How many shows feature a fake father, uncle or guardian ? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Prince Michael · 05-20-2017, 02:59 PM

There have been several TV shows where a family of children get a semi -- honest ( or semi -- dishonest ) adult to pretend to be their guardian . On The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove, the MacKenzie kids were orphans, and they convinced a beach bum to pretend to be their uncle so they wouldn't be split up and sent to different foster homes . On Sons of Tucson, three young boys convinced a slacker to pretend to be their father because their real father went to prison . Every so often, this premise shows up . How many TV shows feature a family of children who convince an adult to pretend to be their guardian so they won't be split up ? I especially remember reading about one show where the kids let a homeless bum live in their house if he'd pretend to be their father . Trying to remember the name of this show is driving me crazy . Is there anybody out there who can identify this show ? Thank you in advance for your answers .

factsoflife · 05-20-2017, 10:54 PM

The very short-lived ABC sitcom from 1994 or 1995, "On Our Own" briefly featured a plot where the oldest son would dress up in drag to pretend to be an elderly Aunt. Eventually the was dropped and the oldest son took custody of his siblings.

Prince Michael · 06-17-2017, 11:26 PM

I found the show I was looking for ! It was A Family for Joe starring Robert Mitchum himself . A Family for Joe was about sixteen -- year -- old Nick Bankston (David Lascher), 15 -- year -- old Holly Bankston (Juliette Lewis), 9 -- year -- old Chris Bankston (Ben Savage), and 7 -- year -- old Mary Bankston (Jessica Player) who have been recently orphaned . Rather than be split up and put into foster care, they find a homeless man, Joe Whitaker, to live with them and pretend to be their grandfather . Joe took his new responsibilities more seriously than they expected, and amid the quips, everybody learned little lessons in life around the sunny kitchen table . Robert Mitchum played Joe Whitaker . At first, A Family for Joe was a TV movie, and then it became a series . A Family for Joe only ran for nine episodes, and it should be on DVD .

installLSC · 06-19-2017, 02:23 AM

Not quite the same, but in the early 80s there was a Western starring Merlin Olsen called "Father Murphy". Dozens of kids were left orphaned after a strike turned violent, and the title character pretended to be a priest running an orphanage--otherwise the kids would have been sent to a territorial workhouse.

Prince Michael · 06-19-2017, 06:45 AM

I almost mentioned Father Murphy . Merlin Olsen wasn't exactly pretending to be a relative of the orphaned kids, but it is a good example of the "adult pretends to be a guardian to some kids" format . Thank you very much !

Tubehead · 06-22-2017, 11:19 AM

will smith live with his uncle phil on fresh prince of bel -air!!

Torgo · 06-22-2017, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tubehead

will smith live with his uncle phil on fresh prince of bel -air!!

That was his real uncle, Phil wasn't pretending.

05-20-2017, 02:59 PM	#1
Prince Michael Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 26, 2011 Location: Helena, Montana Posts: 296	How many shows feature a fake father, uncle or guardian ? There have been several TV shows where a family of children get a semi -- honest ( or semi -- dishonest ) adult to pretend to be their guardian . On The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove, the MacKenzie kids were orphans, and they convinced a beach bum to pretend to be their uncle so they wouldn't be split up and sent to different foster homes . On Sons of Tucson, three young boys convinced a slacker to pretend to be their father because their real father went to prison . Every so often, this premise shows up . How many TV shows feature a family of children who convince an adult to pretend to be their guardian so they won't be split up ? I especially remember reading about one show where the kids let a homeless bum live in their house if he'd pretend to be their father . Trying to remember the name of this show is driving me crazy . Is there anybody out there who can identify this show ? Thank you in advance for your answers .

05-20-2017, 10:54 PM	#2
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	The very short-lived ABC sitcom from 1994 or 1995, "On Our Own" briefly featured a plot where the oldest son would dress up in drag to pretend to be an elderly Aunt. Eventually the was dropped and the oldest son took custody of his siblings.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

06-17-2017, 11:26 PM	#3
Prince Michael Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 26, 2011 Location: Helena, Montana Posts: 296	I found the show I was looking for ! It was A Family for Joe starring Robert Mitchum himself . A Family for Joe was about sixteen -- year -- old Nick Bankston (David Lascher), 15 -- year -- old Holly Bankston (Juliette Lewis), 9 -- year -- old Chris Bankston (Ben Savage), and 7 -- year -- old Mary Bankston (Jessica Player) who have been recently orphaned . Rather than be split up and put into foster care, they find a homeless man, Joe Whitaker, to live with them and pretend to be their grandfather . Joe took his new responsibilities more seriously than they expected, and amid the quips, everybody learned little lessons in life around the sunny kitchen table . Robert Mitchum played Joe Whitaker . At first, A Family for Joe was a TV movie, and then it became a series . A Family for Joe only ran for nine episodes, and it should be on DVD .
	Last edited by Prince Michael; 06-18-2017 at 09:32 PM.

06-19-2017, 02:23 AM	#4
installLSC Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2013 Location: United States Posts: 271	Not quite the same, but in the early 80s there was a Western starring Merlin Olsen called "Father Murphy". Dozens of kids were left orphaned after a strike turned violent, and the title character pretended to be a priest running an orphanage--otherwise the kids would have been sent to a territorial workhouse.

06-19-2017, 06:45 AM	#5
Prince Michael Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 26, 2011 Location: Helena, Montana Posts: 296	I almost mentioned Father Murphy . Merlin Olsen wasn't exactly pretending to be a relative of the orphaned kids, but it is a good example of the "adult pretends to be a guardian to some kids" format . Thank you very much !

06-22-2017, 11:19 AM	#6
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	will smith live with his uncle phil on fresh prince of bel -air!!