Anyone Read Barry Livingston's Book? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

howilu · 01-01-2012, 06:22 PM

I just started reading Barry Livingston's new book "The Importance of Being Ernie" and so far I have found it interesting, especially when he recalls his years on My Three Sons. One thing I found was that Ryan O'Neal was considered for Robbie the role that eventually went to Don Grady. Also, he mentioned that any actor who works on a movie or TV show has to pass a health insurance physical. Has anyone read the book yet? Feel free to post your thoughts.

MichaelKeith · 01-03-2012, 10:23 AM

I haven't read his book but am glad that Don Grady was cast in the part instead of Ryan O'Neal. O'Neal is okay, but I really think Grady did a great job in the role.

tdr · 01-09-2012, 05:53 PM

I have ordered the book, and it should be delivered tomorrow or Wednesday (1-10 or 1-11). From what I know, Barry is a steady guy for a one-time child star and a reasonably successful adult actor.

jehobden · 01-09-2012, 08:16 PM

I have ordered the book from Amazon and expect it to arrive in the next few days. I have taken a sneak peek of it at a local B&N, and I was surprised that Ryan O'Neal was the original Robbie Douglas, mostly because he was already 19 years old when the show started production, not much younger than Tim Considine, and Don Grady was a noticeably younger 16. Barry said the producers thought he wasn't that good at comedy, but he proved otherwise in such films as "What's Up, Doc" and "Paper Moon".

comedyfreak · 01-13-2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howilu

Also, he mentioned that any actor who works on a movie or TV show has to pass a health insurance physical. Has anyone read the book yet? Feel free to post your thoughts.

That's why they replaced William Frawley. I haven't read the book it sounds really good.

tdr · 01-16-2012, 06:13 PM

I'm reading about 20 or so pages a day, and am almost half-way through it now. I don't want to mention details and spoil it for anyone, but a few of the prankster and daredevil experiences do surprise me, but only a little. It's not surprising at all that as he came to be recognized publically as Ernie, not Barry, that this had its negative moments. I must admit there's not really as much MTS behind-the-scenes stuff as I was expecting, or at least it doen't go as deep as I was expecting. And there's more about his teachers and 'coaches' of acting and music; and of course, along with the pranks and dares, his endeavors to either disprove or come to terms with the 'nerd' image. But he liked to have fun, and I am having it reading this book, too.

tdr · 01-25-2012, 12:38 AM

Now I've finished it, and I can say that, to me, a MTS fan, those last 100 pages or so didn't hold my attention as well as the earlier and middle portions. Barry does relate a certain key incident that "straightened him up" in a certain way, but it seems like from that point on there is little that I find really interesting any further. That's likely because I haven't been interested in television since the mid-70's and there were no more MTS or Andy Griffith Shows any more, and I've never been very interested in live theater, except for when I've been an actor or writer in local amateur settings.

There is one question I have that someone who reads this forum might know... Barry tells about the episode shortly after he was adopted into the Douglas family in which a lion comes around and into the house. He says when William Demarest [Uncle Charley] came in the door for work that day, the lion had gotten away on his own and was astonishingly close to the entrance, and Demarest yelled and ran the short distance to his dressing room, with the lion's instincts of pursuit triggered. I had read about this before, but I thought it was William Frawley who suddenly came upon the lion-- Frawley had just been released but was still showing up on the set and mocking Demarest's acting [the 2 had been unfriendly rivals for many years, and Demarest 'stole' his job on the series]. The fact that Barry mentioned the assailant running straight for his dressing room would indicate it was, in fact, Demarest-- unless Frawley still had a dressing room he perhaps had not given up. Or else, these are 2 separate incidents almost surely within the same couple of days. I realize this is quite trivial after 46 years, but does anyone know for sure?

catlover79 · 06-12-2012, 01:18 AM

I'm reading it right now. I love his sense of humor and breezy writing style.

MickeyMac · 06-12-2012, 12:04 PM

Its on my list of books to read.

catlover79 · 06-12-2012, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Its on my list of books to read.

It's a really fun read - I think you'll enjoy it, Mickey.

dahur1 · 08-11-2012, 12:42 AM

I also thought the first 1/3 of the book was best. I sometimes read funny stuff in books, but rarely if ever, do I laugh out loud. The Jack Benny story made me do just that.

The last paragraph on page 41, Barry writes that William Frawly was hired for the character of "Uncle Bub" . Who was the proofreader..?

I remember watching MTS back in the 60's, and thinking what a little twerp Ernie was. Now that I'm grown up, and many years later, when I watch the Ernie episodes I think what an awesome kid he is..! Very street smart, and on many occasions he was the one who "flew over the Cuckoo's nest".

01-01-2012, 06:22 PM	#1
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,961	Anyone Read Barry Livingston's Book? I just started reading Barry Livingston's new book "The Importance of Being Ernie" and so far I have found it interesting, especially when he recalls his years on My Three Sons. One thing I found was that Ryan O'Neal was considered for Robbie the role that eventually went to Don Grady. Also, he mentioned that any actor who works on a movie or TV show has to pass a health insurance physical. Has anyone read the book yet? Feel free to post your thoughts.

06-12-2012, 01:18 AM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I'm reading it right now. I love his sense of humor and breezy writing style.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

01-03-2012, 10:23 AM	#2
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	I haven't read his book but am glad that Don Grady was cast in the part instead of Ryan O'Neal. O'Neal is okay, but I really think Grady did a great job in the role.

01-09-2012, 05:53 PM	#3
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	I have ordered the book, and it should be delivered tomorrow or Wednesday (1-10 or 1-11). From what I know, Barry is a steady guy for a one-time child star and a reasonably successful adult actor.

01-09-2012, 08:16 PM	#4
jehobden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: DFW Area, TX Posts: 2,004	I have ordered the book from Amazon and expect it to arrive in the next few days. I have taken a sneak peek of it at a local B&N, and I was surprised that Ryan O'Neal was the original Robbie Douglas, mostly because he was already 19 years old when the show started production, not much younger than Tim Considine, and Don Grady was a noticeably younger 16. Barry said the producers thought he wasn't that good at comedy, but he proved otherwise in such films as "What's Up, Doc" and "Paper Moon".

01-16-2012, 06:13 PM	#6
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	I'm reading about 20 or so pages a day, and am almost half-way through it now. I don't want to mention details and spoil it for anyone, but a few of the prankster and daredevil experiences do surprise me, but only a little. It's not surprising at all that as he came to be recognized publically as Ernie, not Barry, that this had its negative moments. I must admit there's not really as much MTS behind-the-scenes stuff as I was expecting, or at least it doen't go as deep as I was expecting. And there's more about his teachers and 'coaches' of acting and music; and of course, along with the pranks and dares, his endeavors to either disprove or come to terms with the 'nerd' image. But he liked to have fun, and I am having it reading this book, too.

01-25-2012, 12:38 AM	#7
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	Now I've finished it, and I can say that, to me, a MTS fan, those last 100 pages or so didn't hold my attention as well as the earlier and middle portions. Barry does relate a certain key incident that "straightened him up" in a certain way, but it seems like from that point on there is little that I find really interesting any further. That's likely because I haven't been interested in television since the mid-70's and there were no more MTS or Andy Griffith Shows any more, and I've never been very interested in live theater, except for when I've been an actor or writer in local amateur settings. There is one question I have that someone who reads this forum might know... Barry tells about the episode shortly after he was adopted into the Douglas family in which a lion comes around and into the house. He says when William Demarest [Uncle Charley] came in the door for work that day, the lion had gotten away on his own and was astonishingly close to the entrance, and Demarest yelled and ran the short distance to his dressing room, with the lion's instincts of pursuit triggered. I had read about this before, but I thought it was William Frawley who suddenly came upon the lion-- Frawley had just been released but was still showing up on the set and mocking Demarest's acting [the 2 had been unfriendly rivals for many years, and Demarest 'stole' his job on the series]. The fact that Barry mentioned the assailant running straight for his dressing room would indicate it was, in fact, Demarest-- unless Frawley still had a dressing room he perhaps had not given up. Or else, these are 2 separate incidents almost surely within the same couple of days. I realize this is quite trivial after 46 years, but does anyone know for sure?

06-12-2012, 12:04 PM	#9
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Its on my list of books to read.

08-11-2012, 12:42 AM	#11
dahur1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 02, 2007 Location: Alamogordo, NM Posts: 195	I also thought the first 1/3 of the book was best. I sometimes read funny stuff in books, but rarely if ever, do I laugh out loud. The Jack Benny story made me do just that. The last paragraph on page 41, Barry writes that William Frawly was hired for the character of "Uncle Bub" . Who was the proofreader..? I remember watching MTS back in the 60's, and thinking what a little twerp Ernie was. Now that I'm grown up, and many years later, when I watch the Ernie episodes I think what an awesome kid he is..! Very street smart, and on many occasions he was the one who "flew over the Cuckoo's nest".