Too Many Seasons?

[LittleRickyII]

Having now had the opportunity to see the last two seasons of the show (seasons 10 and 11), and now, currently, season four, what do you folks think? Until recently, I haven't been very familiar with anything but seasons five through nine. I found 10 and 11 mostly disappointing. There were a few decent episodes here and there, but a lot of clunkers. And apparently some episodes were just retreads of earlier ones. I was just watching an episode awhile ago where Danny is trying to become a den "mother" for Rusty's scout troop, and finds himself in a competition with a woman who views herself as far more qualified. The same premise was used in a season 10 episode where Pat Carroll's character was competing for the job of girls scout leader against a woman (played by Margaret Hamilton from The Wizard of Oz) who similarly thought she was far better suited.

What I'm finding with these S4 episodes, and the handful I've seen from seasons 1-3, is that they are very charming and often funny. I find myself laughing out loud at times, whereas the later seasons I rarely laugh. The humor in these early shows seems much more natural, whereas it seems forced in the later seasons.

I really liked that these early shows are so centered on Danny's family life. By season 5, they started bringing in a lot of guest stars, and side characters, and moving away from the family dynamic. And by the last few years, the kids didn't have as big a role. I guess a departure from the original focus is inevitable in such a long running show because there are only so many story ideas to be found before a format change is needed, but I feel like, with these changes, the show lost its sparkle, and the plots lacked the realism of the early seasons. My only complaint with the early seasons is Danny sometimes suddenly breaks out in in song in his apartment. For example, he goes into Rusty's bedroom to have a private talk with him and suddenly starts singing to him, and an invisible orchestra begins to play. Very corny. Other than that, these early seasons are wonderful. I feel like, had the seasons 1-4 episodes been the ones that were put into syndication, instead of seasons 5-9, the show would have done better and would be more well known today, like Leave It to Beaver.

[bencasey]

All shows are better in their early seasons. I agree, the first 5 years were probably the best ones of the series. Its easy now to see why they never bothered to syndicate the last 2 seasons as they are pretty abysmal. Its a shame that Danny was vindictive towards Hagen and even today with him long gone the family will not allow the first 3 seasons to see the light of day. Too bad.

[TV Guy]

It’s less about being vindictive and more about maximizing the return on the show. Jean Hagen - and later her estate - owned a piece of the first three seasons of the show. If you are Danny and you’re syndicating the show, and there’s not a market out there for every episode, then which ones are you going to rerun? The ones you own 100%, or the ones you own partially? In addition, the show only became a top-rated show after it moved to CBS and Marjorie Lord became the wife. I don’t blame him for rerunning the more popular episodes and the ones he owns 100%.

The main reason the show was not more popular in syndication is because Danny - like Ozzie Nelson - did not choose a bigger syndication firm to handle distribution. Contrast this with “I Love Lucy”, which was syndicated by CBS Films and later Viacom. They were able to sell the hell out of that show. Danny and Ozzie’s shows were handled by smaller firms which weren’t able to make as many deals with local stations, resulting in the shows fading from public memory much earlier than it should have.

[stevea]

It lasted so long on CBS (7 seasons there) because it had high ratings:

Season 5, #2; Season 6, #5; Season 7, #4; Season 8, #12; Season 9, #8; Season 10, #7; Season 11, #9.

[TV Guy]

Yep. And CBS would have been happy with another season, too. But Danny wanted to end it. He must have regretted it, though, because he tried to revive it multiple times in the 1960s.

[stevea]

Both Danny and Marjorie Lord were tired of the show by the end of season 9. Season 10 was a walk-thru for them, only appearing in some episodes, on a European tour.

[Howard]

I disagree! I love seasons 10/11 ESPECIALLY since they(SFM ENTERTAINMENT) only started showing them a few years ago hopefully due to my begging them to broadcast seasons 10 and 11 after not being aired since 1965! What is interesting is that the FINAL ABC season (4) was INCLUDED in the current package which at that time was still called "Make Room..." Also, I hate the current opening of the show; kinda cheesy! I assume this was the opening that was used in its Prime Time run UNTIL the sponsors made the ANIMATED jazzed-up "Danny Boy" opening, THIS can be found on YOUTUBE! Would love them to use this one but i guess since it opens with the sponsor, they couldn't edit it out!

[Coffeecup]

I have been watching the show from Season 4 although I was able to Tubi stream a half dozen episodes from the first 3 seasons. I am now on season 7 at the time when Terry is about to marry Pat Hannigan. Frankly only a few episodes I find all that interesting. The show's a snooze to me. Kathy seems like a doormat to Danny who is always is discussing problems alone with the children. Kathy I never see discussing a problem with HER daughter Linda. Plus Danny singing in the show is just filler scenes for me. I can see why Sherry Jackson bailed out for the plots are awful. I do remember seeing a episode(must be in a later season) with Brenda Lee whose characters mother filled in for Louise the housekeeper and Brenda sang a song that was terrific. The show lasted till ? 1964 so I have 4 more seasons to go. Hope they pep up. What are?your thoughts.

[stevea]

The one season 7 episode that sticks in my mind is one where Danny and Rusty sing High Hopes (not sure if that's the right name) together at the end of the episode. The kid played a brat but he carried that off well. The rest of that season with faux Terry and that marriage arc was a real yawner. Gale Gordon as a cranky artist was kind of funny.

Season 8 was similarly ho-hum. One slapstick episode had Danny balking at going to the dentist and somehow having Charley go in his place.

Season 9 freshened things up with the addition Pat Carroll as Charley's wife. All along there was no hint of his being married, and by the end of the season we find out he is going to be a father.

As I said earlier in this thread season 10 was a walk-thru for both stars. Both appeared in a few episodes, the hook being a European vacation. Danny wanted to end the show but evidently CBS talked him into the 11th season.

The 11th season was somewhat of a comeback, kind of a return to normalcy. There were some good scripts, such as Howard Morris appearing as a leprechaun, and the visits to the new country second home. And some clunkers with Alfie the waiter, and the young singer Picola that Danny seemed to take under his wing. She had started with a season 10 appearance and that should have been the end.

The show was a ratings winner for CBS, and they probably wanted a 12th season, but Danny finally ended it.

[PracTz]

It can't have helped things for Rusty Hamer to have had the whole viewing public watch him grow from a cute, scene-stealing kid to an awkward, troubled teen (even if the scripts never hinted at it) so I think that the show DID go on too long. Oh, and according to the tragic Mr. Hamer's brother, Danny Thomas DID do all he could do to try to help him even long after the show was over but even that wasn't able to get Mr. Hamer to have any peace about his life.

[Coffeecup]

Stevea:
I did hear that Charlie has a wife Mertle in Season 8 and it appears he has been married to Mertle for some time. In Season 9 he all of sudden now has Bunny. Is Bunny- Mertle.