The New Family Affair, on the WB? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bkohatl · 06-15-2002, 08:25 AM

The original Family Affair meant a lot to me as a kid for a variety of reasons: I had a crush on Anissa Jones(I was 11, she was 10; she had pet snakes: I was impressed); I am named Brian Keith O'Hara and consider Brian Keith a terrific guy and a great actor(I guess it is always better to like the person your named after than not); and the show was perfectly cast and well acted, with a wonderful, if slightly unbelievable, premise.
I saw a promo for the new Family Affair on the WB. The only thing that worries me is that the character of the new "Mr. French" seems to be a total buffon. I hope that that was a mis-impression.
Tim Curry is certainly an excellent actor(The Rocky Horror Picture Show), but I am little foggy as to what he will bring to the character of "Mr. French".
Gary Cole, who is portraying the character of "Uncle Bill", guest starred on the original show. He was used constantly as guest and character actor during the 1960's and 1970's. I don't remember him from Family Affair, but I do recall him on Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch. I only hope that he can bring some of Brian's larger than life persona to the character of "Uncle Bill". Without it, I don't know if the premise will work.
One of the most magical things about the original Family Affair was the Brian and Sebastian were convincing as two bachelors trying to deal with an instant family; definitely two fish out of water. There was an innocence and charm to the way their characters were written and performed. I hope the new show stays as close to this dictum as possible.
I have also heard that the new "Buffy" and "Jody" will be little brats. I hope that is not true. I think you could make them much more realistically written characters; especially, in that they are actually allowed to grow up on the show.
That is and always will be my major criticism of the original show. Anissa came to hate the fact that in the five years that Family Affair was on the air the character of "Buffy" only went from age six to age seven. Anissa hated that, and it was one of the major reasons that she decided to quit acting. Being 4'11" and being constantly reminded of that fact by the way your character was written, and the way people treated you in real life was really irritating to her. Anissa was a week short of her 13 birthday when the last episode of Family Affair finished filming. She had grown up, but "Buffy" never did.
One of the nicest things that I have discovered was that Brian offered Anissa a starring adult role as a nurse on The Brian Keith Show the year after Family Affair was cancelled. Anisssa was fourteen at the time. Even though Anissa turned it down, she just wanted to be a regular kid for a while, I know she really appreciated Brian's offer. She kept the letter he sent her with offer in her keepsake box. Anissa really loved Brian Keith, and Brian loved Anissa as much.

14 pages in memory of Anissa Jones and Brian Keith:

http://www.geocities.com/bkohatl2001/Anissa1958.html

and follow the page links.

julian bozo · 06-20-2002, 03:56 AM

I loved Family Affair to. I used to watch the reruns of Family Affair
on TV Land a a couple of years ago. I also liked Anissa Jones. She was such a sweetie. I used to watch them with my mom. Sadly She passed away in May 2001 from a brain tumor. So I don't really know if I can watch the originals anymore. I saw previews for the new Family Affair. I liked Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Annie. Although I 'm not sure he would make
the best Mr. French. Also I saw Anissa Jones True HollyWood Story it was so sad. Her mother was awful. Now She's in a better place now. With my mom. Anyway I will probably watch the new one to see how it is.

Tweety · 06-21-2002, 11:55 PM

My wife and I are the same age, we both grew up watching and liking the original Family Affair, and when TV Land brought it back 4 or 5 years ago, we thought it was great. We'd tape it during the day while we were at work, and then watch it every evening. That show had a fantasitc cast...they all obviously loved and cared about each other very much.

We couldn't believe it when we saw, on the WB last Monday, that they're re-casting the show and trying it again.

Obviously, there's no way that the new show could possibly be as good as the original. Times have changed too much. Annisa and Johnny were not brats, and Mr. French was not a bumbling idiot. I'd be shocked if the 3 actors playing those roles in the new show can even come close to having the chemistry that Sebastian, Annisa and Johnny had with each other.

I thought Gary Cole was great as Mike Brady in the Brady Bunch movies, and I could actually see him playing the role of Uncle Bill. I think he has the range as an actor to be able to pull off playing the touching/sentimental scenes that the show would call for. Of course, depending on the writers, this new version might not be so sentimental, and might just have a lot of crude humor in it, like most sitcoms of recent vintage. I hope that's not the case with this show.

I also agree with the previous poster that the only negative thing about the original FA was that the shows writers/producers did not allow the kids to age more than a year or two during the series' five year run. Of course, I seriously doubt that the new series will have THAT problem. I'm sure it won't last anything like five years.

But, I'm sure than when the new series debuts, my wife and I will watch it (at least at first, to see how close they can come to pulling it off).

Tiger32 · 06-26-2002, 08:09 PM

I think Hollywood has obviously lost its creativity, so they must resort to re-making shows from the 60s and the 70s.

Can't they make a new show that has the same appeal of Family Affair, without stealing the characters and the story lines?

UPN tried to make a new Love Boat television show, but it failed miserably. I predict the same for the new Family Affair television show.

edwardwoodbine · 08-22-2002, 04:32 PM

mr bozo anissa jones passed away 26 years ago not last year she died because her doctor sold her drugs that killed her and her boyfriend lied to ehollywood she asked for help the morning she died in 1976 but he walked out of bedroom where she was found.what a jerk anissa jones boyfriend to do that to her rip anissa jones ed

60sSitcomFan · 08-22-2002, 11:43 PM

bkohatl ... I'd love to have a chat with you. Let me know.. seriously..

06-15-2002, 08:25 AM	#1
bkohatl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 09, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 16	The New Family Affair, on the WB? The original Family Affair meant a lot to me as a kid for a variety of reasons: I had a crush on Anissa Jones(I was 11, she was 10; she had pet snakes: I was impressed); I am named Brian Keith O'Hara and consider Brian Keith a terrific guy and a great actor(I guess it is always better to like the person your named after than not); and the show was perfectly cast and well acted, with a wonderful, if slightly unbelievable, premise. I saw a promo for the new Family Affair on the WB. The only thing that worries me is that the character of the new "Mr. French" seems to be a total buffon. I hope that that was a mis-impression. Tim Curry is certainly an excellent actor(The Rocky Horror Picture Show), but I am little foggy as to what he will bring to the character of "Mr. French". Gary Cole, who is portraying the character of "Uncle Bill", guest starred on the original show. He was used constantly as guest and character actor during the 1960's and 1970's. I don't remember him from Family Affair, but I do recall him on Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch. I only hope that he can bring some of Brian's larger than life persona to the character of "Uncle Bill". Without it, I don't know if the premise will work. One of the most magical things about the original Family Affair was the Brian and Sebastian were convincing as two bachelors trying to deal with an instant family; definitely two fish out of water. There was an innocence and charm to the way their characters were written and performed. I hope the new show stays as close to this dictum as possible. I have also heard that the new "Buffy" and "Jody" will be little brats. I hope that is not true. I think you could make them much more realistically written characters; especially, in that they are actually allowed to grow up on the show. That is and always will be my major criticism of the original show. Anissa came to hate the fact that in the five years that Family Affair was on the air the character of "Buffy" only went from age six to age seven. Anissa hated that, and it was one of the major reasons that she decided to quit acting. Being 4'11" and being constantly reminded of that fact by the way your character was written, and the way people treated you in real life was really irritating to her. Anissa was a week short of her 13 birthday when the last episode of Family Affair finished filming. She had grown up, but "Buffy" never did. One of the nicest things that I have discovered was that Brian offered Anissa a starring adult role as a nurse on The Brian Keith Show the year after Family Affair was cancelled. Anisssa was fourteen at the time. Even though Anissa turned it down, she just wanted to be a regular kid for a while, I know she really appreciated Brian's offer. She kept the letter he sent her with offer in her keepsake box. Anissa really loved Brian Keith, and Brian loved Anissa as much. 14 pages in memory of Anissa Jones and Brian Keith: http://www.geocities.com/bkohatl2001/Anissa1958.html and follow the page links.

06-21-2002, 11:55 PM	#3
Tweety Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 6,804	My wife and I are the same age, we both grew up watching and liking the original Family Affair, and when TV Land brought it back 4 or 5 years ago, we thought it was great. We'd tape it during the day while we were at work, and then watch it every evening. That show had a fantasitc cast...they all obviously loved and cared about each other very much. We couldn't believe it when we saw, on the WB last Monday, that they're re-casting the show and trying it again. Obviously, there's no way that the new show could possibly be as good as the original. Times have changed too much. Annisa and Johnny were not brats, and Mr. French was not a bumbling idiot. I'd be shocked if the 3 actors playing those roles in the new show can even come close to having the chemistry that Sebastian, Annisa and Johnny had with each other. I thought Gary Cole was great as Mike Brady in the Brady Bunch movies, and I could actually see him playing the role of Uncle Bill. I think he has the range as an actor to be able to pull off playing the touching/sentimental scenes that the show would call for. Of course, depending on the writers, this new version might not be so sentimental, and might just have a lot of crude humor in it, like most sitcoms of recent vintage. I hope that's not the case with this show. I also agree with the previous poster that the only negative thing about the original FA was that the shows writers/producers did not allow the kids to age more than a year or two during the series' five year run. Of course, I seriously doubt that the new series will have THAT problem. I'm sure it won't last anything like five years. But, I'm sure than when the new series debuts, my wife and I will watch it (at least at first, to see how close they can come to pulling it off).
	Last edited by Tweety; 06-21-2002 at 11:58 PM.

06-26-2002, 08:09 PM	#4
Tiger32 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 14, 2002 Posts: 624	Leave the Classics Alone! I think Hollywood has obviously lost its creativity, so they must resort to re-making shows from the 60s and the 70s. Can't they make a new show that has the same appeal of Family Affair, without stealing the characters and the story lines? UPN tried to make a new Love Boat television show, but it failed miserably. I predict the same for the new Family Affair television show.

08-22-2002, 04:32 PM	#5
edwardwoodbine wwe video game champ Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 02, 2002 Location: orangeville ontario canada Posts: 202	anissa death its been 26 years next wedensday mr bozo anissa jones passed away 26 years ago not last year she died because her doctor sold her drugs that killed her and her boyfriend lied to ehollywood she asked for help the morning she died in 1976 but he walked out of bedroom where she was found.what a jerk anissa jones boyfriend to do that to her rip anissa jones ed
	__________________ edwardwoodbine

06-20-2002, 03:56 AM	#2
julian bozo Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Cullman,Al,United States Posts: 1,534	I loved Family Affair to. I used to watch the reruns of Family Affair on TV Land a a couple of years ago. I also liked Anissa Jones. She was such a sweetie. I used to watch them with my mom. Sadly She passed away in May 2001 from a brain tumor. So I don't really know if I can watch the originals anymore. I saw previews for the new Family Affair. I liked Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Annie. Although I 'm not sure he would make the best Mr. French. Also I saw Anissa Jones True HollyWood Story it was so sad. Her mother was awful. Now She's in a better place now. With my mom. Anyway I will probably watch the new one to see how it is.

08-22-2002, 11:43 PM	#6
60sSitcomFan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: Toronto Posts: 109	bkohatl ... I'd love to have a chat with you. Let me know.. seriously..