2009 Location: New York City Posts: 783

07-29-2017, 04:51 PM	#6
Howard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 23, 2003 Posts: 240	absolutely NOT! Jim Anderson was in the insurance business and Danny was in Show-biz. "Father" was only on for 6 seasons (1954-1960) whereas 'Danny" ran for 11.