Would The Partridge Family have lasted longer if Ricky never existed?

[icecream]

The Partridge Family lasted four seasons. There is nothing wrong with the first three. But in season 4 the awful kid singer Ricky was introduced and was featured way too much. Would it have lasted longer if Ricky was never introduced? I think the Partridges would have gone on to at least five seasons if not more.

[Bonniegirl]

Nah, I think that was about it! I remember I loved the Partridge family at first couple of seasons. I had a big crush on Keith. But kind of lost interest in the show and found other guys to crush on , had nothing to do with Ricky. IMO four seasons was about enough! I found the Brady Bunch more entertaining and the characters grew more than the Partridges!!

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

ABC put them on against All in the Family and CBS's killer lineup of comedies. I doubt that anything short of switching networks would have saved them.

Or brought in some other new characters. Not kids like Ricky ! Like a good looking guy , possible love interest for Laurie, or a pretty girl for Keith, have them be musicians and singers. Something like that! It got kind of old being a "Family gig"! Nothing against the Mom, or Shirley Jones, she was a lovely woman. And the kids, Danny, Chris and Tracy. But four years was enough of a family band! Had they maybe added another guy and girl of Keith and Laurie's age it would have stayed a hit!

[Wawwie]

That kid Ricky was AWFUL and his singing could give you a stroke! He was so horrible in every way. I cringed every time I saw him.
He definitely ruined the show.

[1960'sTVfan]

I've never cared much for The Partridge Family TV show, always preferred The Brady Bunch. However, The Partridge Family music was good, at least in the beginning. The first album (self titled one), Up To Date, and Sound Magazine are all great albums. It was downhill after that, starting with the Shopping Bag album the music began getting stale. There was still an occasional decent song here and there, but basically after the Sound Magazine album the glory days were gone.

Sound Magazine is a near perfect album, excellent in every way, it would have been very difficult for them to create another album that good. The Christmas album was overall a disappointment, and the first sign that the wheels were starting to come off the spokes. They were under pressure to keep churning the albums out, eventually it took it's toll and had a negative effect on the quality of the music.

I agree that the addition of Ricky was of no benefit to the show whatsoever. But the show had already pretty much run it's course, I don't think there would have been a 5th season, Ricky or no Ricky.

[Babalu]

Ricky was their cousin Oliver. The show was sinking in the ratings and on the verge on being cancelled anyway. For whatever reason, TV producers response to this was to bring in new characters to supposedly enliven the show. I don't know if it's ever worked but the new characters are often blamed for the demise of the shows.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by Babalu

Ricky was their cousin Oliver. The show was sinking in the ratings and on the verge on being cancelled anyway. For whatever reason, TV producers response to this was to bring in new characters to supposedly enliven the show. I don't know if it's ever worked but the new characters are often blamed for the demise of the shows.

Ricky was A BILLION times worse than Oliver.

[opus]

Originally Posted by Babalu

Ricky was their cousin Oliver. The show was sinking in the ratings and on the verge on being cancelled anyway. For whatever reason, TV producers response to this was to bring in new characters to supposedly enliven the show. I don't know if it's ever worked but the new characters are often blamed for the demise of the shows.

There's a good topic. Can you think of a show where a new character totally re-energized a show?

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by opus

There's a good topic. Can you think of a show where a new character totally re-energized a show?

Jo on The Facts of Life.

[opus]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

Jo on The Facts of Life.

Yes. I like it. Good choice.

[opus]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

I can't think of one where the show was flatlining. You have an example like Reverend Jim on Taxi, but that was a pretty good show that was still young and building. Detective Dietrich didn't actually become an every week regular till Season 4, but really solidified a show that, again, was already good.

Jo was also early (2nd year?), but I don't see the show going nine years without her.

[sixfingers]

Originally Posted by catsrule

... Would it have lasted longer if Ricky was never introduced? I think the Partridges would have gone on to at least five seasons if not more.

No, it wouldn't have lasted longer just as Brady Bunch wouldn't have lasted longer without Cousin Oliver.

[IllinoisTVFan]

I can't watch the Ricky episodes. I can tolerate Cousin Oliver better but he didn't do stupid songs. I do think the later season 4 episodes without him much better but the damage was done. By the 4th season the show was sinking, and for some reason ABC decided to move it from Friday night ( where it ran with the Brady Bunch) to Saturday where it got beat by All In The Family. Ironically Brady Bunch was never moved but got cancelled too.

[Sal]

Originally Posted by opus

There's a good topic. Can you think of a show where a new character totally re-energized a show?

How about Woody and Rebecca on Cheers?


As for little Ricky, I didn't mind him too much and I liked Cousin Oliver too. The most irritating "new kid" for me might have been Linda on Make Room For Daddy.

I don't think the show could have lasted another season because the move to Saturdays opposite "All In The Family" was an absolute bonehead move by ABC that had no chance to succeed. Another reason it was about to end had to do with David Cassidy himself. He had grown tired of his role as Keith and it was well known that he was considering quitting the show if it had returned for a 5th season. The rumor was that he might have been replaced by Rick Springfield, who was just starting out back then, and he even had his own cartoon series on ABC called "Mission: Magic". Personally, I would have liked to have seen David's brother Shaun Cassidy take over the role since by this time he was becoming a bigger name as a teen idol than David and being on the same show would have been a huge boost to his career.

[storrs19]

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

I've never cared much for The Partridge Family TV show, always preferred The Brady Bunch. However, The Partridge Family music was good, at least in the beginning. The first album (self titled one), Up To Date, and Sound Magazine are all great albums. It was downhill after that, starting with the Shopping Bag album the music began getting stale. There was still an occasional decent song here and there, but basically after the Sound Magazine album the glory days were gone.

Sound Magazine is a near perfect album, excellent in every way, it would have been very difficult for them to create another album that good. The Christmas album was overall a disappointment, and the first sign that the wheels were starting to come off the spokes. They were under pressure to keep churning the albums out, eventually it took it's toll and had a negative effect on the quality of the music.



I agree that the addition of Ricky was of no benefit to the show whatsoever. But the show had already pretty much run it's course, I don't think there would have been a 5th season, Ricky or no Ricky.

I agree 100% with that assessment of their albums. The first three are great and I think they could've had more Top 20 hits had other tracks been chosen as singles than some that were. Also a real shame that "Listen to the sound" was never released by them as it's a great song.