Robert Young on FKB's cancellation and a possible season 7 storyline - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

gidgetgrape · 10-19-2015, 11:48 PM

Today I received my copy of the Fall 2015 issue of Films Of The Golden Age and there's a long article about Robert Young inside. The article entitled, "Robert Young: Family Man" was written by James Bawden is actually an interview Bawden conducted with Mr. Young in 1988.

Here's what Mr. Young said about the cancellation of "Father Knows Best:"

It was my decision. I thought we'd gone through all the family themes and I wanted to go out on a high note. And it's very tiring making 39 shows a year. The kids had to have school work factored into their days. We couldn't shoot any faster than we had been doing. Then CBS Chairman Bill Paley phoned me and said he'd double all the salaries for one more year. He suggested the Betty character get married and the young couple could live over the garage and that would keep the fresh stories coming in. I polled the cast and Jane was adamant - she wouldn't continue so we closed down production after 196 episodes. But for the next few years CBS ran reruns any time another show failed and then in 1962-63 ABC picked up the reruns.

This is an excellent article (with lots of photos) about Robert Young's life, movie career, "Father Knows Best," "Window on Main Street," and "Marcus Welby." I think I was most touched reading about his struggle with alcoholism. I would encourage any FKB fan to seek this issue out!

mets82 · 10-20-2015, 03:36 PM

So in essence, the show could have ran longer by today's standards. 22 episodes per season as opposed to 39 episodes back then. Its impressive no matter what.

ILuvCarolBurnett · 10-20-2015, 09:41 PM

I think Young and Wyman were probably right. 200 episodes is about the most the average sitcom can do without recycling plots and just becoming stale.

10-19-2015, 11:48 PM	#1
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	Robert Young on FKB's cancellation and a possible season 7 storyline Today I received my copy of the Fall 2015 issue of Films Of The Golden Age and there's a long article about Robert Young inside. The article entitled, "Robert Young: Family Man" was written by James Bawden is actually an interview Bawden conducted with Mr. Young in 1988. Here's what Mr. Young said about the cancellation of "Father Knows Best:" It was my decision. I thought we'd gone through all the family themes and I wanted to go out on a high note. And it's very tiring making 39 shows a year. The kids had to have school work factored into their days. We couldn't shoot any faster than we had been doing. Then CBS Chairman Bill Paley phoned me and said he'd double all the salaries for one more year. He suggested the Betty character get married and the young couple could live over the garage and that would keep the fresh stories coming in. I polled the cast and Jane was adamant - she wouldn't continue so we closed down production after 196 episodes. But for the next few years CBS ran reruns any time another show failed and then in 1962-63 ABC picked up the reruns. This is an excellent article (with lots of photos) about Robert Young's life, movie career, "Father Knows Best," "Window on Main Street," and "Marcus Welby." I think I was most touched reading about his struggle with alcoholism. I would encourage any FKB fan to seek this issue out!

10-20-2015, 03:36 PM	#2
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	So in essence, the show could have ran longer by today's standards. 22 episodes per season as opposed to 39 episodes back then. Its impressive no matter what.
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10-20-2015, 09:41 PM	#3
ILuvCarolBurnett Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 20, 2014 Location: Beverly Hills CA Posts: 312	I think Young and Wyman were probably right. 200 episodes is about the most the average sitcom can do without recycling plots and just becoming stale.